Monday, November 24, 2025

Collection of Thanksgiving Recipes



Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  Whether you are looking for new recipes or if you are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, listed below are articles that will help you with whatever you need Thanksgiving-wise.

If you are like me cooking for one . . . it is Door Dash from Bob Evans Restaurant, who has the best Thanksgiving Dinner delivered to you.  I've done it for the last couple years and very happy with them!




The Best Way to Thaw A Turkey from Southern Living

Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet from Betty Crocker

Showstopping Thanksgiving Desserts from Betty Crocker

Thanksgiving Table Settings from Martha Stewart

Homemade Stuffing Mix from Everyday Cheapskate

First Time Hosting Thanksgiving from Everyday Cheapskate

Deviled Eggs from nobiggie.com





Keep scrolling for videos















Italian Crescent Casserole

 


Photo source: Real Mom Kitchen



Another delicious recipe using crescent rolls.  I'm going to try Laura's recipe that looks quick and easy.

The only thing I would do different is add italian sausage.

Click here to go to the recipe source page at Real Mom Kitchen.  It is a great source for delicious recipes!





Sunday, November 23, 2025

Frittata with Italian Sausage and Cheese

 


All the ingredients in this recipe, like the sausage, cheese and mushrooms, sound so good to me (except for artichokes).  My frittatas include precooked potatoes and onions, just like the ones my nana made.  I may have to start adding those ingredients to my frittatas.

If love italian cooking, check out Roz's website, La Bella Vita Cucina.  It sure is the good life kitchen with all those awesome recipes.  Click here to go to Roz's recipe page.




Rotel King Ranch Chicken


                                                             Photo source:  On My Menu


The Captain and I really loved trying out all these new chicken recipes.  The versatility of chicken is amazing! 

This recipe offers the creaminess of the cream of chicken soup with the added kick of Rotel tomato and chilies.  Love the corn tortillas and cheese added to the casserole, like a chicken lasagna.

How can you go wrong if one of the ingredients is cream of chicken soup?

Fast and easy recipe, great for beginner cooks!

Click here to go to the recipe page from On My Menu.




Butter Pecan Cake

 



One of my favorite ice cream flavors is butter pecan, so I am anxious to try this cake out when I need to make a treat.  It certainly looks delicious!

Jennifer at Bake or Break has posted an article that goes into detailed instructions on making the cake, discusses why you will love the cake (I can see why from the photo), tips for success, how to store the cake, and lists other butter pecan recipes.  I will have to check out those other butter pecan recipes.

Click here to go to the recipe page.



Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes

Photo Source:  The Seasoned Mom


Baked Ham has always been on the holiday menu in my home.  Now that I am cooking for one, I still make a baked ham for myself.  The solution is either having lots of ham for delicious ham meals or buy a smaller ham.  I buy a smaller ham and still have ham leftovers.






The following is a list of videos and links to ham related content: 


How much Honey Baked Ham is needed per person?

Pineapple Glazed Ham - The Seasoned Mom



America's Test Kitchen




Mr. Make It Happen


Leftover Ham Recipes from The Kitchen Community.org

Leftover Ham Recipes from Taste of Home

Leftover Ham Recipes from The Pioneer Woman


MORE TO COME!

Collection of Chicken Recipes

 



Since we can't get enough chicken recipes, I've compiled another collection of chicken recipes.  Here are some of my other chicken collections listed first:


Collection of Chicken Pot Pie Recipes

Collection of Fried Chicken Recipes

9 Chicken Casseroles

Chicken Enchilada Casserole Casseroles

Chicken Casseroles


A question:

How Long Does Chicken Last in the Fridge or Freezer?


