Category Archives: Kitchen

Easy DIY Christmas Gifts – Candied Citrus Peel

Posted on December 5, 2011 by

I’d seen this recipe a number of times, and I’ve probably eaten my weight of candied orange peel more than once, but I was never inspired to make it myself until this year. Now, I’m sure I’ll be making it annually – it’s an easy recipe that doesn’t require a lot of hands-on time, and makes a gorgeous hostess or teacher gift. And with exactly two ingredients – citrus peel and sugar – it’s a handy alternative to baked goods for friends with food allergies or special diets. Continue reading →

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Cold Weather Favorite: Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Posted on November 4, 2011 by

Finally, I wrote down my stovetop mac and cheese recipe. Yes, technically it’s a Mornay sauce, but I’m pretty sure the French Culinary Institute won’t let you use Velveeta in a Mornay. I do. I’m a rebel. Continue reading →

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Small Batch, Lower Sugar, Slow Cooker Apple Butter (Because I’m High Maintenance Like That.)

Posted on October 5, 2011 by

Through a series of scheduling mishaps (which might be interpreted as my inability to read a calendar), we went apple picking last Saturday, and again on Monday. Trying to explain to Scooter and Skeeter that we didn’t really need any more apples and we were just going for the experience was an awful lot like talking to a wall. So I made some serious, for real, slap-your-momma good apple butter. Continue reading →

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Dinner from the Pantry: Puttanesca

Posted on August 24, 2011 by

A few nights ago, we had an impromptu dinner with friends for which I provided the main dish. Many people I know have at least a couple of dishes that they can throw together in a hurry out of things that they usually have on hand, and what I prepared was indeed from my standard repertoire.

This post includes a recipe for a scalable, vegetarian- or veganizeable pasta sauce that’s very flavorful and can be made to be quite spicy. It’s followed by a more simple sauce for young kids or those who prefer something a little more mild. Continue reading →

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Less Cooking, More Eating – Beating the Summer Heat in the Kitchen

Posted on July 30, 2011 by

I grew up in the heat, y’all. I get it. But up here in New Jersey, we are not equipped for this. When the temperatures hit the mid-90′s up here, I stopped using my oven, and when they topped 100, I considered just boarding up the kitchen and ordering pizza.

For a month.

BUT I couldn’t justify spending money on pizza that I would rather save for air conditioning. So I decided to draft a menu that involved no oven time and less than fifteen minutes of stove time per meal. Continue reading →

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