Showing posts with label Best Made. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Made. Show all posts

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Best Thing I Ever Made - Guilty Pleasures

This is the last of the 'Best Thing I Ever Made' series, so I thought it better go out with a great recipe. The topic is Guilty Pleasures and mine is for sure cheesy pasta dishes. I love cheese and pasta and gooey casseroles so much, it is just perfect comfort food to me. This recipe is for Beef Noodle Casserole and it is so delicious. It came from Taste of Home magazine, which is always full of great comfort food meals.

Beef Noodle Casserole
It may not be the most gorgeous dish I have ever made, but it was absolutely delicious.

I hope you all enjoyed this series of posts. I am thinking for the next themed posts I do some retro recipes from some of my old cookbooks, does that sound fun to you guys?

Monday, March 25, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Chicken

This chicken dish is one that really hit home for me that I can make food at home that tastes even better than food at a restaurant. Granted this is just a quick Chinese stir fry, but it still sticks out in my memory as a triumph over my fear of making anything but the easiest of recipes.

The recipe is for Rachael Ray's General Tso's Chicken and it was absolutely delicious.

General Tso's Chicken

Do you have a dish you never thought you could make at home and you pulled it off?

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Best Thing I Ever Made - Spicy Stuff

When I saw the topic I knew I was going to have to post more than one recipe this week. While I have been trying for years to introduce new food to my husband, one thing he has definitely turned me on to is spicy food. I used to think I hated spicy food, but I just didn't have a tolerance for it. Now after years of 'practice' I find I really like a lot of spicy dishes. These are two that stick out in my memory as being totally amazing.

Cumin and Lime Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Cream Corn. I loved that corn so much. I loved the sweet, savory and spice. I only used jalapenos but a fresno would be awesome in that dish as well.

Cumin and Lime Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Creamed Corn
Doesn't it look delicious? I honestly can't say what I liked better, the corn or the pork.

This Korean Style Bulgogi sticks out in my memory because I used Sambal Oelek which is one of my now favorite recipe additions. This stuff is HOT but adds a great flavor. I have been using it a lot over the last 5 years since I posted this recipe.

Korean Style Bulgogi
This one is super simple and great for grilling season which is hopefully coming to the rest of you guys soon, it is definitely here in Arizona!

Sunday, March 3, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Snack Food

My husband snacks on peanuts all the time but I am not a big fan of them. But if you pour delicious toffee over peanuts, I am all in! When I saw that the theme for this week was snack food, I knew I had to share this recipe. Working with sugar or candy kind of scares me but this recipe is so easy to make. Click here to learn how to make these super easy toffee peanuts.

Toffee Peanuts!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Fast Food

I don't eat a lot of fast food but because I am so lucky to live near an In n' Out burger I do indulge myself and get their food sometimes. If you have ever tried In n' Out I bet you would have to give in every once in a while too. So when this week's best food category came up as fast food, I knew I had to highlight this salad. This is a healthier alternative to the delicious 'animal style' flavors that In n' Out offers.

Click here for Hungry Girl's In-N-Outrageous Animal-Style Salad

In-N-Outrageous Animal-Style Salad

This salad is tasty and filling and is much better on the waistline than the restaurant alternative.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Street Food

One of the best street foods we tried in Amsterdam was Falafel. I know a lot of people are trying to maintain or lose weight so having something that is deep fried isn't an option all that often. So if you want to get your filling of falafel, try this awesome Oven Baked Falafel I made a few years back. They turned out delicious and I need to make them again soon since Tom actually eats this now!

Oven "fried" falafel

Have you ever made your own falafel at home? Did you bake or fry it?

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Hot Dogs

I don't often make hot dogs at home, I tend to enjoy mine at the ballpark or at one of the newly popular gourmet hot dog places. One thing I do admit to loving that you don't usually find out in a restaurant is good old Franks and Beans. I made this for myself for my birthday a few years back and you can check it out here.

franks and beans!

I know you can just buy these thrown together in a can, but I love the baked in flavor with the brown sugar. I am finding that most of the 'best things' I ever made are things that are not necessarily fancy, but have great memories attached with them.

What is one of the things you make at home because you can't find it in restaurants?

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Using Chopsticks

So I am sticking with the same categories I used for the 'Best Thing I Ever Ate' series, so this one is sort of a stretch. I will just share an Asian recipe that I love, and you can go ahead and use chopsticks while you eat it. Believe me, you really want to make this dish!

Swimming Rama

Swimming Rama

I am linking this one twice because that peanut sauce is so amazing. Click here for Peanut dreaminess.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Best Thing I Ever Made - Appetizer

I am sure I have made some fancy appetizers in the past, but I really love this simple appetizer pizza. It is a Cold Vegetable Pizza from the dearly departed Cooking for 2 magazine. This was published by the folks at Taste of Home and I loved it, but as is the case with a lot of magazines it was discontinued. I really suggest you give this a try for your next football party or get together, even Tom liked it!

Cold Vegetable Pizza

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Cheesy Goodness

Happy 2013!!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and spent a lot of time with friends and family. We had a very relaxing break from work and now are back to it for this short week. I am back with a recipe that falls into one of my favorite categories, CHEESE! I had a really hard time picking this week's selection but here it is...

