I had a different recipe for today, but what? In the end, I decided that I wanted to eat comfort food. The Cheesy Rigatoni Skillet is another version of my favorite easy comfort food: pasta sauce, cheese, and other vegetables I can incorporate into the recipe. I've cooked similar recipes before, and I decided why not record another. Today's an eastern version of lasagna in a skillet that includes mushrooms and spinach. SUBSTITUTION FOR MUSHROOMS Aren't you a fan of spinach or mushrooms? It's not a problem. Cook some Italian sausage in the skillet and use it for or in...

Take a deep breath and pay attention. I've been trying new recipes each week for the past seven years, and I can confidently say that the formula for One Pot Sausage and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta is one of the most delicious things I've made. I plan on making another batch tomorrow or after my leftovers are empty. I hope it's not until the next day, but I'm not committing. WHY I LOVE THIS ONE POT PASTA What makes this pasta fantastic? I could use several items already in my freezer, pantry, and fridge. The only thing I purchased for this recipe was the...

I have something fascinating (and delicious) to share with you today! I'm beyond excited about it, dear readers. My good friend, Daniel Shumski, released his second book on the market yesterday, and it's fantastic! The book is titled "Will It Skillet?" (a continuation to his previous publication, Will It Waffle?, LOL The book is one I love the title!) and contains 53 simple recipes that can be prepared using a cast iron pan. This is ideal for cooking at home during the week and cooking, but If you're a frequent camper, the book should be a great resource. He's allowed me to present some of his recipes in the...

A few weeks ago, I cooked a pasta dish that became my new favorite, One Pot Sausage and Sun Dried Tomato Pasta. I was in the mood for it again, and I had some sun-dried tomatoes, and instead of making the same recipe, I decided to make a vegetarian alternative. I added some toasty walnuts and a squeeze of fresh lemon and finished the dish with Feta as an alternative to Parmesan. The Skillet Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Walnuts, and Feta came out as straightforward and delicious as the original recipe and will surely make it part of my regular menu! A TRUE...

Mac and cheese that you make at home are among those dishes that I'll never turn down; however, when you add bacon into the mix... I'm completely helpless! But I like to balance everything, so I said broccoli florets into this one pot of bacon mac and cheese toould get all my food categories together in one tasty bowl. This mac and cheese recipe is an absolute feast! EVAPORATED MILK CHEESE SAUCE MAGIC I first attempted this cheese sauce made of evaporated milk method a couple of weeks ago while cooking this pan macaroni recipe from Daniel Shumski's book Can It Cook? This super fast, simple,...

I've learned a lot in the last seven years in the kitchen, and my palate has undoubtedly been refined, so I'm using my experience to present one of the very first recipes I've ever published new life. The original recipe for the Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad was cooked vegetables, pasta, and a bottled vinaigrette. This time, I gave it an extra dose of affection by making my balsamic-rich vinaigrette that is creamy and utilizing the oven-grilling method (okay, maybe it's baking) to make this recipe more accessible to those who do not have access to an outdoor grill. I'm replacing...

The word "luscious" is a bit overstated. It's pretty mind-blowing that four of the most simple ingredients in your kitchen can create something as unique as this lemon curd recipe. However, they manage to make it. You can create a small container of soft sunshine to spread on your meals with only a tiny saucepan, a whisk, and a few ingredients. Knowing how easy and quick it is and that you can store it in a freezer for later use, I'll never again spend $4 on an ounce of it in the grocery store. WHAT IS LEMON CURD?? It's one of the dreadful...

Fresh corn is among the best things about summer. It's juicy, sweet and extremely affordable when it's available, so I'm always looking to make the most of it! In this salad, I combined the fresh sweetness of sweet corn with another favorite of summer Zucchini and then cooked them both in high heat to create the flavor of a grill with a smokey smoky aroma. The Charred Corn and Zucchini Salad is delicious, easy to make, and beautifully conveys the freshness of summer vegetables. I am sure this will become my favorite summer meal. COOKING METHODS I used a scorching 10" cast-iron skillet to cook...

I am a sucker for the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables in summer and the colors and textures it adds to my food! I had fun with eggplant this week, which has an unusual, nearly meaty texture. Then I applied a short soy glaze which I've previously used to make legs of chicken (see Sticky Ginger Soy Glazed Chicken), and it turned out flawlessly. The Soy Glazed Eggplant is an easy and quick vegetarian meal for your weeknights and can also be prepared for meals the following week. Like most stir fry recipes, this one is quite adaptable, so I'll share some suggestions...

I didn't realize I was a fan of coleslaw until I cooked it myself. I had eaten it many times in restaurants but never been impressed, and I was constantly contemplating its appeal. However, I decided to whip up an easy batch of creamy coleslaw to serve on a sandwich, and the coleslaw completely took the spotlight. The combination of the creamy and crunchy kept me going back for more which I've made regularly ever since. The simple dressing recipe for my creamy coleslaw is created using some pantry staples, including a touch of Dijon mustard to add tang and honey to give...