Teriyaki Spinach Pasta Salad is a fresh combination of sweet and savory Asian flavors in your soon to be new favorite salad! Teriyaki Spinach Pasta Salad is always a winner at gatherings. It is filled with many things we love: Teriyaki chicken and dressing, oranges, Craisins, fresh spinach, pasta, water chestnuts, and honey roasted nuts… Read More
Main Dish: Pasta, Rice & Grain
The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
I’m so excited to share this recipe for The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with you today! This recipe mimics the ever popular boxed instant mac and cheese, but is quick and easy (about the same time as instant mac and cheese) and packed with a cheesy, creamy sauce that will make you wonder… Read More
Smoked Green Chile Mac and Cheese
I partnered with Traeger Grills to create this amazing Smoked Green Chile Mac and Cheese. It’s big enough for a crowd, but so good, you might not want to share! Green Anaheim Chilies, one of the most versatile and overlooked chile peppers, in my opinion, gives this mac and cheese a distinct flavor that everyone… Read More
Mango Chicken Pasta Salad with Tarragon Lime Dressing
Plates and Palates, my favorite local cafe in Bountiful, UT was the inspiration for Mango Chicken Pasta Salad with Tarragon Lime Dressing. This pasta salad is a combination of flavors from two of my top picks at Plates and Palates: the Mango Avocado Chicken with Basil Dressing and the Lemon Bowtie with Tarragon Dressing. It’s like two… Read More
Apple, Sausage and Herb Stuffing
Apple, Sausage and Herb Stuffing has been a family recipe for as long as I can remember. This was always the highlight of Thanksgiving for me as a child, and 55 years later, it is still a staple on our Thanksgiving table! If I had to pick only one food item to eat for Thanksgiving… Read More
Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice
Today I’m going to teach you how to make brown rice in your Instant Pot! Perfect Instant Pot Brown Rice. Every. Single. Time. New Convert- rice cooker to Instant Pot I’ve used a rice cooker forever and ever. When I got married (almost) 35 years ago, my mom gave me a rice cooker and I’ve used it faithfully for… Read More
Classic Ricotta Lasagna
Lasagna is a dish that can be made so many different ways. Classic Ricotta Lasagna is adapted from a recipe named “The World’s Best Lasagna”. I love ricotta cheese in lasagna, and this lasagna is extra creamy because of the ricotta and mozzarella combination. why everyone should know how to make a classic lasagna Lasagna… Read More
Aunt Sheri’s Chicken Lasagna
Nothing satisfies a craving for a home cooked meal quite like comfort food. The best meal time comfort foods are warm, creamy, cheesy and filling. Aunt Sheri’s Chicken Lasagna is all of the above. It’s comfort food at its very best! My sister-in-law, Sheri, first made this dish for us years ago, and it has… Read More
Angel Hair Pasta with Herb Butter
What’s the biggest battle when you’re planning a week night dinner? For me, it’s something everyone will love that is not too time consuming! I love the simplicity of Angel Hair Pasta with Herb Butter. It takes about 15 minutes start to finish and can be made with a variety of herbs and other add-ins…. Read More
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Comfort food is the best kind of food. Especially when it’s homemade. What’s better than mac and cheese on a cold and dreary day? How about White Cheddar Mac and Cheese?? Comfort food at its very best. I was hooked when I took my first bite of Tillamook Vintage Extra Sharp White Cheddar after a… Read More
Family Favorite Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce is one of the most simple and popular dinner dishes in my recipe files. It takes just a few minutes to prepare and can be served in less than 30 minutes start to finish. All of my family loves spaghetti with meat marinara and I love the simplicity of this delicious… Read More
Favorite Summer Pasta Dinner
You know those nights when you just cant bring yourself to cook, but the thought of eating drive thru makes your stomach turn?? This is my simple solution. It’s called Favorite Summer Pasta (and anything you have in the fridge) Dinner. Here’s the deal. Look in your fridge or freezer. Pull out any type… Read More
Bowtie Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cream
Bowtie Pasta with Sausage, Tomatoes and Cream is one of our favorite meals. It’s simple enough to make on a weeknight and special enough to serve to dinner guests! My friend Laurie, also famous for a few other recipes on this blog (Laurie and Amy’s Amazing Chocolate Cake, Laurie’s Amazing Carrot Cake, Laurie’s Creamy White… Read More
Spaghetti Margherita
It’s summer and if you’re like me, you’re thinking of every way to avoid turning on the oven, but not eat a sandwich or salad! Making Spaghetti Margherita involves the stove top, but only for a few minutes. I originally posted this recipe in 2010, but have updated it a bit. Spaghetti Margherita is a… Read More
Baked Ziti (new and improved) and Girl’s Camp 2013
The story of Baked Ziti (new and improved) and Girl’s Camp 2013: Last week I joined 300+ young women and their leaders in the mountains above Heber City. Depending on the day, we had between 330-350 girls and leaders in attendance.With a crew of 7 joyful, hardworking women, we planned, cooked, and served about 3300… Read More
Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad with Fresh Lemon Vinaigrette
Here’s a recipe for a fresh and simple salad, perfect for brunch. I served Strawberry Spinach Pasta Salad with Fresh Lemon Vinaigrette at a gathering last week and it was a hit. Inspired by one of my favorite salads at Plates and Palates in Btown. They serve something similar, without the pasta. It’s a great… Read More
Sheri’s Creamy Southern Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese. What comes to mind when you hear those words? If it’s a pan filled with an unnatural yellow/orange color sauce coating macaroni, your world is about to change. In a good way. My SIL, Sheri, is famous for making huge pans of luscious, creamy mac and cheese. She perfected the art of… Read More
America’s Test Kitchen Spaghetti and Meatballs
Who doesn’t love a good spaghetti dinner? TheAmerica’s Test Kitchen recipe for Spaghetti and Meatballs intrigued me because it calls for bread soaked in buttermilk, instead of the dried bread crumbs I use in my go-to recipe. The meatballs were extra tender, and the buttermilk added a bit of tang, as the Test Kitchen book… Read More
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Spinach
How Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Spinach was born: A few weeks ago, I received an email asking if I wanted to join a group of bloggers (about 50) to post mac and cheese recipes they find on the Internet. Same day, same time, random recipes. The only rule: the… Read More
Pasta Al Pomodoro!
