Search Results for: blog potato and sour cream casserole

Thanksgiving Menu: Then and Now

Leave it to domestic diva Martha Stewart to school her own cooking guest about the dishes served up at the very first Thanksgiving dinner… on national TV. Did you see Stewart doling out her on-air corrections last week? Whereas I felt bad for the visiting chef, I did learn a lot about what was really on that first Thanksgiving menu. Did you know that the Thanksgiving holiday as we know it is only about 150 years old? Back in 1863, following a stalwart campaign by Sarah Josepha Hale (a writer best known for penning “Mary Had a Little Lamb”), then … Continue reading →

The Secret Ingredient You Need to Have on Hand

Have you discovered the wonders of sour cream? Sour cream is great because you can add it to just about anything to get a creamier, richer, or more moist result. I consider it a “pantry essential” as it’s the best way I know of to make a quick dip or add flavor and texture to a flat sauce. Here are a few of my favorite sour cream hints and tips: A Quick Dip Combine equal parts sour cream and mayonnaise. Then add chives, bacon and tomatoes for a quick and tasty dip for last minute company. Creamier Pasta Sauce Want … Continue reading →

Week Night Menu: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole & Potato Soup

This is a hearty weeknight meal that is very filling. If you have a food processor, the prep is a breeze but even if you don’t, you can do things the night before. Gather Your Ingredients for the Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole: 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 8 slices ham 8 slices Swiss cheese 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup white wine 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 (6 ounce) package herb-seasoned dry bread stuffing mix Gather Your Ingredients … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a staple at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Well, I take that back. Potatoes are a staple at the Thanksgiving dinner table. I am actually rather biased against plain old mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving. I like mashed potatoes, love them as a matter of fact, but I just feel like for such an extravagant meal, you could do better than smashed up roots. With that said, here are my offerings for perfect mashed potatoes, and some other dressed up versions. Perfect Mashed Potatoes You will need: 10-12 mashed potatoes ½ to 1 stick of butter ¼ cup of … Continue reading →

The Easy Way to Cook from Scratch

Cooking from scratch is a great way to reduce your overall food bill. Eating out can cost three or four times as much as cooking at home, on average. Faced with the reality of the savings, why don’t we all cook more and eat out less? Well, one of the main reasons is that the idea of cooking every meal at home when our lives are so busy can seem daunting. Guess what, though? Eating at home can actually be less time consuming than going out in many cases. Plus, if you follow the following advice, you will see that … Continue reading →

Easter Sunday Sides

Easter is traditionally a time when families (immediate and extended) come together to celebrate the season and share a large meal. After all, you can’t have a family gathering without food, right? If you are planning to attend an Easter potluck or you are simply helping your Easter party hostess by preparing a couple of side dishes to supplement the holiday ham or lamb, then consider these easy crowd-pleasing casseroles that are a cinch to make and are loaded with flavor. BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE Ingredients: 1 (2-pound) bag frozen country style hash browns potatoes, thawed slightly 1 (16-ounce) container of … Continue reading →

Comfort Food for Cold Days

With all due respect to the residents of Florida, 39 degrees as a high temperature in January is a heat wave compared to the daytime high of 9 degrees that we suffered through today. I was born and raised in Hawaii, but now live in Wisconsin, so I understand that all things are relative in the weather department. I also know the power of a warm meal on a cold day… regardless of how you define “cold.” The following recipes are among my favorite “comfort foods.” They can take the biting sting out of an icy day with minimal prep … Continue reading →

Ways to Jazz Up Thanksgiving Leftovers

Last night my 5-year-old devoured so much Thanksgiving turkey she actually declined dessert. (Cue the choir of angels.) As hard as it is to believe, my little turkey was so stuffed from eating nutritious dishes that she actually passed on her favorite pumpkin pie. Thanks to my daughter’s voracious appetite, I have less leftover turkey than I had anticipated. (Cue the angels again.) Still, there’s some holiday bird left and I don’t plan to waste any of it. The leftovers will be used in other dishes that will be eaten in the coming days. If you are looking for ways … Continue reading →

Easy Easter Potluck Recipes

Who brings filet mignon to a potluck? To me potluck contributions must be two things: easy and affordable. These factors are critical, especially when you are making a dish that will help feed 20 plus people. If you are planning to attend an Easter party this year consider making the following potluck classics. They are a snap to prepare, travel well and are relatively inexpensive: BAKED CHICKEN SALAD Ingredients: 6 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded 2 cups chopped celery 2 cups mayonnaise 3/4 can condensed cream of chicken soup 1 (4-ounce) jar diced pimentos, drained 2 tablespoons fresh … Continue reading →

Super Simple Sunday Night Dinner

If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, consider one of my family’s favorites. It includes an entree and dessert, but the recipes won’t drain your budget or take up a ton of valuable family weekend time. The first recipe is lovingly nicknamed Everything But the Kitchen Sink Casserole. It was created from leftover items that I refused to waste. I combined the refrigerated leftovers with a few pantry items and presto—-instant dinner. Dessert is an easy Pistachio Torte that sounds fancier than it really is. You can put it together in less than 20 minutes, though … Continue reading →