This grilled cheese is quite an amazing sandwich made with some really surprising ingredients. My Mom used to make her version of grilled cheese sandwiches when my brothers and I were growing up. She called them “pizza sandwiches.” Looking back, I’ve wondered if maybe it wasn’t just her way of satisfying our craving with a quick…
Homemade Ravioli
My aunt Beverly used to make homemade ravioli when I was a kid. The first time she served it to us, I said to her “These are as good as the ones we eat from a can!”, thinking that I was paying her a real compliment. Later, my Mom scolded me and explained that it…
Smoked Pork Shoulder
People who know me have learned that I LOVE pork, particularly slow-cooked pork. I love the rich flavor that comes from the meat cooking in its own juices. It just melts in your mouth. I’ve made pulled pork many times…I have two different recipes for it that are posted on this website, Kalua Pork and Pork…
Ricotta Cheese Filling
I first came up with a ricotta cheese filling for stuffing manicotti, but since discovering that making my own pasta is now the ONLY way I want to serve pasta dishes to my guests, I’m finding that it’s delicious in ravioli as well. There’s something I just love about the flavors of ricotta cheese and…
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Roasted fingerling potatoes are crazy good. They are salty with a sweet creamy center. Fingerling potatoes were never something I thought I’d have as a “go to” side dish, but after making them with several different meals they have become one of my preferred sides. I saw them for the first time not long ago…
Vegetarian Chili
This might possibly be the best vegetarian chili ever. Many of the ideas for this recipe came from Cook’s Illustrated “Best Vegetarian Chili“. (“Cook’s Illustrated”, Number 119, November/December 2012, p.14). In their article and recipe they are basing their claim of the “best” on the texture and flavor they have achieved from some surprising ingredients. After…
Potato Pizza
Potato pizza–really, not the first thing that comes to my mind when I hear my favorite word “pizza”. I usually think tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and sausage. But after having this pizza, I am converted to a non-traditional pizza lover. Some time ago, I was watching an episode of Food Network’s “The Best Thing…
Asian Noodle Salad
Asian noodle salad with spicy peanut vinaigrette is the perfect compromise to two of my favorite salads. There are two restaurants nearby where I live that have two totally different noodle salads on their menus. One has a thick spicy peanut sauce and the other has a light sesame ginger vinaigrette. The salad I have created…
Pork & Kraut Sliders
I recently needed to come up with a recipe for a German type slider for a cocktail party. I was having trouble coming up with the perfect slider until I remembered my favorite German meal my grandmother and mother used to make for us. It was braised country pork ribs in sauerkraut. Since country ribs…
Pistachio Butter
Wow, what a burst of roasted pistachio flavor in this butter! Ironically, when you taste the butter by itself you get a burst of slightly salty, toasted goodness. But when you spread it on something hearty like whole wheat crackers or wheat toast, that wonderful rich flavor seems to take a back seat. The distinctive…
