Tortilla Soup With Beef

Tortilla Soup

What’s so different about this Tortilla Soup! It’s made with ground beef or turkey, can be cooked all day in a crockpot or made stovetop in no time. You can crisp your own tortilla strips for the garnish or use precooked tortillas, tostadas, crumbled over the top. I love these tortillas freshly cooked by Vallarta’s, a local supermarket that caters to the Latino population. We are lucky to have this impeccably clean packed with ethnic food choices supermarket chain throughout Southern California. Fresh sausages hang all along the meat section  … a little chorizo would be a good addition to this soup but not this time.

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Something Special with Bratwurst

Homemade Hot Mustard and Sautéed Apple Slices

Something Special with Bratwurst

You’ve heard, Not for Sissies! Something my mother would say periodically … Not necessarily about food. It just comes to mind when I eat this Hot Mustard. It dresses up this Bratwurst in the most tasty way. Add some homemade sauerkraut or sautéed Granny Smiths. It doesn’t get any better!

If you know anything about mustard making you realize you need some time. This condiment can’t be mixed and eaten immediately. It’s very bitter at this point and too hot. The longer it sets the milder it becomes. This particular recipe is a one day recipe which means it will be HOT but the bitterness will disappear. It takes less than 5 minutes to mix up … So start your morning by putting this together and by dinner it will be ready to eat. Eat with caution.

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Valentine’s Day Maybe’s

Valentine's Day DeliciousnessWhat a great day to whip up a special treat! Here are some of my favorites or are they his favorites! Any one of these recipes will make Valentine’s Day special. From red wine sauce over ice cream to amazing waffles … it’s the perfect day to try out an incredibly simple delicious recipe. Hey, even if it’s just for you!

Tiramisu

Bacon Pecan Maple Buttermilk Waffles

Italian Scramble

Pancakes and Strawberry Syrup

Dessert with Wine Sauce

Salmon and Pasta

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! And especially to Steve and Marc or Ed, my fav’s!


Pasta Sunday

Meatloaf Or Meatball Stuffed Shells

Meatloaf Stuffed Shells

 

 

Our family never complains Spaghetti Again! It’s just one of our very favorites. But if your family needs a change up on Pasta Sunday try this. It’s so simple and fast. And what a hit! Use your or my favorite meatloaf or meatball recipe, stuff the al dente cooked shells, and bake in marinara. That easy!

Mangia! Mangia!

Don’t forget a great Chianti!

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Delicious Cauliflower Soup

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

Weather influences what we eat … I don’t know about you. I’m also influenced by what I have in the refrigerator … Cheeses and onions leftover from dips, and cauliflower from my Winter Salad. Perfect for today’s easy rich soup, Creamy Cauliflower Soup.

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Garden Variety Vegetable Soup

Garden Variety Soup

That was some Super Bowl, wasn’t it! As the game progressed to a nail biting crescendo second and third helpings from our fabulous Super Bowl spread were inevitable. And we’re not talking vegetables & yogurt. After leftovers yesterday and still some cheesy dips and a few meaty taste treats left we’re craving something much lighter. I’ve grabbed the unused portion of cabbage head, posts: Winter Salad with Dill Dressing and Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage, and always have onions, carrots and garlic … And put together a very light but satisfying soup for tonight’s dinner.

The basics of this soup are red or green cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, olive oil and a little spice. Then add any selection of veggies or legumes. Light deliciously satisfying Vegan Vegetable Soup in 30 minutes.

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Steak Stuffed Bakes

Super Bowl Party Finger Food

Steak Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Finger food is a little misleading … You can easily and neatly eat these with your hands.

If you’re a meat and potatoes fan you’ll be so into these! What I like about this for a crowd … First, it’s amazingly delicious! Secondly, each provides a serving … It’s easy to calculate for a crowd. For appetizers a potato half for each guest.

Stephen, I know you’re gonna love these!

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Portuguese & Italian Sausage Sliders

Just in time for the Super Bowl

Portuguese and Italian Sausage Sliders

No one wants to spend time in the kitchen when the game’s on. Back in the day most women went out on game day … Maybe took in a movie. Shopping was out … stores weren’t open Sundays.

Super Bowl Sunday the television room will be filled with everyone. Even gramma has a fav team. So, let’s make the spread quick and easy. Here are two favorite sliders with one basic recipe.

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Beef Carbonnade

Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage

Beef Carbonnade

Better than a scented candle on a foggy day. The smell of Beef Carbonnade wafting through your house will certainly bring you out of the doldrums on yet another foggy or bad weather day. Trust me! We’ve experienced almost an entire week of sunless days and with this cooking I’m already feeling much lighter. Well, that’s until I eat too much Beef Carbonnade.

I’ve layered the beef over fettuccine just because that’s what I had on hand. Break up the fettuccine before cooking to give other than a pasta dish presentation to this beefy recipe. Or do the traditional and use medium width egg noodles. Either way, Mmm!

Serve with a side of spicy Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage. Easy Easy! I’ve only used half the red cabbage. So tomorrow I’m making a salad with red cabbage, cauliflower and romaine and a sour cream dill dressing … If you’re not into braised cabbage.

Hope you enjoy!

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Crostini Dinner

Endless Choices

Crostini

You might think of Crostini as an appetizer but it hasn’t always been. And just as with pasta, crostini toppings are endless. In fact, these sauces and toppings are pretty much interchangeable. If you enjoyed my post Linguini with Puttanesca but have run out of linguini try Puttanesca as a Crostino topping.

Toast thin slices of a French baguette, yep in the toaster, or impress your guy or gal by toasting these little bites of bread in a skillet coated with a bit of garlic infused olive oil. Top. Pair with your favorite wine and you have dinner. Chianti for me. And BTW if you are allergic to garlic (often protested by friends or family who can’t do garlic but aren’t allergic) this post is all about this favorite Allium, garlic.

Enjoy!

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