Today's recipe is a favorite of my friends and family. These slow-cooked green beans are sweet, savory, rich, and will melt in your mouth. This side is always requested at family meals, and I know your family will love them as well! This recipe makes quite a bit, but you can easily cut it down. However, I promise your loved ones will be asking for leftovers the next day! Recipe: Slow-cooked Green Beans 4 - 5 lbs fresh green beans (ends snapped) 1 lb bacon, . . .
Recipe: Aunt Ruthie’s Cornbread Dressing
Happy Thanksgiving week! One of my very favorite Thanksgiving side dishes of all time is my Aunt Ruthie's Cornbread Dressing. It is packed with flavor, the perfect consistency, and is even better the next day. I know that each family has their favorite recipe, but this one can't be beat! You can easily make it the night before, and quickly heat it up before meal time. When I went hunting for this recipe, I found it in my homemade recipe binder on two small pieces of paper . . .
Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup
It is finally chilly here in Texas! Hooray! I can't think of anything better than a creamy, warm soup (or stew!) for dinner. This super easy -- and delicious -- creamy pumpkin soup truly hits the spot. Recipe: Creamy Pumpkin Soup Serves 4 (inspired by this recipe) 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 (14.5 ounce) cans chicken broth 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground . . .
Back to Basics: Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Oh, how I love a good creamy, rich mac and cheese, but it is not the easiest thing to master in the kitchen. If you don't cook your roux long enough, the creamy cheese sauce can separate and become grainy. I promise this recipe has a lot of depth and will be perfectly creamy...all without Velveeta (not that I am knocking Velveeta!). This makes quite a bit (a full 9" x 12" casserole dish), but cutting it in half is very easy. Recipe: Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese 3/4 . . .
Caprese Panzanella Salad
This recipe is a crowd pleaser. Beautiful tomatoes, basil, marinated mozzarella, and delicious bread make this version of a panzanella salad very special. I don't know if I think any produce is as beautiful as multi-colored, fresh cherry tomatoes. This salad puts them on display. This recipe, which the idea actually comes from my beautiful friend, Megan, pairs a traditional panzanella bread salad with a much-loved caprese salad. Your friends and family will love this . . .
Back to Basics: Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are definitely a favorite on many dinner tables. They are one of the best comfort foods around. One of my girlfriends once told me that all you need to know in the kitchen is how to make a mean batch of mashed potatoes when cooking dinner on a date. I totally agree. And she wasn't talking fancy pureed mashers either...we are talking hearty, skin-on, and super creamy. That's how we like them around here, too. This first "back to basics" recipe is for . . .
Cheddar Biscuits
Oh, these are good. So good...and so easy. I will say that making these biscuits is kind of cheating as you will use Bisquick, but don't feel guilty. These are a treat. Recipe: Cheddar Biscuits (inspired by this recipe) Ingredients: 2 ½ cups Bisquick baking mix ¾ cup cold whole milk 4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick) ¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1 heaping cup grated cheddar cheese Bush on Top (after they come out of the oven): 2 tablespoons butter, melted ¼ . . .
Recipe: Parmesan-breaded Squash
I think I am mentioned it here before, but one of my co-workers (at my day job) has a garden overflowing with summer squash. I am so fortunate that she brings me her leftovers to devour. A few weeks ago, she brought me some patty pan or scalloped squash. It was delicious. It has a very similar taste and texture to zucchini, but with a very mild bite. I encourage you to try it, when you see it! I decided to mix things up a bit, so I sliced the squash and decided to . . .
Recipe: The Columbia’s 1905 Salad
If you follow me here or on Instagram, you know that our family spent the July 4th holiday in Florida, Indian Rocks Beach to be exact. My husband, Mat, vacationed there as a child...as did his mother. Needless to say, the quiet beach town holds a special place in our hearts. We love taking Rex there every summer and watch him play on the same beaches as his daddy did at the same age. Our entire family comes in from Tampa, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Fort . . .
Recipe: Grilled Zucchini, Onion, Tomato, and Feta Salad
As you can see, it is definitely squash season. I am so lucky that a wonderful co-worker of mine has a garden overflowing with summer squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. Summer squash is very versatile. You can grill it, roast it (see my zucchini lasagna recipe here), saute it, or eat is raw. With it's low cost and abundant availability, it is a no brainer for summer cooking. Recipe: Grilled Zucchini, Onion, Tomato, and Feta Salad serves 6 as a side . . .