How To Create A Charcuterie Board

  A charcuterie board is a step up from a traditional cheese board.  It’s an array of cured meats, cheeses, pates, preserves and crackers with a dash of fresh fruits, berries and nuts.  When creating your board, be mindful of your choices.  Choose fruits that won’t turn in color when exposed to the air.  Fruits…

Stove Buying Guide: What To Look For

Time for a new Oven?  Let me make your search a little easier, by sharing what I learned in the process.  The intent is to save you some time, money, and stress, so you can feel confident in your final decision.  Ultimately my husband and I decided on a 48 inch dual fuel oven/range with…

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies

Packed with chocolate, a hint of pumpkin flavor, and all the warm and cozy feelings that come with a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie. I have a chocolate chip cookie recipe I always use, and made them the other day. There was leftover dough in the fridge that I had yet to use and got…

Butternut Queso Fundido

Flavorful nacho cheese sauce, so tasty you would never guess it was healthy. Creamy butternut purée combined with cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes and jalapeño. We do not do processed cheese at our house, but at times I miss the creamy texture of velveeta cheese. Most cheese sauces have a cream/roux base and are too heavy…

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Traditional flavor of pumpkin pie atop a creamy vanilla bean cheesecake with a homemade graham cracker crust. Dont forget the whipped cream! I have pumpkin coming out of my ears! Our pumpkin plant was out of control. I planted pumpkins this year, because I wanted my son to be activly involved in my gardening. The…

Pork Schnitzel

Tender and juicy pork loin coated in a crispy breading.  Pairs perfectly with mash potatoes, pork gravy and a sweet yet tangy purple sauerkraut. This is a fan favorite meal at my house.  Pork top loin steaks are on sale this week at my local safeway, so naturally we made 14 schnitzels for the freezer. …

Ham Pot Pie

Large chunks of ham, carrots, onions and celery in a flavorful condensed cream of chicken gravy.  Enveloped by a flakey buttery crust and baked to a golden brown perfection. Fall has come to Portland!  My Instagram feed is filling up with pictures of apples, soups and pumpkin spice everything! The colder weather has me curled…

Oh So Sweet Potato Pie

Flaky crust , thick and creamy sweet potato filling topped with a fluffy marshmallow cream.  The crust really adds great balance to the sweet potato and sugary topping.  Here is a new take on your yam bake! A cross between sweet potato pie and baked yams topped with marshmallows. We are about to head into…

Mini Yogurt Tart

A granola crust with crushed walnuts.  Filled with honey sweetened whole greek yogurt, and topped with fresh berries. Mom came to visit this week! And breakfast was ready for when she arrived.  It worked out perfect.  Filled us up and fueled our day full of chasing kids and shopping until we dropped.  I had never…

Roasted Garlic Gnocchi

Soft pillows of potato gnocchi, lightly seared and tossed in apple cider vinegar and honey with caramelized onions and cabbage. My first experience with gnocchi taught me that there are no rules with what you can add to this dish.  I had gnocchi for the first time at a friend’s restaurant in northern Italy and…

Preserves Pull-Apart Loaf

I am sure you have heard, seen or even tried monkey bread.  Bits of left over dough, tossed in cinnamon sugar and thrown into a bowl to be baked to an gooey pull apart perfection. This recipe is a similar idea but uses fruit preserves and a loaf pan.  It makes for a minimally messy…

Zesty Lemon Pepper Shrimp and Cauliflower Salad

Riced and roasted cauliflower, cucumbers, fresh tomatoes, finely diced red onions, and lemon zest. Tossed together with chicken broth, and topped lemon pepper grilled shrimp and a spoonfull of whole Greek yogurt.  Want a summer salad that is bursting with color and flavor? Here it is! I ran across a pair of beautifully vibrant purple…

Fresh Tuna Steak Salad

Fresh grilled tuna steaks. Cubed and combined with whole Greek yogurt, fresh dill, diced peppers, cherry tomatoes and served up on Belgian endives. Sprinkle with a little salt and top with dill pickled onions and a side of radish watermelons for a kick of flavor. If you want a little more crunch to your salad….

Seasonal Fig and Goat Cheese Pizza

Crispy monzerella covered pizza crust topped with fresh peppery arugala, juicy figs, smooth and creamy goat cheese, tangy dill pickled onions, crushed walnuts and a drizzle of balsamic reduction.  I have been looking everywhere for figs and until now they alluded me. I was driving my son home from school and there was a box…

Shrimp and Cheddar Grits

Cheesy white cheddar grits topped with spicy shrimp, roasted potatoes and corn, tossed in a Cajun butter sauce. I had an interview for a company called Cozymeal and this meal was part of the interview process. If you have not heard of the company, you are missing out! Look them up when you have a…