Cherry Cordial Brownies

Cherry Cordial Brownies are rich, fudgy, and decadent, bursting with cherry cordials.  These are perfect for any Christmas cookie tray. Chocolate Cherry Cordial Bars If you are a fan of cherry cordial candy around the holidays, then you are going to love these brownies.  Especially since they only take three ingredients.   I am a big fan of the cherry and chocolate combination, so I decided to make some chocolate cherry brownies.    For the recipe, I used my favorite box brownie mix  and a box of the popular  Queen Anne Cordial Cherries .  Then, to make it rich and decadent, I poured a  chocolate ganache  over the top. Don't worry that these brownies are so easy to make and use few ingredients, that these Cherry Cordial Brownies are less than exciting.    They are the ultimate decadent brownie recipe, capturing the flavors of a classic chocolate-and-cherry dessert, the Black Forest Cake, with all the richness of chocolate ...

Simplest and Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts are the best of two worlds, giving a perfect balance of salty and sweet. Ina Garten's Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts This Brussels sprouts recipe comes together in 30 minutes and is the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving meal, oven-roasted with panchetta and drizzled with a thick balsamic glaze   Brussels sprouts have become a favorite side dish for our Thanksgiving meal.  One thing we like most about this recipe is the simple method of preparation. Most of the time, it's the prep work that takes so much time, and then you have to cook them.  With this recipe, after the prep, all that's left is roasting them in the oven, which allows you to have time for other dishes. Some of our family members enjoy the balsamic drizzle, while others prefer not to have it.  You can serve it on the side when this happens, or serve it in two dishes separately.

One Pot Tortellini, Cabbage and Kielbasa

  One-pot tortellini with cabbage and kielbasa is one of our favorite recipes. You only need one pot, a few simple ingredients, and create layers of flavor for a delicious weeknight dinner. Tortellini, Cabbage, and Kielbasa Recipe If you're searching for the easiest, fastest comfort meal, you'll love this recipe. My family enjoys it not just on weeknights but on any night of the week. The recipe for Tortellini Cabbage and Kielbasa was created while I was preparing the classic fried cabbage and onions for my college-aged grandson.  I had some tortellini in the refrigerator from SAM's and thought that adding it to the fried cabbage would make the dish more filling and comforting.   Boy, was I right.  So much so that it has become a favorite meal around our house, often. You start creating layers of flavor by caramelizing the onions and cabbage, then adding the chopped kielbasa and the tortellini.  The key is to add the tortellini last so they are tender yet s...

Sweet Spiced Figs Recipe

These Sweet  Spiced Figs are an excellent addition to any charcuterie board, or you can serve them as an appetizer with cheese.   Sweet Pickled Figs The original recipe was called Sweet Pickled Figs, but we now refer to them as Spiced Sweet Figs to better enhance the true flavor profile.  These have a unique taste and will surprise you.  They have become one of the recipes we so look forward to making every year.   Jim's Mother had the fig tree, and as soon as the figs were ready to be picked, we would gather 3 quarts to make sweet spiced figs.    Since then, Jim's mother has passed away.  However, we still enjoy fresh figs from my daughter, Jennifer's growing fig tree.   This past week, we picked enough plump figs to make several jars of sweet, spiced figs. The recipe is simple with few ingredients. You start off by cooking them with vinegar, sugar, and pickling spice for 10 minutes, three consecutive days.   These ...

Perfect Green Beans

Perfect Green Beans have to be fresh, crisp in texture, and seasoned perfectly.  These Green Beans have all of the above, making them perfect. How To Cook Green Beans Perfectly My recipe for these sauteed green beans is easy to make with only four ingredients, and it cooks in under 10 minutes, so you can whip them up just before serving.   My foolproof recipe for cooking fresh green beans perfectly begins with a hot skillet and two tablespoons of olive oil. Season them with salt and pepper, and toss them often to coat with the oil as they release their juices.   Next, reduce the heat to medium-high, cover them with a lid, and toss occasionally until tender.   Just before serving, add a couple of tablespoons of butter, and season with the perfect seasoning,  Grill Mate Montreal Steak Seasoning . Green beans are a reasonably inexpensive vegetable and make a great side dish.  They were a great accompaniment to my Stuffed Bell Peppers ...

Fluffy Angel Roll Biscuits

Fluffy Angel Roll Biscuits are light and fluffy, melting deliciously in your mouth.  The yeast gives them fluffiness, and buttermilk keeps them fluffy. FLUFFY YEAST BISCUIT ROLLS These yeast biscuit rolls are soft and airy, similar to a dinner roll, but the addition of baking powder and baking soda gives them the structure  of a sturdy biscuit.   Since yeast was introduced to the baking world in the late 1950s, it is no surprise that they have been popular ever since. Angel biscuits stir many memories of my youth.  I learned to make these biscuits in my Home Economics class as a junior in high school.  Wow!  That will age you thinking about Home Economics.   I cut the shortening into the flour mixture in a large bowl for years with my trusty old wire pastry blender, the first step of most biscuit recipes. However, in the last few years, I have adapted the recipe to use my electric mixer with a dough hook.   Since I started blogging,...

