Buttery Lobster Tails

Buttery lobster tails served with garlic butter sauce will wow any dinner guest for any special occasion, especially Valentine's.  Incredibly Easy Lobster Tails When you think of lobster tails,  a pricy restaurant meal you could never cook at home comes to mind.  I used to be intimidated and feel the same way until I watched my son-in-law make them at home.   What a fun meal we had, you will want to start making them for special occasions. My son-in-law, Ben, and I love to cook together.  On most holidays and a weekend of trying new recipes,  we will get in the kitchen and cook together.   For Christmas, it is our  Standing Rib Roast , Easter is our  Whole Bone In Ham , and a tailgate appetizer is  Grilled Whole Jalapeno Poppers . For this recipe, I have included two methods of preparation with tips and tidbits, how to broil lobster tails and how to bake lobster tails. 

Super Size Bunless Patty Melts

Two mouthwatering juicy hamburger patties layered with Monterey Jack cheese, caramelized onions, and the Whataburger secret sauce.  Patty Melt {Whataburger Copycat Without The Bun} This version of the popular Whataburger patty melt is delicious and easy comfort food the whole family will love.   I love patty melts. This Whataburger copycat is the perfect version for gameday parties, weeknight dinners, and more.  The sandwich can be great without a bun or toast. To make it easy for your guest, serve them without the bun, but for those who want buns or Texas toast, do them separately. 

Hearty Split Pea Soup with Leftover Hambone

Hearty Split Pea Soup is made with a meaty hambone, generous carrots, onions, and celery, yielding a flavorful broth.  It is easy to make on the stovetop, but I have added a slow cooker and instant pot option. Split Pea Soup It is soup weather, and Split Pea is one of my personal favorites.  So easy to make, and what better time to use the hambone leftover from the holidays.  There is so much flavor from the bone and meat I always save it for later when I cook beans or collards . This soup recipe is all about going back to my childhood using old fashioned ingredients you have in your kitchen.  The split peas are cheap, and you already have your hambone. The carrots and celery are also inexpensive, a delicious humble soup. I use fresh thyme, a couple of bay leaves, chicken stock, or vegetable stock to elevate the flavor.  

Linzer Pop Tarts

This recipe was first published in February 2012.  Updated December 2022 This is a pastry that takes on the elements of an Italian tart made with a buttery pastry yielding the right amount of flakiness.  Simple and delicious, perfect for brunch. A Simple Jam Crostata A Crostata is one of those desserts that is known and made all throughout Italy, a rustic version of an open fruit tart. The shortbread crust is unique in that it is made with flour, sugar, eggs, egg yolks, and baking powder.  And filled with the traditional jam, but there are new ingredients that have swept across the united states, Nutella, ricotta, and pastry cream.  

Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake

Warm gingerbread cake baked in a skillet on top of a sweet mixture of caramelized pears and flipped over to a stunning presentation, fancy enough for a Thanksgiving dessert. Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake The pairing of gingerbread and pears brings this cake to the forefront for the fall.   The pears hold up really well and play nicely with the cake's warm spices. Upside down cakes are famous here in the south, pineapple being the most traditional.   This Gingerbread Pear Upside Down Cake tastes and looks impressive and is made using a simple shortcut to save time and effort in the kitchen. The cake is moist and dense, just like I like it.  Usually, gingerbread cakes get better with age, but you will want to eat this cake in a day or two since the pears begin to soften.  The structure of the pears changes when cooked more than other fruits used in upside down cakes, such as pineapple, peaches, and apples. Serve thick slices of cake at a dinner party dessert or as an indulgent br

Epic! Pumpkin Roll Bread Pudding

My love for a pumpkin roll and bread pudding is the inspiration for the recipe.   The flavors of fall spices in the tender pumpkin roll cake and the sweetness of the cream cheese frosting are the beginning of an epic bread pudding.    Pumpkin Roll Bread Pudding with The Ultimate Custard Sauce. The bread pudding takes on a whole new level of deliciousness using a pumpkin roll cake cut up into cubes, and to add more richness, a pumpkin puree custard is poured over all the cubes.  And served with the Ultimate Custard Sauce, made with a secret ingredient.   

Jumbo Banana Carrot Muffins

Banana Carrot Muffins are a cross between banana bread and carrot cake, all the cozy ingredients that make this breakfast treats so delightful. Banana Carrot Muffins The recipe for these banana carrot muffins is packed with a full cup of bananas and 2 cups of shredded carrots, enhanced with brown sugar and a tiny bit of cinnamon and cardamom, yielding a light, fluffy and moist muffin. I love muffins of any kind for grabbing a quick snack on the go, and when they have healthy ingredients, it is a bonus.   We have been enjoying these Banana Carrot Muffins for breakfast each morning since I made them.  With the weather getting cooler, I think they would be a warm cozy accompaniment to a cup of tea in the afternoon. These Banana Carrot Muffins are delicious out of the oven or reheated after freezing.

Baked Lasagna Stuffed Peppers

Lasagna Stuffed Peppers are full of rich Italian flavors, such as lean ground beef seasoned with fresh oregano and basil and sauteed in a  marinara sauce.  And layered with a mixture of ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese, all packed in sweet and colorful bell pepper. Lasagna Stuffed Peppers Two classic hearty dishes come together to make a comforting meal.  With just 20 minutes of prep work, you can sit back and relax as these stuffed peppers bake. Any time I can make a dish that takes little time or no time at all to make, I am thrilled.  That's how I feel about these Lasagna Stuffed Peppers. Everything is cooked and then assembled just before going into the oven.   The marinara meat sauce can be made the day before.   A lovely weeknight meal made for busy cooks.

Smoked Salmon Roll Appetizer

Smoked Salmon Roll Appetizer sounds fancy, you might say.  Well, they are, yet they are straightforward to make. Do not be intimidated. Give them a try! Smoked Salmon Pinwheels  Make this elegant appetizer at your next gathering.   All you need is a few ingredients rolled into one fantastic bite, presliced smoked salmon, cream cheese, wasabi paste, cucumber and avocado match sticks.    Be sure and make a double batch for your guest. They will go fast.   These Smoked Salmon Pinwheels are the perfect make-ahead appetizer, even a day ahead.  Keep them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  There are so many variations you can make.   I think adding dill sprigs, pepper flakes, red onions, and what about capers?  Just go with it.  Make it your recipe for the occasion. I love recipes like this.  The add-ons are endless.   The whole recipe is leisurely.   I hope you will try making these Smoked Salmon Pinwheels for your next gathering.

Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes

These air fryer green tomatoes deliver a crunchy outside with a smooth succulent inside.  The perfect summer food you will ever devour.   Fried Green Tomatoes The air fryer is the perfect way to cook fried green tomatoes.  I like to call them healthified fried green tomatoes.  To finish them off, you can sprinkle a generous drop of coarse salt, salty capers, or a few drops of hot sauce. To make air fryer green tomatoes, start with medium size unripe tomatoes.   I like to use light green tomatoes that are pale green and have a little pink coming through the skin.  They are not quite so sour.   Don't make the mistake of choosing green heirloom tomatoes.  Green heirloom tomatoes are fully ripe tomatoes, a different variety of tomatoes. I love combining self rising cornmeal and panko for the coating, and of course, don't forget to double dip to get the most delicious, crunchy outside, divine.