Sometimes my recipe tinkering comes about because I am trying to create a copycat version of a dish we had at a restaurant. Today’s recipe is one such occasion. For our honeymoon, my husband and I went to Hawaii. One of our favorite things on that trip was the coconut syrup that was…
Author: expepicurean
Easy Chili
To make school lunches easier on our family this year, we stocked up on various rice bag meals and lentil meals. They have been a great, easy way to have a healthy meal without much effort. One of these meals, the Madras Lentils by Tasty Bite, has worked its way into my chili. …
Cannoli Cheesecake
At a gathering just before Thanksgiving, we were discussing everyone’s favorite pie. My husband brought up his love of cheesecake and cannoli, rather than the typical turkey day offerings. The table threw down a challenge that I readily accepted – create a cannoli cheesecake. While a quick search on the internet brings up…
Pumpkin Butter Cheesecake Trifle
A few months back I saw a post for a pumpkin cheesecake trifle, which sounded like a delightful holiday dessert. It got my attention because (1) my husband LOVES cheesecake and (2) I love pumpkin pie. Since some family gatherings don’t always net a hoard of people, being able to combine two favorite…
Monster Fudge
While the dish may be named Monster Fudge, it really doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that Halloween is just around the corner. This recipe idea came from Monster Cookies, which are peanut butter-oatmeal cookies with chocolate chips and M&Ms®. My thinking was that this particular flavor combination shouldn’t be confined…
Chocolate Covered Stuffed Raspberries
Impressive desserts don’t have to be complicated. Take these chocolate covered stuffed raspberries for example. They look elegant, yet are really easy to put together. I chose to create a lemon-mascarpone filling, but a variety of other flavors or creams would do. A few minutes in the freezer is all they need to…
Southern Street Corn Salad
In my opinion, corn is a great compliment to any BBQ. As summer draws near, magazines and the internet abound with a variety of grilled corn recipes, including street corn recipes. It is hard to read the recipes without making your mouth water, but I have always wondered how I could serve the…
Chipotle Chicken Crantadas
My family LOVES tacos. It seems like we easily eat them once a week, but we do venture out to other Mexican fare. These Chipotle Chicken Crantadas are a dish I created for a contest about a decade ago, though I have revamped it some since then. This dish is a summery version…
Marinated Tri-Tip Steak
A good steak is hard to beat, and often a must for summer barbeques or celebrations. I often find myself making tri-tip, as my whole family loves it for its great flavor and tenderness. Part of what makes the steak so irresistible is the easy marinade of soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. The…
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad seems to be one of those dishes that is a go-to for potlucks and parties. Most recipes though mix in raisins and are coated in a mayonnaise sauce, which I wasn’t in the mood for this week. Instead, I opted for a Broccoli Salad that had more of a Mediterranean vibe….
Pickled Raspberries
I was browsing through some magazines this weekend and came across a recipe for a shrub, which is an alcoholic drink with a base of pickled fruit puree. Could you quick pickle fruit for a fun dessert topping I wondered? Time to experiment in the kitchen. I used red wine vinegar that I…
Apple-Cheddar Bread
One of the cooking contests I am currently experimenting for is the Our Family Garden applesauce contest. This contest has been so much fun, in part due to the enthusiasm of the host. He has been giving contestants frequent insights into their products and business, making it a joy to share my cooking…
