PASTA MACHINE UPDATE

I have been trying out various fresh pasta recipes and I thought I would give you a brief report. I have found that, no matter what recipe you use, it is absolutely necessary for the dough to rest after it is kneaded...at least 30 minutes, wrapped in plastic at room temperature....

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LEMON POUND CAKE ( 5 STAR)

I don't give out 5 stars for a recipe very often and certainly NOT the first time I try a recipe. However, this recipe received my 5 star rating immediately! It is, by far, the best pound cake recipe I've ever tried. It's texture is smooth, moist and velvety, with a hint of...

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OVEN BARBECUE STEAK

I had big plans to barbecue outside today, and then Mother Nature decided to rain on us all day, I went for plan B (the oven). The outcome was not as good as grilling outdoors, but an excellent alternative, for sure. Cooking "low and slow" in the oven, gives you a steak more...

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PEANUT BUTTER CANDY (sort of like a Pay Day candy bar)

If you like Pay Day candy bars, you will love this recipe. It tastes very similar, but SO much fresher and better. This recipe makes a 9 x 13 pan of candy, which would be an excellent addition to your children's birthday party menu! They take just a few minutes to put together...

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BREAD MACHINE CINNAMON ROLLS (and a Thank You)

Until I started digging through my old recipes for this blog, it never occurred to me how many recipes I have for hubby’s sweet tooth! It has been quite an eye opener. Here is yet another favorite. I tried to make cinnamon rolls out of bread dough for years with minimal success....

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FUDGESICLES (and some questions for you)

With warm weather approaching and kids already out of school, it is time for kid friendly recipes. These fudgesicles are not only tasty, but they are inexpensive to make using every day ingredients from your pantry. If you do not have Popsicle molds, just use 3 ounce waxed paper...

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TROPICAL FRUIT QUICK BREAD

This tropical quick bread was still too hot to cut when I photographed it, so I don’t have a photo of the inside of the bread, but trust me, it is excellent. To give you an idea of what it tastes like, it has bananas, pineapple, coconut, walnuts, vanilla & rum extract in...

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FAMILY STYLE ITALIAN PENNE BAKE

When my children were little, I tried to “invent” recipes but I was not very good at it. One recipe that is embarrassing to admit was a combination of plain tomato sauce, ground beef and Italian seasonings (cooked for about 20 minutes) and then mixed into elbow macaroni; that...

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ALMOST SNICKERDOODLES

What is that saying…necessity is the mother of invention? Well, the other day, I set out to make Girlichef’s Snickerdoodle cookie recipe. I was almost finished with the dough, when hubby came into the kitchen and glanced at the recipe. He looked at me and said, “cinnamon, huh?”...

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VEGGIE RICE

When my carnivorous husband grills, I usually make this for myself instead . It is filling, healthy, spicy and delicious. Topped with cold avocado, sweet cherry tomatoes, a little cheddar, light sour cream and a piece of whole wheat garlic bread, it is my guiltless pleasure!CLICK...

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CARAMEL PECAN PIE

This sinfully rich and heavenly caramel pecan pie will be a hit at your next potluck, trust me! Baked in a shortbread type piecrust, it is perfection. I like to chop the pecans fairly small so that it is easier to slice (and easier for kids to eat). It is the perfectly sweet...

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CHICKEN FINGERS

Chicken Fingers are an excellent appetizer for parties (for all age groups). It is also a quick “go to” meal for a weeknight dinner. Simple and delicious, what more can you ask for? If you have any leftovers, this chicken (chopped up) makes a fantastic chicken and grilled...

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ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Have you ever tried an angel food cake made from scratch? They are a little intimidating, at first, but the flavor and texture is extraordinary and you will never be happy with a bakery angel food cake again. They are worth every bit of effort!! It is amazing how tall this cake...

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PEACH COFFEE CAKE

If you are cooking for your mother, mother-in-law, wife (or yourself) on Mothers Day, I hope you consider this recipe. Its humble title, “Peaches and Cream Coffee Cake” does not accurately describe it. The base is a vanilla cake, partially baked (25 minutes), then topped with...

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CHIPOTLE COLESLAW

This is a quick side dish for today’s Cinco de Mayo dinner. It has traditional coleslaw veggies with just a slight twist on the dressing.1/3 cup mayonnaise1 tablespoon limejuice2 teaspoons honey¼ teaspoon ground cumin1/8 to ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle chile pepper3 cups shredded...

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CROCKPOT TURKEY BREAST

WEEK DAY TURKEY DINNER!! Have you ever cooked a whole turkey breast in the crockpot? I did, for the first time, this weekend, and I can tell you I will be doing it again and again. It was super tender without being dried out (in fact it was quite moist and flavorful) and...

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SHORTBREAD COOKIES

A delicious shortbread cookie that has only six very common ingredients and makes a ton of cookies, what more can you ask for? This recipe has the classic shortbread taste (sort of like a Lorna Doone cookie but so much better) and it is So simple, you just mix and pat it into...

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LIGHT AS AIR PINWHEELS

I found this fabulous recipe for Phyllo Pinwheels on a blog called Cindy’s Place. It is very quick and easy and yet so impressive to look at. They are deliciously light as air and would look fantastic on a baby shower or wedding shower table. 1 package of Pepperidge Farm phyllo...

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