Skip to main content
queso dip prepared in a bowl, garnished with 3 tortilla chips
Texas Style Queso Dip AppetizersCinco de MayoDipsHappy HourSuperbowl
January 26, 2024

Texas Style Queso Dip

This hearty Texas-style queso dip is easy and delicious; perfect for football-watching parties!  This dip is made with real cheese!  However, we grew up on the Velveeta cheese and Rotel version of queso, which was a highlight to many gatherings over the years.  Since then, we have adapted this recipe a bit using a variety of real cheeses (not Velveeta), and adding ground beef, onions, and spices.  There are many…
Prepared martini in a martini glass, garnished with a sprig of rosemary
Pomegranate Martini ChristmasDrinksHappy HourNew Years EveThanksgiving
December 13, 2023

Pomegranate Martini

We love this smooth yet slightly tangy pomegranate martini for the holidays!  The pomegranate brings an edgy flavor that with lemon and elderflower, is a perfect blend of bitter-sweet. And it's gorgeous visually, perfect for seasonal happy hours or special occasions. The Pomegranate Martini Ingredients Traditionally, this style of martini is made with Cointreau or another orange citrus liqueur.  If you have spent time on our site, you know we…
Baked cookies with colorful sprinkles
Holiday Butter Cookies for Cookie Press Baked GoodsChristmasDessertsDessertsKids FavoritesRecipes
December 13, 2023

Holiday Butter Cookies for Cookie Press

These holiday butter cookies are a staple from our childhood Christmas season.  This recipe yields small festive cookies with rich buttery flavor and hint of almond. Specifically written for use with a cookie press, this recipe allows you to experiment with a variety of designs fit for many occasions.  We love them for Christmastime. Holiday Butter Cookie Ingredients For these cookies, all you will need butter, sugar, one egg, flour,…
baked finnish bread on a baking pan, garnished with slivered almonds
Finnish Bread Baked GoodsBreakfastBrunchChristmasDessertsKids FavoritesRecipes
December 9, 2023

Finnish Bread

This is a delightfully rich and sweet Finnish style bread, and is a holiday staple from our childhood.  Our mom would make this bread for friends, neighbors, and our teachers as Christmas gifts, and of course she would always make some for us to enjoy over the holiday season.  We always enjoyed warmed up, with butter, for breakfast. Finnish Bread Ingredients For this delicious Finnish bread recipe, you will need 2…
Captain Ric's shrimp appetizer prepared in a bowl
Captain Ric’s Marinated Party Shrimp Appetizer AppetizersHappy HourSeafoodThanksgiving
December 4, 2023

Captain Ric’s Marinated Party Shrimp Appetizer

This is a fresh, flavorful marinated shrimp appetizer fit for most any occasion or season.  We love making this for a happy hour with friends or as an appetizer before a celebration dinner. The Marinated Party Shrimp Appetizer Ingredients First, you will need 2 1/2 lbs of cooked, peeled and deveined shrimp.  For the mustard vinaigrette, you will need fresh parsley, diced shallots, tarragon vinegar, white wine vinegar, olive oil,…
Christmas tree cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles on a round white plate
Gingerbread Cookies Baked GoodsChristmasDessertsDessertsKids FavoritesRecipes
December 4, 2023

Gingerbread Cookies

These gingerbread cookies are the perfect holiday treat and making them is a favorite tradition for our family.  Add frosting, sprinkles, and/ or candy decorations or they are delicious just plain as well.  Ingredients For Gingerbread Cookies From the pantry, you will need flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, dark brown sugar and vanilla.  The spices in this recipe include ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg.  In…
coconut curry soup prepared in a bowl garnished with cilanttro.
Gnarly Roots Top Ten Cozy Comfort Foods Cold Weather ComfysEntertainment
November 14, 2023

Gnarly Roots Top Ten Cozy Comfort Foods

Although the fall has us craving so many warm, savory dishes, here is our top ten cozy comfort foods that we have been cooking up right now.  Each of these is special in its own way for us....but all are perfect for crisp and cool fall days.  We hope you find something to try from our list! #1.  Tati Nichole's Coconut Curry Comfort Soup Everyone needs a go to comfort…
Creamy cauliflower soup prepared in a bowl and topped with bacon and croutons
Creamy Cauliflower Soup Cold Weather ComfysDinnerFall FavsLunchSoups
November 5, 2023

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

One of our favorite end of summer, early fall recipes is this creamy cauliflower soup.  It is an attempt at replicating a delicious soup we had in Belize at a unique jungle resort, after our brother's wedding years ago.  Although we never got any chef's secrets while there, we think we came pretty close with the recipe we outline here. The Ingredients The base of this soup is of course,…
Made Rite sandwich prepared on a plate, with a side of small pickles
Maid Rite Sandwich Beef & SteakDinnerKids Favorites
November 3, 2023

Maid Rite Sandwich

Where we come from, a ground beef sandwich with a flavorful sauce was called a Sloppy Joe.  Living in Colorado and influenced by our beloved Iowa neighbors (love ya'll!), I learned that the Maid Rite Sandwich is a Sloppy Joe, without the tomato base.  Both delicious, but since living in CO, our family has adopted a liking to this more Iowa style of sandwich. Although I cannot figure out why…
baked mushroom chicken fresh out of the oven
Mastain Family Mushroom Chicken ChickenCold Weather ComfysDinnerKids FavoritesMain Dishes
October 28, 2023

Mastain Family Mushroom Chicken

This Mushroom Chicken is a cherished recipe from my husband's family, originally created by his grandmother decades ago.  The coziest of comfort foods which has many fond memories of family gatherings surrounding it. So special, that for years has been the chosen Christmas Eve dinner in the Mastain family.  We love enjoying this creamy, tender chicken on any cold fall or winter day and smelling it cook slowly in the…