21 Wednesday Nov 2018
Posted in Gluten Free, Sweet Potatoes, Vegetarian
Sweet potatoes are wonderful and should be eaten more frequently than just at Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, mashed sweet potatoes are wonderful, like the Bourbon Sweet Potatoes with Bacon-Pecan Topping, Savory Layered Sweet Potatoes, or Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with a Kick!, but let’s not limit ourselves. Roasted sweet potato wedges are a delicious alternative. Continue reading
15 Thursday Nov 2018
Posted in Dry Rubs/Spice Blends, Gluten Free, Thanksgiving, Turkey
Tags
12 pound turkey, Cajun seasoning, Dijon mustard, fines herbes, garlic granules, herbs, maple syrup, olive oil, onion granules, tarragon
Spatchcock? Or not spatchcock? That is the question. It’s such fun to say “spatchcock”…go ahead, say it over and over. Turns out, it’s a great way to save time cooking your turkey, too. I have done this with a twenty pounder, but today, it’s a smaller twelve pounder. Then, place your different types of seasoning on each quarter for four different flavors, because variety is truly the spice of life! Continue reading
31 Wednesday Oct 2018
Posted in Quickies (It's not what you think!), Soup, Tomatoes, Uncategorized, Vegetarian
Tags
bacon, broth, butter, corn kernels, fire-roasted tomatoes, Garlic, honey, olive oil, Onions, rice flour, tomato paste, whole milk
This is a simple, full-flavored version of tomato soup. I’ve already posted Simply Tomato Soup (with Options) and this is more or less that. But, I’ve tweaked and changed a few things and frankly, simplified the recipe. This is in keeping with our recent discussions of “basic” soups. And really, who doesn’t like a good, simple tomato soup? Continue reading
11 Thursday Oct 2018
Posted in Beef, Gluten Free, Make Ahead, Spanish, Spices
Tags
almonds, beef broth, bell peppers, Bread, chuck steak, fresh herbs, Garlic, honey, olive oil, olives, Onions, plum tomatoes, sherry vinegar, Spices, white wine
This sauce is incredibly complex and absolutely delicious, with flavors leaning well into Spain and wandering just a bit into Portugal. Sherry vinegar, smoked paprika, cinnamon, olives, orange and almonds are significant players in both countries, tracing their roots back to the Moorish habitation of the peninsula for some 700 years. Make certain you have good bread to mop. You don’t want to miss a drop! Continue reading
25 Tuesday Sep 2018
Posted in Apples, Gluten Free, Mushrooms, Onions, Pork, Skillet Dinner
Tags
apples, boneless pork ribs, broth, fresh herbs, Garlic, heavy cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, Mushrooms, olive oil, onion
When I made this there was a hurricane brewing out there in the Atlantic. And it hit North Carolina. It hit hard near the coast. Sadly, there are far too many people who suffered terrible loss at the hands of Mother Nature and will continue to deal with the devastation left in the wake of Flo. We were very fortunate that Flo changed her mind and lost some steam by the time she arrived inland. But, life goes on and you have to keep up your strength to brave the elements and repair the damage done. Continue reading
15 Saturday Sep 2018
Posted in Baby Potatoes, Breasts, Garlic, Gluten Free, Main Course, Onions, Peppers, Roasting, Spices
Tags
baby bell peppers, bay leaves, chicken pieces, Garlic, herbs, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, Onions, port, Potatoes, smoked paprika
This is the way you might find chicken prepared in a Portuguese kitchen. I found it surprising how much oregano is used in their cooking. I knew that cilantro and bay leaves were used frequently, but why not? It makes for some tasty dishes. Continue reading
13 Thursday Sep 2018
Posted in Appetizers, Herbs, Supper, Tomatoes, Vegetarian
Tags
cherry tomatoes, cinnamon, fresh herbs, half and half, honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, pie crust, ricotta cheese
I love tomato sandwiches. When the tomatoes are bursting with flavor, falling off their vines and are in great abundance, The Goddess is in heaven. But a Goddess doesn’t live by tomato sandwiches alone. No. No, she doesn’t. This is relatively quick and easy, particularly if you purchase one of those rolled up pie crusts…and they are quite tasty and work great for this recipe. Continue reading
10 Monday Sep 2018
Posted in Eggplant, Make Ahead, Middle Eastern Flavors, Squash, Tomatoes, Vegetarian
Tags
7-spice, bell peppers, Eggplant, fire-roasted tomatoes, Garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, onion, zucchini
This is a layered affair. If you aren’t familiar with Lebanese 7-Spice or Baharat, you might want to wander into a Middle Eastern market and pick some up. This blend uses the “sweet” spices, like allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, etc. But, it’s wonderful in savory dishes. It lends itself particularly well to lamb and as it turns out, eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes. Continue reading
04 Tuesday Sep 2018
Posted in Casserole, Corn, Gluten Free, Make Ahead, Roasting, Side Dishes, Spinach, Summer, Vegetarian
Tags
butter, cheeses, corn kernels, Cornmeal, cream cheese, frozen spinach, Garlic, heavy cream, olive oil, Onions, panko crumbs, rice flour, summer squash
The Goddess loves creamed spinach, but for some reason, she doesn’t make it too frequently. It’s particularly nice with steak, don’t you think? Well, she was serving steak with Bleu Cheese Butter and Mocha-Merlot Sauce with Shallots. So, creamed spinach seemed like a good idea…but then… Continue reading
29 Wednesday Aug 2018
Posted in Blackberries, Gluten Free, Mint, Orange, Vinaigrettes
Tags
balsamic vinegar, blackberry preserves, Garlic, Mint, olive oil, orange zest, vegetable oil, white wine vinegar
This is what I refer to as “a back pocket” recipe. It’s good to have this to fall back on and use frequently. This vinaigrette is wonderful drizzled over a salad that includes goat cheese and yellow/orange fruit. The color contrast between the goat cheese, the fruit and the vinaigrette is striking. And truly delicious. Continue reading
