Recipes
Entertaining/Holidays
Pork & Beans
Entertaining/Holidays, Pork, Slow cooker
This time of the year, nothing is more comforting that a complete meal made in your slow cooker. Not only is cooking in a slow cooker time efficient by simply throwing the ingredients in and forgetting about it for several hours, it also yields foods that would usually take so...
{Elegant Halloween} Warm Black Rice Salad
Entertaining/Holidays, Entertaining/Holidays, Vegetarian
Halloween is the time of year very special to kids as they get to dress up as their favorite characters, chow down loads of candy, spider cupcakes, brain-shaped melons and meatballs made to look like eyeballs, just to name a few.
As the kids are out and about the neighborhood...
{#Video} Momma Cuisine on @WGNNews w/ @DinaBairWGN
Entertaining/Holidays, Salads
I was invited back to the MiddayNews on WGN News for the Lunchbreak Segment where I first made my appearance a few months ago, in the early summer.
This time, I'm back for the a simple and elegant Fall & Halloween inspired recipe, Warm Black Rice Salad and showing anchor,...
Baked Apples with Granola
Desserts, Entertaining/Holidays, Entertaining/Holidays, Entertaining/Holidays, Baked/Roasted, Kid-friendly
'Tis the season for fresh picked apples!
It is said that "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", and it's a sweet and crunchy treat this time of year. Apple pie is the dessert that probably comes to mind as soon as you smell the sweet smells of baked...
Cavatappi Pumpkin Alfredo
Entertaining/Holidays, Entertaining/Holidays, Entertaining/Holidays, Kid-friendly, Pasta, 30 minutes or less, Vegetarian
Alfredo Sauce - creamy, rich, garlicky and an Italian restaurant standard in most every Italian chain restaurants in America.This recipe for Cavatappi Pumpkin Alfredo takes the base, the traditional white creamy and garlicky sauce and adding a Fall twist, by the addition of pureed pumpkin. Pumpkin puree, most associated with...
Spicy Sausage & Seafood Pasta for @KenmoreConnect
Entertaining/Holidays, Pasta, Seafood
Seafood pasta is one of my most favorite Italian-style dishes.
Tender and sweet bits of mussels, clams, shrimp and squid mimic the tenderness of the fluffy wide pasta it sits on.
The broth consisting of nothing more than olive oil, clam juice and white wine, this dish only sounds ultra...
Pork Chops with Broccolini in White Wine Butter Sauce for @KenmoreConnect
Entertaining/Holidays, Pork
As we gear up to get ready for back to school (many of you already have), the essence of my "Great Everyday Meals" motto couldn't ring truer than during the crazy, busy school year.
As I set my alarm earlier than usual to get breakfast and my mind ready for...
Asian Style Pork Roast
Entertaining/Holidays, Entertaining/Holidays, Pork
Like many busy mommas, I adore my slow cooker. I plop the ingredients in the pot, turn it on and go about my day.
At dinnertime, as if I was slaving away all day, a fabulous dinner is served!
This recipe for Asian Style Pork Roast takes a four and...
Latest recipes
Chimichurri Chicken: An Easy Weeknight Dinner the Whole Family Will Eat
Poultry, Kid-friendly, Entertaining/Holidays
Most weeknights in our kitchen come down to the same question at about 5:15: what can I do with this pack of chicken that won't get pushed around the plate? For the past couple of years the answer has been chimichurri chicken. The chopping takes 15 minutes, the marinade does...
Healthy Homemade Stir-Fry Sauces With Less Sugar and Sodium
30 minutes or less
Photo by Lisa Fotios
Stir-fry is one of the easiest ways to turn a handful of fresh ingredients into a satisfying meal. With colorful vegetables, lean protein, and a hot skillet or wok, dinner can come together quickly without requiring complicated cooking techniques. The sauce, however, is what often brings...
Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Desserts, Kid-friendly, Entertaining/Holidays
There is something about homemade cinnamon rolls that turns an ordinary morning into an occasion.Soft, pillowy and swirled with cinnamon sugar, they feel indulgent, yet they come together with simple pantry staples and a little patience.In our home, a warm tray of these on the weekend is one of those...
11 Refreshing Indian Summer Beverages to Enjoy in the USA
Drinks & cocktails
From cooling mango lassi to tart aam panna, these are authentic Indian drinks that beat the American summer heat.
As temperatures rise across much of the United States during summer, hydration becomes a growing concern. According to the U.S. National Weather Service, heat remains one of the leading weather-related causes...
10 High Protein Desserts (Healthy & Easy Recipes)
Desserts
Let's be real — you
want dessert. The problem is that most "healthy" versions taste like
sweetened cardboard, and the ones that actually taste good are packed with
sugar and basically zero nutrition. So you're stuck choosing between your
cravings and your goals. It's exhausting.
Here's the good news: high...
Why Hiring a Professional Bartender Changes the Entire Party Experience
Drinks & cocktails
Most parties have a moment, usually about an hour in, where the host disappears behind the kitchen island to pour drinks and never quite resurfaces. Someone wanders in looking for ice. Someone else is hunting for a corkscrew. The music gets louder to compensate. The host's evening, in any meaningful...
From Roast to Leftovers: 6 Meals You Can Make from One Whole Chicken
Poultry
Image by Grafvision from Getty
Images via Canva.com
A whole roast chicken is
one of the smartest ways to plan a week of meals. It feels generous enough for
a proper family dinner, yet practical enough to stretch into several dishes
without extra shopping trips. When you approach it with...
Casual Elegance at the Table
Poultry, Vegetarian, 30 minutes or less
Simple, Affordable Recipes for February & March
There’s something beautiful about this time of year.
February still asks for warmth — cozy meals, slow roasts, comforting bowls.
But by March, you start craving brightness… citrus, greens, something fresh.
In our home, this is what I call casual elegance season.
Food...
Easy Weeknight Meals with Grass Fed Beef Tallow
Beef
When it comes to preparing quick and healthy meals, grass fed beef tallow is a fantastic option. This cooking fat, made from the fat of cows that eat grass, is making waves in kitchens everywhere. For busy moms looking for easy weeknight meals that are both nutritious and delicious, grass...
5 Easy Fall Recipes with Only 5 Ingredients
Pasta, Desserts, Kid-friendly, Entertaining/Holidays, Baked/Roasted, Vegetarian
When the weather cools and the leaves begin to turn, we all crave comfort food that’s warm, flavorful, and simple to make. These 5 fall recipes are made with just five main ingredients — not counting pantry basics like salt, pepper, and olive oil that most home cooks already have...
3 Easy One-Pot Dinner Combos for Busy Weeknights
Poultry, Beef, Seafood
When life gets hectic, the last thing you want to deal with is a pile of dishes. That’s where one-pot dinners come in — simple, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. Whether you're feeding your family or just cooking for yourself, these three easy one-pot dinner recipes are designed to minimize cleanup...
Easy Fall Salad Recipes to Enjoy Seasonal Produce: Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Beets & More
Salads, Entertaining/Holidays
Wholesome, vibrant, and full of autumn flavors
Fall is the perfect time to bring seasonal fruits, roasted vegetables, hearty grains, and crunchy nuts together to create salads that are both nourishing and satisfying. These aren’t your average summer side salads—they’re cozy, colorful, and make the most of everything autumn has...