Category Archives: Super Simple Is Key!

For National “Cook for Christmas” Day, I prefer to think of it as PRE-Cook for Christmas. These are the days when I prep all that I can ahead of the holiday celebrations. Thus, at party time, I can enjoy the … Continue reading →

For National Comfort Food Day, hearty meals like chicken pot pie, warm soups, and meatloaf come to mind.           So, I opened up “Fifty Years of Fabulous Family Favorites,” the “Brunch, Lunch & Entrees” edition in … Continue reading →

I love cranberries. fresh, crispy, and crazy sassy! ‘Tis the season to make your favorite cranberry sauce and/or cranberry relish. Another fun twist is Cranberry Applesauce. The color is luscious, and you can tweak the sassiness to suit your personal … Continue reading →

Some mornings are more dear (deer) than others. LOL! Mom and her first-year twin fawns were romping beside our kitchen deck today. They play like puppies.

  For National Coffee Ice Cream Day enjoy your ice cream as it is or with some extra coffee beans or chocolate chips.           Or mix some into a mudslide… along with some vodka, coffee liqueur, … Continue reading →

  For World Coconut Day enjoy coconut fresh or in a favorite dish. Try adding shredded coconut (or coconut milk or water) to rice, a favorite cookie or cake, in breading for fish, chicken, or shrimp, or in a soup, … Continue reading →

For National Eat Outside Day, we all know what to do! Enjoy your picnic!

Make them waffles; make them chaffles (cheesy, but no flour). Make them for breakfast; make them for dessert.       But this is the day to make ‘em!

Celebrate National Rum Day with a favorite rum cocktail. Great for summer is an icy cold punch. Orange Pineapple Rum Punch. Ice 1 ½ oz coconut or spiced rum, as you prefer 2 oz orange juice 1 ½ oz pineapple … Continue reading →

  Enjoy your ice cream any way you may want, but today is the day to glob it between a couple of favorite cookies! Celebrate National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

Celebrating National Chili Dog Day? Also called the Coney dog or even chili con carne, top your favorite frankfurter with gobs of gorgeous chili… plus onions, cheese, or any other toppings that suit your taste. The chili dog is totally … Continue reading →

For National Cheese Day, you can celebrate with your favorite cheese and crackers or a charcuterie board, or a great grilled cheese sandwich. I will also suggest a terrifically tasty Roasted Cream Cheese. (Yup… BBQ grill or oven.) You can … Continue reading →

  For National Cheese Fondue Day, I gleefully share a recipe from my book: “Champagne! Facts, Fizz, Food, & Fun.” (Yes, still available in paperback and digital formats.) This timeless classic may be decades old, but it still reigns as … Continue reading →

  Happy Easter to one and all!

  Make them fresh or tear into a favorite bag of tortilla chips today to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day.         Munch them, dip them, stick them into your favorite guacamole, or make nachos. Yummmmm.     … Continue reading →

For National Snack Day, let’s munch down on a little Pepperoni Pizza Dip. Super Simple and soooo satisfying. (The picture is how it looks heading into the oven. Sorry… no picture of how it looked when we took it out … Continue reading →

I was recalling Rumaki, a popular appetizer from the 1950s & 60s. Thought you might like this updated rendition and some variations. Rumaki 1 recipe of Asian Sauce (below) 6 chicken livers, halved 6-oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained 6 … Continue reading →

Celebrate National Snack Food Month with something salty and delicious. For me, while serving up fresh crostini with some Tomatoes Roma, I included nibbles on the side thanks to our friend, Marti Williams, who introduced us to these addictive little … Continue reading →

For National Cheese Lover’s Day, I’ll share my updated 1990s recipe for stuffed zucchini boats. They are Super Simple and fast to make. They’re moist and cheesy. Cathy’s Stuffed Zucchini Boats 3 medium zucchini, not peeled, ends cut off, halved … Continue reading →

While the Bloody Mary is typically consumed by mid-afternoon, enjoy one any time you like! Let our recipe get you started. Bloody Mahhhvelous Mary A classic Bloody Mary is a combo of vodka, double that amount of tomato juice, some … Continue reading →

Let’s look ahead to tomorrow, which is National Cookie Day, launched in 1987 by Ohio’s Blue Chip Cookie Company. Everyone has a favorite cookie, and more cookies are baked in the month of December than any other! But why not … Continue reading →

This is a great time to do early preps for your turkey’s stuffing. I get all my onions and celery finely diced, sauteed, and seasoned ahead of time. (I even freeze them earlier in the month.) Then it’s Super Simple … Continue reading →

Looking for a wild and crazy boat drink? Or perhaps an Italian spin on a classic cocktail. Consider a Harvey Wallbanger… but be prepared. Sure, it’s just a kicked-up screwdriver, but the Galliano “kick” delivers 42.3% alcohol. Created in the … Continue reading →

Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don’t. But if chocolate is a passion, try these super simple beauties! Your tastebuds will thank you. Super Simple Dark Chocolate Pecans 1 ½ bars Lily’s intensely dark chocolate 5 oz pecan … Continue reading →

Favorite foods in the US range from Buffalo chicken wings and hot dogs to crab cakes, mac & cheese, popcorn, and nachos. If Americans are cooking at home, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, chicken, and apple pie rank highly. So, on … Continue reading →

Not to be confused with a grilled cheese sandwich, cheese toast is a single slice of bread… topped with cheese and then baked or broiled to unleash the cheese’s melty mahhhhhvelousness.  Mom introduced me to this back in the 1950’s. … Continue reading →