Best Turkey Meatloaf I’ve Ever Eaten

For those of you who won’t even try meatloaf, Dan, you’re missing out. Actually, this is the best meatloaf I’ve ever had, beef or turkey! Was it the turkey?! It was the care in preparation … It does count. Absolutely delicious! Thank you Ina Garten and Will!

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Making Thanksgiving simple

If your Thanksgiving dinner has a guest list of 1 or even 4 you’ll appreciate this recipe for it’s ease and delicious results. Maybe you just want a no-fuss Thanksgiving meal more than once a year! The biggest part of your prep here is the stuffing. You can make this simple by using William Sonoma’s stuffing mix. Deliciousness guaranteed! Link here.

Yep, this is a slow cooker meal and my Proctor Silex (3.5 quart) is almost an antique. It’s plenty big for this meal. The secret of this slow cooker is the oval shape. It easily accommodates an uncut 3-4 pound turkey breast. Here it is. You might prefer a newer version. Here’s a new 4 quart version.

I don’t know about you but I find the Thanksgiving meal an easy cook meal. It’s usually the lack of oven space or stovetop burners (plus the clean-up) that make it so arduous. For one person, who wants to go through all that prep and clean-up?! You are worth it! And this is truly simply delicious!!

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Pumpkin Chipotle Corn Chowder

Another great Dave Lieberman soup! In case you missed it, it’s Fall. Time to bring out all those soup recipes. Pumpkins are fresh and plentiful … Inspiring the cook to put together this great chowder. My oldest is a Dave Lieberman fan (me too). This is his take on the recipe. Enjoy!

Check out this easy way to prepare the pumpkin needed for the recipe, here.

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Spicy Chickpea Soup

How can this be a Portuguese soup when it’s really a take on Dave Lieberman’s Moroccan recipe? Simple! Many spices and food influences came to Portugal from Northern Africa. To give this recipe more of a Portuguese flare use chicken broth, add an uncooked cubed potato (large) along with other ingredients, and cut back on the chickpeas by 15 ounces. Either way this is an amazingly hearty meatless main dish soup.

Thank you to Will, my oldest, for introducing me to great Dave Lieberman recipes.

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Sunday Dinners are Back

… And this is one of our favorite dishes. Be sure everyone likes cheese … This is not a dish where you can get around it. It’s a favorite of my oldest who put this together. I believe it was requested as a main dish for one of his milestone birthdays. Yes, one of the guests was not a cheese lover but the wine helped save the evening & the apple pie (for her). Crunchy bread, salad and this five cheese mac and cheese is all you need for a delicious dinner.

This recipe is one of Ina Garten’s Family Style, sorta. She gives credit to George Germon & Johanne Killeen, a recipe from their cookbook Cucina Simpatico. We often find we need to do substituting with different comparable cheeses that can be found more easily at our grocer’s. Be sure and take your phone with you when shopping in case you need a quick look up for cheese substitutes.

Enjoy! For my perfect apple pie, here!

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Country Ribs Portuguese Style

Sorry Grandma, a twist to my Grandmother’s Vinha D’ Alhos. My brother’s at it again! And he doesn’t even need a celebration but this would be great for July 4th.

First, the marinade & how-to … Use my Grandmother’s recipe here. Marinate the country style ribs (about 3+ pounds) for about 48 hours, more or less. We like more!

When time’s up pour off the marinade. Heat up your grill and barbecue the ribs to give that smoky taste … Just long enough to sear but not cook through. Have the following ingredients ready to layer quickly … avoiding the loss of the juices.

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Portuguese Meat Casserole

This dish tastes better the next day but you won’t have leftovers to test It’s a meat and potatoes indulgence with a soupy tomato and onion broth. As I type this I wish i had some. Yep, no leftovers!

You will need time to oven roast (about 2 hours in a fast oven) but the prep is rapid. If you’re a meat and potatoes fan you’ll love this dish!

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No Bacon Potato Soup

Why no bacon? No particular reason. Yep, you do see a little bacon garnish. This is a rich without butter or milk recipe. Oops, there’s sour cream and cheese. Just a different take on a classic soup. For another recipe equally as delicious, try here. The recipe you try might just come down to the ingredients you have on hand. If that’s the case and your cupboards are bare try this.

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Grandma Rose’s Vinha D’ Alhos

Number 4 in popularity 2020. First posted August 2013. Enjoy!

Strong smells of garlic, wine and pickling spices when roasting this pork dish took me back in time.

As my brother and I climbed into his 55 Chevy we were both complaining that we had to go to grandma’s for dinner. Again! After all, it was a school night. Grandma’s house was hot from the kitchen stove. The swamp cooler was working overtime with little result. The smell of roasting pickled pork permeated the entire house. My grandmother greeted us with hugs, and I don’t know about Danny, but I ducked to avoid a kiss that was about to be planted right on my mouth.

There was lots of food, the ‘thinga thosh’ as my brother and I called it incorrectly, salad, baked beans, rolls and dessert from Copley’s Bakery, either eclairs or banana sponge cake.

Why had we been complaining?

Enjoy my Grandmother’s recipe for Portuguese Marinated Pork Vinho d’alhos. She would be happy to have you at her table!

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