This has been a family favorite for over 40 years. It can be left to simmer for hours on the stove top, or in a medium oven, in a slow cooker or finished in a snap in one of the new digital pressure cookers!

Serve with poppy seed noodles and a colorful vegetable such as red cabbage, glazed carrots, brussell sprouts, or brocolli.

Use a nice lager, or flavorful ale for best flavors. I have just used one of hubby's beers from the fridge when that was all that was available.




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Made this for my elderly parents, and some of the family. It is great for the whole family!

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This delish dressing combines apples, cranberries and soy-free sourdough bread. If you are planning around other allergies, you can also eliminate the almonds. Soy allergies are becoming more and more common, and pre-made dressing cubes will contain soy. Check the ingredients on your loaf of sourdough bread, but most of them are soy-free.

If your family likes a more moist dressing, add additional chicken or turkey stock as needed.

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This is the Eggplant Parmesan recipe that made my husband actually like both eggplant, and eating meatless, Italian and reduced fat! All that at the same time, but delicious.

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Watermelon glaze with a snappy kick to sweet and sour freshness! Watermelon on your chicken! It must be summer and it is a time these two summer favorites came together!

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Simple as 1-2-3 these rolls are delicious, yeast roll like flavor, with a nice crisp crust! Can't beat this version for a quick, yeast-like dinner roll!

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This is an impressive, somewhat challenging appetizer for the time when you want to really celebrate and impress. It is a recipe from the Opryland Hotel's restaurant collection that is rich, delicious and definitely uptown "country" dining at it's best. Our trip to Nashville a few years ago was a delightful culinary suprize because we not only enjoyed some great southern cooking, we also were delighted to find innovative and well executed haute cuisine!

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I first tasted this appetizer at my engagement party. It was made with shrimp that time, although it is great this way, with the crab. I always put it into my fish mold, and use olives to be "eyes" on the fish. Any nice buttery cracker, or a wheat like cracker works well, as does a water cracker.

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Blueberries have just come into our Farmer's market this week. My grandmother's heirloom blueberry muffin recipe is light, almost cake like in texture. Her secret to prevent the berries from staining the batter was to partially freeze the berries before gently folding them into the batter!

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A leaner version of a taste of Hawaii, burger style. Grilled fresh pineapple rings are wonderful with these burgers, but canned will do in a pinch. The water chestnuts, green onions, and red and yellow peppers add flavor, moistness and unexpected bits of crunch.

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Best Ever is not an idle brag! Your local farmers markets should have a great selection this time of year of tiny, thin skinned potatoes & snap beans. The potato and green beans are seasoned perfectly, and yet, there is very little oil, butter or grease involved. This could turn vegan by eliminating the butter and using a small amount of olive oil. I can gladly make a meal of just this!

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This is a light refreshing salsa. It is not an overly sweet salsa, even with the fresh pineapple, and orange juice and it could be used in so many ways. I've had it with chicken, chips, and with cucumber slices so far, and will probably use it again and again.

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This is a very simple, yet delightful cheese ball. It uses only cream cheese, and is lighter than some of the cheddar cheese balls, or rings.

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When it starts to get warmer outside I switch from my baked seafood appetizer to this easy, quick, and very popular crab spread. It is really good with a sesame cracker, or any good quality cracker, and it is also delicious on veggies, such as cucumbers, zuchinni, carrots, or celery.

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Colorful, low fat, and full of fiber filled veggies, this dip is a great, healthy substitute for more fattening party foods. If you like it hot, add diced jalepeno, and enjoy.

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