This was one of the Willitts’ Pump Company Christmas Party favorites. Here is what my brother remembers: I’d remove the foil and lid in the last minutes of cooking so the aroma filled the shop. I’d plate it (usually 6 ducks) with sliced oranges and parsley …And put forks on the trayfor a taste. It was gone in minutes!
Along with wild duck, cheeses, breads, pit meat, homemade olives for this party was my dad’s Portuguese Beans. Enjoy recipe 1, here, and recipe 2, here.
This is one of my brother’s family favorites and I can see why. Use your favorite meatball recipe or mine, meatballs … And with the simple addition of tomatoes and onions to a beef broth you’ve Albondigas Soup.
The secret is to keep it simple.
Thank you Ruth, my sister-in-law, for the suggestion and recipe … I can see this as our family favorite too.
Nothing more comforting than Sunday Pasta and a glass of red wine … for so many reasons. This recipe can provide a one dish meal. Or add a little side salad to complete. Hope you enjoy this easy Sunday Ragù as much as I.
And then there’s Ina Garten … Cheesy dishes are one of her specialities. When I say cheesy there is no other way to put it. If you aren’t into cheese just forget it! Some years ago my oldest son requested her 5 Cheese Penne Pasta for his birthday dinner. Little did I know one of the guests didn’t like cheese. Can you imagine! She didn’t tell me directly but she stirred her food to appear eaten. With four kids I knew what that meant.
This beats any cheesy recipe Ina has but in reality it’s a make over of her Mac N Cheese. Be prepared … this is so rich just a little will do you.
The taste of Baked Beans … rich, sweet, tangy and just a hint of smoky bacon. This is so delicious and put together again for someone special. She’s been ill and requested this recipe!
Thank you Grandma Rose for another family favorite.
Winter vegetables are making way for Spring. Cauliflower is one of our family favorites, garlicky cheesy cauliflower sides especially.
This is the time of year many friends and acquaintances decide to maintain a meat free diet. So, with that in mind I put together a quick skillet dinner of Creamy Cauliflower and Tuna. The cauliflower is cooked to al dente stovetop. The remainder of ingredients are added and heated. That’s it! A leafy green salad and you have dinner.
As a “wanted-to-be” housewife, but had to work outside the home, and mother I strived to create home cooked for my family just because I felt better about the nutrition. (And cleanliness! One of my first jobs was a restaurant health inspector.) And let’s face it, there’s nothing like a cozy warm delicious home cooked meal. Working leaves little time for preparing meals if you’re spread thin which is certainly what I was as a single mom. I appreciate those who create time involved difficult dishes but I’m not totally convinced the taste is always better.
So, for St. Patrick’s Day I’m simply converting my oven braised stew to my Irish Stew.
If you love pizza with red sauce you’ll love love this! Use the pizza toppings you like on your usual pizza, make it vegetarian, add jalapeños or not … You’ve got the idea. Make it your own! Ready in less than 30 or make everything from scratch for a truly personal touch. I’ve made our family favorite, Combination without anchovies. If you’re into anchovies add a little paste to give that in-depth taste.
Putting this recipe together was motivated by my abundance of eggs, and leftover ham … The place you might find yourself after this coming Easter Celebration.
I hadn’t given thought to Dr. Suess’s birthday today, March 2 … And how with a few changes to my post title it could become the title to one of his most loved children’s books, Green Eggs and Ham. It wasn’t until my visit to Pearls + Girls that I even realized Dr. Suess was being celebrated today. Shame on me! If you haven’t visited Pearls + Girls for a time, Katie has given her site a new look. I’ve always loved visiting her blog. You’ll meet and enjoy this warm family from one of our cold midwestern states, Ohio.
What do I know about Ohio? You’ve heard me talk about my road warrior days. Akron was one of my stops … in the cold of winter, of course. I worked as a CRA for a company called Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) out of North Carolina. As I recall I was doing this Akron visit for a sick colleague. I always tried to make a fun thing out of these last minute flights and visits. What could I visit in Akron when doing a 24 hour turn around? Stay in a Quaker Oats Company silo at the Quaker Square Inn! Historic!
Here’s the Spicy Tomato Soup to go with our sandwiches. It’s light but not in taste, and satiates. It has a bit of a Portuguese influence without garlic. If you enjoy garlic add a few garlic croutons. I love this!
This was one of the Willitts’ Pump Company Christmas Party favorites. Here is what my brother remembers: I’d remove the foil and lid in the last minutes of cooking so the aroma filled the shop. I’d plate it (usually 6 ducks) with sliced oranges and parsley … And put forks on the tray for a taste. It was gone in minutes!
