Desperation Dinner Sandwich

Bacon and raspberry french toast on a blue plate.

It’s that time of year when the garden needs all your time and so do many other things. Spring is busy and for a few weeks it seems like everything is in high gear. Somehow grocery shopping gets ignored but dinner time still comes. Wouldn’t it be easier to do a last-minute dive in the…

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Double Chocolate Cookies (The Best!)

Oatmeal cookies on teal plate outdoors.

There are a lot of ways to say, “I love you” but isn’t a homemade cookie really the best? The answer of course is yes and if you haven’t nailed your own perfect cookie recipe, I am happily going to share mine. This cookie is irresistible I don’t know anyone who doesn’t eat one and…

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Egg Salad Sandwiches

A sandwich cut in half on top of a plate.

Ingredients 5 or 6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and cooled (makes 4 sandwiches) 1 stalk celery, minced 3 Tbsp chopped green onion (about 2) 1 Tbsp sweet pickle, chopped, plus 1 tsp pickle juice 2 tsp chopped fresh dill (or ¼ tsp dried) Optional: 2 tsp chopped parsley Optional: 1 Tbsp capers ¼ cup mayonnaise ½…

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Eggplant Parmesan

Baked eggplant casserole with cheese and sauce.

It’s no secret that cold weather makes us all crave hearty dishes That frequently translates to an Italian menu with big bowls of pasta brimming with a luscious sauce. But next time you want Italian food, don’t forget how delicious a beautiful Eggplant Parmesan can be. The rich cheesy tomato sauce, the tender eggplant, and…

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Enchiladas Made Easy

Cheesy enchiladas with beans and meat.

This August has been so hot that our dinners have mostly consisted of something that can be thrown on the grill plus a salad. It’s cooler this week, and it seemed like a nice idea to try something different that would spice up what has become very ordinary. The answer was my super-easy enchiladas. In…

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Endive Salad

A salad with feta cheese and tomatoes on top of it.

Ingredients 2 Belgium endive 4 Tbsp apple, finely diced (about 1/4 of the apple) Blue Cheese Dressing Walnut brittle Blue Cheese Dressing 1/2 cup mayonnaise  1/4 cup sour cream 1 clove garlic, minced (use a garlic press if you have one)  1 Tbsp lemon juice or vinegar 1/2 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt (or to…

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Fancy Party Pinwheels

Assortment of savory puff pastry bites.

Once when Richard was little and we were traveling we made an emergency stop at a restaurant in East Tennessee. The emergency was endless whining creating the real possibility that I might lose my mind. Clearly this stop was inspired by desperation rather than hunger. Several tables were occupied by parents with young children, but…

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Farro and Roasted Asparagus Salad

Farro salad with asparagus and almonds.

Honestly the name of this dish should be Farro and Roasted Asparagus Salad with Lemon Fig Dressing and Other Good Stuff. I know that’s too long but this recipe is about so much more than a grain and a vegetable. I played around with this recipe based on a farro and green bean salad that…

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Fast and Festive Shrimp Dinner

A plate of food with shrimp, broccoli and sweet potato.

It’s almost Christmas and unfortunately (for me at least) that means eating things like ham rolls and Christmas cookies for dinner because they are left over from a party the day before when we also had ham rolls and cookies for dinner. Possibly the best gift we can give ourselves and our families is a…

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Fernandina Snapper

Publix fresh frozen snapper fillets.

You won’t have to fish too hard to get a thumbs up on this recipe. It’s the best kind – the kind where you ask an expert. When we go to our favorite beach vacation spot, Fernandina on Amelia Island, our first excursion is to Atlantic Seafood on the tip of the pier. It’s owned…

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