Pecan Pie Bars

A plate of food on top of a table.

Ingredients Crust 2 sticks cold butter, cut into 1-inch pieces ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup brown sugar ½ tsp salt 2 cups flour Filling 1 cup light corn syrup 1 cup brown sugar 5 eggs 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp bourbon (may substitute vanilla) ½ stick butter, melted 2 cups pecans Directions For crust: Line…

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Penne Pasta Soup alla Vodka

A bowl of soup with basil leaves on top.

Ingredients 1 large red pepper, finely chopped (or 2 small) 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp olive oil ½ tsp salt 28 oz can whole tomatoes ¼ tsp red pepper flakes 1 tsp sugar ½ tsp dried basil 4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth) ½ cup vodka 1 cup half…

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Pepper Jelly

Two bowls of food on a table with a wooden spoon.

Ingredients 3/4 cup chopped green bell pepper 1/4 cup chopped fresh hot peppers 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar 6 cups sugar 1 pouch pectin (I used Certo) sterilized jelly jars (This recipe makes about six 8 oz jars) Directions Chop bell pepper and hot pepper in a food processor until finely minced. Combine pepper mixture,…

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Perfect Seasoning

A bowl of chili powder and a spoon in it.

Ingredients 2/3 cup chili powder 1/3 cup paprika ¼ cup cumin 3 tsp garlic powder ( I like the brand that has dried parsley because it’s prettier) 3 tsp onion powder 3 tsp oregano 2 tsp red pepper flakes 2 Tbsp black pepper 2 Tbsp sugar  1 ½  Tbsp Kosher salt (use any salt that…

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Perfect Stuffed Peppers

A bowl of stuffed peppers on top of a table.

Ingredients 6 large bell peppers – any color 1 tsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 lb ground beef (or turkey) 1 ½ cups chopped tomatoes (or 1 can diced) 2 tsp salt (extra to sprinkle inside of peppers) ¼ tsp red pepper flakes 1 cup cooked rice (Can buy pre-cooked…

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Perfect Stuffed Potato

A close up of some baked potatoes on foil

Ingredients (You can easily double – triple recipe according to your guests and math skills) 2 russet potatoes, scrubbed clean 1 Tbsp olive oil – just enough to coat potatoes ½ tsp each salt and pepper 2 cloves garlic, unpeeled 2 Tbsp butter ¼ cup sour cream 2 green onions chopped (reserve a pinch to…

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Pesto & Parmesan Breadsticks

A tray of asparagus on top of a table.

Ingredients: 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted ½ to 1 cup pesto – homemade or prepared ½ cup grated parmesan cheese Marinara sauce for dipping Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Flatten puff pastry out on prepared sheet – a rolling pin helps, but not necessary. Spread with pesto…

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Pesto and Parmesan Breadsticks

Pesto breadsticks with dipping sauce.

When life gives you puff pastry create something delicious! That statement should make you question why life would actually give you puff pastry, and the answer would be because you needed one sheet to make the lovely Apple Tart on Newschannel 5’s Talk of the Town, leaving one as a leftover. Of course, you do not have to…

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Pesto and Zoodles

A bowl of food with shrimp and egg on top.

Pesto  Ingredients 1 large handful of basil (2 cups loosely packed) 1 large handful of spinach 2 cloves peeled garlic ½ cup Parmesan cheese, about 2 oz (I let the processor do my grating) 1/3 cup olive oil 1 tsp butter ¼ cup toasted walnuts Salt to taste Directions: Put all ingredients in a food…

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Pho Steak Soup with Noodles

A bowl of noodles with meat and vegetables.

Ingredients 1 lemongrass stalk, in fresh produce (or lemongrass paste – see photo!)1 Tbsp Asian sesame oil1 Tbsp vegetable oil2 cloves minced garlic1 small jalapeno, seeds removed, chopped (or ½ tsp red pepper flakes) 1 Tbsp chopped fresh ginger8 cups chicken or beef broth1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce1 whole star anise (spice aisle)1 cinnamon stick10 -12…

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