Creamy Jalapeno Corn Casserole

Creamy Jalapeno Corn Casserole , featuring cream cheese and whole kernel corn with a hint of kick from jalapenos, makes this an inviting casserole for any meal. THREE-INGREDIENT CREAMY CORN CASSEROLE The Creamy Corn Casserole recipe is a budget-friendly side dish that requires only three ingredients and can feed a crowd, making it perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.  Our Thanksgiving menu is done, and this  Creamy Jalapeno Corn Casserole  is one of our favorite side dishes.  It is easy and quick, with a great combination of flavor and crunch from the jalapenos and corn.     The jalapeños in the dish give an incredible kick in flavor, but not too much heat.   This makes it nice for everyone to enjoy, including the children.

Baked Crispy Chicken Drumsticks

Baked Crispy Drumsticks are brined first and then baked at a high temperature, resulting in crispy, crunchy, and incredibly flavorful chicken drumsticks. CRISPY SEASONED BAKED CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS Each drumstick is bursting with flavor, delivering a delightful combination of crispy texture and mouthwatering taste that will keep you coming back for more.   After the holidays, I like to purge my freezer of the food that needs to be eaten.  I usually have some idea of what is in my freezer, but some meats get pushed to the back, and I have to pull them to the front to eat first.   I realized that what I thought were chicken wings, which I kept pulling to the front, were actually a package of chicken drumsticks.  I had been saving the chicken wings to make our  Texas BBQ Hot Wings  for our Super Bowl weekend. But hey, why not make crispy chicken drumsticks instead? Ha ha!   The drumsticks sounded so good, and I had had this recipe in my head f...

Buc-ce's Copycat Cranberry Orange Muffins

Buc-ce's cranberry orange muffins are incredibly moist, packed with cranberries, and enhanced with a splash of concentrated orange juice. CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS BAKER STYLE These cranberry orange muffins have all the styles of a bakery muffin, a delicious streusel topping, vibrant cranberries, and intense orange flavors.  They are bursting with the best flavors of the holidays. These cranberry muffins are my favorite muffins.  When I'm at the grocery store or a coffee shop, my first choice for a muffin is always cranberry and orange.  My second choice is a chocolate chocolate chip, who doesn't like chocolate chip anything. Cranberry orange muffins have the purest flavor of almost any other muffin.  I want to taste the authentic taste of orange juice and fresh cranberries, not artificial, as the package says, "Cranberry Orange flavor." Talking about the authentic taste of orange juice, well, that is why I use orange juice concentrate in this recipe.  Remember, ...

Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars

Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars are a rich, decadent dessert that comes together quickly, perfect for any occasion. SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE   It takes a few ingredients, so I keep plenty of butter, cream cheese, and crescent rolls in my fridge to be ready to make some in a pinch when I need a quick dessert. My daughter, Jennifer,   started a whole new dessert adventure with these  Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars . They are sweet and flakey with a buttery cinnamon sugar crunch on top that melts in your mouth.  Some people like them warm, but my family prefers them cold. Sopapilla Cheesecake Bars are the perfect dessert with your next  Mexican theme meal. You will want to take these to the next gathering you go to.    I really think they would be fabulous to take to brunch! I know they are a dessert, but who says you can't eat them for breakfast! WHERE CAN I FIND THE RECIPE?  TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR SOPAPILLA CHEESECAKE Below, under the next heading, I giv...

German Chocolate Blossom Cookies

These German Chocolate Blossom Cookies start with a German chocolate cake mix, which makes them super easy to make.  They are soft and chewy and topped with your favorite candy––Hershey Kisses. GERMAN CHOCOLATE KISS COOKIES (3 Ingredients) German Chocolate Kiss Cookies are a favorite year round. The recipe has only three ingredients, which you probably already have in your kitchen. They are seriously the easiest cookies to whip up and perfect for your children to join in. These German Chocolate Blossom Cookies are a twist on the beloved Peanut Butter Blossom Cookie, which is so popular around the holidays.   We are such huge fans of German chocolate, and I see so many recipes using cake mixes to make cookies that it sparked an interest in using a German chocolate cake mix and rich and creamy coconut pecan frosting together to make some. These cookies taste absolutely amazing.  It is impossible to stop at one.  They are soft and chewy and all the flavors of a pie...

Beach Jello Cups

The summer months are around the corner, and what better way to embrace the heat than with a cool, refreshing treat on a hot summer day.   Pool Party Jello Cups Whether for the beach or a pool party, the recipe uses berry blue jello and is quick and easy to make. Decorate with gummy sour sharks, gummy fruit rings, and gummy fruit bears. Both children and adults alike are big fans of these Beach Jello Cups. They are cool and refreshing, perfect for a grab-and-go treat on a hot summer day. Are you planning a summer beach trip or a birthday pool party?  Or would you like to do something fun with your children during the summer?   I hope you'll give these fun beach or pool Jell-O cups a try.  The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a crowd. 

