Category: recipes

Holiday cooking!

I just finished up gift lasagnas and the one for the Christmas Eve party. Why, no matter how I cut back, do I always end up with enough noodles for another lasagna? Do they multiply in the pan of water? I mean, I know how many each lasagna holds and then I make a few extra to make up for any that break beyond usability. And still…

A few Thanksgiving recipes, with a link at the bottom for all the recipes available for your holiday feast.

As always, the bird will be spatchcocked again and grilled on the pellet grill. Here are the steps – roast it in the oven or on the grill:

This is the only way I’ve been preparing turkey since my first attempt. The only thing I change up from the first time I prepared it, is that I skip the metal rack and instead I place the bird on a bed of carrots, celery, and onion.  I’ll also add some spices and herbs: sage, thyme, rosemary, and garlic cloves to the bed. With the shorter cooking time, the flavor needs the boost that the roasting veggies add. 

Sometimes I roast it in the oven, but if the weather is nice enough, I’ll roast it on the wood pellet grill.  I like the pellet grill because I can control the temperature as I would in the oven.

From 2015:

I’m traveling again. When I return, we’ll dive into Thanksgiving recipes….

Rice and enchiladas photo from the JeffreyW collection

I had a very specific craving this past week.  I wanted an authentic Mexican rice, like you find on the side of your plate at a great family Mexican restaurant. I went searching for recipes and found two. I’ll post the videos and then the ingredients list. The key really does seem to be frying the rice. That step would explain why my previous attempts always fell flat.

It’s one of those weeks where I know I have many busy days ahead and dinner is not something I want to think about. This is one of those quick and easy meals that is also very satisfying.

Yummy photo from JeffreyW

This menu is from my Kids Night series. I loved chili mac as a kid, and it’s still one of those quick comfort foods I make when it needs to be easy and tasty.  

Chili Mac photo from JeffreyW’s collection

Chili Mac

• 12 oz elbow macaroni (or try something fun like radiatori or farfalle shapes)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• ½ onion, diced
• ½ green pepper diced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 14 oz can diced tomatoes
• 15 oz can kidney beans
• 1 tsp to 2 tbsp chili powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• pepper to taste
• 2 qt. saucepan, skillet