Italian Stew

This Meat or Vegetable Italian Stew is done in several different ways, using this same recipe.

One is using a big stew pot on the stovetop, slow cooker or even pressure cooker.

Then meats can be added with vegetables or using just vegetables, using any of those three methods of cooking.

Here are two big pots of stew bursting with an amazing flavor both ways!

Guess what you can adapt this to any way your family likes when it comes to ingredients.

Even though this is done with tomatoes and Italian style, the alternative using brown gravy style is included below.

Green beans, carrots, peppers, zucchini, potatoes anything goes in the pot.

All leftovers are welcome in mom's stew.

Clean out that refrigerator and repurpose leftovers into a brand new meal!

Stew is called stew because anything can go in it right?

So there is no right or wrong, make it the way your family grew up on.

I love all her varieties on making stews, a favorite she made was mushroom stew, a burgundy and her famous lamb stew all were fantastic!

Scroll down and get both the printable recipes for tomato sauce and brown gravy styles below.

Baked Zucchini Ricotta Casserole

Baked Zucchini Ricotta Casserole is probably the most delicious vegetable baked casserole on the planet.

If you love zucchini or even eggplant rollatini, this easy deconstructed simple casserole will be your favorite to make.


The zucchini is just sliced, layered and baked.


Nothing fussy about it and with my step by step photo tutorial, you will have this meal on your tables in an instant.


Sure the other looks fancy and pretty but it tastes the same and everyone will rave about it.


The best part, it takes to have the time and you don't need any fancy tools to make this easy casserole dish.


The hardest part about making this zucchini ricotta casserole is waiting long enough to eat it and not burn the roof of your mouth!


I can't tell you how many times that's happened to me!


I love zucchini recipes and have quite a few that are my favorite especially zucchini almond poppy cake, zucchini bread and chicken parmesan stuffed zucchini, just to name a few!


If you want the recipe, just scroll down to the bottom recipe card and print it off, thanks and please let me know how you like this casserole in the comments.

Thanksgiving Day Recipes

I can never have too many Thanksgiving Day Recipes.


Although we have our favorites for the Thanksgiving Day Holiday table, we certainly like to add a few over the years that we were introduced too.


We had never really had Butternut Squash soup and with one taste it was love at first bite.


There is a wonderful roundup below of tried and true recipes we make from year to year and some new additions to try.


Who could pass up homemade gravy, broccoli topped with cheese with a crunchy stuffing topping or a delicious Amaretto Pumpkin Cheesecake?


Everyone always looks forward to the desserts, there is always apple pie, pumpkin pecan tart pie, chocolate marble cream pie and old fashioned banana pudding on our tables.


Something for everyone and even some fluffy yeast rolls or broccoli cheese cornbread goes great with any brined Turkey.


We love our leftover hot covered Turkey sandwiches later in the week and make Turkey pot pies with leftovers.


I would love to hear what you do with your leftover Turkey and how you repurpose it for another meal in the comments.


Happy Thanksgiving and have a delicious day from our house to yours!

Grandma's Chicken Soup

Grandma knew how to make us all feel better with her version of chicken soup to take the chill out and this vintage Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe always did just that!

If Grandma didn't have time to make homemade egg noodles from scratch she just broke up any pasta we had most of the time it was spaghetti.

She always boiled the pasta in a separate pan of salt water so it wouldn't make the soup broth disappear!.

I can remember how soothing her chicken soup made me feel when I was a kid and was a little under the weather with the sniffles.

This basic chicken soup is so easy to make with just a few ingredients and very economical to feed a whole family.

The bowl of chicken soup was loaded with chicken off the bone, carrots, and celery and the broth was fabulous tasting alone with just crackers, I didn't even care if it had noodles in it.

Those curly egg noodles were a bonus when we could afford them and of course, as a child, we all thought they were a fun addition but we didn't always have the money for them.

Being an Italian-style soup, piling on the grated Pecorino Romano cheese on top of that hot bowl of chicken goodness, the soup was the perfect spoonful of yummy delight every time.


We use homemade plain chicken broth in many of our recipes, Classic Pastine and Egg, and using broth instead of water for Stew Recipes, and in our Minestrone soup made all these meals tastier!

My grandma and mom knew how to make a banquet out of just simple ingredients that just shouted comfort and always looked forward to a hot steamy bowl.


Scroll to the bottom for this printable recipe and give what we think is the best of the best Chicken Noodle Soups ever!

Oreo Balls, Chocolate Truffles and Keto Truffle Recipes

No matter what the occasion, oreo balls, and chocolate truffles are always a welcomed sweet gift.

Homemade chocolate truffles are an economical way to make a gift-worthy treat, but they also allow you to customize each one the way they like that's made with love.

I love to add colorful decadent truffles to a pretty paper-lined festive tin.

Making a variety for everyone to enjoy just on what they're rolled in.

I make three recipes every year for those I give candy gifts to that are diabetic, chocolate cravers and of course, the cookie monsters in the family, and those oreo balls are perfect for kids.

