secretoslp

 AS AN AMAZON AFFILIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. A Tuscan inspired recipe where savory notes come from the garlic and sage and sings with the flavor from the tomatoes. The cannellini beans are the backbone to the dish and the sausage imparts its' own flavor and makes this a very hearty family meal. My love of Tuscany started many years ago in 2007 when I received the "Essentials of Italian" cookbook. Williams-Sonoma takes you through the regions of Italy giving you information on the food and customs of the regions. Then I watched Under The Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane - late to the party as it was released in 2003. It further sparked my love affair with Tuscany and was most recently reinforced with Stanley Tucci's "Search for Italy".  That all brought me back to the cookbook where I actually had some recipes tagged for making "someday".  One of the recipes in the book which I had tagged inspired me to make this easy budget friendly meal. Th...

  AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Baked Ham with Orange Glaze is an easy recipe. The glaze is made with orange marmalade, mustard, sherry and orange juice. You are going to love the ease of preparation and mostly the results. This easy baked ham is going to be the standout on your holiday buffet. I absolutely love my collection of Williams Sonoma cookbooks. They give me great inspiration for dinners, side dishes, desserts - just about anything I want to cook. That's where the inspiration came from - their recipe with a spin of my own. This truly is the best method for baking ham. The glaze has a nice tang and zip from the mustard and a mellow sweetness from the marmalade and pineapple juice. Easter is just around the corner. I like to plan ahead and you probably do too. When I think about the protein I always come back to ham as my store generally starts them on sale a few weeks before the actual holiday. Since ham is cryovac it keeps in the refrigerator fo...

AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES Blueberry Bundt Bread is scrumptious. Studded with fresh blueberries and nuts it's the perfect have your girlfriends over for coffee type of dessert bread. Blueberry Bundt Bread gets a crispy top and the inside is moist and tender. You get the flavor of the bananas, the berries and the crunch of the nuts all in one delicious bite after bite. I'm having my girlfriends over for cards so I decided that I would make this bread to have with a cup of coffee or tea prior to getting down to the card game. Trust me it will be a welcome addition to the table.  This recipe is easy to make and you probably have most all of the ingredients in your pantry. I love making this when I can get my berries or nuts on sale too. If you don't have access to fresh berries for some reason, use frozen. This bakes in a Bundt pan  (found via the link). If you don't have a Bundt pan, you can use a standard bread pan  or a tube pan works wel...

Thanksgiving Stuffing ~ blend pork sausage, stuffing mix and other goodies for a fabulous tasting stuffing! No matter how many different stuffing recipes I've tried, I keep going back to the one from childhood. Specifically the one my mom made. There's something to be said about certain dishes that are traditions- specific to your family and that spark wonderful memories from your life. Thanksgiving Stuffing is one of those dishes. Read more »

Mom's Pattaconk Chili ~ a blend of beef, tomatoes and spices that tastes so good you'll want a second bowl. What seems like a life time ago, my mother and step father owned a small tavern in the small town of Chester, Connecticut. Some of my readers may recall me mentioning that a time or two here at Cooking On A Budget. The tavern was then called The Pattaconk Inn and now is re-named to The Pattaconk 1850 Bar and Grille. My mother's role in the business was chief cook and bottle washer as well as record keeper. Local folks came to love my mother's hot daily specials and certainly loved it when she made her chili recipe. Read more »

Artichoke Dip & Homemade Garlic Pita Chips ~ artichoke dip and those homemade garlic chips make the best ever snacking! My daughter's first real job was as a bus person for a restaurant her grandfather and my step-dad owned. They also had her help with some prep work in the kitchen. For some event they made a huge batch of artichoke dip and my daughter wrote down all of the ingredients (smart girl) and we scaled it down to make it here at home. This is one of those dips that we savor on special occasions and for entertaining family and friends. The dip itself is absolutely delicious and tastes even better with the homemade garlic pita chips. Read more »

Creamy Stove Top Chicken Casserole ~ it tastes like pot pie filling and is it ever good! Creamy Stove Top Chicken Casserole is like eating chicken pot pie filling and having it surrounded by broad egg noodles. The texture is smooth, soft and creamy. Using common pantry spices and inexpensive ingredients this stove top casserole takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. It will probably end up on your families favorite meals list. Read more »

Anzac Biscuits ~ the cookies New Zealanders and Australians made to send to the front lines during war time. I was given Pic-Nic's blog and asked to choose a cookie recipe from there. My choice was easy. Nicole hails from New Zealand. She is a Neuroscientist who has juggled getting her masters degree and maintaining a food blog. This recipe is her ode to those who served in New Zealand's army and I thought this recipe would be a fitting one to represent her and where she comes from. Nicole's recipe is a modern day take on the original cookie sent to the front line in war time and I am happy to be part of the Freaky Friday Virtual Cookie Exchange and making Nicole's recipe. In case you are wondering, "Freaky Friday" is where a group of bloggers come together, are assigned a blog and asked to pick a recipe to make. It's been fun and I am glad to be part of it. The last one we did was back in October and for that I made Tater Tot Casserole . Now for this sim...

Fresh green beans, caramelized onions and a deliciously light sauce blend together for one fantastic and more modern green bean casserole. I took an existing recipe and gave it a make-over. Ultimately it's lighter because I did away with the heavy cream and some of the butter. The flavor however has not been compromised, this green bean casserole is scrumptious. The other plus is the ease of it and that it's all homemade. No canned stuffed here! Read more »