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A glass of prepared Elderflower & Lime Prosecco next to a bottle of St. Germain Liqueur, 1 lime, and lime shavings
Elderflower & Lime Prosecco ChristmasDrinksHappy HourNew Years EveValentines
December 5, 2023

Elderflower & Lime Prosecco

While we all love a fresh glass of bubbly, this is a fun spin.  By adding just a touch of Elderflower liqueur and freshly grated lime zest, this Prosecco takes on a whole new life.  This celebratory beverage was introduced to me by my sister-in-law one Christmas time in France.  We enjoyed large wine glasses full of this delicious concoction on Christmas Eve.   Elderflower & Lime Prosecco Ingredients All…
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…
Chili in a white bowl, garnished with shredded cheese, chunks of avocado, cilantro, and tortilla chips.
Beef & Sausage Chili Beef & SteakCold Weather ComfysCrock-PotDinnerFall FavsKids FavoritesPorkSuperbowl
November 10, 2023

Beef & Sausage Chili

This beef and sausage chili is a crowd pleaser for holiday gatherings, football watching parties, or for a family meal that will offer leftovers for the week.  With a simple ingredient list and great flavor, you can make this chili your own with varied spice levels or try it our way.   The Ingredients   In order to cook this beef and sausage chili, you will need a 6-quart (or…
Baked Spaghetti Squash Lasagne with a melty bubbling and browned top.
Spaghetti Squash Lasagne DinnerMain Dishes
November 10, 2023

Spaghetti Squash Lasagne

Looking for that cozy comfort food, but not all of the carbs and calories?  Check out this healthier delicious spaghetti squash lasagna option!  This recipe uses spaghetti squash instead of pasta, ground turkey instead of beef or sausage, and low-fat cottage cheese in place of ricotta cheese.   Truth be told, when I make this recipe it can be a selfish treat to eat something that feels like lasagna but is…
Baked lasagne fresh out of the oven
Sausage & Mushroom Lasagne Dinner
November 10, 2023

Sausage & Mushroom Lasagne

This hearty and flavorful sausage and mushroom lasagne is one of our favorite comfort foods during fall and winter months.  The combination of the sausage, mushrooms, and red wine make such a delicious combination.  The meat and mushrooms absorb all of the red wine and the seasoning, and the flavor becomes embedded it into the finished product. One bonus of this lasagne recipe is that you do not have to…
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,…
Ham & Brie Melt prepared on a brioche bun on a white plate, served with a side salad
Brie & Ham Melt DinnerLunchMain DishesPorkSandwiches
November 3, 2023

Brie & Ham Melt

What could be better than a Brie and ham sandwich????  A melted Brie and ham sandwich, of course.  If you are looking to add variety and flavor to your lunch options, this Brie and ham melt is an easy, delicious solution.  We often make these on weekend days at home or when we have visitors in town. Ingredient List The ingredients of this sandwich could be delicious wrapped up in…
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…