If you need some ideas on making no-bake candy treats you hit the jackpot of recipes, both are perfect.

You can even add my homemade baked caramel corn or rum balls and peanut brittle, which is another big hit around holiday times.

Whether it's a birthday, any kind of holiday, get well gift needed or even just because someone you're missing, trust me, they will love these.

The sugar-free keto recipe is perfect for those carb watchers also!

So what are you waiting for?

Let's get the best assortment and ideas for candy-making ever in one sweet treat.

Just get creative and I bet you will come up with even more ideas to give me to try.

Scroll down for the recipes and do leave a comment and sharing ideas we love reading them.

No Bake Rum Balls

Boozy balls, aka rum balls, no-bake alcohol cookie balls, rum truffles, snowy booze balls, danish romkugle, trøffel, or sputnik, there are so many names and probably the most asked-for cookie on the planet worldwide at Christmas time.


A must-make every year making several batches in different alcohol flavors and I also make another kind that is child-friendly or for no-alcohol lovers.


Whether you like flavored rums, bourbon, nut liquor, or creams-style alcohol, you can transform this basic recipe into whatever kind you like.


We love Amaretto, Frangelico, Bourbon, and Coconut Rum and of course an Irish cream liqueur, and yes, I have tried them all in this recipe.


If your making a batch for the kids substitute orange juice and some orange zest, works like a charm, or apple juice with cinnamon! Easiest cookie recipe on the web!

We really love no-bake cookie recipes like my son's favorite White Chocolate Peanut Butter Krispies, no-bake oreo bars, or a favorite no-bake Amaretto White Pistachio Fudge Recipe, these are all perfect around the Holidays.


I love how easy they are to make in no time at all and they taste better with age!





Scroll down to print off this recipe.

Amaretto Hot Cocoa Mix

Homemade Amaretto Hot Cocoa is my favorite hot cocoa on a cold winter holiday season.


I love making hot chocolate from scratch, it always reminds me of most of my childhood years, especially when mom heated the big pan of milk and stirred in the Hershey's syrup in a can.


Fun times, great memories and I will get to share them again in the future with my grandchildren.


This terrific homemade recipe is a dry mix for you!


So, you can make this anytime all year round.


The mix is in a powdered form, simple to prepare by just adding your milk, cream or even water if you like.


The ingredients are rich with powdered milk and unsweetened cocoa powder and ready to drink when you are.


I guess I should have waited for it to cool off before adding the whipped cream and marshmallows (smile) I think you can see the melted ones in some of my photos below.


Also, the striped candy stick is mint like mom served it up when I was a kid.


We always look forward to another season and making some precious family memories.


Christmas is a magical time of the year, especially when there are little ones around.


I love how excited they get over everything we do with them, there's that special twinkle in their eyes with all the newness and surprises that awaits them.


With this recipe for Adults and also made for kids in mind, you will get that cozy warm feeling like we always did.


There is always room for a cup of cheer to bring a little holiday spirit into our lives, this one is mine.


Hoping you all have a wonderful season making some festive memories with your loved ones.

Cranberry Almond Biscotti

Cranberry Almond Biscotti is made with fresh cranberries and bursting with holiday and fall flavors.


During the winter months, we begin baking early for Christmas in our Italian family, and this is one cookie always on the cookie tray.

If you love Italian biscotti, you came to the right place today.


We make Grandma's anise biscotti which are a must-make every year, and we often dabble in other unique flavors like pistachio almond or pumpkin pistachio or another delicious choice. She would add cherries to even give them a more festive look to the batter!


Then we move on to several other cookies like the famous Italian fudge roll cookies and then stick to some traditional ones that the kids love like snickerdoodles.


The cookies all have to have a fall and holiday flair and this year we added new cookie to the mix, banana oatmeal, they're perfect for getting rid of overripe bananas.


Everyone has a favorite and we certainly can't go without our popular sesame seed Italian Cookies, those are always a big hit.


These cranberry biscotti cookies are loaded with fresh cranberry, almond, and chocolate and are just the perfect addition to our cookie-baking days.


When it comes to Christmas, we love to decorate our cookies with the holiday theme.


I usually take some plain recipes and transform them into a festive look using frosting, fruits, and spices.


The cranberries and flavors in this cookie are just the perfect inspiration to get that Holiday spirit of baking going.


These cookies are easy to make just scroll down to print off the recipe.

Copycat Panera Butternut Squash Soup

I have two butternut squash soup recipes for you, a copycat from Panera Bread company, and the other is the one I had been making for years a little healthier and with fewer calories.


We just love both versions but when it's the starter of a huge Thanksgiving meal and not just for lunch we usually opt for a lighter in calorie version.


This creamy delightful easy recipe will be perfect for all your holiday tables, everyone raves about this and we love to start out with this soup with our Thanksgiving Turkey meal.


Both our soups are easy to make and with a few tips, you'll never have to order out or buy canned soup again.


I love copycat adapted recipes, this one is just perfect if you love comfort soups and winter squash.


