Now I know that there are BBQ purists out there who might be a bit offended by me calling this BBQ. I know this, because I happen to live in the Carolinas, one of the meccas for everything BBQ (seriously, BBQ is everywhere here and folks here are serious about it). But sometimes, ya just…
Comfort Food
Cottage Pie
This cottage pie is a rustic and homey one-pot meal. It’s filled with beef and vegetables in a rich gravy and topped with a thick crust of buttery mashed potatoes. A very old kind of dish, dating back to the 18th century British Isles (when the potato was just being introduced there), the cottage pie…
Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings
About once a week or so, usually on a Saturday or Sunday, I like to take the time to do some real down-home cooking. I’m talkin’ from-scratch home cooking that takes some extra time and effort. This past Sunday it was a batch of these Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings. And sure, I sometimes make a…
Irish Stout Beef Stew
If you’re looking to serve something other than the usual corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, this Irish Stout Beef Stew is a delicious option. Morsels of tender beef, and chunks of sweet carrots in a rich gravy with a slightly malty flavor – so good! And even if you’re not a beer…
Apple Dutch Baby
So what exactly is a Dutch Baby? A pancake? A popover? I would argue that it’s both. A puffy pancake, cooked in a skillet, but with a yummy custardy texture (similar to a popover or Yorkshire pudding). Either way, pancake or not, don’t think of this Dutch Baby as just a breakfast food – it’s…
Braised Red Cabbage with Pears
Braised red cabbage is one of my favorite side dishes – especially when it’s chilly outside, and I need a vegetable dish to accompany a hearty meal, like a roast or some homemade pierogi. It’s also a beautiful, colorful dish that’s perfect for any holiday table. This recipe is one that I wrote for Capper’s…
Zesty Black Bean Soup
Can you have enough soup recipes? I really don’t think so. In our house, we have soup at least once a week – and often more in the wintertime. To my way of thinking, a big pot of soup simmering on the stove is just perfect comfort food – warmth and nourishment for the body,…
Old-Fashioned Sloppy Joes
It’s been a few years now since it occurred to me that fulfilling my craving for a good, old-fashioned Sloppy Joes sandwich doesn’t necessarily involve opening a jar of premade sauce. I mean, what’s a Sloppy Joe but a sandwich with cooked ground beef (or other meat), plus some seasoned tomato sauce? But it did…
Kielbasa and 15 Bean Soup
I love soup and I also love beans. But soup with beans? Perfection. In the case of this soup, I used a mix of 15 beans (because I couldn’t choose just one kind!) and added some veggies and a bit of smoky kielbasa. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with this soup – frugal, filling, and oh-so-tasty….
Pumpkin Gobs
For a couple of days now, I’ve been contemplating baking up this sweet treat from my childhood. When I woke up this morning, the urge was overwhelming – I just knew that it was time to make these Pumpkin Gobs. Sometimes you just crave a taste of home. And so maybe gob is an unfamiliar…