I have been on a bit of a cabbage kick lately. I used to think this heavy head of lettuce-like leaves were only for my grandma and her really smelly cabbage rolls (which I probably thoroughly enjoy now.) But I have had an extreme change of heart toward cabbage. I LOVE it. It’s perfect to […]
Super Spicy Three Pepper Chili Recipe
After a day of canning tomatoes with my good friend, we discovered one of the jars didn’t seal and it needed to be used this week. With the cooler weather rolling in, I decided chili was definitely the way to go. Overflowing with fresh, spicy peppers, and hearty tomatoes and kidney beans, this chili is sure […]
Jerk Chicken Soup Recipe
When I saw Rachael Ray making Jerk Chicken Soup on her daytime tv show, I knew that was “what’s for dinner tonight.” You see, Kevin and I have a soft spot for anything “jerk.” Before our cross cultural studies trip to Jamaica in 2006, we couldn’t have told you what that even meant. I thought […]
Fresh Salsa Soup Recipe
With a fridge full of fresh ingredients that desperately needed to be used, a chilly fall afternoon, and a husband who wouldn’t be around for dinnertime, I knew soup was the perfect solution. I chopped and diced everything in sight and came up with a hearty, brothy, spicy, delicious soup that Kevin and I loved. […]
Italian Potato Salad Recipe
In an effort to take a delicious dish to our first potluck at our new church, I new some sort of potato salad would be a winner. I’m really not a huge fan of mayo-laden salads. Yes, I eat them and even enjoy them, but I can rarely bring myself to add that much mayonnaise […]
Ranch Chicken Quesadillas
While searching for lunch ideas, I found leftover chicken fried chicken from Cracker Barrel. Hmm. I didn’t feel like eating it. But then this lovely idea occurred to me–RE-PURPOSE it! So chop, chop, chop went the chicken and into a tasty lunch quesadilla for my husband and I to enjoy together. Next time you have […]
Fresh Summer Vegetable Salad
This recipe came from my need for an afternoon snack. Normally I grab a handful of pretzels or an apple and peanut butter. Sometimes, I go for something much less healthy. But this particular afternoon, fresh produce was calling my name. A chop here, a chop there and a beautiful, satisfying bowl of veggies sat […]
Pico de Gallo {Fresh Salsa}
We’re smack dab in the middle of homegrown tomato season, and I would highly encourage you to make your own salsa. Fresh salsa from fresh tomatoes, fresh jalapenos, fresh onions, fresh garlic, fresh cilantro, and fresh lime juice is on a level of un-paralled awesomeness. So bust out your food processor (or get REALLY good at finely […]
Baked Penne Pasta with Sausage (Slow Cooker)
I have never experimented with cooking pasta in the Crockpot, but tonight was the right time to try! I didn’t really have a dinner plan (or even a dinner thought) until almost 3pm. My first piano student was arriving at 4pm, the last would leave around 5:35pm and we had to be at church for […]
Classic Meat Lasagna
I’m proud of my Italian heritage. Almost everything I prepare starts with sauteing onions and garlic–a pretty good way to start any meal from the Italian perspective. Unfortunately, I had NEVER made a lasagna. Ok, that’s kind of a lie. I’ve made Eggplant Lasagna and that was delish. But I’ve never attempted a classic meat […]