I thought it would be fun to cook up a big batch of shrimp chowder with bacon, corn and fresh thyme to celebrate a national foodie day. It seems that there is a National day for pretty much any food! October 19 is National Seafood Bisque Day. It is the perfect choice for a …
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The cooler weather is on the way and for me that means cooking lots of casseroles. This BBQ Ranch Chicken Casserole is rich and hearty and the perfect way to warm you up on a cool autumn night. And the fact that it’s one of my 30 minute meals makes it an added bonus for …
These homemade copycat crab cakes are a pretty good version of the ones that you can get from Joe’s Crab Shack. You can make them at home but feel as though you are at the beach! Some of my favorite 30 minute meals are a “copycat recipe” of some of my favorite foods from popular …
I love my crock pot! I can throw all of the ingredients into it early in the day and let it do its job all day long. At the end of the day, my house smells great when I come home after being out all day. But there are a few cooking tips to make …
Slow cooker meals are some of my favorites. There is nothing that makes an easy recipe better than adding ingredients to a slow cooker and letting the appliance do the work for you while you are out and about doing other things. This Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken is simple to prepare and flavored beautifully from …
This slow cooker sesame seed honey chicken is sweet and tangy and perfect for a busy week night. I seem to be on a sesame seed kick lately. I needed some for my Asian sesame seed dressing and the bottle was big so I had plenty over for other recipes. Since I also love crock …
I thought it would be a good thing to share some of the cooking tips that I have learned for cooking chicken for the best results. Anyone who browses through my recipes category will see that I am a big chicken fan. I have always loved all cuts of a chicken and cook it several …
If you don’t care for fish, it may be because you are not cooking it correctly. Follow my 10 cooking tips for Cooking fresh Fish and you may find that fish will become a favorite of yours. Most doctors say that you should eat more fish. It is very high in protein and low in calories, …
What is not to love about zucchini? It is a super easy to grow vegetable, especially for beginning gardeners, is prolific, is low in calories and tastes great. But by the end of the growing season, as long as you prevent squash bugs, you are likely to have bucket loads of it. Your neighbors will …
Cinnamon has long been touted as having many health benefits. Many reports seem to suggest that adding it to your diet can have an overall good effect on your health. Cinnamon tastes good on desserts. Should we add it liberally to foods? Before you reach for a bottle of cinnamon supplements, remember this: there is …
My husband and I are very fond of Italian recipes. I love the full bodied flavor and since I garden as well, I keep Italian style herbs growing on my patio year round. My favorites are rosemary, thyme, oregano and basil. I thought it would be fun to put together a round up of some …
If you love the flavor of Moroccan food and the ease of making crock pot recipes that are both savory and sweet, give this crock pot beef tips in Moroccan mushroom sauce a try. My husband loves all types of Moroccan and Indian foods. Our local favorite restaurant closed down recently, so I have been …
If you are looking for something fast and easy to make on a busy weeknight that is still full of flavor and looks great, this pork chops with apples and stuffing is the perfect choice. The wholesome taste of cinnamon and apples is always a perfect accompaniment for pork chops. But adding the extra crunch …
This crock pot salsa chicken recipe could not be easier to make. Super tasty with the addition of one of my new favorite salsas, but the dish tastes like you spent hours making it. Which you did, except that you can do other things while it is simmering in the crock pot! Go, crock pot …
During the winter months, my husband and I especially like to have spicy foods. The heat from the dishes warms our bodies and also our spirits. This chicken chili recipe is one of our favorite winter meals. This Chicken Chili Recipe is perfect for a cold winter night. If you are looking for winter comfort …
Spicy and flavorful fillings wrapped in a corn tortilla and drizzled with a savory sauce – everyone loves enchiladas. These tasty enchilada recipes are easy to make and will have your family asking for them again and again., Enchilada recipes for dinner anyone? When I go to our favorite Mexican restaurant, I almost always choose …
Looking for 30 minute meals that just scream comfort food? I have you covered! This 30 minute easy beef stroganoff recipe is a real favorite with my family. It is rich and hearty and perfect for a night when the days begin to get shorter and are much cooler. I love it because it only takes …
We are having oven baked lamb chops tonight for my husband’s birthday and I decided to make this dish to go along with the chops. The recipe is a French classic called French Potatoes Gratin Dauphinois. Gratin Potatoes is a simple recipe but getting the flavors and textures, as well as the rich sauce just …
My husband is a huge fan of Indian curries and I am as well. But when we go to our local restaurant, it’s hard for us to share dishes because he loves quite spicy Indian foods and I love them mild. This recipe is a compromise. It is mild which pleases me, but the delicious …
This easy pizza pasta casserole recipe is one that will have the whole family come running. The spicy sliced pepperoni provides the zip in this pasta casserole and also gives it the pizza name. Perfect for busy week nights, this recipe is so easy to do and comes together quickly. It’s almost as fast as …
This hearty potato and cheddar soup is a perfect choice for cool fall evenings. Be sure to use a good quality cheese. It is important for the dish’s full bodied flavor. This soup is one of my favorite one pot meals. I like chunks of potato in my soup. For a creamier soup, puree the …
This curried chicken shepherd’s pie takes normal chicken pot pie to a new level by adding curry powder and cumin to the filling. It is going to be cold here in Raleigh overnight. We even got some snow, yesterday which is rare for here. When the weather is cool like this, I am in the …
Brrrr…it’s cold here in Raleigh. Time for one of my 30 minute meals that will hit the spot. The temps are down to about 9 degrees overnight and that is nothing whatsoever like normal for us here. So, I need something filling and warm and comforting. I decided to make corn chowder but wanted a …
This Amish Salisbury steak recipe is inexpensive and easy to prepare. A simple herb gravy tops patties of ground beef for a week night comfort food meal. This classic Amish country meal idea is an oldie but goodie at our house. The traditional Salisbury steak recipe, done Amish style. Delicious flavor! What is not to …
This slow cooker herbed apricot pork loin roast tastes like you spent hours tending it, when the crock pot really did all the work for you. Short on time in the morning but want to use your slow cooker? Just 5 minutes of preparation is all you need for this delicious pork roast. Just mix …
My daughter visited for the Christmas holidays this year and she is a vegan. We were planning on having ham for Christmas dinner, and she could not eat this, so I wanted some tasty side dishes that she could enjoy. This recipe for Ziti Pasta with Asparagus and Mushrooms was her favorite. She said “I …


























