Everywhere I turn I see recipes combining dark chocolate and sea salt. My hubby Joe loves dark chocolate and pretzels so I decided to bake up some of these trendy cookies and see what all the fuss was about. It’s hard to describe but you get a bite of sweet and then a bite of crunchy saltiness chasing behind. I kept thinking it was that it was like the first time I sipped a sweet margarita in a salty rimmed glass. If you like sweet and salty things, this is the cookie for you. Continue reading
The summer of 2010 we met Joe’s family at Yellowstone National Park for a family vacation. While the brothers and other family members were away on their backpacking adventure, I stayed back with Joe’s mom, Joan. Joan and I took day trips throughout the park and on one occasion we traveled to Jackson Hole for a day. We walked the square in awe of all the neat shops, galleries and restaurants. When lunchtime was upon us we settled on this little place called Trio Bistro. Everything on their menu looked so enticing. I couldn’t make up my mind and finally decided on a Panini sandwich which came with a side bowl of soup. There were 2 or 3 soups to choose from and after careful consideration I picked the BLT Soup which to my surprise was one of the most memorable soups I’ve ever tasted. The soup was rich with tomato goodness with a dollop of arugula pesto, sourdough croutons and crisp bacon sprinkled on top. I couldn’t stop thinking about this soup and had to find a way to recreate it. What I made may not be exactly the same but it’s pretty darn close and if you like tomato soup, you will surely love this one.
I’ve been craving cookies, maybe more like I crave baking cookies. The kitchen is my sanctuary on cold winter days with the oven warming and the aroma of fresh cookies baking. And what’s better than a warm cookie and a glass of milk to lift your spirits. I decided I’d just go with what I could find in the pantry since I didn’t want to go to the store. When I spotted the oats, my decision was made . . . Oatmeal Cookies.
A couple years ago we ate at Old Chicago which is a chain restaurant here in the Kansas City area, maybe you have one too. They are best known for their pizza and calzones which are huge and taste fantastic. Josh had this “Texican Calzone” that he just raved about and wanted to get again. Next time we were there the menu had changed and it was no longer available. He never forgot that calzone and so I did some research, found an old menu with the description and went about trying to break it down so that I could make it for him. I think I hit the jackpot because he was all smiles when these came out of the oven. Just wait until you slice into the inside, you’ll see what I mean.
I’ve been looking for new soup recipes and came across a Tortellini Soup and a Meatball Soup that sounded so delicious that I decided to combine the two. This broth based soup is made with tomatoes, spinach, onion and garlic to warm your heart on a cold day. I had no trouble convincing my boys that this was going to be good. They filled their bowls to the rim and in no time at all it was all gone. You learn around here to get it while it’s hot or you might not get any at all. Continue reading
I have two college age guys that come and go as they please. Between their work and school schedule I never know when they will show up, but when they do they are always hungry. Meatballs make a perfect meal for these hungry guys so I like to make big batches of them to freeze so that we can pull them out for a quick meal. Making your own meatballs are not that hard and are the perfect compliment to your favorite pasta or soup plus they make a mean meatball sub too.
With the holidays around the corner comes the craving for sweets and makes me think of my favorite scones with dried cranberries and orange zest. They are so easy to make and taste just like they came from a pastry shop. I don’t usually do breakfast but I will make an exception for a scone to go with my morning coffee. They are so tasty with an orange glaze drizzled over the top.
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This recipe goes out to the Winsor family who have a special place in my heart. Through the years I have sat at their table while they assembled tortillas, sauce, meat and cheese to make enough enchiladas to feed a whole crew. I have been tinkering with making my own red enchilada sauce and I think I finally have the right combination of chiles and spice to make a sauce worthy of sharing. I made the sauce a day ahead and that made the enchiladas fast and easy to assemble the next day. Continue reading
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Joe would prefer breakfast over any meal. He’s an early riser and I’m not a morning person so he rarely ever gets a hot breakfast first thing in the morning. I frequently make breakfast for dinner because I know how much he loves it. This pizza has bacon, crispy sliced potatoes and eggs over a layer of cheddar cheese that’s good any time of day. Continue reading
When November arrives, so does my sweet tooth. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the colder weather and wanting an excuse to stay in the kitchen and bake. The warmth of the oven calls me to the kitchen and keeps me sane during the long winter month’s. So when I saw the “One Day Sale” for raspberries I ran to the store and stocked up and came home to bake some muffins. I had an old recipe that I had saved from Cooking Light that I had always wanted to try. The recipe definitely is a keeper and I added a lemon glaze because I love the combo of raspberries and lemon. Whether you like a muffin with your morning coffee or as a dessert this raspberry muffin will definitely satisfy any sweet cravings.
An Inspired Cook 