Party Cheesecakes

Party Cheesecakes are the perfect mini cheesecakes.  Drop a vanilla wafer in the bottom of paper liners, fill with a creamy cheesecake mixture.  Bake and top with canned pie filling.  Did I say these are the perfect mini cheesecake? I have had this recipe for years. It was given to me by a dear friend. She was my girls piano teacher, and we attended church together along with all the activities at the school.

Salmon Croquettes {Granny's Recipe}

Salmon Croquettes  are crisp, crunchy bundles of deliciousness for a quick dinner.   Another plus is a few ingredients, canned pink salmon, eggs, minced onion, and saltine cracker crumbs. My mother prepared the noon meal for a halfway house in the town where I grew up in the late 60s and early 70s.  I remember she would make   Salmon C roquettes   every Friday.

Mexican Cornbread & Spicy Pinto Beans

Allow yourself to indulge in the simplicities of life, like enjoying a bowl of beans with a slice of buttered cornbread.  Even better with a slice of Mexican cornbread. JALAPENO CORNBREAD AND PINTO BEANS Jalapeno Cornbread and Pinto Beans go together like chocolate and peanut butter.  One can be eaten alone and be fabulous, or together, and you have a win win combination. The weather is turning cooler here in Texas, where we are, and it has been raining a lot. So, my husband and I have been in the mood for beans and cornbread. Sometimes, I cook my beans with meat, and sometimes, I just cook what I call spicy beans without meat. Usually, I cook them in my crockpot overnight, which is a great way to avoid waiting for the beans to cook during the day.

Crispy-Skinned Chicken a l'Orange

Crispy-Skinned Chicken a l'Orange is absolutely amazing.  Crispy skin and juicy, tender meat.  Truly a dish you will make again and again. This is another recipe I saw Melissa d' Arabian make for one of her challenges on the show "The Next Food Network Star." Her challenge was to prepare three dishes and give a demo of how she prepared one of those dishes.

Potato-Bacon Torte

Potato-Bacon Torte will wow your guest at any brunch gathering.  Delicious buttery crust filled with sliced potatoes and bits of bacon. This recipe comes from Melissa d'Arabian the winner of season five of "The Next Food Network Stars." When I saw her make this Potato Bacon Torte on one of her challenges, I immediately wanted to make it.

Insalata Caprese Salad

Insalata Caprese  is one of the simplest and most delicious of salads.  I think I could eat one every day, and did this summer with the abundance of tomatoes from our garden. Traditionally, it is best to make this salad with vine ripe tomatoes that are not refrigerated. Insalata Caprese Salad 4-5 ripe Roma tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1/4-1/2 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1/4 c. small fresh basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground Salt 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground Black Pepper 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Assemble the salad in the middle of the plate by layering in sequence tomato and mozzarella cheese. Tear fresh basil leaves and sprinkle liberally over the slices. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Just before serving, drizzle on some excellent extra-virgin olive oil. Cook's Note: Insalata Caprese should never be allowed to sit in oil for any length of time and become soggy, and no vinegar of any kind goes on Insalat...

Mama's Southern Style Potato Salad {Granny's Recipe}

Southern Potato Salad ,  family gatherings are not the same without Mama's potato salad, cubed potatoes, chopped onions, chopped dill pickles, chopped boiled eggs, and mayonnaise with a little mustard.   The secret to my Mom's potato salad is in how you cook the potatoes.  She always said you have to cook them with a tablespoon of salt in the water. She told me you can never get the right flavor in the potatoes if you don't. She is correct.  It makes all the difference in the overall flavor of the potato salad.

Herb Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Herb Roasted Potatoes and Carrots are fresh and flavorful.  The combination of potatoes and carrot are the perfect side dish with grilled meat. I have watched Ina Garten on Food Network make these roasted potatoes and carrots many times. She shows you how simple and easy they are to make.

Milky Way Cake

Milky Way Cake , a vintage recipe from the 70's using candy bars in the cake batter and frosting, a mouth watering decadent cake for sure! I have wanted to make this Milky Way Cake for a while. Actually, the recipe has been sitting in my recipe box for years, and I am not sure who gave it to me.  

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus,  a delightful dip made with chickpeas, roasted red bell peppers, jalapeños, and olive oil.  Ideal for entertaining or just a quick and healthy snack. I had eaten store bought Roasted Red Bell Pepper Hummus before that was pretty good, but I decided that I could make some homemade.

Out Of The Oven Pita Chips

Out of the Oven Pita Chips, a homemade crunchy snack made sweet or savory that beats the store bought anytime. The first time I made these Pita Chips was for a wedding reception I catered. I thought we would never be through making approximately 2,000 chips. I didn't know if I would ever want to look at another pita chip again as long as I lived.