Winter

Hassleback Cheesy Potatoes It's a Keeper

Hassleback Cheesy Potatoes

Just what is a Hassleback Potato, you ask?  Fanned out like an accordion, these spuds were named after the Restaurant Hasselbacken in Stockholm, Sweden.  It was here that these delicious cheesy potatoes were created.

While these little gems may look intricate and difficult to make, they aren’t. They are just a few simple steps away from traditional, every day, run-of-the-mill baked potatoes.   All it takes is a few swipes of your knife (be sure to take note of the wooden spoon trick below) and some scrumptious toppings.  And viola!  Hassleback Cheesy Potatoes!

Italian Wedding Soup It's a Keeper

Italian Wedding Soup

In the winter, I have a love affair with soup.  It tickles my fancy and it warms my soul.  OK, I don’t know about the soul part, but it makes me feel good and I love it!

I especially love soups that are full of hearty goodness.  Lots of veggies.  Rich broth.  And, of course a little cheese doesn’t hurt either!

I have a particular affinity for Italian Wedding Soup.  Maybe it’s my Italian heritage coming through.  Or, maybe it’s because I love the little meatballs?  It’s probably the meatballs!  Until recently, I never made my own Italian Wedding Soup.  I thought it was too complicated.  You have to make a broth and then dozens of little meatballs.  It was one of the dishes that I would rather order out.  Until recently.

I took the best parts (according to me) of several recipes and combined them all to come up with this one.

Weight Watchers Pork Tenderloin

Seasoned Pork Tenderloin: A Super Fast Supper

Everywhere I go, I find myself in conversations about food.  I also find myself scribbling down recipes on scraps of paper, backs of envelopes or, even napkins.  I can’t help myself.  I think I have an addiction.

This recipe is from one of those instances.  I was at church and, as usual, engrossed in a conversation about food.  We were going back and forth about our go-to recipes.  You know, the ones that you end up making about once a week!  My friend was telling me about a great pork tenderloin recipe that was super simple and packed with flavor.   That sure got my attention! 

Pioneer Woman Chili

Simple, Perfect Chili

I read cookbooks like other people read romance novels — cover to cover, absorbing every delicious measurement and instruction as if it were the feud between Edward and Jacob (sorry, I had to throw in the Twilight reference).

As soon as I received my copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond (thank you, Mr. UPS guy), it was no different.  As soon as my son was in bed, I settled down on the couch with a cup of tea to read my new book.  Bliss.

As I was reading through P-Dub’s (cute, huh?!) recipes, artfully intertwined with great stories of her transition from big-city girl to a pioneer woman who works a ranch, I came across her recipe for Simple, Perfect Chili.  Ding! Ding! Ding!  I just found my recipe for the cookbook review!

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

For months now (maybe even years), I’ve come across recipes for King Ranch Chicken Casserole in various magazines, cookbooks, websites, and blogs.  I even saved a few in my pile to make a later time.  But, for some reason, I’ve never made it.  I don’t know why.

I decided it was time to try this recipe.  I was in the mood for a casserole — there’s something about casseroles and comfort food — so I thought, “what the heck?!”

Is It a Keeper?

Why, oh why, did I wait so long to make this recipe?  Everyone loved it!  It was creamy and cheesy with just a little hint of heat.  Mmmmm!  I really loved the flavor that the corn tortillas added.  There was even a debate about who got to take the leftovers for lunch the next day!

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. 

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.

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