50th State Stews

I grew up enjoying balmy year-round temperatures in Hawaii. Average highs in the 50th State during the fall range from 80 to 89 degrees. However, despite the tropical setting, locals love stew. Hot stew. I have always loved eating stew, regardless of how high the mercury climbs. In fact, some of my favorite stews are “native” recipes, which feature popular local ingredients, such as curry powder and soy sauce. And while it is not noted on the ingredient’s list, it goes without saying that no one in Hawaii would dare eat a bowl of stew without a piping hot scoop … Continue reading

Hearty Fall Stews

Say bye-bye to boring beef stew. The fall favorite is a dinner classic, especially this time of year. When the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, nothing is more warm and inviting than a hearty bowl of stew. However, a person can only eat so much traditional beef stew before he longs for something new. Enter the following culturally kicked-up stews. Not only are they easy to make, but their unique ingredients will put a spring in your step on a chilly autumn night: AFRICAN VEGETABLE STEW Ingredients: 1 tablespoon margarine 1 cup onion, chopped 1/2 cup parsley, chopped … Continue reading

International Soup Recipes

Despite the fact that temperatures were in the 80s during our recent trip to Hawaii, I couldn’t help but indulge in some of my favorite soup recipes. I am very fortunate to have an extended family of wonderful cooks, who love to feed visiting foodies. The Chicken Jook and Sausage and Bean Soup can be made in slow cookers, making preparation and clean up a breeze. Meanwhile, the Roast Pork Kim Chee Soup is bursting with flavor and is just as fast and easy to make as the Chicken Jook and Sausage and Bean Soup. All three are ideal for … Continue reading

Hearty Homemade Winter Soup Recipes

We received more than 40 inches of snow in the month December. That’s more than our city typically sees during the entire winter season and meteorologists say more of the white stuff is on the way along with record breaking cold temperatures. Next week Milwaukee is not supposed to get above ZERO. In fact, on Wednesday the forecasted high is predicted to be -6. City officials are already warning people not to travel if they don’t have to. What a joke. Who willingly chooses to expose themselves to dangerously cold weather conditions? If I had my way I would stay … Continue reading

Soup’s On: Spectacular Fall Soup Recipes

Rich and delicious homemade soup can be a busy cook’s best friend especially when Mother Nature is acting like your enemy. Here in the Midwest fall came in like a lamb (it was nearly 80 degrees on Election Day), but now it feels more like late December (yesterday’s high was 30 degrees). The conditions are terrible if you have to be outdoors for long periods of time, but they are ideal if you have the luxury of staying indoors all day making homemade soups. The following soup recipes are easy to prepare and satisfying enough to serve as a one-pot … Continue reading

Autumn Recipes from A to Z

Tis the season to retreat to the kitchen to prepare warm comfort foods. Think hearty stews, soups, pumpkins, squash, turkey and other fall favorites. In an effort to encourage you to make the most of this season’s spectacular harvest I’ve compiled a collection of autumn recipes from A to Z featuring some of fall’s most popular ingredients. Whether you are cooking for two or two-dozen, the following quick and easy recipes will help make the most of fall’s bounty from apples to zucchini. Autumn Recipes: A is for Apple— DOUBLE APPLE DESSERT SALAD and WILD RICE AND APPLE SALAD. Autumn … Continue reading

Sweet Autumn Recipes

Two of the three farms we visited this fall sold honey fresh from the hive. In fact, both farms had several glass cases on display so patrons could watch thousands of busy bees fill hive cells with fresh honey. It was fascinating, and naturally, a great marketing tactic to get us city folk to purchase a few jars of honey on the way out. Of course, it was only after I got into the car that I realized that I don’t really use honey all that much (occasionally on fresh biscuits and in tea, but not often in main dishes). … Continue reading

Autumn Recipes: Z is for Zucchini

We made it. It took nearly a month, but today marks the last entry in our Autumn Recipes A-Z series. Hopefully, you’ve added a few new seasonal recipes to your fall repertoire and in the process you’ve been inspired to experiment with dishes that wouldn’t typically find their place on your dining room table. Today, we’re focusing on another seasonal ingredient: zucchini. The versatile, green vegetable (technically, part of the gourd family) can be added to both savory and sweet dishes. My favorite zucchini recipe comes courtesy of Food Network’s Paula Deen (no surprise). Her Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is … Continue reading

Autumn Recipes: Y is for Yams

Yams (or sweet potatoes) are extremely popular this time of year. While there are countless recipes for savory dishes that feature the seasonal ingredient I tend to stick with sweeter yam dishes since they are embraced more heartily by my pint-sized picky eater. My daughter’s favorite yam dish is very simple. I just drizzle fresh yams with maple syrup, and then I add some nutmeg and cinnamon, and bake them with butter. It’s delicious… as are the following recipes for other sweet yam dishes that can be served up at holiday get-togethers. YAM AND PUMPKIN PANCAKES Ingredients: 1 cup flour … Continue reading

Autumn Recipes: X is for X-shaped Chocolate Cookies

Yeah, I know, it’s not very autumnal. But you try coming up with foods that begin with the letter X and then combine them to create an edible creation. There was xanthareel, a yellow eel used in medicinal foods, and xanthan gum, which is produced from the fermentation of corn sugar (it’s commonly used as a thickener in foods such as yogurt, sour cream and salad dressings), but neither struck me as the basis for family-friendly recipes. So, I got a bit creative and went for another interpretation: X-shaped treats. The following recipe for playful chocolate cookies molded in the … Continue reading