Many years ago, my mother ‘invented’ our family’s favorite gravy for meatloaf.  This classic meatloaf is baked in the tomato soup surrounded by potatoes that soak up the meat juices and soup and turn into a delicious gravy. The potatoes are the best part!  We never knew what to call these potatoes, so they wound…

Definition:  Comfort Food – Noun:    “Food that is simply prepared and associated with a sense of home or contentment”. Psychological Studies:  Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological affects or to increase positive feelings. Is it really the food?  Maybe it’s the person that cooked it for you…

Definition:  Comfort Food – Noun:    “Food that is simply prepared and associated with a sense of home or contentment”. Psychological Studies:  Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological affects or to increase positive feelings. Is it really the food?  Maybe it’s the person that cooked it for you…

Most of us never tire of a good, homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese – our all American comfort food.  A lot of recipes you might have eaten would have some form of a roux, cooked flour and milk.  When I saw this recipe – this step was completely omitted.  The traditional cheddar is here, along…

Confit your Garlic! Oil poach garlic to make confit.  Tender, sweet cloves and infused oil.  Add the cloves to pan sauces, use the oil for drizzling or puree them both into a dressing. 20 cloves garlic, peeled 1 cup olive oil Bring garlic and oil just to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium…

Confit your Garlic! Oil poach garlic to make confit.  Tender, sweet cloves and infused oil.  Add the cloves to pan sauces, use the oil for drizzling or puree them both into a dressing. 20 cloves garlic, peeled 1 cup olive oil Bring garlic and oil just to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium…

I’ll admit, I am not good at making homemade cakes from scratch.  They always come out dry and dense.  My sons were born 1 day apart – 4 years apart.  They actually could have been born on the same day!  My first son was 2 weeks late – emergency C-section and my second son two…

I think we all look for different ways to make our good old comfort food – meatloaf.  This is a combination of three different recipes that I came up with.  I usually make a meatloaf with a vegetable puree – carrots, onions and celery.  It makes the meatloaf moist and very tasty – even cold…

Be sure to make plenty of these – they will be gone in a flash! Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. paprika 1-1/2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt 3/4 tsp. black pepper 2 eggs, separated 12 ounces amber beer  In a large bowl, mix together 1-1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp. paprika, sugar, salt and…

Be sure to make plenty of these – they will be gone in a flash! Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. paprika 1-1/2 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. salt 3/4 tsp. black pepper 2 eggs, separated 12 ounces amber beer  In a large bowl, mix together 1-1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp. paprika, sugar, salt and…

Confit your Garlic! Oil poach garlic to make confit.  Tender, sweet cloves and infused oil.  Add the cloves to pan sauces, use the oil for drizzling or puree them both into a dressing. 20 cloves garlic, peeled 1 cup olive oil Bring garlic and oil just to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium…

This inspiration came from Lynn over at Happier than a Pig in Mud who is a big fan of small-batch canning.  When I saw her post this morning, she gave me the inspiration to use up 4 plums and one pear to make 3 blushing jars of Pear-Plum jam. 4 plums chopped w/skin 1 pear,…