Mediterranean Lasagna

Lasagna is a go-to menu item for many home cooks. However, if you are eating the same traditional meat and cheese lasagna once a week and not getting a positive response from your family, then it might be time to experiment with the following recipe. This Mediterranean Lasagna is just as easy to prepare as traditional lasagna, but the taste is intensified with a variety of non-traditional lasagna ingredients, including cinnamon, nutmeg and fresh mint. If you are concerned that your pickiest eaters will be turned off by the flavors, don’t be. The end result is just as (if not … Continue reading →

Beef Up Dinner with These Simple Recipes

If you are looking for a way to beef up your dinner menu without breaking the bank, then consider the following easy to make recipes. Both can be prepared in less than an hour (minus the cook time), but taste like you’ve spent all day slaving away in a kitchen to create. MEXICAN BEEF WRAPS WITH TOMATO CORN RELISH Ingredients: 1 boneless beef chuck shoulder pot roast or bottom round rump roast (3 to 3 1/2 pounds) 1 medium onion, cut into quarters 3 cloves garlic, peeled 3/4 cup water 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 jars (16 ounces … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: C is for Comfort Food

Fall’s cooler weather makes piping hot, down home comfort food taste that much better. When I think of comfort food thoughts of my grandfather’s famous pot roast and my dad’s incredible meatloaf and my grandmother’s warm potato salad (featuring chunks of fall apples and thick smoky bacon) come to mind. Both take prep time that you might not have on a busy weeknight, but on a late Sunday afternoon when a stiff wind is blowing leaves across your yard a hot homemade meal is the perfect way to embrace the season. OLD FASHION MEATLOAF Ingredients: 1 cup of finely chopped … Continue reading →

Grilled Favorites: Patty Melts with a Twist and Zesty Italian Burgers

The Labor Day holiday weekend is right around the corner and there’s nothing like a big BBQ to say so long to summer. However, some cash strapped families feeling the pinch from high food prices and even higher gas prices might be tempted to cancel their picnic plans. Don’t throw in the towel on your holiday grilling plans until you read the following recipes. Not only are they affordable, but they also feature basic ingredients that the entire family will enjoy. (Believe me; I know there’s nothing more frustrating than seeing good meals go to waste because your kids are … Continue reading →

Holiday Weekend Cookout: Hawaiian Hamburgers and Bacon in the Middle Burgers

For many families the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend marks the last major BBQ of the summer season. If this is the case for your clan consider hosting more than just a traditional weenie roast. The following recipes are easy to prepare but pack a real punch in the flavor department. They are both kicked up versions of the traditional hamburger, but instead of the standard meat, bun, ketchup and mustard these patties are loaded with the taste of the Hawaiian Islands and bacon and Colby-Jack cheese respectively. Take a look: MINI HAWAIIAN BURGERS Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef chuck … Continue reading →

Mediterranean-Style Rib Eye Steaks and Garlic Butter Shrimp

With summer rapidly drawing to a close many families are putting the finishing touches on their vacations. Sadly, winter marshmallow roasts around the living room fireplace will soon replace the outdoor BBQs that have become an evening staple for some clans. Bidding good-bye to summer is never easy (especially if you live in the Upper Midwest), which is why I like to ease the pain by grilling out as much as possible during these last weeks of August. The following recipes make for delicious Surf ‘n’ Turf meal. The first dish is a Mediterranean-style Ribeye Steak infused with classic flavors … Continue reading →

Simple Steak Recipe and the World’s Easiest Healthy Dessert

I’ve been on a steak kick recently. Perhaps, it’s because I am planning to prepare the choice cut of meat for a get together my family has been invited to. Regardless, I am surprised by how many simple recipes exist for a piece of meat that I have long associated with a raise (or other financial windfall) and labor (hauling out the grill and carefully preparing individual steaks to everyone’s desired doneness is a sweaty process). The recipe I am planning to take to the weekend get together is clear cut and while I have yet to prepare it I … Continue reading →

Sizzling Steak Tacos with Mango Salsa

How often do you prepare steak for a weekday dinner? In a previous blog I revealed that making steak in the middle of the week is not a common occurrence in my home. But, during the summer months it’s not uncommon for some home cooks to throw a few steaks on the grill mid-week. If you are one of these lucky folks then you might consider making the following recipe. These Sizzling Steak Tacos are hot and spicy thanks to some ground cumin and garlic. The simple ingredients give the steak a welcome kick. Meanwhile, the fresh mango salsa has … Continue reading →

Mid Week Steak Dinner

Thanks to my generous grandparents (most notably my gourmet cook grandfather) I grew up eating steak every Saturday night. Consequently, I always considered the delicious cut of meat to be a weekend treat. But, these days steak is affordable enough (depending on the cut) and recipes are plentiful enough to create amazingly tasty meaty dishes in the middle of the week. The following steak recipes are simple enough to prepare even on a night when you get home from the office later than expected. The first one, which features beef tenderloin steaks swimming in a creamy mushroom sauce, can be … Continue reading →

No More Boring Burgers

Forget about the ho-hum burgers you typically throw on the grill during your summer BBQs. The following recipes provide you with simple ways you can kick up your next burger bonanza with mouthwatering versions of the summertime classic. The first burger features prepared polenta and a host of other tantalizing fresh ingredients such as basil, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese to create a hearty layer of flavors typically found in Caprese salad. The second recipe honors south of the border roots by featuring a cheese blend normally reserved for tacos and other Mexican-themed dishes. Cumin and fresh tomatoes round out the … Continue reading →