ROASTED RED POTATOES W/ GARLIC & MUSTARD

I found this recipe in an August /2002 Bon Appetit.  They actually called it " Red Potato Skewers with Garlic & Mustard".  In order to skewer and grill them the recipe asked that you pre-cook the potatoes by boiling them.  I wanted to skip that step. I am sure they are great skewered and grilled as well, but I decided to change it up a bit and roast these little baby reds in all the wonderful & flavorful ingredients.  These potatoes are the best!  You can serve them with grilled chicken, fish, steak...basically anything would go great with them.  The potatoes are cut in half so they are perfect bite sized little morsels that just melt in your mouth!

CHEESEY POTATO CASSEROLE

This recipe may be "old school" for some of you.  To be honest with you when I made these for our neighbors the other night I was almost embarrassed while making these, because I usually try to go a little bit more gourmet for guests.  I have to tell you though....these are the best....I repeat....the best cheesiest potatoes!  Everyone loves them. I usually double the recipe just so we have tons of leftovers.  They are not so nice for your waist line, but if you eat them every once in a while it won't do damage!  Kids and adults cannot get enough of this yummy Cheesey Potato Casserole!

Fiesta Chowder with Chile-Corn Custard Squares

It was walk the red carpet night last night!  Yes, that is right it was "my superbowl" or at least that is how I explain Academy Award night to my husband.  The festivities started at 5:00 with some pre-show glamour and then moved on at 6:00 with the Barbara Walters special (we are going to miss your Oscar special Babs!), which preceded the event of the evening.....The Oscar's!  Of course my dinner for this special night was already thought about and pre-made during the day so that I could enjoy my evening.  I chose to make a simple dinner filled with mexican flavor.  I made my Fiesta Chowder which is a soup that is a mix between tastes of tacos & fajita's with a little reminder of chili, but in a soup version.  It is great!  I also made some Chile-Corn Custard Squares that I found in my June-09 issue of Bon Appetite.  These little squares can be served as an appetizer, but I cut them into larger squares to go on the side of our soup.  They are a mixture between corn bread and a Thanksgiving corn casserole; creamy and  yet breadlike....a perfect side for a Mexican soup.

Marinated Grilled Flank Steak with Rosemary Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Spinach Salad

The flu had overtaken our home since last Thursday. So for about one week most of us only had the taste for noodles and chicken broth.  I thought tonight was a good night to finally make a home-cooked dinner for us, but I wanted something light.  Marinated Grilled Flank Steak was first I mine mind.  I decided to marinate it in some olive oil, worcestshire sauce, balsamic vinegar and some garlic.  I marinate it for a few hours and then pop it on the indoor cast iron grill....it turned out awesome!  I also mashed up some yummy sweet potatoes and seasoned them with a bit of rosemary for a different flavor.  For a little something green I put together a super simple baby spinach salad with blue cheese and dried cranberries.  This salad goes perfect with any kind of steak.  The flavors of all three of these recipes go so well together they seem made for eachother. 

Christmas Dinner - Prime Rib With All the "Fixin's"!

A few years ago my mom and dad took over hosting our family for Christmas dinner.  My grandmother passed away and the "torch" was passed on to my mom.  The first year I believe she made a beef tenderloin, but the second year and third she made a prime rib to die for!  Last year she perfected her menu and we told her not to change one thing.  This year she listened to us and she did not change a thing!  It is the perfect Christmas menu for our family.  It is relaxing...my mom gets to relax as well because a lot of the recipes she can prepare ahead of time.  Check out our Christmas dinner menu: Prime Rib With All The "Fixin's"!

Grilled Italian Steak with Winter Caprese Salad

Are we "turkeyed out" yet?  It is just the day after Thanksgiving so I have yet to make my turkey sandwich's or turkey pot pies.  I know in a few days I will be completely "turkeyed out" and will want to make something as far away from turkey as possible.  If you too have these feelings, please try this menu that I made for my husband and I the night before Thanksgiving.  It involved RED MEAT and not turkey!  I made a simple Grilled Italian Steak on our indoor cast iron grill and a Winter Caprese Salad served with some Herbed Couscous.  It was simple and delicious!  Try it out if you are "turkeyed out"!

Pleuthra of Potatoes

So you peeled, cooked and mashed 20 lbs of potatoes and there "ain't" no way you are tossin' any of those darn mashed potatoes out!  That's ok....there is a solution...here are some recipes that can help you out!

The Tradition of A "Traditional" Thanksgiving

I love experimenting and coming up with new recipes and new concoctions....that is every day of the year except Thanksgiving.  When it comes to cooking a Thanksgiving dinner my family and I stick to the basics.  Granted we do add a first course of home-made lasagna...we are italian after all!  But when it comes to Thanksgiving we stick to the tradition of a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal.  I have included some of our recipes on this post....don't forget to check out our italian addition of home-made lasagna in the upcoming weeks!
*Photo courtesy of Good Housekeeping

NOT YOUR ORDINARY MEATLOAF & MASHED POTATOES

Ok...I may be biased but for some reason I believe everything tastes better with a little italian twist.  Last week my mother and father inlaw came in for a visit.  I always like to try to make something special for them.  This way we can sit down at the kitchen table and catch up while we have a nice home cooked dinner.  This night I made an italian meatloaf and parmesean mashed potatoes.   The meatloaf makes a nice tomato based gravy that tastes great spooned over the mashed potatoes.  The carrots on the side of the meatloaf make a great vegie side and you could also serve with some broccolli or a side salad.  Just an FYI the meatloaf and mashed potatoes come together nice the next day to make a sandwich!!