One of my very favorite soups to make is clam chowder. I have been experimenting with different recipes over the years, and I have finally perfected my recipe, just the way I like it! My secret ingredient is corn. I know many clam chowder enthusiasts may be scratching their heads at the addition, but I think it gives a little something to the soup!
Homemade vinaigrette is simple to make, and not time consuming at all. Once you start making your own vinaigrette at home, you’ll never buy the store bought stuff again. It is fresh, tastes amazing, and you know exactly what is in it!
Champagne vinegar gives a unique punch to your basic dressing, and a little goes a long way. Pair it with a unique salad of mix greens, roasted pumpkin, gorgonzola cheese, and pecans, and you are all set for a beautiful fall salad.
Many of us enjoy pumpkins during this time of year as decorations, but often times we forget that pumpkins are great to eat as well. They are not only delicious, but also contain lots of antioxidants and vitamins.
If you like them in your baked goods, take a step back, and try the simple pumpkin as it is. Roasted pumpkin is a great addition to your fall table, and is perfect change of pace to your regular side dish. And, of course the best part is, there are only a few simple steps to make it.
When the weather turns cold, I immediately start to make soup several times a week. My favorite part about soup is that you can make a huge batch, and it will last for a few days, making dinner and lunch time a lot easier at my house.
Today I am sharing a great recipe for white bean chili. It is a unique take on chili, with a great blend of flavors and spices.
Every year we plant lots of tomatoes in our garden, and at about this time every year, I am scrambling to try to use up every last bit of my fresh tomatoes.
A great way to use your tomatoes is to make a great base tomato sauce that you can turn into a number of things like spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, tomato soup, you name it. My favorite part is that it is really simple to make! I roast them in the oven, then blend them for a nice fresh sauce in no time. And, it freezes really well, so you can have great tasting fresh sauce all winter long!
It is not a big secret that I am a kitchen gadget junkie. I love a good gadget, especially if I find myself using it over and over, the sign of kitchen gadget success!
I recently switched from using aerosol non-stick cooking sprays to using my own oils like olive oil, or vegetable oil in a fun pump sprayer*. It has quickly become a favorite kitchen gadget! I love that you can just re-fill with your oil once you have used it all, and you can re-use the can over and over, cutting down waste, and saving money in your pocket!
Another benefit is that you reduce the amount of chemicals you are ingesting from the aerosol sprayers, which also tend to leave a bit of a gummy mess on your cookware, and are not safe for your non-stick cookware. I also like to use heart healthy olive oil, so putting my own in a pump sprayer has been really great!
So, what are your favorite kitchen gadgets lately?
(*I have a misto brand sprayer that I really like, I think there are similar ones from other brands)
I love a dish that is simple to make, but looks fancy and tastes amazing! I recently included this baked brie on my table when I hosted my book club, and it was a favorite!
If you are in need of a quick appetizer to bring to your next gathering, this baked brie dish couldn’t be more simple to make!
All you need is brie, honey, berries, and candied nuts! Serve it with some fresh baguette bread slices or crackers, and you are all set. Fancy in no time!
Read more for the full recipe.
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Green smoothies are starting to become “all the rage” now-a-days. Have you tried one?
We just purchased one of those blenders on steroids and have been experimenting with many different types of smoothies.
I really love the green smoothies! It is nice to be able to sneak in some vegetables for even more vitamins and nutrients! I have loved just throwing in any produce we need to use up! And, my kids are smoothie lovers, so it is nice to see them drinking up so many fruits and vegetables!
We have tried out quite a few green smoothies, but this one is by far my favorite at the moment.
I was first introduced to pairing fruits with meats when I was a little girl by my French grandfather. He would always eat turkey with fresh applesauce. So, as long as I can remember, our family has had fresh applesauce along with our Thanksgiving turkey.
I love to pair meat with fruit! It really helps to bring out the flavor of the meat, and it really tastes nice together.
If you are new to the idea, here are a few combinations to get you started…
I love interesting flavor combinations on pizza! Barbecue chicken pizza is a favorite of mine, I especially love mine topped with fresh cilantro.
I like to use gouda cheese on my BBQ chicken pizza. It really melts perfectly, and the flavor is top notch! And, if you are a grill master, you can even cook these on your grill outside to avoid making your kitchen any hotter.
