Loaded Stuffed Baked Potato Casserole

Oh my this is a good one for a holiday gathering. Everything you love about loaded twice baked potatoes but in a casserole for easy serving. Thank you for reading this column, as always, and as I tell you every year, a blessed new year ahead is what I pray for you and yours to have. Loaded stuffed mashed potato casserole Ingredients 4 pounds russet … Continue reading Loaded Stuffed Baked Potato Casserole

Simple Black Bean Soup and a Panera Taste-a-Like

Are you ready for simple food after you finish the holiday feasting? How about a pot of well seasoned black bean soup? That’s what I made this morning and it does smell good – onions, garlic, peppers, cumin all melding together with black beans, celery, bell pepper and a pinch of thyme. With a plop of sour cream and a squeeze of citrus, I’m talking … Continue reading Simple Black Bean Soup and a Panera Taste-a-Like

Classic Nut Brittle with Variations

When it comes to holiday gifting and homemade treats, seems like nuts take center stage here on my little patch of heaven.  From our treasured baked Lebanese baklava recipe (a yearly family project) with close to 30 layers of phyllo dough and a filling of lightly spiced walnuts, to a stove top cooked multi-nut brittle, nuts check all the boxes. Now there’s no sharing our … Continue reading Classic Nut Brittle with Variations

Blueberry Pumpkin Bread and Salted Honey Butter Parker House Rolls

As promised, today I’m sharing friend and expert baker Betty Howell’s recipe for blueberry pumpkin bread once again. It’s perfect for this “all things pumpkin” holiday season. The bread is moist, sweet and an excellent keeper. Think gifts from the kitchen… Oh, and I just knew you’d like a trendy salted honey butter Parker house roll recipe. From Half Baked Harvest, you may just learn … Continue reading Blueberry Pumpkin Bread and Salted Honey Butter Parker House Rolls

Corn Puddings for Thanksgiving

My listeners and readers are the best! It shows in the recipes they share, like the corn pudding recipes here today. At our house, corn pudding is always a special treat. How about you? Is corn pudding on your holiday table? Let me know and if you have a favorite recipe to share, I sure hope you’ll be kind enough to send it to me. … Continue reading Corn Puddings for Thanksgiving

Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing for Fall Salads

I’ve been hungry lately for a real substantial salad. Not the ones like we’ve been eating all summer with light textured greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and the like with a simple garlic lemon dressing. What made my tummy happy was a salad with crisp dark greens, apples or pears, toasted nuts, a few pumpkin seeds, bacon, cheese and dried fruit. How does that sound to you? … Continue reading Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing for Fall Salads

Buena Vida Chili Powder

As I’ve mentioned before, when it comes to chili powder blend for chilies, pulled pork, etc. I use Buena Vida brand. Why? We grew up in a large Lebanese family and Mom was a health food advocate way before the term was coined. Lebanese food was the star of Sunday family dinners, but during the week she cooked a lot of one pot meals, like … Continue reading Buena Vida Chili Powder