Ok, ok… I know it is a lame name for a homemade knock-off of that box meal Hamburger Helper™, but I thought it was appropriate to describe my twist. Packed with vegetables and balanced with meat, pasta and cheese, this meal is as hearty as it is simple to make. This recipe is for a one pan casserole with Italian flavors, but I can see many variations possible. So skip the box and cook with fresh ingredients to enjoy that same simple and hearty meal with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavorings. Are you…
Today I made another dessert to share with others – this time for a friend to share with her co-workers. This cake was easy to prepare and is unique in flavor and texture. I liked it… a lot! The hazelnut flavor is present but not obtrusive. The simple chocolate glaze enhances the hazelnut flavor (think Nutella!) without overwhelming it. This cake is nutty but not sweet in flavor and different enough in texture; moist yet fluffy and slightly grainy that gives a pleasant toothsome aspect to it. As I said earlier, I like it…
Tonight’s cocktail is the James Bond inspired Vesper. This cocktail was first described in the book Casino Royale as 3 parts Gordon’s Gin, 1 part vodka, 1/2 part Kina Lillet – shaken until it is very cold before serving in a deep champagne goblet (i.e. a coupe glass) with a large lemon peel added. I am going to make this cocktail close to the above recipe – but as you now know how I am – I just have to play with it. I have 3 gins here: Tanqueray No…
Today I want to share with you a delicious Irish Freckle Bread recipe just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. This hearty whole wheat bread (or should I dare call it a fruit cake?) is chock full of flavor and delicious fruits – raisins, cranberries, currants, prunes, and dates. Moist and dense, you would think a little goes a long way – which it does – but it is also addicting; you just have to have a second slice! I found this recipe on the King Arthur flour website and loved its simplicity, but…
Tonight I decided to perform a different type of mash-up. This one is doing a Creole flavored fried rice cooked like an Asian fried rice. As many of you know, gumbo is served over rice, jambalaya is everything cooked together, etc so I thought “Why not do an Asian fried rice with Creole seasonings and such?’. Hot country sausage, the trinity (onion, bell pepper, celery), long grain rice, Tabasco, and Creole seasoning replace chicken, broccoli, soy sauce, etc. The results were, if I say so myself, fabulous. If you enjoy Cajun and Creole…
It has been a while since I did a breakfast post, so today I am rectifying that oversight. These banana pancakes are simple to make and very tasty. The subtle sweetness and light banana flavor fires on all cylinders. I paired these with a butter pecan syrup for a wonderful flavor combination and I bet these would sing just as well with honey or a light maple syrup. And the best part, this recipe makes a single stack of pancakes – just enough for one – which means you can skip the breakfast diner and enjoy…
Pasta. Tonight I wanted pasta and fresh (ok, store bought ‘fresh’) tortellini just fit the bill. This recipe is one of my go-to recipes when I don’t really feel like cooking. And with this cold/flu/lingering death making me miserable, I can say I honestly did not feel like cooking tonight. But I needed to eat, so here we are. I hope you feel like cooking tonight… and perhaps you will make this easy and tasty pasta dish! Save Print Tortellini with Prosciutto and Asparagus Prep time: 15…