Canned Chicken Casserole

This very economical recipe was created as one of my desperation dinners. In fact, I prepared this dish last night and wrote up the recipe as I went along. It was way past dinner time, and I need to get something good on the table. The wonderful thing about casseroles is that they can be both creative and simple. You can use a few easy ingredients or throw in whatever you have on hand to create a full meal. We found ourselves needing dinner after a long day out at church and the township’s pumpkin festival. There is no fresh … Continue reading →

Jalapeno Meatballs

Half the fun of cooking is being able to experiment. I’m a great one for taking a recipe or a family dish and finding a way to change or improve it, which is what I did recently. One night I didn’t have chicken, so I decided to use the ground beef in the freezer and make meatballs but incorporate the basic idea of the original recipe. Mick declared it even better than the chicken and we had it again last night by his special request. So here for you is the recipe. Jalapeno Meatballs Ingredients 16 ounces ground beef Half … Continue reading →

Comfort Foods: Casseroles

I’m on a comfort food kick. Perhaps, it’s because we are still dealing with snow and below zero windchills, or I’m just lazy. Either way when I think of comfort food, casseroles immediately come to mind. If you have a large family or you contribute to a lot of potlucks, then you know how convenient casseroles can be. You simply gather a bunch of delicious ingredients, mix them up, place them in the oven, and a short time later—presto—instant dinner. If you are looking for a warm, hearty, one-dish delight to serve tonight, consider the following outstanding casserole recipes: CHICKEN … Continue reading →

Comfort Food Recipes

What’s your favorite comfort food? When I think of comfort food, dishes like pot roast, macaroni and cheese, soup and casseroles come to mind. We may have sprung ahead an hour this past weekend, but Old Man Winter still has our city firmly in his grasp. Consequently, I find myself digging out from under 7 inches of new snow, and digging around for some of my favorite comfort food recipes. Here are a couple of my top picks: CLASSIC CHICKEN CASSEROLE Ingredients: 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts Salt and pepper 1 jar dried beef (try Armour or Hormel) 6 strips … Continue reading →

Weeknight Meals: Simple is Best

If you are a busy home cook, who also does time as the family chauffeur, maid and counselor, then you know simple is best. This is especially true when it comes to getting dinner on the table on hectic school nights. While simple is preferred, it doesn’t mean having to sacrifice texture and flavor. The following recipes illustrate that simple can be tasty and satisfying: SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND RICE Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds of hot Italian sausage, casings removed (you can use mild if your kids don’t like spicy foods) 5 cups cooked white rice 1 cup cooked wild … Continue reading →

Making Dinner with Your Kids

I’m no gourmet cook; I willingly admit that fact. However, I do enjoy cooking and experimenting in the kitchen and I couldn’t be more delighted that my preschooler shares the same enthusiasm for the culinary arts. There’s nothing like seeing the fierce determination in her eyes as she tries to pour exactly the right amount of sugar into a measuring cup or the progress she has made wielding her butter knife (cucumbers and cantaloupe don’t stand a chance against my daughter). If you have children I strongly encourage you to invite them into the kitchen while you prep meals. Even … Continue reading →

Classic Macaroni and Cheese

Is there anything that says “comfort food” more than homemade macaroni and cheese? I hardly think so. This version uses four cheese which means my husband will like it. I find it to be the creamiest recipe I’ve ever made. . .which means my kids will like it. It took me a long time to find a macaroni and cheese recipe that my kids thought was better than the kind that comes in the box. If you’re looking for an easy meal idea. . .try adding vegetables and meat to this version. You can use canned tuna or chicken, or … Continue reading →

Ask a Food Blogger: Corn Pudding

Question: Do you have any good recipes for corn pudding? I love it but can’t find a recipe I like. When you’re looking into local cuisine on a trip (or in our case in a different neighborhood) it’s good ‘street sense’ to watch where the natives go. For example, when we go into Chinatown we don’t look for a place popular with the tourists, but instead opt to follow the locals down into what seems like a little dive in a hole in the ground for some of the best egg rolls, lo mein around. If it’s good enough for … Continue reading →

Homemade “Spaghettios!”

Want a great homemade treat that kids will love? This recipe is so simple to make, and it tastes much better than those canned kids meals. I discovered this great little recipe while on a pantry challenge. A pantry challenge is when you look into your pantry and try to use up the things you have on hand instead of going grocery shopping. During that pantry challenge, I found that I had a large number of cans of tomato soup as well as boxes of pasta. This recipe did the trick with using up those ingredients. It actually turned out … Continue reading →

Ask a Food Blogger: Scalloped Potatoes vs. Potatoes au Gratin

I must admit I’m really combining a question I received along with a post in the forums. The question was: Are scalloped potatoes and potatoes au gratin basically the same thing? In the forums, a family member asks: Does anyone have a really good recipe for scalloped potatoes? I am cook Easter dinner for my dad and he wants scalloped potatoes. The Difference Between Scalloped Potatoes and Potatoes au Gratin Scalloped potatoes are a milk based potato dish. The potatoes are usually sliced very thinly although what technically makes it ‘scalloped’ is the milk base. A gratin on the other … Continue reading →