Lasagna Loving!

I didn't think I could love lasagna move than I already do, but it's happened! 

Today I was crowned the Grand Prize Winner of the Taste of Home Lasagna Recipe Contest for my favourite lasagna recipe, Tuscan Veggie and Pesto Chicken Lasagna! And I have to say that a lasagna crown is one of the best I've ever worn. 

If you haven't tried this dish yet and my being crowned the Grand Prize Winner doesn't make you want to try my recipe, I don't think anything will!

Just Like Grandma Makes

I think you all know that most of time I like to get creative in the kitchen. But sometimes I crave a standard cookie to have with tea or milk. 

Sometimes it's a craving for a yummy chocolate chip cookie and sometimes it's a great oatmeal raisin cookie. 

To me a great oatmeal raisin cookie has lots of great spices, is soft and chewy, and the raisins are plump and full of yumminess. I think these cookies fit the bill! 

The New BLT

Bacon should be it's own food group and really a serving of it should be eaten everyday. Maybe not according to doctors or nutritionists, but according to taste buds it should be!

At least my taste buds think crispy bacon should be eaten everyday. Who else do you that loves bacon and jam sandwiches more than anything else?

But sometimes when I cook with crispy bacon I am disappointed because the crispiness of the food group disappears and all that I am left with is a small piece of soggy pork. It's still a yummy piece of soggy pork, but the best of the bacon is gone. 

If you're like me and crave crispy bacon in your dishes, worry no more because I had a moment of brilliance and came up with an easy way to make sure that my bacon will stay crispy in a quiche. 

Keep reading my recipe for BLT Quiche and you'll be eating crispy bacon filled quiche from now on. 

Stir "Fry-Day"

Usually I take the easy way out with veggies and don't do a lot to them. Veggies are easy to steam or grill and you really don't need to do a lot to them to make them taste great. 

But once and awhile I decide that just doing the basics to veggies isn't enough. Sometimes I want to make veggies the stand out piece of my meal so I want to keep eating them forever. 

Recently I went to a Thai cooking class and, surprisingly, this veggie dish was one of my stand out favourites. When I think of Thai cooking, I usually think Thai curries or noodle dishes, but now I will think of this dish too. 

So put away your steamer tonight and try this stir fried Thai veggie side dish. I've changed the recipe a little from the one I learned at my cooking class and I know you'll love it!

I know my brother, Steve, would love it too. And it's his birthday today. Wish I was there to celebrate with you!

Fishing For Compliments

I really don't think I will have to fish very hard for compliments after you take a bite of this dish, but you never know what suits other people's tastes. 

One of the best things about this dish is that it's very easy to make it a few different ways. I chose to make it into fish tacos because I absolutely love fish tacos, but you could also make it as fillets of fish with the chimichurri sauce as a garnishing sauce. 

Either way, I think this dish will taste great. And because you can make the sauce in advance, it's super simple too. 

Not ready to compliment this dish yet? Try making it and see how you feel then!

Who's in a Cookbook?

Me! That's right! I am published in a cookbook and I am thrilled about it!

It's called the The Real Women of Philadelphia - The Cookbook and I thought the cookbook was only going to be published online. So, you can imagine my surprise to receive a copy in the mail and learn that it's going to be sold too! 

If you want to download a copy of the cookbook, or buy a copy, visit this site and be on your merry way!

I'd be sure to autograph your copy of the cookbook! Actually you'd have to try and stop me from autographing it!

And if you want to learn a little more about what kind of recipes you'll find in it, keep reading!

Butter From Another Mother

I love breakfast foods at any time of the day, but a lazy weekend breakfast is my favourite time to munch on some delicious eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, fruit, or tea. 

I'm just sitting at home in my pajamas and enjoying the quiet and smells of my breakfast cooking. I can put my feet up and forget about any of my weekend chores and just relax. 

The only thing I dislike about my favourite time of the week is that my choice of food usually has butter in it and on it. Butter just makes everything taste better! 

Is anyone else out there in the boat as me? If you are, I have a solution for us all! 

These Mango Pancakes don't need a little pad of butter to top them because the mango that's cooked into them gets warm, smooth, and soft -- just like butter! This makes them healthier and makes me feel like it's ok to have seconds!