Homemade Ricotta
When cheese is made, the leftover whey is used to make ricotta. In general, to create cheese, live cultures (a fancy name for bacteria) are typically added to fresh milk. This starts a fermentation process that results in the milk separating into curds and whey. Depending on the type of cheese being made, the curds…
Everything Sauce
Lacking a better name for this sauce, I call it my “everything” sauce because it seems to taste great with almost everything! I typically make it for my Spice-Rubbed Grilled Chicken, and I frequently use leftovers drizzled on steamed veggies, as a light, flavorful pasta sauce, or as a tasty alternative to mayonnaise. Over the…
14 Spice Rub for Chicken
If you typically look away (as I do!) when you see a recipe with a long list of ingredients, stay with me on this one. Taking a few minutes to mix this list of spices will reward you with the most incredibly flavored grilled chicken. The best part? Once you have your jarful of spices,…
Honey Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
A few months ago, I enjoyed a restaurant salad that tasted especially delicious. Where salads are concerned, I firmly believe that a well crafted dressing has the ability to push a salad over the top. In this case, I had ordered a basic turkey cobb salad and paired it with a creamy orange dressing from…
Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
This dressing began as an effort to replicate a much-loved restaurant salad a couple of years ago and has turned into a favorite of family and friends alike. Given its versatility and ease of preparation–as well as the fact that it is light, full of flavor, and will last for weeks in your fridge–I thought…
Better-for-You Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Update: As I made a fresh batch of this tasty dressing for the big game tonight, I thought it worth linking in a few more ways I like to use this beyond the typical dressing or dip (links provided below). Also, my friend, Carrie, kindly figured out the nutritional information which I have included below.…
Balsamic Reduction (aka making “good” balsamic from the inexpensive stuff!)
Years ago, a friend gave me a small bottle of aged balsamic vinegar — the real stuff, from Modena, Italy. At that point, I had never experienced this mellow and thick, almost sweet, vinegar and I savored every last drop of that bottle. The terrific thing is that you really don’t need to spend twenty…
Homemade Chili Sauce
Forgot to buy chili sauce at the store? No problem, because great chili sauce is quick and easy to make at home! Chili sauce is a condiment I use occasionally, but not often. Needing some for a shrimp recipe I planned to make this weekend, I added it to my grocery list. Or, at least,…
Easy Yogurt Fruit Dip
A fruit tray is a delicious addition to any party menu as well as a healthy option that looks pretty and is typically a hit with kids and adults alike. Recently, I hosted an event and wanted a dip to serve alongside the fruit. I experimented with the following recipe and served it in a…
Salted Hot Fudge Sauce
This tried-and-true chocolate sauce is thick, velvety, and strikes the right salty-sweet balance. It’s quick and easy to prepare and makes a lovely gift! (Small and big batch recipe cards included.) While my family enjoys traditional pies for our Thanksgiving dessert, Christmas dinner is always capped off with vanilla ice cream drizzled with homemade hot…
So Easy Fresh Pumpkin Puree
Canned pumpkin isn’t the only game in town. It’s easy to make your own pumpkin puree, and the fresh flavor can’t be beat! As I was wrestling with this pumpkin, trying to cut through it — all the while thinking of several people who have commented that they enjoy winter squash recipes, except for…
Tex-Mex Dressing
This is a super simple dressing I created for my Tex-Mex Chopped Salad. While you can use your favorite store-bought ranch, I like this easy-to-make and healthier version. It is delicious and, combined with the salsa, offers a bit of a kick and just the right flavor to enhance a variety of southwestern dishes. Use…
