Category Archives: cooking

3 ICONIC SOUPS Every Home Cook Should Master

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Stella

Brian the chef is back, this time with winter-friendly soups. I love his take on “homemade” stocks, which are alternate, easier, methods for making your soup base. Otherwise, make yours the way you do it best.

Posted in cooking, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

5 Effortless 15 Minute Breakfasts

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Stella

Brian is back with more good ideas for weekday breakfasts. GOAT BREAKFAST SANDWICH Makes 1 sandwich ∙ 1 brioche bun ∙ 1 egg ∙ 1 slice american cheese ∙ thinly sliced ham ∙ 50 g (3 T) mayo ∙ 25 … Continue reading →

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Desserts for the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday!

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Stella

I have always believed that Thanksgiving dessert is pie, including pumpkin, but it doesn’t have to be. My daughter and grandson (the culinary school student) bake pies for dinner at my house, but sometimes I make something too. When my … Continue reading →

Posted in baking, cooking, Holidays, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Planning for Thanksgiving 2025

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Stella

Two weeks away! I’m including links to various methods for handling your turkey. I pick and choose parts of each for mine. I received my “humanely raised” turkey yesterday from Butcher Box. This is the description: Turkeys are raised in … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, Holidays | 2 Comments

My favorite quick breads – Banana and Pumpkin

Posted on November 8, 2025 by Stella

I have tried several banana bread recipes, and this is the one I use now all of the time. It is moist and delicious. Both of these recipes contain buttermilk. If you can, buy the kind that only has two … Continue reading →

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7 Techniques to INSTANTLY Upgrade Your Vegetables

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Stella

Brian is back with some ideas for cooking vegetables. See recipes (below). I actually like very plain vegetables, but I have been pan roasting broccoli lately, and like it very much. I also roast beets, and prefer that method to … Continue reading →

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Meatloaf – American or Italian?

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Stella

In the USA we call it meatloaf. In Italy they call it Polpettone. I have made meatloaf a couple of times lately. It’s a good and fairly reasonably priced dish that can feed a family for a couple of meals … Continue reading →

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Fermenting Apples, Preserving Spiced Apples for Nutrition

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Stella

I have never done this, but Ruthann recommends apples as a delicious way to start fermenting. She lives in Iowa, and was brought up Old Mennonite. She and her husband have left the Mennonite faith, but still follow many of … Continue reading →

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Another way to make pasta – Timballo!

Posted on September 28, 2025 by Stella

Most Italian pasta recipes are really quick and easy to make, and can usually be prepared in the time it takes to heat a pot of water and boil a box of pasta. Not this one… Every few years, we … Continue reading →

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5 Ways to Make Chicken Thighs Less Boring Under 30 Minutes

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Stella

I love chicken thighs, and Brian always has well-crafted recipes that are inventive. These are inspired by dishes from all over the world! And they are perfect weeknight meals because they are quick to prepare. CHAPTERS: 0:00 Kao Soi 5:24 … Continue reading →

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