This chili earned the “this is the best!” award from my kids. It was simply delicious, and we all loved it. I was the only one who knew there was pumpkin in it! I was really skeptical at first when my running buddy Laura told me about this recipe, but she promised the pumpkin was undetectable… and she was right!
BEAN SOUP
This is a family favorite, often made at the start of the new year. Plan a gathering, serve a bone-in ham, then save the ham bone and as much ham as is left for this filling soup! (more…)
Drunken Dogs
Since the Super Bowl is just around the corner, I thought I’d share one of my favorite once-a-year appetizers — Drunken Dogs. This is one of those tasty treats where you say, “Oh, I’ll just have one…” Kind of like Lay’s potato chips. Betcha can’t eat just one!
Provencal Beef Slow Cooker Stew
The weather here today is freezing (literally) with wind upwards of 25mph 
(I can hear it howling). This is the perfect day for a healthy warm-you-from-the-insides stew, packed with veggies, and sure to make the house smell amazing! This recipe was shared with me by my friend Jill nearly 10 years ago. It is a Weight Watchers recipe that I’ve tweaked, but don’t let that fool you. There is nothing “light” about the taste. This is simply REAL food that’s REALLY good!
Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice
This incredibly easy & healthy version of Red Beans & Rice is one that is easy to prep the night (or day) before. I just spent about 15 minutes in my kitchen chopping and measuring the ingredients so that I can just dump it all together tomorrow morning. Our house is going to smell wonderful! (more…)
Gingerbread Cookies
I’ve tried many gingerbread cookie recipes over the years, but this one is by far the most delicious! My friend Stephanie passed this along to me with the note that this has been her go-to recipe for over a decade. I love that the dough can be made one day and baked the next… Perfect for baking just before serving!
Spicy Tortilla Soup
This is my go-to Tortilla Soup recipe after Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. I love to use the leftover turkey meat in it, and my family loves to savor the warm flavors in the cold weather.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
I made a version of these cookies last fall and they were good, but THIS version is GREAT! You can alternately use the same batter and bake them as mini muffins. There’s pumpkin in there so they’ve got to be good for you… Right? 🙂
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
This is lick-your-fingers, lick-the-bowl, lick-the-spatula kind of frosting! A friend of mine makes the best cupcakes with the best frosting, and I finally asked him for his recipe. It turns out that I had it in my own collection of cookbooks, right under my nose! Good ‘ol Better Homes & Gardens to the rescue… (This frosting is divine on my favorite Ghost-Pleasing Chocolate Cake.) (more…)
Rosemary Pork Chops
We made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! Everyone liked it, even my picky 4-year-old. I loved that it was quick, easy, fresh, and healthy. You could easily substitute chicken or shrimp for the pork. Note that you can put the rub on the pork chops hours in advance and just store them in a ziploc bag in the refrigerator; the flavor will be stronger and likely even more delicious.
The Red Binder 