Christina Hitchcock

Hi! I'm Christina, the chief cook and bottle washer here at It Is a Keeper! I scour cookbooks, recipe boxes and the internet to bring you only the BEST recipes and product that earn my seal of approval. It Is a Keeper is your source for quick, easy and simple recipes for busy families that are tried and true. Enjoy!

Apple Bundles

While I enjoy the long, lazy summer days, it’s the cool, crisp days of fall that I really crave!  I wait all year long to enjoy the few short weeks, where the mountains are covered in orange, yellow and red patches and the days are cool and sunny.  You know…when you need to wear a sweatshirt but you can still get a sun burn!

This was the perfect autumn weekend!  Bright sun, colorful leaves, two whole days with nothing to do but visit the pumpkin patch and the apple orchard!  Bliss!

This weather always inspires me to cook and bake!  And, since we had just left the Ritter’s Cider Mill with all of our favorite finds (buckets of Jona Gold, Macoun and Gala apples, apple cider donuts and, of course, apple cider), I wanted to find some new apple recipes.

Mashed apples used to make apple cider

Pressing the mashed apples to make cider

I’m Gonna Be in a Cookbook!

Soooo….I’m going to take a second to toot my own horn.  I just found out this afternoon that my recipe for Braciole is going to be published in the “Local Flavor: Recipes We Love” cookbook!

Back in April, my recipe was published in the Scranton Times-Tribune “Local Flavor” feature.  It was such an exciting experience.

So, when I saw this ad in the Times-Tribune, I contacted Josh (the reporter who wrote the article) and that’s when I found my recipe would be one of the recipes included in the book!

Chicken Cobbler Casserole

The other day, I was looking through “the pile” for casserole recipes and I came across this little gem!  I think it originally came a Southern Living magazine.

You know, I was born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania, but I’ve always thought that (deep down) that I was born on the wrong side of the Mason Dixon Line!  I love all things southern — the food, the hospitality.  I love it all.  And, I live vicariously through my Southern Living magazines!

OK, back the casserole…I pulled this recipe out with a few others (like Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce — which, if you haven’t already tried it, you MUST!) to try on a brisk fall day. 

Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

So the weather’s getting cooler here in northeastern Pennsylvania and that means it’s time for things like football, the cider mill and warm comforting casseroles!  I sifted through “the pile” and came up with a couple of contenders for dinner tonight — Chicken Cobbler Casserole and Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.

I decided to go with the cannelloni tonight, but, rest assured, the Chicken Cobbler will be tried and tested by my fearless taste-testers very soon!

Parmesan Roasted Green Beans

This year, my garden produced a TON of green beans!  There is nothing like fresh beans picked from the vine.  They’re perfect!  With so many on hand, I began searching for new green bean recipes.  That’s when I stumbled upon this great recipe for Parmesan Roasted Green Beans on a great blog I found —  Cooking Tip of the Day.

Easy Rustic Garlic Bread

I love garlic bread.  Actually, I love most anything that’s made with garlic!  What I don’t love, though, is garlic bread that is dripping in butter.  Ick.

This weekend, we were having Chicken Parmigiana and I wanted garlic bread.  I sifted through “the pile” and came up with this recipe — it only called for 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Not too shabby!  So I gave it a try. 

Banana Galette

The other night, it was just my son and I, since Daddy was working.  We both wanted a special treat so I searched through my “pile” to find a recipe that my 4 year old could help make.

These Banana Galettes, a recipe from Everyday Food magazine, looked easy enough (and tasty enough), plus there were plenty of tasks my little sous chef could handle! But, I have to say, I had no idea what a “galette” was…and, truth be told, I still don’t really know!

Bread and Butter Pickles

For those of you that have been following my blog, you know that I’ve been dying to learn how to can!  A few weeks ago I sent out a plea for a little old lady to teach me!  I have to say, I was shocked (and touched) at how many people offered up their grandmas and aunts to me!

Well, I never did complete a canning apprenticeship with a little old lady.  But, this past weekend, my mother and I decided we were going to take the bull by the horns and teach ourselves! 

Chicken Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

I’m always on the lookout for dishes that I can pre-make for my work lunches.  So when this recipe popped up in my inbox I thought I would give it a try. 

Open Faced Chicken Caprese Sandwiches

My husband works a swing shift as a crime fighter so some nights, it’s just Joey (my 4 year old) and I for dinner.  Tonight was one of those nights.

My Mom’s 3 Bean Salad

Tonight, we had dinner at my grandparent’s house.  God love them….they’re 92 and still entertaining!  My grandmother made my favorite stuffed pork chops (with the stuffing on top so it gets all crispy and yummy!) and my mother brought a 3 bean salad.  It’s a new recipe that she tried.

Antipasta Platter

Antipasta Platter

My cousin, Donna, bring this great antipasta platter to all of our family get-togethers.  It’s one of my favorite appetizers ever! 

