I've been cooking from the pantry these days, like everybody else, and made a delicious Black Eyed Pea and Ham dish, but it needs a side. I have cornmeal and a few simple ingredients to work with. We're making cornbread.
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I don't know how I got this lucky, but a beautiful Greek woman is coming to my house to make her mom's spanakopita recipe today for our family holiday party tomorrow. Spanakopita is a delicious spinach pie and I'm gonna share the recipe with you, because Merry Christmas.
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And now, for my last recipe in the Thanksgiving extravaganza -- the turkey! Centerpiece of the whole event - besides me, of course. I read a lot of recipes and techniques, but I do this pretty close to the way I've always done it, with a few tweaks here and there.
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Stuffing - or dressing, as I am not stuffing anything but myself this year - is one of the big three dishes for Thanksgiving. Four, if you count the gravy. Great turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing and gravy can make up for a multitude of sins. So here is a recipe full of toasty bread, sausage, wild rice, cranberries, apples, veggies and savory herbs. It cooks at about the same time and temp as your mashed potato casserole (link above), which creates a lot of efficiency during the hectic part of the day when you're trying to get food on the table.
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Lobster and Corn Chowder Recipe | Easily my most-requested dish for Thanksgiving each year is a pot of lobster and corn chowder. Yes, turkey, gravy and all that, but my oldest son SPECIFICALLY asks for this chowder, and I don't like to disappoint. I serve it in tiny ramekins so people don't fill up.
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I love this dish, as you can make mashed potatoes in advance and then bake them off at the last minute -- no mashing while trying to get everything on the table. Stress-buster! These are basically twice baked potatoes without the skins. I make a huge dish of these regardless of how many people are coming.
Wanna make good turkey gravy? Well who doesn't? To start with, you need good turkey stock. It don't come in a box, and it ain't chicken. For good turkey stock you need turkey wings. Order them from your butcher, or use thighs/legs from your grocery store. Parts of turkey!
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So after all those recipes I posted in advance of Father's Day, I end up making none of them. Above see Grilled NY Strip and Filet Mignon with a healthy salt and pepper sprinkle, green salad with homemade dressing courtesy of the lovely Carol B., steamed asparagus with lemon butter and a corn succotash you are going to love. Here's the recipe for the corn dish. And we have no dessert, we are full of steak and veggies. But then again, the lovely Carol B. sent cookies too, which we have for lunch, so there. Meal complete.
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I am setting you up large here. This is a great barbecue menu which can be paired with a green salad, maybe some pasta or potato salad (recipes posted) and strawberry shortcake for dessert (recipe coming) for a memorable meal. If someone doesn't like it they should never be invited to your house again.
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My family is mixed on potato salad. We have some mayonnaise haters among us. I am sensitive to that, so when I make a potato salad, I stick with a crumbly type of potato, which breaks down, as opposed to a waxy potato, which will hold its shape. This way, the crumbled potato provides a lot of the creamy texture in lieu of mayo. For this recipe, I bought a "New Finnish Potato". I had never heard of them before, and in my research, it falls into the waxy category, but when I cooked it and folded it with all the other ingredients, it broke down nicely. So along with the egg yolks, they saved me from using a lot of mayo while still getting a velvety salad, with lots of crunch from onions, celery, and chopped pickles. And zing from the mustard. Here it is, enjoy!
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Is anyone wondering what to make for Father's Day and/or the 4th of July? Look no further! I will be posting a recipe a day (that's the plan) starting soon with items like barbecued Memphis ribs, marinated steak that will knock your socks off, smoked brisket, THE BEST hot dogs, creamy potato salad that is NOT drowned in mayo, a pasta salad or two, delicious and healthy broccoli slaw and homemade biscuit strawberry shortcake, just to name a few. Maybe some grilled salmon and a strawberry rubarb pie, too! Look for it! I promise they will be easy and delicious. Most can be prepared the day ahead (or two) so you can enjoy your party and not be tied to the kitchen. Stay tuned, and wishing you all a wonderful beginning of summertime surrounded by family, friends and tasty food.
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It's three days before St. Patrick's Day, which falls on a Sunday this year, and I am feeling we will stay home and I will cook. Though I am part Irish, I'm not a huge fan of the "Irish" bar music often played in the U.S., and I'm not a fan of green beer. Or crowds. Best to stay home and whip up a few dishes.
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It's Saturday, March 16th. I'm planning a St. Patrick's Day weekend of food, but my husband does not like corned beef. Too bad, we're having Reuben's tonight. Gotta win him over.
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Some of the family is coming over for dinner and a Red Sox World Series game tonight (Game 4). I have been mulling the menu over and over. One thing is for sure -- I want an ice cream dessert of some kind. Lo and behold, the Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummond) is making not one but three types of frozen desserts!! One is right up my alley -- Ice Cream Tiramisu Cake. She is psychic. Let's do it, it’s meant to be!
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Potatoes Au Gratin Recipe | Scalloped potatoes, potatoes au gratin...both are delicious, creamy, cheesy and versatile. They pair well with ham, roast beef or pork roast. The big difference is that a gratin uses gruyere or swiss cheese with a cream-based sauce, while scalloped potatoes use cheddar and milk.
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Rack of Lamb Recipe | I just posted a Holiday Rice Pilaf recipe, and what goes best with rice pilaf? Rack of lamb, of course, and it, too, is ridiculously easy to make and presents well. You will look like Julia Child when you plunk this one down. Elegant, easy and delicious.
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Bob and I had a lovely meal at one of our favorite Whitefish, MT. restaurants the other night, McGarry's Roadhouse. The rice pilaf I got with my pork loin chop was light, fluffy and amazing. So I got the recipe from the chef. I'm good that way.
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Roasted Chicken Recipe | Damn you Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! Ever since you announced your engagement and said it happened over roasted chicken, the whole world wants to roast a chicken! Well, I haven't really checked in with the whole world, but I totally want to roast a chicken. So, game on.
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