When a nasty cold hits, nothing soothes and comforts like soup. Most times, we simply open a can of Campbell’s and heat it on the stove top, but a recent epiphany (not to mention the frozen whole chicken taking up way too much room in the freezer) led me to make my own chicken noodle [...]
Posts under ‘vegetables’
Springtime asparagus salad with fresh vinaigrette
Nothing says spring to me more than asparagus. The first vegetable to pop up out of my garden, those tender green stalks of goodness are a welcome change to the winter vegetables we’ve been enjoying. Always looking for a new way to enjoy the potently delicious veggie, I decided to whip up a light vinaigrette [...]
Pot roast
As the new owner of a shiny new Dutch oven, I immediately went through my stash of recipes to try out and found this one for an easy pot roast. The meat is browned in the Dutch oven, then the other ingredients are added and the entire thing is cooked for a few hours, leaving [...]
How to safely sprout your own seeds
In the dead of winter, it’s hard not to crave the fresh taste of something home grown. With my garden covered with several inches of snow, it’s downright impossible to have any fresh fruits or vegetables out of my yard. Fortunately, there are ways to grow certain plants and other items in the comfort and [...]
Creamy potato soup
I love a good sale, so when the local store had potatoes on sale for a good price, we bought a couple of 10-lb bags, knowing that they’ll most likely keep through the winter months. What to do with all those spuds? My first order of business was a nice batch of creamy potato soup. [...]
Countdown to Thanksgiving: Sweet potato risotto
We’re getting closer and closer to U.S. Thanksgiving, and I’m still finessing this year’s menu. New twists on old favorites are always fun for guests and the cook, and side dishes are no exception. This year’s table will feature Sweet Potato Risotto, a fall twist on a classic, creamy
Homemade tomato soup
Is everyone getting sick lately, or is it just that I live in an unlucky area? Fortunately, we’ve dodged the bullet for now, but the constant cold, damp weather is certainly not going to help. All the gloominess outside is making me crave a comforting bowl of a childhood favorite
Oven-baked healthy french fries
What do kids eat? Chicken fingers, tater tots, french fries, and the like, right? While my daughter has reached the table foods stage and does enjoy these delicacies, I’m determined to give her more “whole” foods and less processed or store- or restaurant-bought pre-packaged items. It’s not always convenient or possible, but I try. Hence [...]
Pumpkin butter
Yes, we’ve been talking pumpkin a lot lately, but it is in season right now and makes a tasty fall treat. However, you don’t need fresh pumpkin to make pumpkin butter – although fresh pureed pumpkin could be substituted if you like. I used a big can of pumpkin, some sugar and ground spices, and [...]
Butternut squash soup
There is a crispness in the air, as fall begins to settle in and the leaves start to turn brilliant shades of red and gold. After spending the afternoon taking in the fall color and gathering leaves, it’s time to come in from the cold and warm up with some warm and creamy comfort food. [...]
