Category Archives: Super Simple Is Key!

    Celebrate the Day of the Mushroom! (No, no Rabbit holes, Alice.) I am a huge fan of roasted, grilled, stuffed, and sautéed mushrooms. Have some soup!       Creamy Mushroom Soup Use cremini, shiitake caps, baby portobella, … Continue reading →

At 5:01 this morning, we officially bid farewell to Winter and hello to Spring! Hope springs eternally, as do our daily front-yard deer.

  Celebrate National Homemade Soup Day with a bountiful bowl of soup that soothes your very soul. For my hubby, Sir Ronald, something thick and beefy fills the bill. No need to open a canned soup when scrumptious is this … Continue reading →

  If you are of a certain age, you may well recall tuna casseroles topped with potato chips. For National Corn Chip Day, we suggest topping your dish with Fritos… regular or scoop-style, or any other chip made from corn … Continue reading →

Super Simple New England Clam Chowder Celebrate this classic American dish with clams, potatoes, onions…. and bacon, or I’d be lost! 4 (6.5-oz) cans chopped clams in clam juice 8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped 2 T butter 2 large sweet … Continue reading →

For National Peach Melba Day, let’s whip up a batch of this delectable Victorian-era dessert, originally made from peaches, raspberries, and ice cream. (Hmmm… rather like a frozen Bellini.) The dish was created by French Chef Auguste Escoffier in 1893 … Continue reading →

For National Shortbread Day, I thought I toss in a twist on the standard, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookie. With Potato Chip Cookies, you get all that sweet decadence with a balanced touch of saltiness tossed in and a touch of crispiness, … Continue reading →

I enjoy sharing recipes on my website and social media articles. In 2024, I am pleased to note that I shared some 4 dozen recipes with you. Some have been previously published in my various cookbooks; others are new. They … Continue reading →

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 →