Instant Pot Pinto Beans

I rarely cook beans, mostly because it takes FOREVER. But not with an Instant Pot! I finally got one and have been experimenting, with varying levels of success. It’s been a process, gradually figuring out cooking times, liquid quantities required, and seasoning when you can’t taste as you go. This was the first Instant Pot…

Braided Loaf

Cookbook Club – Magnolia Table, Volume 2 In March, the Cookbook Club explored a little part of the Magnolia cult… I mean “network”… using the Magnolia Table, Volume 2 cookbook by Joanna Gaines. If you couldn’t tell, I was a bit dubious going in, and you can find out whether or not the meal turned…

Passion Fruit Ricotta Cookies

After the success of the cupcakes made with gluten-free flour, I decided cookies might be another good use for that flour. My cheese buddy suggested ricotta cookies, and the local passion fruit plants are dropping ripe fruits right now… so passion fruit ricotta cookies! This guessipe made over 40 cookies, and they were all consumed…

Lemon Ricotta Cupcakes

I was gifted a bag of gluten-free flour, and had absolutely no idea what to do with it. I happened to see an article that said gluten-free flour is actually better for making cupcakes with a more even crumb, and since I’ve been wanting to figure out uses for my gluten-free flour decided – what…

Warm Cabbage Salad

We tried a new restaurant for my birthday, and the best thing we had was a Warm Cabbage Salad which consisted of a roasted napa cabbage steak topped with green goddess dressing, parmesan, and crispy anchovies. I have been thinking about that salad ever since, so finally decided to try re-creating it at home. My…

Cauliflower Ragu

Cookbook Club – Six Seasons Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables was our cookbook for February. It progresses from spring to early summer to midsummer to late summer to autumn to winter, but since almost all of us were drawn to summer recipes rather than winter ones, we probably should have waited to use…

Ritz Peanut Chocolate Cookies

When I was a kid, one of my favorite snacks that my dad and I would eat together was peanut butter on Ritz crackers. As an adult, I discovered that I could coat Ritz cracker peanut butter sandwiches in chocolate and sprinkle with sea salt to make a more “elevated” treat. With four ingredients that…

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes in Olive Oil

Cookbook Club – Graze Graze: Inspiration for Small Plates and Meandering Meals was an ideal cookbook for Cookbook Club. Going from dish to dish trying little bites of many different things is what we’re all about. To meander alongside us through the entire enticing meal, go to my Cookbook Club site. For now – my…

Bruschetta

I love bruschetta, but can’t bring myself to order it in a restaurant because it is so easy and inexpensive to make at home. The first time I made this bruschetta for my boyfriend he said, “This is the best bruschetta I’ve eaten in my life… and I’ve eaten a lot of bruschetta!”. Guessipe Toss…

No-Knead Crusty Bread

A friend of mine shared this no-knead bread recipe with me a long time ago, and I’d made it a ton because it was so easy and delicious. The original recipe called for bread flour, but noted that you could also use all-purpose flour. I’d made it both ways, until one day I went to…

Mushroom-Scallion Soup

Cookbook Club – Joy of Cooking (2019 Edition) We have used Joy of Cooking for a Cookbook Club event before, but this time we focused specifically on the 2019 edition, which has hundreds of new recipes and modifications to some of the old ones. To get our tiny taste of what this extensive cookbook has…

Jalapeno Cilantro Yogurt Dip

I needed to throw together a quick appetizer for a party, so I rummaged through the fridge and found Asiago cheese, yogurt, cilantro, and a jalapeno that I needed to use up. Looked like the makings of a pretty good vegetable dip. Brought it to the party and it was a hit… both as a…