Gumbo

Many years ago I lived in a very small town near Louisiana for a spell. The eastern boarder towns of Texas were heavily influenced by Cajun cuisine. While there I experienced squirrel soup (I will spare you any further details). I learned all about how 

How to Make Turkey Stock

Photo by: Chow.com When I make soups I use a product I buy at Costco called Better Than Bullion. Basically it is stock that has been boiled down into a concentrated paste. I like it better than bullion or canned broth but it does not 

Cheesy Broccoli and Potato Soup

A couple of years ago I bought a recipe book for kids. You know the one that shows you how to transform food into edible art? Supposedly kids will gobble down sandwiches in the shape of a caterpillar or a bowl of soup with a 

Italian Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Artichoke Hearts

This recipe for was passed on to me by a friend of mine. She stresses that she is not a fan of feta cheese but this salad is THE best salad she has ever eaten. I second that motion. Thank you for sharing. Source: Melissa 

Creamy Chicken Apple Chili

The kids refer to creamy chicken and apple chili as the “Poison Apple Soup”. The table talk turns to kings and queens and mermaids as they make up stories about a mermaid locked in the tower. When she takes a ‘slurp’ of the soup she 

Orchard Green Salad with Apples

To finish off Johnny Appleseed week I have a salad that combines tart green apples with candied nuts. Serve with roasted chicken or grilled pork chops. 1 head leafy green lettuce 1 tart green apple, sliced 1 handful candied pecans or walnuts, coarsely broken 1 

Peas and Radish Salad

Salads do not have to be boring. For a long time I was in a rut of using lettuce, celery and carrots. Yes, that was it. The kids were even getting burned out. I took a piece of advice from one of Ellie Krieger’s books 

Tomatoes Stuffed with Tuna and Cellini Beans

When my oldest does not like something he tells me “Mom, we all have different tastes.” So true. I would not expect our little ones to bounce up and down excited over stuffed tomatoes. It took me awhile to be convinced. They are excited over 

Spinach and Fruit Salad

The weather has been amazing this summer. It was as if the heat was spent in May when we experienced 115 temperatures. Uncharacteristic of the area. With the onset of fall we are trying to get our fill of fresh fruit and vegetables before winter. 

Modern Take on Chicken Waldorf Salad

When I think of Waldorf Salad I conjure up chopped apples, walnuts, celery and mayo Dijon dressing. Waldorf Salad was very popular with my parents and her parents generations but today with the focus on utilizing fresh untainted vegetables and fruits I was delighted to