Recipes

rigatoni with sausage and peppers

Sausage and Pepper Rigatoni (Instant Pot Recipe)

Main Dishes, Recipes /

If you love the taste of sausage and peppers, you’ll love this one-pot pasta dinner. With a little help from your friends (in this case, a jar of marinara sauce, dried pasta that you don’t even have to boil, and a do-it-all multi-cooker such as an Instant Pot that practically does all the work for you), with minimal effort and a fast cook time, this one will become one of your weeknight favorites. Have I sold you on it yet?

Sausage and Pepper Rigatoni (Instant Pot Recipe) Read More »

Beef Bourguignon with crusty bread in a shallow blue and white bowl

Beef Bourguignon

Main Dishes, Recipes /

One Monday morning while catching up with my adorable friend Kim at work, she told me she had made a really delicious dinner over the weekend – a Beef Bourguignon. I’d had it at a French restaurant, but had never made it. So of course, I asked her for the recipe. I’m not sure where it originated from, but I made it that weekend and it was so delicious, I didn’t let one drop of gravy go to waste. Like many of these beef stew kinds of comfort foods, it doesn’t take a lot of effort and it’s a very simple dish to make. You just need a few hours to let it cook. This is a perfect Sunday dinner.

Beef Bourguignon Read More »

Coconut crusted chicken

Crispy Coconut Chicken

Main Dishes, Recipes /

This coconut crusted chicken is just amazing and goes so well with Jasmine rice and soy sauce, and peanut sauce – my personal fave. Ina Garten (my hero) says, “Store bought is fine!” For peanut sauce, I concur. House of Tsang makes a great Bangkok Peanut Dipping Sauce, but any peanut sauce from the Thai section of your grocery store works for this dinner.

Crispy Coconut Chicken Read More »

mini apple pies

Mini Apple Pies

Desserts, Holiday Recipes, Pies & Tarts, Recipes /

I have Thanksgiving cocktail napkins that say, “I’m here for the pie.” Aren’t we all? The problem is after the feast everyone is just as stuffed as the turkey was, and now we all have to decide: Apple? Pecan? Pumpkin?? God help me… can I make room for all 3!? This might help. These little Mini Apple Pies deliver the goods without needing to find room for another slice of pie.

Mini Apple Pies Read More »

Chocolate peanut butter bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Brownies & Bar Cookies, Desserts, Recipes /

A lot of bakers know the old classic “Magic Cookie Bars” recipe that’s been around forever. This is a variation using only semisweet chocolate and peanut butter chips, which were basically made for each other. Honestly, this is probably the dessert I get asked to bring most often. I keep these ingredients on hand all the time, because it’s my go-to when I need a quick and easy dessert that travels well. People flip out for these bars, and I’m embarrassed to take credit for a spectacular dessert because they’re so easy, I hardly feel like I worked at it.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Read More »

Pulled brisket

Tangy Brisket with Fennel

Holiday Recipes, Main Dishes, Recipes /

If you’re looking for a different take than the usual tomato-sauce based brisket at your next holiday meal, try this one and you’ll never go back. This just might be the best brisket you’ve ever had. Inspired by a recipe I once clipped from Bon Appetit, this brisket is so easy to make, but takes a little bit of planning ahead. By allowing the meat to dry out in the refrigerator seasoned with salt and freshly cracked pepper, it seasons the meat beautifully and gives it a bit of outer crust. The first part — searing the meat and getting the vegetables started — is quick. But the magic happens by letting it cook for a few hours. This is a great main dish for a holiday gathering, or just a Sunday when you want some comfort food. It may seem weird to add garlic cut in half without removing the papery skin, but the garlic cloves will caramelize during the cooking process, and before you shred the brisket, the cloves will easy pop out and you can discard the paper shell that’s left behind. Strange, I know… but it works! The garlic cloves lend so much to this. If you really love garlic, feel free to use more than one bulb. As far as I’m concerned, the more, the better.

Tangy Brisket with Fennel Read More »

Noodle pudding also known as noodle kugel

Best Ever Noodle Kugel

Appetizers, Sides & Salads, Holiday Recipes, Recipes, Side Dishes /

If you’re not familiar with Noodle Kugel, it’s also known as Noodle Pudding, and it’s a staple side dish at most Jewish holiday dinners in some version or another. There are potato kugels and vegetable kugels… this is a traditional kugel made with extra wide noodles, butter, and cinnamon. I make this in a Bundt pan and slice it to serve it. It’s extra delicious when it’s sopping up brisket gravy.

True story: As a guest at a holiday meal, I’ve been asked to bring two of these, so one can be served, and the other can be “saved for later.” I’ve had (and made) a lot of kugels in my day, but this one, hand’s down, is the best.

Best Ever Noodle Kugel Read More »

Kung Pao Chicken with peanuts

Kung Pao Chicken

Main Dishes, Recipes /

This Kung Pao Chicken is one of those recipes that has been in my weeknight dinner rotation for honestly, as long as I can remember. It’s based on what I think was a handed-out recipe at someone’s Weight Watchers meeting, but there’s nothing about it that compromises on flavor. It comes together easily, and it’s always delicious. You can use fresh ginger if you like; I’ve used dried ginger to make for one less step.

Kung Pao Chicken Read More »

Scroll to Top