Thursday, April 24, 2014

Slow Cooker Salsa Pepper Beef

This is another of those fabulous super-simple crockpot recipes that will have you going back for seconds.  Rich and flavorful, this Mexican fajita inspired dish pairs beautifully with saffron rice and a little sour cream.  I served it with garlic-buttered Italian green beans, whose calm flavor went quite well with the more lively dish.

(I used a bit too much salsa, and have already adjusted the recipe accordingly; you may prefer more or less than I do.)





Sunday, March 2, 2014

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Let's face it, most people love tacos.  I know my honey certainly does – tacos, fajitas, anything remotely Mexican.  But one of the things I hate most about making them is reading the ingredients list of the taco seasoning packets.  Ugh!

Luckily, I found several recipes that sounded good, and cobbled them together into a delightful recipe for home made taco seasoning.  And not only does it not have all the icky chemicals, it is by far the very best taco seasoning I have ever had!  It totally leaves the pre-made stuff in the dust.





Friday, February 28, 2014

Slow Cooker Balsamic Garlic Beef

This was quite tasty with a very different flavor than most of the crockpot recipes we've tried.  It was right on the edge of the level of sweetness I like meat to have, which was surprising since there was nothing particularly sweet involved except a little honey.  It combined marvelously with mashed potatoes with sour cream, and brussels sprouts with butter, salt and garlic powder.




Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Baked Banana Pudding with Meringue Topping Recipe

This sounds a little scary for beginner cooks, but trust me, it's not hard!  The key is patience; two of the steps take longer than you expect.  But the result is so very worth it; a delightful dessert either hot or cold, that is not overpowering in either banana flavor or sweetness.




Monday, February 17, 2014

Slow Cooker Simplicity Ham and Potato Casserole

This is a slow-cooker version of one of my favorite meals as a child, my grandmother's Ham and Potato Casserole.  It's an exceedingly simple meal, more so even than the original already simple recipe, but the taste is wonderful.  Just perfect for a cold winter day!





Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Cup

I have a new passion – or perhaps it would be more accurate to say addiction – for single serve, microwave desserts in a cup.  This is absolutely the most brilliant invention ever.  It's quick - from the decision to make it, to eating is less than five minutes.  It's easy - all you need is a measuring spoon and a mug, really; and it leaves no more mess behind than that, either, and no extras to store.  And it's delicious!  It is easily as good as most storebought cookies, and better than many homemade ones I've tried.

This particular recipe is the first one I tried, and while it is not perfect, it is easy to try, and quite good enough to hook me!





Sunday, January 26, 2014

Lilypad Silicone Lids

Alright, so this blog is usually recipes and other direct cooking how-to's.  However, this is seriously the neatest kitchen "doohicky" I have ever come across, so I am making an exception.