Chopped Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

My Easy Chopped Cherry Caprese Salad is loaded with ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella pearls and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. Easy Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Caprese salad is one of the easiest salads to make throughout the year, but the recipe's simplicity doesn't mean it lacks zesty flavors.   The classic combination of all the ingredients, topped with a tangy glaze, is irresistible. Caprese salad is perfect year-round, but my favorite time to enjoy this irresistible salad is when spring arrives and summer is just around the corner.   It is ideal for summer because it is light, refreshing, and so easy to prepare.   I love bringing it to potlucks, picnics, or family barbecues because it is so easy to travel with. It can be served at room temperature or right out of the refrigerator.

Smoked Salmon Cakes

Smoked salmon cakes are an easy and delicious weeknight meal option, and, surprisingly, they are affordable. Best Salmon Patties Smoked salmon patties are perfectly crisp on the outside and deliciously tender and flaky on the inside. They are made with packaged smoked sliced salmon instead of canned salmon.     One bite of these smoked salmon cakes and any thought of you using canned salmon will fly out the window.  That's how I felt the first time I made them. I use sliced, precooked salmon from Sam's. I add minced onion, lemon juice, mayonnaise, chopped fresh dill, an egg, half and half, and coat them in a little Obay seasoning mixed in the panko crumbs.  These are so good.  

Southern Spoonbread

Southern Sweet Corn Spoonbread is a century-old Southern comfort food that has graced the tables across the South.     SOUTHERN SWEET CORN SPOONBREAD The Southern Spoonbread recipe is a classic Southern side dish.  It is creamy, moist cornbread that is more like a cornmeal-based souffle or delicate cornbread pudding.   This Sweet Corn Spoonbread is a quick and easy side dish. To make it, combine everything in a bowl, stir, and bake. It is a favorite around my house. We look forward to having it every year on our Easter menu. The recipe also works well for weeknight menus. It starts off with a box of Jiffy cornbread mix, then two kinds of corn, butter, eggs, and sour cream, simply delicious.

Raspberry Coffee Cake

Raspberry Coffee Cake in the morning will start your day off to a fabulous start.  Serve it anytime for dessert, an afternoon snack, or my favorite breakfast. RASPBERRY BREAKFAST CAKE The recipe is based on my Very Blueberry Coffee Cake, switching out with fresh raspberries, butter, sugar, eggs, and sour cream and sprinkled with a coarse finishing sugar. I grew up with something sweet on the table all the time because my mother had a charming sweet tooth, which she passed on to her four daughters.    Mother was an amazing baker.  Even though I learned from her, I wish I had written down more of her recipes and paid more attention when she baked.

Mama's Southern Baked Beans

Thick and rich with just the right amount of sweetness, these baked beans are a perfect side dish for whatever you cook up for your next gathering.   CLASSIC SOUTHERN BAKED BEANS Mother's easy to make baked beans are just that,  EASY.  This classic dish has canned pork n' beans, onions, bell pepper, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire, and the star, Bacon.   I could not post my mother's Potato Salad recipe (previous post) without posting her Southern Baked Beans recipe, also.  Like the potato salad recipe, I have had this one in my head for years, too. I watched my mother make her potato salad and baked beans a gazillion times, and I don't remember her making one without the other, but I suspect there were times when she did. I know what the ingredients are in her baked beans, but I am not sure about the exact amount of the ingredients each time.  All I can go on is how I remember my mother's baked beans tasting. I created the amounts of i...

Nutella Sweet Rolls

Nutella Sweet Rolls recipe follows a similar process to cinnamon rolls. They start with a soft, pillowy dough and are filled with the star of the recipe, Nutella, then iced with vanilla icing. Nutella Heavenly Sweet Rolls These ooey gooey sweet rolls are the most decadent breakfast treats you could ever imagine, either for breakfast or,  like at my house, for dessert. Nutella is an absolute favorite with my grandchildren, so I thought making Nutella Sweet Rolls would be appropriate for Valentine's breakfast or, why not, dessert :). These soft, sweet, fluffy sweet rolls are hassle free.   They only take 30 minutes to rise once, so you can spend your time making other special delicacies for your special day. As you see, these rolls are amazing plain, but to give them an additional gooeyness, I iced them with a rich buttery, vanilla icing.  A thin coat gives them a glorious shine and divine gooeyness. If you can't resist these sweet rolls, just take a look at these...

Christmas Tea Cakes

Christmas Tea Cakes are festive tea cakes that are super easy to make with few ingredients, including two cake mixes. Holiday Mincemeat Tea Cakes This is the perfect recipe to use extra cake mixes you have on hand.  This recipe was inspired by all the cookie recipes that use cake mixes.  Another secret ingredient that is classic around the holidays is mincemeat pie filling. You will love the Holiday Mincemeat Tea Cakes if you love mincemeat pie.  I know there are some yays and nays when mincemeat is mentioned.    Growing up in the 60s, my family always had mincemeat pie during the holidays.  Mincemeat is a sweet concoction of dried fruit, spices, dark brown sugar, nuts, and beef. When I saw a jar of None Such Mincemeat pie filling in my cabinet, I wanted to try to make a cookie with some cake mixes I needed to use.