Main Course
Primary dishes served for lunch or dinner.
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Basic Tomato Sauce
There are a few prepackaged pantry staples I can’t live without. Canned tomatoes would definitely be one of them (at least until I learn how to can fresh tomatoes next summer). And once I learned how to make a Basic Tomato Sauce from scratch, dried pasta became another pantry staple we always have on hand. This sauce is intended to be ‘basic’ and is a wonderful base to build upon.
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Thai Hot & Sour Shrimp Soup {Tom Yum Goong}
International food flavors have grown in popularity over the past several years. As the foodie movement sweeps through cities and small towns alike, eaters are looking for ‘different’ dining options. College Cafeterias are becoming International Eateries as young foodies seek out fresh flavorful options. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and Asian Markets are as popular as ever with home cooks like me, offering expansive and diverse ingredients.
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North African Lamb Kebabs {with Cilantro Mint Pesto}
North African Lamb Kebabs sounded so intriguing to me. Traditionally we think of kebobs made up of ‘hunks’ of meat and/or vegetables. These kebobs are made with ground lamb that’s blended with heavenly herbs and spices. I came across a recipe in one of my cooking magazines and the ingredients list was right up our alley (and mostly on hand): cumin, coriander, paprika, fresh cilantro, mint, oregano, ginger, garlic…..can’t you just smell it.
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Mexican Chicken Soup {Share the Love}
Mexican Chicken Soup has become a comfort food staple for my family. Every time we have it, whether at our favorite Mexican cantina or at home, we’re reminded how wonderfully delicious this soup is. I realized recently that comfort food didn’t have to come in the form of a casserole or laced with chocolate (although for me personally those are way up there on my list). And that chicken soup didn’t have to include noodles for it to warm your soul. With a short list of ingredients, starting from scratch, you can have it on the table in 15 minutes or less. A wonderful Monday evening bonus!
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Southwest Corn & Shrimp Chowder
Southwest Corn & Shrimp Chowder “Chowda” was something we grew up on in New England. Corn, Clam, Oyster… they were all favorites and my mom made them all from scratch. After college, when I was ready to move into my own apartment, she wrote out some “simplified” versions of basic recipes for me. Chinaman’s Pie, Meatloaf, and Corn Chowder were all included.
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Baked Pattypan Squash {with Wild Rice, Sage Brown Butter & Sausage Stuffing}
A pattypan squash is the perfect delivery vehicle for one of my favorite food groups, Stuffing. We will stuff these beauties with wild rice, fresh veggies, sage, and sausage. Baked Pattypan Squash with Wild Rice, Sage Brown Butter & Sausage Stuffing. So while this post started out to be much more about my love of stuffing than my new found fascination with pattypan squash, I think it’s interesting to share a bit of history on the White Scallop Summer Squash aka Pattypan.
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Coq au Vin {Bon appétit Julia}
Today marks the 100th birthday of the witty and talented, Julia Child. She is being celebrated across many food sites today I’m sure. While I remember watching The French Chef on PBS and being captivated by Julia’s quirky voice and clear love of cooking, it wasn’t until I was reintroduced to her character in the hit movie Julie & Julia that I fell in love with her. I’m sure there are many forums that have addressed this movie’s effect on food blogging. It certainly captivated me….though I had no thought of writing about food at that time.
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Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Stuffed Poblano Peppers. A picture is worth a thousand words….or at least the twenty or so it would take to describe each step of this dish. I’m going to stick to the bare minimum and encourage you to finish the story with your own words (ingredients).
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Roast Beef & Horseradish Cheddar Deli-style Sandwich
I know some people dread grocery shopping, but for me…..I’m just a kid in a candy shop. And out of necessity early Sunday morning, I discovered that to be the very best time to shop. There were parking spaces and shopping carts, wide open isles and fully stocked shelves, and oh the bakery. Everything was still warm…doesn’t that say it all.
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Homemade Chicken Broth
Yesterday’s whole chicken brings us to ~ Step 2, heavenly Homemade Chicken Broth. Once I began to save veggie scraps and chicken carcasses on a regular basis, I knew homemade chicken stock was in our future. There are several methods to choose from when making chicken broth. A good old heavy pot with snug fitting lid works well, as does your crockpot or instant pot.
