Taco Soup

Before I took the training wheels off my Internet, I used to hang out on AOL’s Kitchen Frugality message board. This soup recipe came from one of those fine ladies and has become a standard in our home. Even if you think you can’t boil water, I promise you can make this soup while standing …

Read more

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Creamy chicken and wild rice soup

Heather says: This creamy soup is quite rich, perfect for a chilly evening spent calling Midwestern family and asking, “Hey, how’s the weather up there?” (It was -2F yesterday, sorry about that)   Yields: approximately 8 cups of soup Ingredients: 5 cups chicken broth 1 cup wild rice (If you aren’t a huge fan of …

Read more

Pulled Pork

Heather says: From time to time I get emails asking about different cuts of meat: what are they, where do they come from, and how on earth should I cook it? Since we don’t exactly have a huge production budget (it’s my weekly grocery budget after all), these questions are often deferred until the cut …

Read more

Salmon with Rosemary and Lemon

Heather says: This method of baking is fast and simple. If you can fold foil around salmon, you’ve got it in the bag. If you don’t care for rosemary try dill, basil, or cracked black pepper.  As an added bonus, the rosemary makes for a fancy-schmancy picture, eh? Ingredients: Salmon olive oil salt lemon, sliced …

Read more

Pan Seared Ribeye

Heather says: Sometimes the tastebuds say, “Grill up a steak!” but the weatherman says, “Snow, rain, blizzard, hurricanes, cats, dogs, plagues of frogs!” What to do, what to do? Why pan sear, of course. Now, it isn’t quite the same as grilling a marinated steak, but it has some of the same qualities. I enjoy …

Read more

Linguini With Clam Sauce

Heather says: This is classic, but most of the ingredients are staples, so it can be thrown together on a night that you may otherwise say, “There is nothing to eat in this house!” Add a salad and a crusty loaf of bread and people will believe you know your way around a kitchen. Don’t …

Read more

Italian Pork Chops

Heather says: This is a simple recipe that can be expanded with little effort to feed a large family. Simply double or triple the sauce according to the number of pork chops you cook. The sauce below is for 4 -6 1/2″ thick chops, reduce the browning time for thinner cuts. The technique for the …

Read more

Baked Potato Soup Recipe

Ever since I worked at Bennigan’s, I have adored potato soup. I am fairly certain if it weren’t for snitched rolls and ramekins of baked potato soup, I would have wasted away in my late teens. I was sad to see the company recently declare bankruptcy, but take heart. The potato soup lives on. This …

Read more

Simple Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Recipe

Heather says: The only thing not simple about this sausage, peppers, and onions dish are the number of variations that can be applied. Serve it over rice or noodles, on toasted hoagie rolls or with buttered Italian bread. Each simple accompaniment changes the tone and perception of the dish.  For a more pronounced difference, vary …

Read more