Cranberry Almond Biscotti

Goodness! We’ve eaten them all up and I have yet to post the recipe. I have to honest. I’m particular about my biscotti. Freshly baked gets thumbs up while store bought … can’t go there. The reason is obvious to me … dry toasted vs stale! Try this little recipe … gives you just enough for a day or two treat … simple … delicious & healthy fresh.

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More than Chicken Soup

This chicken soup is not just for flu or cold season but if your family is stricken this More than Chicken Soup may help soothe those miserable symptoms. A friend of mine was under the weather and I just had to try this recipe. We’ve all heard of the benefits of chicken soup. But all chicken soups are not equal. Do chicken soups leave you searching for flavor? <yes, often> Do you find the chicken bland no matter how spicy the broth? <yes, often> Not here! The chicken is spiced up & oven roasted, adding to soup just before serving. I was a little tentative about the recipe since my friend is not into curry. Nope! The recipe doesn’t have curry powder but it has several spices (no turmeric) found in curry. He loved it! Yep, he feels much better today.

Thank you Baker by Nature for this Flu Fighter Chicken Noodle Soup recipe. Please forgive me if I change it ever so slightly.

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Mexi Pasta Salad

A pasta salad to please … packed with delicious ingredients. This is the perfect main dish. It’s a salad I just can’t stop eating. Yikes! A great side to add to my Smoker Brisket.

If like me, you have a hard time following a recipe exactly this is a recipe for you. It takes to change-ups easily. The campanelle pasta is a great touch but you can substitute.

I happened upon this recipe quite by accident. I love the blogger site but I’m not sure it remains active. I’ll be trying some of the authentic Portuguese recipes. Hope you enjoy the site and this recipe.

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Smoker Brisket

Our Valentine’s Gift

Perfect the first time! A home run! This smoker received almost a perfect score on Amazon for good reason. (Purchased locally at Home Depot.) Easy and slick. I did follow the directions! The only drawback … you’ll smell like smoke during the process. After you become a Pro it can be done over night while you sleep. Of course, you’ll have the safety risks ironed out. Just a fun way to cook, and I can finally make my own linguica.

For this brisket I used Emeril Lagasse’s rub. If anyone knows about these spices he does! He suggested mesquite for the smoking but I used hickory (pretty strong compared to some woods) which worked well. (Mainly using regular Kingsford briquets with 3 chunks of hickory placed by the bottom vents inside the briquet chamber. And if you haven’t used a chimney lighter you must get one. It works perfectly in minutes with just lighted paper.) Because the Weber Smoker has such a stellar rep I followed their directions very closely, kinda. I filled the briquet area of the smoker as directed for the time and meat I was smoking but removed about 35 pieces to the chimney lighter. Lit these 35 first and then added to the remainder and the three chunks of hickory. Really worked well! I’ll branch out as I become less of a novice.

 

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