I’ve seen many a “poke cake” and have yet to make one (it’s true!)  They always looked a little too sweet for me.  My blogger buddy Brandi over at The Country Cook has more poke cake recipes than you can shake a stick at!  Head on over for all her poke cake recipes!!  We don’t have…

Ok…I really had to fix this one.  This was a copykat recipe from the Cheesecake Factory which I had recently. Of course it didn’t come anywhere near what I had.  That’s what I get for being a copykat…nah nah nah nah nah!  I think Chef Pablo is not giving away anything! This is a sauteed…

Trying to duplicate fast food is easy, if you know the secrets. Tender bites of spicy, boneless chicken on top of creamy, homemade mashed potatoes, corn (who doesn’t mix their corn with mashed potatoes?), gravy and cheese. I got the spices in the coating for the chicken right, but the gravy was another story. Most…

Trying to duplicate fast food is easy, if you know the secrets. Tender bites of spicy, boneless chicken on top of creamy, homemade mashed potatoes, corn (who doesn’t mix their corn with mashed potatoes?), gravy and cheese. I got the spices in the coating for the chicken right, but the gravy was another story. Most…

It’s that time again!  Gearing up to get back to school!  My boys are grown and their school days are over.  No more backpacks, lunch boxes and trying to wake them up in the morning! Still when I see the little ones waiting for the school bus, it sure brings back wonderful memories.  Always taking…

It’s that time again!  Gearing up to get back to school!  My boys are grown and their school days are over.  No more backpacks, lunch boxes and trying to wake them up in the morning! Still when I see the little ones waiting for the school bus, it sure brings back wonderful memories.  Always taking…

Chow-Chow is a Nova Scotian and American relish that uses up those end-of-the-garden-season “orphaned” vegetables from the garden.  I don’t exactly know where it originates from, but I’ve seen recipes from the South (a staple whenever pinto beans and cornbread are served) and also from the Pennsylvania Dutch.  No matter where chowchow came from, it…

Did you know? The natural salt in food accounts for about 10 percent of total intake, on average according to the FDA.  The salt we add at the table or while cooking adds another 5 to 10 percent.  About 75 percent of our total salt intake comes from salt added to processed foods by manufacturers…

Double the time-saving power of your CrockPot by transforming leftovers into a totally different meal! This brisket is cooked with beef broth and loads of onions that melt down into a luscious gravy. NIGHT #1 4 lbs. beef brisket 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided 2 large onions, sliced thin 3 cloves garlic, minced…

I had the pleasure of working with Anne Dolce , Editor at The Daily Meal  to put together a homemade version of Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme. From the spices in the beef to homemade taco sauce, we put it all together for a healthier, fresher homemade version. I’ve tested the recipes and photographed the steps.…

We love Giardiniera – but the cauliflower is our favorite part.  This is a quick pickled, spicy salad chocked full of cauliflower.  Add any additional veggies!  Sliced carrots or celery – any veggie that will hold up well for pickling. 2 cups white vinegar 2 cups water 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp.…

This is another “What’s Left in the Fridge?” recipe.  Tomatoes just beginning to ripen in the garden, plenty of basil and fresh oregano – just calls for a pizza. Here’s what I had in the fridge. 1/2 package Phyllo Dough sheets Shredded mozzarella cheese Pecorino Romano 3 Roma garden tomatoes 1 bunch of scallions (just…

For those of you who love Ina Garten’s recipes, a group of us get together and re-create on of her recipes at home.  This fresh lemon mousse is a summer dessert but it’s elegant enough to serve to company any time of the year. Fresh Lemon Mousse 3 extra-large whole eggs 3 extra-large eggs, separated…

For those of you who love Ina Garten’s recipes, a group of us get together and re-create on of her recipes at home.  This fresh lemon mousse is a summer dessert but it’s elegant enough to serve to company any time of the year. Fresh Lemon Mousse 3 extra-large whole eggs 3 extra-large eggs, separated…