From Scratch Category

CONFESSION: I was afraid of making my own stocks for a long time. It was tedious, quite frankly, and I’m all about the shortcuts, right? Well, who knew that spending a little time to make the stocks could be an awesome shortcut?
When I made my Shrimp Scampi a couple weeks ago I knew I’d be [...]

The Best Meat Loaf EVAR.

In: Daily Meals, From Scratch, Recipes

Bravado? Maybe a bit, but it’s true. My meatloaf, even when not in MEATCAKE! form, is the stuff of legend. Back when I made the MEATCAKE! I promised a recipe but failed to deliver. Today I give you my secret (modified from Mark Bittman’s recipe in How To Cook Everything). You’re welcome.
INGREDIENTS:

1 lb ground beef
1 [...]

CONFESSION: I love cookbooks. Like LOVE cookbooks, even though I rarely use the recipes as described. I like browsing through for fun, getting ideas, learning new techniques I can apply elsewhere. Sure, I use the internet to find recipes on occasion, but my first stop is almost always my shelf of cookbooks. And that’s where [...]

There was something about the Chilaquiles Verdes (think Mexican lasagna) recipe I saw on Daisy Cooks that inspired me to try it from scratch before I attempt to design some shortcuts around it. And believe me, from the fresh salsa verde to frying my own tortillas, this was a labor and time-intensive dish. There are [...]

I Confess…

All my cakes come from boxes. My spaghetti sauce isn't from scratch, and I think making my own pasta and bread (unless it comes from a mix…) is rarely worth the effort. I believe individually frozen chicken breasts and ready-made pie crusts are among the best inventions ever. Through these menus, recipes, tips and recommendations, I hope to show that the options for creative cooking are limitless, even when time and money are not.

Flickr PhotoStream

    From-scratch JambalayaShrimp ScampiSouth African Durban Curry with DuckCountry Fried SteakMeat LoafVodka Sauce w/Smoked SalmonSausage & Sweet Potato SkilletMushroom Alfredo