More Chicken Recipes:

Week Night Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
Chicken Cobbler
Chicken Casseroles
Lemon Butter Chicken
Crockpot Italian Chicken
French Chicken Casserole
Baked Chicken and Rice Casserole
7 Tricks for Juicy Chicken Every Time (No More Dry Chicken!)|Allrecipes
9 Chicken Recipes from Cook, Clean, Repeat
Chicken and Potatoes with Garlic Parmesan Cream SauceCrockpot Whole Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
What To Make With Chicken Broth
Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice


Saturday, November 22, 2025

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

 

Photo source: The Seasoned Mom

This recipe reminds me of Sour Cream Pound Cake, my favorite pound cake that was always a good choice for a buffet style dinner for me.  Can't wait to try the Cream Cheese Pound Cake.  It may become my new favorite.


Click here to go to Blair's recipe page at The Seasoned Mom.  In addition to the recipe, she includes tips for making the pound cake with descriptive instructions, variations and serving ideas, how to make ahead, store or freeze it.  Thanks Blair!

 



Black Beans Cuban Style (Frijoles Negros)

 


This is another family recipe that I grew up with.  I love it so much and could honestly eat it every day.  It is one of those meals that is considered Ybor City Food.

Black beans and garlicy white rice is the perfect combination and is a delicious compliment to Gina's Mojo Roast Pork.  Many like to eat it with raw onions.  My nana used to put finely chopped onions in a bowl on the table for whoever wanted it. 

Hope you try one of my family's traditions.


Ingredients:

1 pound bag black beans, rinsed and picked over
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 yellow onion, diced

1 medium pepper
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 bunch cilantro, minced
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
3 bay leaves
1 tsp white vinegar


Instructions: 

Soak the beans overnight in a large pot. In the morning, drain the water and set beans aside.

In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil. 

Add the onion and green pepper and sauté until soft and translucent.  This is known as the sofrito.

Add 3 cloves of the minced garlic and bay leaves. Continue cooking until the garlic is fragrant.

Add the beans to the onion, green pepper and garlic mixture and enough water to cover everything by an inch. 

Bring beans to a boil then cover, reduce heat and simmer for one hour.

After an hour, stir the beans and add the remaining 3 minced garlic cloves and minced cilantro. 

Return to a simmer, stirring occasionally and cook another hour until beans are tender and the liquid is thick. 

Add the white vinegar.

Add salt and additional minced cilantro if desired. 

Serve over white rice made with lots of garlic.


Spaghetti Aglio E Olio


Photo source: Food Network


My nana often made this meal for lunch with homemade garlic bread, salad (with oil and vinegar dressing and parmesan cheese) and iced tea with lemon.  It was such a treat for me and it still remains one of my favorite meals.

The photo and the following link to recipe and video comes from Ina Garten, but I make mine a different way . . . I think much easier!

My version starts off by getting my pasta water boiling and get the pasta cooking.

At the same time, I heat up a pan and melt about 1/2 stick of butter (depends on how much pasta you are making).  Add about 2 garlic cloves, making sure the garlic does not brown.

Angel hair pasta is what I prefer and the best thing is that it is ready in three minutes, so I have to work fast to put this all together.

As the garlic is sautéing in the butter, I start adding pasta water little by little.  (You'll need to experiment with how much pasta water you add.)  I love the way the pasta water slightly thickens the butter and also brings lots of flavor!  Right before the pasta is done, I throw in a handful of parsley.

Add drained pasta to the mixture, along with about 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.  Mix together!  I always make sure that I have enough mixture to add to the pasta so that the pasta doesn't stick together.  I hate when that happens! Reserve some of the pasta water when draining in case you need more.

A note about my recipe . . . I prefer butter over olive oil because I really don't like the taste of olive oil.  You can use olive oil or a combination of both.  Whatever you prefer!  

All in all, I've got this recipe down to just five minutes from start to finish.  I've had lots of practice making it since I was a little girl!

To get to Ina Garten's recipe, click on the link listed below.  Along with her recipe, there is a how-to video great for learning the techniques no matter how you make it.



The Food Network
Recipe courtesy of Ina Garten
2010, Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That?, All Rights Reserved
SHOW: Barefoot Contessa
EPISODE: Off Duty



Chocolate Walnut Strudel



Puff pastry has got to be one of my favorite tricks for semi-homemade cooking . . . actually, The Captain introduced me to cooking with puff pastry.

