Back in the day Pittsburgh was a huge corporate town. Because of that there here were many, and I mean many, fantastic restaurants. But there was a top tier that were just amazing. I am fortunate to have purchased a cookbook with many of the old restaurant recipes. Some were gathered from newspaper articles and I had no shame and would just plain ask them them for the recipes for this is that. I would take what ever they would honor me with. Now I will be sharing some with you so they are not lost in the beauty of all of the slick, fancy new recipes.
Celebrations and Holidays
Italian Sausage in Chardonnay
Football games, holidays or just plain get togethers are better with tasty bites that everyone loves and that do not involve your standard goodies. This is easy ( I mean 2 ingredients) it is hard to believe. Ok I lied – it is three ingredients I forgot the mustard for dipping.
Really Good Banana Bread
I was not a fan of banana breads, nut breads, really most any quick breads. That is until I found this recipe years ago in Penzey magazine. I have made it so many times and made so changes to lack of an ingredients in the pantry that it has become mine ( at least in my brain).
Orange Cranberry Bread
Holiday Baking and gifting is a joy! That is if you a good baker. I have never been nor do I think I ever will be so I hoard recipes that are easy and great tasting. I am a firm believer in the mantra that the fewer the ingredients the better the quality of those ingredients must be. Each ingredient is part of the band and each must sing on it’s own.
Crab Soup
Okay. It is CRAB SOUP. or SHE CRAB SOUP. Maybe even Maryland Crab Soup. Not Crab bisque not any other variation there of.
Enchilada Casserole
Enchilada anything has my vote. So when I saw a variation on that theme last week had to make it mine and I mean mine. Well, actually it is now a fam favorite for sure.
Since moving to Florida we have been drawn to the Latin version of many recipes. Whether it be Puerto Rican ( although mofungo is too much plantain heavy for my taste by husband loves it), Cuban is a big favorite ( try my cubano egg rolls it is the more Tampa edition!). but you get the picture-anything Island works. We love our Mexican as well but it is a little harder to find around here (no fish tacos are not Mexican in my world and neither is Taco Bell) so we have to work at adapting recipes.
Italian Home Fries
Best Hash Browns ever!
We came across this recipe several years ago and over the years it has morphed many times. Herbs changed – bell peppers changed, added ans subtracted. Usually based on what was in the fridge at the time. This is a great recipe for cleaning out the freezer or vegetable drawer. I always save little bits of peppers etc in the freezer and since there are only two of us, the bag of potatoes is always too large so I boil them and then cube, cool and freeze. This combo works for these hash browns, roasty potatoes and vegies , soups and stews but I have even reheated the potatoes and mashed.
Beef Burgundy ( Beef Bourguignon)
Ok so not the soup/stew time of year but I came across my recipes in my word docs and had to add…
Used this for a Soup, Stew and Brew golf club event. I know it was a touch ‘extra’ for this type of cook off but we were in the mood for something just plain extra. This has been my go to entertaining dish, comfort food dish and have also used as a tail-gate dish from time to time. When I am cooking for us or fam and friends I use a chuck roast , eye of the round roast etc. In other words what is on sale beef. But I do spend the extra buck or two for a better red wine. If you wouldn’t drink it you should not cook with it. So I have to admit I was being a touch of a snob and used a the better cut of meat as well a much better wine.
Christmas Crack
The crunchy, sweet and salty goody that I need during these strange ‘shelter in place’ times.
I have made these for years as an addition to a cookie tray and have also started putting out a goody tray for guests. I am not the best of bakers so I stick with a few recipes like this and add store bought snacks that are on sale at the time. I keep it flexible.
The step that takes the longest time is the final “bring to room temp and refrigerate” step. So I try to use the largest sheet plan that will fit in the fridge so that I am not juggling multiple trays and you know one will end up on the floor. Using nonstick foil or parchment or both on the sheet plan makes clean up a breeze. Dis-lodging caramel is not my idea of fun.
Candied Pecans for all Seasons & Reasons
These nuts are addictive. Whether you use pecans or walnuts or a mixture they will be gone before you know it!
We have used these as a grab and go snacks and also on pretty much any dessert that screams for an ‘extra’.
Being stuck in the house for this long has moved my brain ( and snacking taste buds) into holiday mode. Holiday mode meaning snacking and also sharing. These make great gifts. Either way be sure to store in tight fitting containers. This is most important in the South where it is humid all of the time it seems. For this past holiday I gave/stored in parchment lined tins. That was not tight enough. This week or this giving season I will store and give in zip closing bags ( holiday appropriate of course straight from the dollar store) then put in tins, or clamp type jars. I am hoping to also find maybe small mason jars or other containers at the Goodwill and thrift stores. These make receiving a but more special.
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