Graduation Party Recipes

With graduation party season well underway, you may be looking for a recipe that is easy to prepare, can feed an army of people, and more importantly, looks and tastes great. The following recipes are ideal for graduation parties or family potlucks, which call for eye and palette pleasing dishes: CRAB STUFFED MUSHROOMS Ingredients: 1 16-ounce container of large mushrooms 1 (7-ounce) can lump crabmeat, drained 3 green onions with tops, finely chopped 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 3/4 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup crushed croutons Paprika … Continue reading →

Choice Chicken Recipes

I always say that chicken is a busy mom’s best friend. Not only is it affordable and easy to prepare, it’s also versatile, and can be served more than once a day, without anyone complaining (at least in my home). The following chicken recipes are ideal for a light lunch and a traditional family-style dinner: GRILLED CHICKEN WRAP Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts 6 slices of bacon 1 roasted red pepper 1 grilled portobella mushroom, sliced 4 scallions 4 slices Pepperjack cheese 4 cups spinach 1 cup Cucumber Ranch salad dressing 4 spinach tortillas Olive oil Directions: Sprinkle the chicken with … Continue reading →

Easy Meat and Cheese Meals

No, I’m not featuring my favorite cheeseburger recipes. Too boring. Rather, the following recipes illustrate how easy it is to come up with unique ways to combine meat and cheese in kid-friendly dishes. Not only are these recipes delicious, but they are a cinch to prepare, and won’t put a major dent in your wallet: MACARONI AND CHEESE PIZZA Ingredients: 2 cups uncooked corkscrew macaroni 3 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped 1 pound lean ground beef 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce 1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed 1 teaspoon dried … Continue reading →

Bargain Beef Eats

Who says you have to drain your wallet to dine on beefy meals? There are hundreds of simple and delicious beef-based entrees that can be made in less than 30 minutes and for less than $20. Take a look: SIMPLE BEEF STROGANOFF Ingredients: 1 pound beef stir fry strips 2 tablespoons oil 1 medium onion, sliced 2 clove garlic, crushed 1 can Cream of mushroom soup 1 cup sour cream 1 (3oz.) can sliced mushrooms 2 tablespoons ketchup 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce Directions: Heat oil in skillet, brown beef strips. Add onion slices, crushed garlic and mushrooms. Continue cooking for … Continue reading →

Steak and Cream

If it seems like an odd coupling, then you haven’t tried the following recipes. I’m an A-1 gal myself, but after dining on a New York strip steak bathed in peppercorn cream sauce I may never go back to the black bottle again. Another one of my steak and cream favorites combines hearty beef tenderloin with tender mushrooms in a thick cream sauce. Simply divine. Try out the recipes and judge for yourself: STEAK WITH PEPPERCORN CREAM SAUCE Ingredients: 2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns, crushed 2 teaspoons garlic salt 2 New York strip steaks 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon Worcestershire … Continue reading →

Meaty Menu Options

I didn’t grow up in a meat and potatoes household, though I have friends who can’t survive a day without dining on the classic combo. They require having meat and potatoes at least once a day, be it sausage and hashbrowns at breakfast, a hamburger and fries at lunch or steak and potatoes at dinner. If you are a die-hard meat and potatoes fan, then consider the following hearty recipes. They don’t feature potatoes as the starch option, but I guarantee you won’t miss them. NOT YOUR MAMA’S BEEF STROGANOFF Ingredients: 2 pounds beef tenderloin or sirloin, cut 1-inch pieces … Continue reading →

More Easy Fish Friday Recipes

With just two more Fridays until Easter I thought it would be appropriate to share additional seafood recipes for those of you who abstain from meat during Lent. The following recipes are simple to prepare, but you’d never know it after seeing the finished product. The walleye is wonderful with lemon butter sauce and for those of you who love shrimp, I’ve included a dish that pairs the popular seafood with some Southern grits. LEMON BUTTER WALLEYE Ingredients: 1/4 cup flour Salt and pepper 2 walleye fillets 1 stick butter 1 tablespoon minced garlic 1 tablespoon fresh parsley 1/4 cup … Continue reading →

Fish Friday at Home

Fridays during Lent mean massive fish frys. Tonight thousands of seafood lovers will cram into dozens of churches and rotary clubs in our area to dine on fish fry favorites, including perch, grouper, homemade cole slaw, German potato salad and rye bread. I love a good fish fry, the prices not so much (though the money does go to a good cause). If you are looking to spend less this Friday night consider making your own three-course fish fry using the following simple recipes: SHRIMP DIP Ingredients: 1/4 pound diced cooked shrimp 1 stick butter, softened 1 (8 ounce) package … Continue reading →

Easy and Affordable Chicken Recipes

The price of a regular gallon of unleaded gas rose 11 cents in our city in less than five days. Good gracious! Fortunately, the price of chicken breasts went down about 50 cents since last week. Guess what we’re having for dinner tonight? And the next, and the next? Chicken is a frequent visitor at my family’s dinner table. Luckily, I have an abundance of recipes to turn plain chicken breasts into sensational entrees without breaking the bank. MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN Ingredients: 6 ounces linguine (or your favorite pasta) 8 ounces chicken breasts 2 ounces marinated artichoke hearts 2 ounces kalamata … Continue reading →

Beef Up Sunday Dinner

Growing up I never dined on beef stew unless it was Sunday night. Beef stew was one of my dad’s specialties and since he worked during the week, and the dish takes a while to cook, he’d always wait until Sunday to make it. Sundays are an ideal time to make warm, homey meals to share with family and friends. If you are looking for a hearty, beefed up dish to serve this Sunday, consider the following recipes: BAKED BEEF STEW Ingredients: 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes 1/2 cup flour 1 tablespoon garlic salt 2 teaspoons … Continue reading →