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 →

Quick and Easy Weekday Meals

With school back in session and after-school activities in full swing those nights of leisurely weeknight dinners on the back deck seem like a distant memory. These days home cooks are lucky to get a couple courses on the table between dropping one child off at soccer and picking the other one up from dance. The following fish recipes are ideal for families on the go. They don’t require a ton of prep nor do they call for you to spend time basting, sauteing, stirring or flipping. Rather, for these healthy dishes to come out perfectly delicious all you need … 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 →

How to Make Healthy Corn Dogs at Home

It’s not everyday that you see the words “healthy” and “corn dog” in the same sentence. Okay, so maybe these dogs are not “healthy,” but they are healthier than the ones you find at the state fair. Then again, who goes to a carnival to eat health food? Cotton candy, corn dogs and fried coke are what most folks are chowing down on at summer festivals, but now you can get a taste of fair food in your own home. In your own kitchen you can modify fatty recipes (such as corn dogs) to make them less artery clogging. Let’s … Continue reading →

Shakin’ & Bakin’ with Bacon

When Oscar Mayer introduced its Ready to Serve bacon a few years back you could have gotten a sunburn from the megawatt smile my bacon loving mom flashed each time she picked up a package from the grocery store. Heck, if it were not for my mom’s obsession with bacon my preschooler wouldn’t be walking around telling people that her grandma puts bagels on her salad. (She means Bac-Os.) With the weekend fast approaching I’m sure home cooks the world over are planning to fry up a pretty pound of the pork product to go along with their pancakes and … 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 →

Cornish Game Hens—Cooking the Other “Bird”

My young daughter loves “bird.” Meaning she happily devours anything that has wings—-chicken, turkey, quail, and yes, even Cornish game hens. Only she thinks all white meat is chicken (including pork). Not wanting to mess with a good thing (she eats every bite of white meat without complaint) I simply refer to dishes with white meat as “bird.” And it’s not as though she hasn’t seen me prepare the recipes. She simply accepts that birds come in different sizes and as long as the cooked meat is not over seasoned, drenched in gravy or (Heaven forbid) touching any other food … Continue reading →

Classic Chinese Cooking—Marvelous Mu Shu

Even if you can’t make it to Beijing for the Summer Olympic Games you can still get a taste of China in your own home. Dishes, like mu shu, are extremely popular in Chinese restaurants and are not hard to replicate at home. Mu shu pork is one of the most popular Chinese recipes in the west. The dish is comprised of either deep-fried or stir-fried pork combined with fresh vegetables. Mu shu originated in northern China and was given the name as a tribute to flower blossoms from the cassia tree. But, not everyone agrees with that origin. Some … Continue reading →

Quick and Easy Back-to-School Dinners

With year round school back in session for kids across the country, weeknights just got that much busier for home cooks. This is the time of year when overworked moms and dads are looking for quick, easy and affordable dishes to make that the whole family will enjoy. The following recipes fit those requirements. Both can be made in less than 20 minutes. What’s more, they can easily be doubled so you’ll have enough leftovers for another night. I prepare both dishes with ground turkey but you could easily substitute with ground beef to fit your family’s taste. EASY TURKEY … Continue reading →