Difference Between Pork Loin and Pork Tenderloin

Have you ever read a recipe that called for a pork tenderloin and you bought a pork loin instead thinking they were the same thing?  Frustrating isn't it, when your glaze burns and your meat isn't cooked through at the time the recipe said?  Or, worse, done it in reverse and cooked a pork tenderloin to death in a roasting pan.

Beef Stew with Mushrooms

Last winter I found stew beef on managers special several times, so we ended up eating a lot of beef stew, vegetable beef soup, and beef tips with gravy over mashed potatoes.  Not that anyone really complained.  Even the 9 year old will eat the beef and the potatoes from beef stew.

Bolognese Sauce with Linguine

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I keep the 8 year old's best friend after school until right at supper time.  On Tuesdays we go to our house, and on Thursdays we give the boy an opportunity to be at his house.  Unfortunately on Thursdays this means the 8 year old, and I don't get home until almost 6:00p.m.  So Thursdays are almost always "slow cooker night."  That way when I get home all I have to do is set the table, do some last minute prep, and put dinner on the table.  

Cream of... Soup Mix

I admit, there are some things that are just not the same without a can of cream of "something" soup.  My momma's meatloaf calls for a can of cream of celery soup for the gravy, and I'm just not sure it would be her meatloaf without it.

Slow Cooker French Dip with Horseradish Aioli

Did you ever have one of those weeks that left you emotionally exhausted?  Well a few weeks ago we were struggling with the 8 year old and his homework.  He likes to play around - a lot - while doing his homework.  He wants attention, but when you give it to him, he still plays.  If you ignore him, he does everything he can to get your attention.  I try disengaging, but it's difficult when he won't do what he's supposed to until someone responds to him.

Slow Cooker Tips

Ya'll, I love my slow cookers.  Yes, plural.  On busy nights they are the things that keep me sane and get my family fed before 7:30p.m.  And that's important because I'm really strict about an 8:00p.m. bedtime for the 8 year old.  I can set my slow cooker before I leave for work, check it when I get home at 1:30 and with very little prep later in the evening, count on supper around 5:00.  Sure slow cooker meals aren't gourmet, but they can be delicious and they can be healthy.

Slow Cooker 2 Bean Turkey Chili - Recipe

I have grown up with a particular chili recipe that I'm sure has been in the family for at least 3 generations.  I love that chili.  On a cool fall night, I could eat it all evening long.  The thought that another chili recipe would come into the house was absurd.  However, in skimming the blogsphere for vegetarian and lower fat recipes, I stumbled across a 3 bean chili recipe made with ground turkey that sounded delicious.

Cheesy Potato Soup

One of the first things I made after I perfected a white sauce, was this warm, comforting potato soup loaded with cheese.  It's great for those lazy fall evenings, served with a big chunk of crusty bread.

Slow Cooker Barbeque Chicken

Even though I only work outside of the home from 9:00a.m. to 1:00p.m., all my extra activities after school is dismissed means weekdays get pretty busy around here sometimes.

On a busy weekday, you just can't go wrong with putting the ingredients for barbeque chicken in the slow cooker in the morning to have supper ready fast that evening.  What's even better for me is that the 7 year old loves this.

Cooking Dried Beans

One of the things I love about being Southern is having "brown beans" and cornbread for supper on a brisk fall day.  I always do my beans in a slow cooker.  I find it's much easier to control the temperature and there is less chance of cooking them dry than cooking them on the stove.  (Although, I did once give my husband specific instructions to check my beans one afternoon when he was to get home from work well before me.  He forgot and they cooked completely dry in the slow cooker and were actually starting to burn!)

Working Ahead - Shredded Chicken

I make a lot of casseroles, soups and other dishes that call for cooked shredded chicken.  Normally I poach boneless, skinless chicken breasts to achieve this, which doesn't necessarily take that much time.

Baby Back Barbeque Ribs - Recipe

My dad loves ribs.  Unfortunately my dad was never successful at grilling ribs.  (Sorry, Dad.)  He attempted them once a year or so and would burn them to a crisp every.single.time.  My husband also loves ribs, but growing up with crispy char-ribs, I had no interest in cooking them at home.