Remember last fall, when I had to accompany Brookie to Europe? We traveled through Spain, Italy and France on our two week vacay. I could go on and on, and bore you about every bite of pastry, pasta and gelato we consumed, but I’ll spare you and just say, Italy was the highlight of our… Read More
Pasta with Creamed Leek and Spinach
It’s baseball season again. Caught me by surprise, again. You would think I’d get the hang of this after years and years of boys playing ball, but it always sneaks up on me. The first night of the regular season, there I was sitting at a game, 7 PM, eating mini Reese’s and Red Vines… Read More
Capellini with Tomatoes and Basil
The Recovery Room. That’s what our family room has been for the past 6 days. Started with Brooke’s sinus surgery. Two days later, Stephen had his tonsils removed. Ouch. Lots of time together on the twin sofas. Loads of cold drinks, soft food, Kleenex, ice cream, movies, straws, visitors, Slurpees, Concretes and Rainbows (Btown treats)…. Read More
Blue Ribbon Lasagne
Blue Ribbon Lasagne is a classic in our home. I’ve been making it since we were first married. You know if I’ve been making a recipe for over 35 years, it has to be good! I won’t go into the full story (again) about how I came to LOVE lasagne. Click here if you want… Read More
Alton Brown’s Baked Mac and Cheese
Alton Brown. Like most FN stars, you either love or hate Alton Brown. I love his quirky show. He is kind of the Cooks Illustrated aka Test Kitchen of the FN. Does it bug you that I like to abbreviate? My friend KD likes it, I like it, it saves time, and causes you to… Read More
Cook’s Illustrated Baked Ziti
I’ve tried several recipes similar to this, and I believe the Cook’s people got it right, again. Perfect Baked Ziti. If you haven’t read the article, here it is. “…Most versions seem like they went directly from the pantry into the oven, calling for little more than cooked pasta, jarred tomato sauce, a container of… Read More
Sheri’s Pesto Veggie Lasagna
A few weeks ago Sheri made this dish for a soccer team dinner. The girls on the team loved it. I figured if they loved it, maybe my boys would love it too. So I got to work on Saturday night, and made a pan of Sheri’s Pesto Veggie Lasagna Sunday. You know, the day… Read More
Penne with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Arugula
In UTAH, school is almost out, and there are a gazillion places to be and programs/games/meetings to attend before the end of May. I was looking for a quick and easy dish to prepare for dinner last week and found this in Gourmet magazine. I had to make a few adjustments- 1) I already had… Read More
Tessa’s Spaghetti Carbonara
Remember my friend Tessa? I love Tessa. And I love almost anything she cooks. She whipped up this Spaghetti Carbonara for me several years ago, and it’s still one of my favorites. You probably have everything you need to make it right in your fridge. If not, run down to the store and keep it… Read More
Sweet Sausage Lasagne
When I graduated from high school back in 1980- and left for college at the age of 17, I cooked. One thing. Lasagne. It wasn’t because I liked to cook, it was out of necessity. I wanted it- and my mom didn’t know how to make it. My dad was a Navy man, and never… Read More
Foster Fam Favorite Mac and Cheese
I love comfort foods. My sister in law Sheri married Scott, a true Southerner. When they lived in Alabama we made a few trips to “The South”. Sheri and I love to eat. She knew where all of the best cafes and food spots were, and when I would show up,we would eat our way… Read More
Spaghetti Margherita
I am in LOVE with this dish. Spaghetti Margherita takes about 15 minutes to make- start to finish. Get some crusty bread, make a green salad…could life get better than this? Spaghetti Margherita 1 lb. spaghetti, cooked “al dente”, drained ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons butter (optional) 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 2… Read More