Part of my enjoyment from cooking comes from developing something new, especially for a contest. Last year I experimented with steel cut oats, which was a key ingredient in the Spar for the Spurtle recipe contest. The recipe I entered was a Creole “grits” which I have had on my list to tinker with…
Author: expepicurean
Crunchy Chipotle Chickpeas
Once again, my daughter has inspired a new treat – this time in snack form. She declared she wanted crunchy beans, which neither I or my husband could figure out what she meant. We had crunchy wasabi peas in the house, but I’m sure you can guess how much a 2 yr-old or 4 yr-old…
Strawberry Salsa
Aaah, springtime. Warmer weather, fresh buds on the trees, and the start of fresh vegetables and fruits. While still early in the season, one of things I look forward to in April/May is the bounty of fresh strawberries. The in-season prices mean my whole family devours them at breakfast, and I tinker in…
Chopped Veggie Salad
The tradition of Bridal Showers over the last few centuries has been to help the new bride start off married life with some essentials, including those for the kitchen. At my bridal shower, this included a recipe from each attendee which they wrote on notecards and compiled in a book. The recipes ranged…
Chocolate-Banana Trifle (a.k.a. Banana Swirl)
Last week my daughter proclaimed that we should have Banana Swirl for dessert. Typical of most preschooler conversations, I asked her what was in that dish. She then mentioned it was bananas and bread mixed together. Hmmm. It sounds like she just came up with another installment of what I’m going to call…
Measuring Cup Calibration – An Experiment
Have you ever had that “oh no” sinking feeling in your stomach? Perhaps the last time was in school when you forgot your homework, or just after leaving for a trip you questioned if you left the door unlocked. For a competitive cook, one way to get the same effect is to realize…
Green Olive Meatloaf
Trusted go-to meal. Comfort food. A super tasty dinnertime feast. Would you believe that I am talking about meatloaf? That’s right, I said meatloaf. I know there are many who would argue with me and say meatloaf is not a household favorite, but I would have to firmly inform them that they are wrong. …
Prep Ahead Hash Browns – An Experiment
My husband is on a hash brown kick for his breakfast, choosing to start the day with a big meal to make sure he has the energy to keep up with our children. Store bought hash browns are convenient, but can get pricy, so I was determined to find a method of prepping…
Adzuki Bean Salad
Since I am always on the lookout for new, healthy foods to incorporate into my family’s diet, it was about time that we tried adzuki beans. Adzuki beans (also called aduki beans) are a part of the legume family. They are often found in red bean paste used in Asian cooking and are…
Port Wine Cheese Soup (a.ka. Pretzel Soup)
Just before Christmas in 2014 my husband asked my daughter what she wanted to eat on Christmas Day. She said, “yummy soup made by mommy. PRETZEL SOUP!” Pretzel soup? I had never made pretzel soup before, but like any self-respecting foodie I accepted the challenge. First step – what pairs well with pretzels?…
Squash Spaghetti
Eat your vegetables! I’m sure we can all name one (or two) people whom frequently need this reminder. Sometimes I am looking for a way to make encourage my kids to each more vegetables, and other times I am just looking for a way to create a tasty & light side dish that delights…
Healthy Solutions Spice Bends Challenge: Steak & Mushroom Frittata
The first recipe contest I have entered this year is the Healthy Solutions Spice Blends Recipe Challenge. As a busy, working mom I love the added time-saving feature of premixed spice blends. With over 15 spice blends to chose from, you are sure to find something your family will enjoy – even those…
