• Food

    Sausage, Egg and Fennel for Brunch

    If you are looking for a savory main brunch idea, that’s easy, relatively healthy and quick – look no further! Fennel with andouille sausage and eggs is amazing!  The best part is that you can increase the amount of fennel, reducing the amount of sausage and the dish is lighter but with all the flavor of a full serving of andouille. Start by chopping thin slices of fennel, using only the bulb of two bulbs of fennel.  Add EVOO to saute over medium heat with fennel. Next add the andouille sausage cut up into bite size pieces.  The sausage is already precooked, but the flavor of the sausage is released…

  • Food

    Meat and Cheese House

    One of my families favorite things to do during the holidays is make elaborate ginger bread houses, this year I decided to make a savory version as an appetizer.  You could use any soft cheese to construct your house, as well as, adding different toppings like roasted red pepper, pickles, or artichokes with or instead of the olives.     Step 1 Create the base of the house, use the cheese log to form a rectangle, add an 1 inch layer of cream cheese, then another layer of cheese log.   Tip:  Build your house on the board or plate you will serve it on so you don’t have to move it.…

  • Food

    Creamy Tortilla Soup

    This creamy soup is an all time favorite at my house.  I typically use all fresh ingredients/dried beans when I have time, but you can easily trade those for canned if you are in a hurry.  With Thanksgiving coming up, keep this recipe in mind for turkey leftovers (instead of chicken). Ingredients 2lbs Chicken breast 2  tablespoons Butter 1  Onion – diced 6  Cloves diced garlic 2 Jalapeños (optional) 2 Red Peppers  1 Tablespoon Cumin 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder Salt & Pepper 6 cups chicken stock 1 can Red Kidney Beans (drained and rinsed well) substitute any beans you like, I prefer to use dried beans to control the salt,…

  • Jackfruit
    Food

    Jackfruit Cheese Cake

    I had tried jackfruit in various canned and pre-packaged dishes but had not ever considered buying a fresh jackfruit.  When I saw one at the store, I had to buy it!  It weighed nearly 20 lbs. and was a little intimidating.  Mine cost $1.20 per pound, so it was roughly a $25 investment.  After a little research, I discovered that my jackfruit was ripe and ready to be eaten.  Most of the canned varieties are young fruit that takes on the marinade/seasoning you add to it, so better for vegan/vegetarian savory dishes. Here you can see what the inside looks like, seeds, fruit pods, and the flesh that doesn’t get…

  • Food

    Grandma’s Hot Fudge Dessert

    I don’t make a lot of sweets but during a historic winter storm here in Texas, it’s time for my Grandma’s hot fudge brownie cake.  This is the easiest, most decadent dessert you will make with pantry items you probably already have on hand.  Growing up on a ranch in Montana, this was my favorite, especially since she and my mom served this with fresh cow’s cream straight from that mornings’ milking from my dad’s cow (named “Brown Sugar” ).  No milk cow?  No worries, it’s just as good with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. In a medium size bowl, combine the following: 1 cup flour 2 teaspoon baking…