Horseradish Mac n' Cheese with Bacon. Doesn't that just sound amazing?

Horseradish Mac n' Cheese with Bacon in Pyrex Starburst
Here it is in an adorable Pyrex dish.

Horseradish Mac n' Cheese with Bacon
Served up with a pickle, so good. I hope you give it a try.

I am resolving to get back into my healthier eating, so I won't be making this recipe again any time soon!

So did you make any New Year's Resolutions? Any you would care to share?

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Salsa

I love to make salsa, and I make it often. It is the one food that my husband really gets excited about and it could not be easier. My usual recipe is so simple: one can of diced tomatoes, 2 tbs yellow onion, 2 green onions, 1 clove of garlic, whatever chile peppers you like (usually 1-2) a pinch of cumin and salt to taste. Zap the stuff together in the food processor until it is whatever texture you like and you have a great, simple salsa.

When I made the salsa pictured below I thought there was no way Tom would try this, but apparently as long as it has the word 'salsa' in the name he is willing. He ate almost all of this in a very short amount of time. I would definitely call it a hit. In fact as I was typing this he saw the picture and said, I loved that!!

Avocado Salsa

Avocado Salsa

Ingredients

* 1-2/3 cups frozen corn, thawed
* 2 cans (2-1/4 ounces each) sliced ripe olives, drained
* 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
* 1 small onion, chopped
* 5 garlic cloves, minced
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 4 medium ripe avocado, peeled
* Tortilla chips


Directions

* In a large bowl, combine corn, olives, red pepper and onion. In a small bowl, combine garlic, oil, lemon juice, vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper; mix well. Pour over corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight. * Just before serving, chop avocados and stir into salsa. Serve with tortilla chips. Yield: about 7 cups.

Do you make your own salsa?

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Seafood

I knew what I was posting this week as soon as I saw the topic, seafood. This tuna recipe will make you look like a rockstar and it could not be easier.

The recipe is for Sesame Seared Albacore Tuna and it looks fancy, and tastes delicious.

Sesame Seared Albacore Tuna Steak

What is your favorite recipe that looks gourmet but is super simple?

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Sandwiches

I am not a huge sandwich person, but when I do have one I like them to be warm so it is no surprise my best sandwich I ever made is actually a panini! The star ingredient in the sandwich is braised leeks, which I made in this recipe paired with pasta. If you have never made braised leeks before, I highly recommend you at least try that recipe.

If you want to take it to the next cheesy and tasty level, go ahead and try the sandwich recipe

Braised leek and Swiss cheese panini

It is funny to me looking back on my blog because I made that recipe in January 2008 and I think my food photography and my blogging have come a long way.

Do you prefer a hot or a cold sandwich or sub?

Monday, October 29, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Burgers

This week I am sharing the best burger I have ever made. While I love traditional grilled burgers with a little ketchup and mustard, I also like a fancy burger now and then. The best burger I ever made is Rachael Ray's Open-Face Blue Moon Burger with 'Shrooms. You can find the recipe and post by clicking here. Tom even ate this so you know it is tasty.

Open Face Blue Moon Burgers with 'Shrooms
Sorry for the blurry picture, I was obviously eager to eat.

What is your favorite non-traditional burger?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Pizza

This week I had to find the best pizza I ever made, and I cannot recommend this pizza enough. I am sharing the recipe for Caramelized Shallot and Blue Cheese Pizza. Doesn't that just sound amazing?

Well, take a look at the finished product...

Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Pizza

Here is a close up of all the oniony cheesy goodness

Caramelized Onion and Blue Cheese Pizza

It has been a long time since I made this so I think I need to make this my next carb and dairy splurge. I hope you all give it a try!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Tacos

I have made a LOT of tacos in the last 12 years of being with Tom, but I very rarely eat them with him. When this category came up as number two in the "Best Of" series I remembered my favorite variation on the taco because I actually can get sick of eating them pretty easily.

The recipe is for Vegetarian Taco Ramekins and you can find it here and take a look at the finished product...

Taco Ramekin

After perusing my blog I realized that I REALLY need to make some tacos for me that I will actually like, since I have never done that!

Is there some dish that you have cooked so many times you had to take a break from it for a while?

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made - Soup

This is the first installment of the 'Best Thing I Ever Made' series, and I am going to stick with the same categories as the Best I Ever Ate, so this week it is soup! It was really a lot harder to choose than I would have imagined, but this is definitely the winner. This is a Moroccan Turkey stew that is filled with delicious flavors and textures. If you are experiencing chilly fall weather and own a slow cooker, you should definitely make this soon.

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Stew

You can find the recipe and the step by step photos here.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

The Best Thing I Ever Made?

Since I have pretty much shared all of the "Best Of" foods that I ever ate, I thought I would switch it up to the Best Thing I Ever Made in certain categories. This will include links back to the recipes on the blog as I have been at this for quite a while and you all may not have been around since 2007!

If you were to ask Tom the best thing I ever made he would answer TACOS. He would eat them every week if I made them. Here is his typical taco set up, I think Biz would approve.

Tom is now ready to eat.

So starting next week I will be sharing the Best Things I Ever Made!