Archives for January 2016

Banana Honey Bran Bread

For years I automatically (naively) assumed that because of its syrupy consistency and supreme sweetness, that honey was not nutritious and had no real benefits.  In fact, I’d default to sugar whenever and wherever I could.  However, the more time I’ve spent in the kitchen, working through various recipes and educating myself on their ingredients, the wiser I’ve become. First and foremost, honey is a natural sweetener that contains minerals and vitamins. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that aren’t present in sugar and has a … [Read more...]

Korean-Style Short Ribs

My slow cooker has been on over-drive the past two weeks and I'm not ashamed.  I'm actually impressed that each night (and sometimes in the mornings) I've managed to churn out a meals that still pique my kids' interest while hearty and flavorful to boot! It's hard to imagine that three years ago I was intimidated by slow cooking and now, I can't stop.  Slow cooking is like the most wonderful science experiment that's so easy. How often can you dump ingredients into an appliance, leave that appliance, and then come back hours later only to … [Read more...]

Italian Baked Flounder

When it comes to fish, my family's palates run the gamut. My husband only eats certain fish. My son will try most and my daughter won't try any. So, usually, I'm never serving fish at home for dinner. Until last night... I had a rare opening with one kid home for dinner!  Of course I took advantage. I've always been reluctant to cook fish at home for many reasons, the main one being a smelly in the kitchen that lingers for days.  However, I began using pleasing pungent whole spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves and citrus peels … [Read more...]

Slow Cooker: Pork Chops in Mustard Cream Sauce

Here's another slow cooker recipe for your files. It's not hard to cook (since it's being slow-cooked) but, if you're not used to working with pork, you might have a learning curve. I personally had no clue how the meat would turn out as there's always a huge risk of over cooking.  While I have worked with a pork tenderloin in the oven, a pork chop in a slow cooker is a totally different beast.  Sure, I’ve handled cute little cubes of beef for the Slow Cooked Beef Tips recipe, and I’ve worked with slow cooked chicken for the White Bean … [Read more...]