Hearty Homemade Winter Soup Recipes

We received more than 40 inches of snow in the month December. That’s more than our city typically sees during the entire winter season and meteorologists say more of the white stuff is on the way along with record breaking cold temperatures. Next week Milwaukee is not supposed to get above ZERO. In fact, on Wednesday the forecasted high is predicted to be -6. City officials are already warning people not to travel if they don’t have to. What a joke. Who willingly chooses to expose themselves to dangerously cold weather conditions? If I had my way I would stay … Continue reading →

Super Soups

The day after Thanksgiving should be named Leftover Turkey Day rather than Black Friday since most Americans typically partake in round two (or three or four) with the holiday bird. In a previous blog I listed recipes that are ideal for leftover turkey. However, if you’re planning to stick with traditional turkey sandwiches, then why not whip up a steaming hot pot of fresh soup to go with them? The following soup recipes pair perfectly with turkey sandwiches on the day after Thanksgiving: WILD RICE SOUP Ingredients: 1 stick butter 1 finely chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup … Continue reading →

Soup’s On: Spectacular Fall Soup Recipes

Rich and delicious homemade soup can be a busy cook’s best friend especially when Mother Nature is acting like your enemy. Here in the Midwest fall came in like a lamb (it was nearly 80 degrees on Election Day), but now it feels more like late December (yesterday’s high was 30 degrees). The conditions are terrible if you have to be outdoors for long periods of time, but they are ideal if you have the luxury of staying indoors all day making homemade soups. The following soup recipes are easy to prepare and satisfying enough to serve as a one-pot … Continue reading →

Time Saving Recipes for Trick-or-Treat Night

Who has time to whip up a four-course meal on Halloween? With the doorbell constantly ringing, your kids screaming about missing costumes pieces and the dog trying to eat out of the treat bowl, most of us are lucky to get one course on the table. That’s why Halloween is the perfect night to cook up one-pot wonders such as chili. A big pot of hot and hearty chili is simple to make and can be prepared well before those mini ghosts and goblins come knocking. Another bonus with chili is that it tastes even better reheated so when your … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: K is for Kale

It’s considered one of the healthiest vegetables around. Kale is part of the Brassica family (along with broccoli and cabbage) and is loaded with Vitamin K (good for the blood), Vitamin A (good for bone growth and vision) and Vitamin C (great for the immune system). The green leafy veggie is also chock full of cancer preventing phytochemicals. Of course, that likely matters little to your youngest eaters, who primarily care about taste. Some of my family members don’t like the bitter taste kale can leave behind when eaten alone. However, the nutritious vegetable is extremely tasty when incorporated in … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: J is for Jambalaya

I live in Wisconsin, home of the world famous Green Bay Packers and the place others come to learn how to tailgate. Around here autumn is known as tailgating season and not just at legendary Lambeau Field. They’re tailgating at Miller Park in Milwaukee, at Camp Randall in Madison, heck, my neighbors tailgate at the local park prior to their grandson’s Little League games. And while it may be hard to believe, residents here cook up more than just brats and cheese curds on game day. Despite its southern roots, Wisconsinites love whipping up a piping hot batch of jambalaya. … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: G is for Ghoulish Goulash

By the looks of the racks at Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys R Us if you don’t already have your child’s Halloween costume you might be out of luck. Like it or not Halloween has turned into a season rather than a single day. Years back I tried to fight it. I resisted the temptation to give into the hype and start celebrating the holiday prior to the last week in October, but these days people start prepping for Halloween in late August. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, I guess. Hence, this next recipe. If you are looking for … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: E is for Easy Taco Soup

Now that the temperatures are cooling down our local McDonald’s has returned soup to its daily menu. (The McDonald’s here in Wisconsin takes soup off the menu during the summer months while the McDonald’s in my hometown in Hawaii keeps theirs on year-round—-go figure!) This in turn has me itching to make a batch of my favorite taco soup. If you read my food blogs on a regular basis you know that I am by no means a gourmet chef. While I love spending time in the kitchen and experimenting with new recipes and unique kitchen gadgets, I mainly cook … Continue reading →

Autumn Recipes: B is for Butternut Squash

It’s not fall around here until butternut squash makes its way into a few dishes. The hearty bottle-shaped fruit (yes, fruit) is a seasonal favorite that can be used in everything from pies to rolls, soups to casseroles. (My daughter adores Butternut Squash Fries.) It’s not exactly a joy to peel, but the flavor it imparts makes prep time worth it. If you have never cooked with butternut squash before consider trying these simple recipes to start. They are fall favorites in my home and combine a few other autumnal flavors as well. BUTTERNUT SQUASH CASSEROLE Ingredients: 3 cups mashed, … Continue reading →

Presidential Chili

Make that Presidential Hopeful Chili. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama just wrapped up a weeklong vacation to his boyhood hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii and while he was in paradise he dined on a local favorite—-Hawaiian-style chili. Not once, but twice, according to news reports. I don’t blame the U.S. Senator from Illinois. Like Obama I was born and raised in Hawaii and it’s no secret that the Islands are home to some of the best chili in the world. (And unlike here in the Midwest fast food chains don’t yank the hearty dish from its menus during the summer months.) What … Continue reading →