Sunday, January 13, 2013
This bread tastes so good that it's hard to believe it is so easy to make.
"What's the story, Morning Glory? Need a little time to wake up wake up." ~Oasis (Morning Glory lyrics) Around Christmastime a coworker of mine brought in an amazing homemade bread to share with us. It was sweet and dense and had carrots in it, so I knew it was super good for me. Well, it was so delicious that I had two pieces (ok, maybe three). So when it came time to make something for a day with the ladies I thought this would be just the thing. I'm bringing it today-hopefully the loaf will make it out of my kitchen. There are lots of recipes for Morning Glory bread out there-you can find both low-carb and low-fat versions, and recipes using different fruits-pineapple, apple or pear are popular choices. I chose to add raisins to mine. …
Sunday, January 6, 2013
This version of the Vietnamese noodle soup, Pho, is meant to chase away those winter chills, especially if those chills come along with aches and pains.
"Only the pure in heart can make a good soup." -Ludwig van Beethoven My friend Patty is a big fan of Pho and swears by its medicinal purposes. She always picks some up at a local Vietnamese restaurant when she isn't feeling well. (She has also promised to bring me some the next time she gets it - hint hint Patty) So when I came down with a cold (like a lot of folks right now) I immediately thought of Pho. Since I had no idea where to buy it (Patty lives in Worcester so that's a bit of a drive) I decided to make some. I found a great recipe on (where else?) Pinterest, picked up the ingredients, and had a big batch ready within an hour. Though my cold has yet to leave, my husband and son never caught it so perhaps this Pho really does have …
Sunday, December 30, 2012
This potato side dish is cheesy, warm and satisfying. It can also be easily altered to a lower fat version.
“People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.” -Unknown Well, here we find ourselves about to welcome in another year. Like most people I cannot believe how fast 2012 went by and I look forward to a new year full of possibilities, new experiences and of course, food. I am excited to try lots of new recipes and share them with you. This is a recipe I found on Pinterest and my family really enjoyed-moreso the second time around. I changed a few things (less sour cream, different cheese, more topping). I think some bacon would be great in this also. Enjoy! Cheesy Potato Casserole Ingredients: Instructions: This recipe can…
Sunday, December 23, 2012
This tasty finger food is quick for you to prepare and is a big hit at parties. Make it for your next party.
"I'm afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery." -Aldous Huxley I was asked to make an appetizer (of my choice) for a Christmas party last weekend. I decided to do something different (for me) and make a cold app, rather than my usual hot one. I planned on making a cheese and cracker platter, but after an overwhelming couple of hours in the grocery store, I ended up with way more than I had planned. I left with a mixture of tasty items-olives, marinated mushrooms, tomatoes, celery and pepperocinis, along with different cheeses and cracker selections. When it came down to it I couldn't fit everything on the platter and left the cheese and crackers aside (for my husband to consume during the week, I …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Need a quick holiday cookie recipe? Make one of these for your parties this season.
One of the most important holiday questions to ask yourself is: What kind of cookies will you be baking for your get-togethers this season? From sweet to savory, holiday cookies come in all shapes and sizes. And what’s better than to top off a tray of cookies than a glass of homemade eggnog? And if you're not up to making these recipes yourself, there's always places in Medford to pick up some baked goods for your holiday party, including: You can also check out myrecipes.com to learn how to host a successful cookie swap and view more holiday cookie recipes. Eggnog In a saucepan over low heat combine milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, cinnamon stick and clove. Bring to a slow boil (this will take between 5-7 mins). Once the milk mixture …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Five simple ingredients blend together to create a dessert that is truly amazing.
"Health food may be good for the conscience but Oreos taste a hell of a lot better." -Robert Redford My friends and I, collectively known as The BBs, got together last weekend to catch up and catch our breath as this holiday season got into full swing. Each of us brought a little something to nosh on (I brought my Mini Macs) and we had a great afternoon filled with laughs, good eats and a very tame Yankee Swap. All of us agreed though, that the highlight of the afternoon was Kelly's dessert, aptly named "Almost Heaven in a Bowl". It was the best dessert I had tasted in a good long while. It was so good, in fact, that I made it two days later at home and my guys devoured it. (I may have eaten a bit of it too.) This is sweet treat is so …
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Need to bring something to a holiday party? These bites of macaroni and cheese are sure to please.
"Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese." -Luis Bunuel I have two Christmas parties to attend on Saturday and I need to bring something yummy to both. What to make that is not too time-consuming (since one party is in the afternoon and the other is at night) and is sure to please most everyone? I think some single serving mac and cheeses are in order. This recipe is great because you can make the macs ahead of time and store them in the fridge until just before you are ready to head out the door. Pop them in the oven for ten minutes, let 'em cool for another ten and you are ready to roll. You can use any cheeses you like but I suggest the American/Cheddar mix-it's a good one. Mini Macs Ingredients: Instructions: *To …
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Looking for something a little different to serve at the holidays? Try this polenta appetizer.
"Polenta? Oh you mean Italian grits." -Unknown My niece and I got to spend a little quiet time together last weekend before she traveled back to NYC after the Thanksgiving holiday. Before she headed to Logan we stopped into a little Italian joint to enjoy a couple of small plates, salads and some vino. I chose the roasted vegetable dish (which was amazing) and she chose the baked polenta, something I had never tasted. We ate, drank and were merry...and after a couple of hours she left for the city that never sleeps and auntie managed to score the leftovers. I mixed those roasted vegetables into a green salad topped with some balsamic dressing--it was divine. It definitely made my "Back-to-the-Office-After-an Extended-Weeknd" Monday less …
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Craving a bowl of comfort food on these chilly evenings? This lasagna soup recipe is just the ticket.
“Once again, my life has been saved by the miracle of lasagna.” -- 'Garfield' (Jim Davis) Ah, lasagna. You cheesy, saucy little minx. I do adore you. And now that I have found a recipe combining you with another of my great loves (soup) I may just have died and gone to foodie heaven. The component that truly makes this soup sing is the cheesy mixture. Ricotta, Parmesan and Mozzarella...oh my! The original recipe calls for the pasta to be cooked in the soup but I cooked the pasta seperately. If you are planning on having leftovers you don't want the pasta to get mushy. Ground beef can also be substituted for the Italian sausage and if you don't like tomato chunks use crushed tomatoes. Buon appetito! Lasagna Soup Ingredients For Soup: For …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Chicken and vegetables simmer together to create this wonderfully satisfying dish.
"You don't want to make a steady diet of just lettuce. You don't want to make a steady diet of fried chicken." ~Paula Deen Chicken Cacciatore is one of those dishes that is just perfect for a slow cooker. Chicken and vegetables stewing together all day-the smell is heavenly and the taste is spectacular. So when I saw that the supermarket had chicken thighs on sale, I just knew I had to make it. I dug out my old recipe, purchased my ingredients and pulled the slow cooker from the pantry. Then I ran late every morning, all week long. Rats! I did end up making the Chicken Cacciatore for dinner one night by modifying the recipe, but hopefully next time I'm going to make it I will get out of bed when the alarm goes off. The first time. Here are…