It is an awesome versatile product that can be used in so many ways.  The result is a very quick, easy and delicious dessert, like this recipe from Pepperidge Farm, that makes such a beautiful and impressive presentation.  But puff pastry is not just for desserts.

Puff pastry has become a regular on my grocery list and I will be posting more recipes from Pepperidge Farm and other sources, as well as those recipes that I create.

Click here to go to the source recipe page and check out more awesome recipes on the website.



Friday, November 21, 2025

Red Lobster Crab Alfredo


Photo Source: Food.com


Red Lobster is my favorite restaurant!  I'm always happy to find their copycat recipes :)

I've never had this dish at Red Lobster, but it includes my favorites, pasta, alfredo sauce and crab . . . so it has got to be good.

Comments for this recipe recommended starting off with less parmesan cheese and add more a little at a time until desired thickness is achieved.

Click here to go to the recipe page.




The Ultimate Shrimp and Grits

 


Photo source: Tyler Florence.com


To go to recipe:


Anything from Tyler Florence is good!
He's my favorite chef of all time.

Shrimp and grits is not the easiest meal to put together
. . . but isn't it worth it?

It is the perfect meal for any special occasion.

Sandy's Tasty Pasta Meal

 

Looks like an awesome beginning to a delicious pasta meal!

Sandy is an old internet friend from back in the Entrecard days.  Anybody remember Entrecard?  Check out her fabulous blog where she shares her travel experiences, recipes and all kinds of interesting stuff.

Click here to go to the page with her instructions on how to make this delicious meal!




Southern Sausage Balls

 


Easy and delicious.  Love Bisquick!

This recipe has been a part of our family parties for as long as I can remember.  They bring back so many memories.



Ingredients

1 lb. hot sausage (Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage)

3 cups of Bisquick

1 cup water

12 ounces sharp shredded cheese

 
Directions:

Mix all ingredients blending well…….use your hands……

Roll into small balls and bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes


Makes about 4 dozen balls





Thursday, November 20, 2025

Hot and Spicy Hush Puppies from the Neelys


Recipe and photo courtesy The Neelys . . . The Food Network

Show: Down Home with the Neelys


Hush puppies are the perfect compliment to a seafood meal, at least they are in my opinion. 

I really miss The Neelys on The Food Network.  However, those episodes are on the website as well as this episode which is available on video as well as the recipe you can print out.  Just click on the link above.



 

Ten smart kitchen storage ideas and DIY projects

 

Source:  Thrifty Decor Chick

Have you been thinking about using available kitchen space to streamline your kitchen?  Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick has lots of inspiration to make it happen.  She provides helpful information as well as high quality photos.

Click here for the source page for some awesome inspiration.

Storage Mistakes Costing You Money - from Allrecipes.com




Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Pecan Pie Bars With Shortbread Crust

 

Photo Source: Food Folks and Fun

These pecan pie bars would be perfect for your holiday buffet table or just to have for snacks.  If you like pecan pie, you will love these bars.  They look delicious.

Jillian always has the most delicious looking recipes.  Click here to go to Jillian's recipe source page.  Check out more of her recipes while you are there.





Drop Dumplings for Soup

 


Dumplings are not just for Chicken n Dumplings.  They are kind of like biscuits, but their fluffy texture will add to any type of soup or stew.

Actually, I would have never thought of dumplings as anything other than an important part of chicken n dumplings.  But Ashley at The Recipe Rebel knew that they were important on their own to enhance other meals.  She's very clever!

Click here to go to Ashley's article about dumplings, other ideas of how to use them and how to make them.




Puff Pastry Cream Horns

 



Cream Horns are one of my favorite desserts going way back.  We had italian bakery owners in our family, so desserts were always plentiful.  These were routinely part of the assortment of pastries.  I've never made them, but would love to.

Jillian's recipe at Food, Folks and Fun utilizes puff pastry to make the horn part of the pastry.  Sounds easy and delicious.  The puff pastry will make it so light and flaky!  Jillian is always so inventive with her recipes!

Click here to go to the recipe source page.