Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Stew

September 15, 2012.   Categories Chilis/Stews, Comfort Food, Soups, Tuscan.

Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Stew

Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Stew I was flipping through a recent Cook’s Illustrated and found a recipe for “Hearty Tuscan Bean Stew” that promised to be as comforting and delicious as any you would find in Tuscany. The article went on to say that Tuscans are known for their expertise in cooking Cannellini beans. The recipe itself wasn’t really that different from how I prepare a similar soup. But it did offer some...

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Best Corned Beef Hash Recipe

March 18, 2012.   Categories Breakfast / Brunch, Comfort Food.

Best Corned Beef Hash Recipe

When you make corned beef and cabbage, you get a two for the price of one comfort food. Is there anything better on a winter weekend then homemade corned beef hash and eggs for breakfast? I think not… If you need some great recipes for making corned beef check out these 5 variations I posted on Babble’s Family Kitchen. We wanted a recipe that was like a delicious restaurant quality dish but was also easy to make. I think we found a...

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Classic Picnic Macaroni Salad

July 7, 2011.   Categories Appetizers, Chef Dawn Viola, Comfort Food, Contributing Chefs, Fabulous Side Dishes.

Classic Picnic Macaroni Salad

  Some of the best memories of summertime include family barbecues or picnics with classic American fare like corn on the cob, fried chicken and potato salad. When I saw this recipe by Wicked Good Dinner‘s Chef Dawn Viola, it immediately reminded me of my mom’s macaroni salad she would make just about every summer. The memories of hot summer days and swimming with friends came flooding back. Good food can add to the sensory...

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The Best Brined Buttermilk Fried Chicken

June 15, 2011.   Categories Comfort Food, Favorites, Poultry.

The Best Brined Buttermilk Fried Chicken

I’ve made fried chicken using lots of recipes.  In recent years, the recipe that gets the most rave reviews is the one by Thomas Keller in his best-selling cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home. The recipe has become as famous as his restaurant in Yountville, California that inspired the gorgeous cookbook. Keller’s trick is a very flavorful lemon-herbed brine solution that he soaks the chicken in for 20-24 hours. It really adds a lot of...

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Spicy Lemongrass Chicken Soup

January 22, 2011.   Categories Appetizers, Comfort Food, Favorites, Light / Healthy, Poultry, Soups.

Spicy Lemongrass Chicken Soup

  It’s that time of year…. everyone in our house (except me – – knock on wood) is sick with a miserable cold virus that is making its way through Colorado.  My husband is the latest victim so I decided to make him a soup with enough nutrition and jalapeno spice to knock out the cold. This is easy to make and you can add whatever veggies you desire. The broth is delicious and packed with the nutrients of fresh,...

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Slow Cooked Beef Stew with Red Wine & Wild Mushrooms

January 2, 2011.   Categories Chilis/Stews, Comfort Food, Slowcooker / Crockpot.

Slow Cooked Beef Stew with Red Wine & Wild Mushrooms

  Slow Cooked Beef Stew with Red Wine & Wild Mushrooms Ingredients: 3-4 lbs boneless beef chuck, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 1-inch cubes 3 TBSP bacon drippings 1 large yellow onion, chopped 6 garlic cloves, chopped 1.5 cups good quality red wine 3 cups organic beef broth (approximate) 1 tsp dried thyme 8 small (ping pong ball sized) redskin potatoes, quartered 4 medium carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks 3 celery stalks, sliced to...

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