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Recently, I asked you guys what you wanted me to make next.  Amy commented that she wanted a decadent dessert.  And, to me, nothing says decadence like CHOCOLATE!  When I flipped through my pile of recipes, I came across several different recipes for Molten Chocolate Cakes.  After reading through them all, I settled on one from Everyday Food magazine.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

Is it a Keeper?

These were really good!  Very rich, but very good!  Make sure you watch the baking time carefully.  I think I over baked mine.  Next time, I think I’ll start checking them at the 10 minute mark.

I also liked these cakes with raspberries.  I think it went very well together.  The only thing that was missing was a cup of coffee!  I think the coffee would have really intensified the chocolateliness!

These are easy to make and would make an elegant dessert for a dinner party or a special family treat!  Definitely a keeper!

Watch me make them on WNEP’s Home and Backyard:

Cinnamon Chip Scones

Cinnamon Chip Scones

I love cinnamon.  And, any recipe that starts with the word “cinnamon” grabs my attention.  I’ve been looking for a good scone recipe.  One that wasn’t too dry or too complicated to make.  When I came across this recipe, it seemed just right. 

Super Berry Smoothie

This afternoon, I had lunch at Panera Bread with my good friend, Lisa.  I don’t know why, but smoothies have become my new addiction.  I think part of it is due to the warmer weather, but I just seem to be craving berries.  I ordered a smoothie and was slightly appalled that it was $3.99.  Seriously?  $3.99?

When I came home, I scoured my (100+) cookbooks and the internet to find a suitable recipe.  Here’s what I came up with:

Shrimp with Orzo and Peas

I found this recipe (well sort of!) in my new 29 Minutes to Dinner cookbook from the Pampered Chef.  The original recipe was a little different.  I immediately swapped out ingredients I wasn’t crazy about (clam juice) and I knew my family would not eat (mint).

Tonight was t-ball practice so I measured out all of the ingredients before leaving the house.  This way when I came home, everything was ready to go for a quick dinner.

Copycat Ruth's Chris Vanilla Cream with Berries

Copycat Ruth’s Chris Sweet Vanilla Cream with Berries

A few weeks ago, I had a wonderful birthday dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House.  The food was absolutely to-die-for!  I remember feeling a little bit sad when I took my last bite of filet mignon.  It was heavenly!  Just when I thought I couldn’t eat another bite, the waiter brought our dessert.  It was a small dish of vanilla cream with fresh berries on top.

Oh…my…god!  Words cannot describe how good that stuff was!  I knew I had to figure out to make this for myself! 

My inspiration

Tonight, my mother and I went to see Julie Powell, author of the book Julie & Julia and featured guest for the Lackawanna County Library Lecture Series.

I was eager to meet the woman who inspired this blog. I didn’t know what to expect.  I’ve never been to anything like this before.

Roast Chicken with Balsamic Bell Peppers

Photo by Jim Hitchcock

I found this recipe in one of the many cooking e-newsletters that I receive.  It sounded and looked great so I thought I would give it a try. 

Cherry Jubilee Cheesecake Squares

My sister-in-law, Cathy, make this dessert for Easter dinner.  She found the recipe on the back of a cake mix box.  While I didn’t make the recipe, per se.  I was an active taste-tester! And, that’s what this blog is about.

Raspberry French Toast Bake

I’m always looking for new recipes to make breakfast more special.  When I came across this recipe, it looked divine!  I couldn’t wait to try it!  So, I assembled everything and took it over to my parent’s house for Sunday brunch.

Southwest Salad

My favorite salad of all time is the Cobb Salad at Brixx Grille and Tavern in Scranton!  The other night for dinner, I was craving this salad but couldn’t run out and pick one up.  Fortunately, I had most of the ingredients on hand so I tried to re-create it at home. 

Kung Pao Chicken

I absolutely love Chinese food!  But everytime I tried to make it at home, the results were mediocre at best.  In my previous attempts, I would use chicken, various vegetables and bottled stir fry sauces.  Not impressed.  Not even a little.  When I found this recipe for Kung Pao Chicken I thought I would give it one more try. 

Pork Chops Oreganata

Who says that just because you’re working late, you have to order out?  Or, have leftovers for dinner?  I knew I was going to be working late, so I needed to find a recipe that 1.) had a few elements that I could make in advance and, 2.) did not take long to get on the table.   That’s where Pork Chops Oreganata comes in.

Penne Gorgonzola with Chicken

Photo by my husband!

After a stressful day at work, the mere thought of having to cook dinner is exhausting.  It’s nights like these that I like to have a few simple dinner ideas up my sleeve.  You know…the ones that you can usually pull together from basic ingredients in your pantry and the ones that don’t make a kitchen full of dirty dishes.

Crunchy Onion Bourbon Burger

crunchy onion bourbon burger on a white plate.Thursday night is play group  night.  For the past three years, my two friends and I have been meeting on Thursdays so that our sons (all born in February 2006) could get together to play.  These nights are usually very informal — pizza, subs, no stress, no fuss. 

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