A couple of Sundays ago, this recipe appeared in my weekly newspaper column. A few days later, I received an email from Jane from Mrs. Renfro’s salsa company thanking me for mentioning their product. As a thoughtful gesture, she offered to send me any four of their products. I truly love the flavor and ingredients…
This classic Irish stew was passed down from the decades old recipe box of an Irish friend. The tried-and-true recipe offers oven and slow cooker options, and the flavor improves over time, making it a great make-ahead meal. Most Americans think of stew as having a thick gravy base. But traditional Irish stew is…
Hearty and wholesome, this soup is a favorite in my family for its incredible flavor. Delightful on its own, although the optional toppings add to the soup’s broad appeal. For years I, like many cooks, rarely measured ingredients. We eat a lot of hearty soups, salads, and one-pot meals in our house, and this sort of cooking…
After 12 fabulous years, I recently said farewell to the only car my almost 12-year-old son ever knew. Even my 15-year-old son hardly remembered the car that preceded this one, but after sinking progressively more money into it, the time had come. I had no idea what sort of car I wanted next, and we…
Today, I have the great privilege of sharing with you a guest recipe by Phoebe Canakis. Phoebe and I became acquainted through Fig magazine for which we are both contributors. With memories of dinner around the table that were created on a budget and not from a box and with roots in a Greek heritage,…
My kids love this soup because it tastes great. I love it for its taste, but also for the utter ease of preparation. With asparagus season upon us, I will cook this soup many times. While I started making this soup with angel hair pasta many years ago, I now often make it with rice…
Since I first accepted the new role as a flavor correspondent for Sargento, working in conjunction with Rick Bayless’ list of Top 10 Food Trends, I have started to experiment with new ingredients and combinations and to read about some of the ethnic cuisines that are less familiar to me. I am having fun in…
This quick, soul-warming soup is loaded with tender chicken and colorful veggies and puts on fun twist on the pasta. Pediatrician recommended and family approved! NOTE: Following is an excerpt from my February 2013 column in the Lancaster Sunday News. For the link to the referenced “Ask the Pediatrician” column, which may be of particular interest if you feel…
This Greek-inspired, one-pot meal requires a slow braise but is largely hands-off and rewards you with exceptional flavor. Wholesome comfort food at its best! Recipes that are easy to tinker with and easily adapt are often my favorites. They also tend to make for happier diners. We all like choices, right? This is why I’ve…
This is one of those meals I have been cooking for years and I look forward to a warm bowl of it when the nights are cold. The aroma wafting from the kitchen takes me right back to my grandmother’s kitchen. It’s the ham hock. The good smell it produces is matched only by the…
A brimming pot of this wholesome soup is a filling favorite in our house. Topped with grated cheese and a few crushed tortilla chips, it’s extra special! Last year, as I was pondering what to give to several of my friends for Christmas, I struggled to think of something they would really need or want.…
The arrival of cooler weather always puts me in the mood for steamy, savory bowls of soup. Each fall, I start with one of my favorite tomato soup recipes (see the “Soup” category for my top two tomato picks), then work my way through butternut squash and several other fall vegetables before starting in on…