Pasta Bean Soup

This is a good cold weather soup that's hearty enough for supper. To make it more hearty, saute a 1/2 pound of ground beef, breaking into small chunks, then add to other ingredients just before simmering. It reminds me of an Olive Garden soup

Bean and Sausage Soup

I have made bean soup with just about every cut of pork. This was my first attempt with smoked pork sausage. It is great. One advantage is that I don't have to scrounge up some ham for my next batch of soup. I usually have a hunk of smoked sausage in the freezer.

Sauces for Steak and Roast Beef

Horseradish has always been a favorite of mine. It goes so well with roast beef, but so do mushrooms. Here are two sauces featuring each. Steak always has more flavor, it seems to me, when it is topped with a mushroom sauce. I hope you know how well horseradish goes with a piece of leftover roast roast.

Cheesy Beef Dip

We all know and love the cheese dip made with Velveeta cheese. There are only three ingredients in that dip. This recipe is longer, but you are more apt to have all the ingredients in your pantry and fridge. Be sure to add the cinnamon. That spice goes especially well with chili powder, Three cups is a lot of dip, but it will go fast.

Molded Horseradish Relish

Not all relishes need to be of a sauce type. A shimmering mound of lemon flavored Jello goes well with ham or roast pork. You can make it the night before and allow it to smooze in the fridge until ready to serve. Let's face it, anything you can make ahead is a plus.

Chinese New Year

CHINESE NEW YEAR
FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Better than last year;
It's put out to pasture.
For good fortune and fun,
Try two thousand twenty-one.

Happy Chinese New Year, y'all!

Pork Chops with Cream Style Corn

I like pork chops. I like cream style corn. Put my two "likes" together and you have this recipe. It's something different. I suppose you wouldn't think of combining those two, but this is a great dish. If you have thinner pork chops, adjust the first baking time accordingly. You know, we can get in a rut planning our weekly menu. Try something different this week. Try this recipe.

Cinnamon Pear Butter

Apple butter is delicious. So is pear butter. You will agree after you taste this recipe. Pick up 3 pounds of pears at Food City and stir up a batch. Don't try to hurry it along by cooking it at a higher temperature. Grab a favorite read and sit next to the stove for the 1 3/4 hours necessary for its slow cooking. Read a bit and stir, read a bit and stir. Don't let it stick and burn. Who says you can only make preserves in the Fall. Whenever you see the necessary fruit in the produce section just pick up some and sir up a batch.

Making Do

We had a heavy snow storm this last end of December 2020. The power would go out for a few seconds, then suddenly return with a “Bang!” I feared for our TV's and computer, but they survived the ordeal. Our electric coffee pot? Not so much. That was the end of Mr. Coffee.