Nothing shouts fall better than this butternut squash soup flavor, it's comforting and will certainly warm you up on a cold day with that smooth creamy nutty flavor.


Serve it up with a little nutmeg, a swirl of heavy cream, and dip some homemade pita bread toasted points into this luscious thick delight.


Scroll down to the printable recipe for this delicious soup recipe.

Italian Amaretto Pistachio Fudge

It wouldn't be the Holidays here without making Italian Amaretto Pistachio Fudge! It's a tradition in our home!


A fast fudge that everyone will love Italian Amaretto Pistachio Fudge and perfect for hard-to-buy loved ones in your life.


This delicious fudge is also festive looking especially in color and you can add more to it if you like with my suggestions below.


I love giving homemade gifts like my Homemade Mason Jar Ideas or homemade peanut brittle, Italian Homemade Panettone Bread, cookies, and making fun holiday treats.


The kids even make homemade fudge with my Easy Chocolate Fudge recipe.


Perfect for bringing to a party it's so fast and easy to make in no time at all.


This is really special and you could even leave a recipe card with a pretty tin for that special someone around the holidays.


Come check out this easily printable recipe.

Savory Pumpkin Herb Cheddar Scones

This recipe for Savory Pumpkin Italian Herbs Scones with Cheddar cheese is probably the most asked for quick bread on our holiday tables.


The savory flavors meld well with that Thanksgiving Turkey or any kind of roasted meats you prepare.


If you have never eaten a scone before, they are light and fluffy in texture, nothing like a biscuit!


These scones are full of cheese and garlic flavor and become quite addicting.


I even love these scones sliced with a little mayo and leftover Turkey after the holiday dinner.


Check out this easy recipe, and do try them this recipe is over 100 years old and been in the family made with love.


We love the sweet breakfast scones as well, but for dinner time these are perfect!


Have a blessed Thanksgiving from our house to yours.

Thanksgiving Shortbread Turkey Cutout Cookies

This Thanksgiving Shortbread Turkey Cutout Cookie is so festive and it makes the perfect centerpiece on your holiday tables.


The best part of this recipe is you can use it in so many ways and for so many occasions.


The dough can be filled, left plain, or decorated with frosting and I have more tips and tricks for you to follow in this easy recipe below.


A simple shortbread soft dough that turns into a crunchy flaky melt-in-your-mouth cookie dough and is so easy to handle.


I love these sandwiched together with flavored jams, melted chocolate, or just plain dusted with powdered sugar.


The kids love them on Halloween in pumpkin shapes frosted and decorated.


A great project to keep the kids busy, they love decorating for all the holiday themes.


Scroll down to the recipe card for the ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions and make these all year round!

Apple Pie Sour Cream Muffins

These Apple Pie Sour Cream Muffins are the perfect breakfast muffin or brunch for family and friends and we assure you they will love these for breakfast with coffee, with milk as a snack any time of the day.

Maybe you're in a hurry and off to work, these muffins are a quick sweet treat and travel perfectly for road trips, packed in school lunches and so much more.

I just love the smell of these baking and everyone loves them because they taste like apple pie in a muffin.

The aroma lingers long after they are baked and really shouts fall.

These are the easiest most simple made from scratch recipe that is a no-fail every time.

Apples, cinnamon, and sour cream make these over-the-top tender in texture and remind you of apple pie in flavor.

These muffins are great warm with butter or a cold and nice addition to fall recipes along with apple pies, apple cider, apple scones, apple donuts, and even apple stuffing to use up those harvested apples.

Sweet Potato Yeast Rolls

I am pretty sure your family will love these delicious Thanksgiving Sweet Potato Rolls.

I have a picky bunch here in my home, the kids were never lovers of sweet potatoes, but what a shock when they were told that's what's in these delicious rolls.

I didn't even make a big enough batch, they all loved them.

They are just shouting Thanksgiving and fall with the orange spud that either they love them or hate them, either way, they're hidden in this batch of fabulous fluffy yeast bread and nothing compares on the holiday tables when it comes to these sweet rolls.

Butter them, eat them plain or they're even great using them as a sandwich!

Our family just loves homemade bread, especially big yeast rolls. pizza dough, Italian Ciabatta bread, and fried dough.

Scroll down and print off the recipe, it's a keeper for sure.

My Best Crockpot Recipes

Here is a great roundup of slow cooker/crockpot recipes and anything from meats to desserts.

I love making slow cooker recipes, they are so easy for a busy lifestyle.

It frees up so much time for me to do other things while I work or have company coming over.

Slow cookers are perfect for not taking up space in the oven and frees up space on the stovetop for those big family holiday meals.

The other advantage is that is you got invited to dinner, this will stay warm and go perfect with anything they're serving as a side dish.

One-pot throw-it-together set it, and forget meals are always a big hit here, and for me working all crazy hours, I lost track of time.

Don't worry anymore about dinner, we got you covered here and every one of these is fantastic!

Scroll through and click the names of each recipe to send you to printable copies of each one.

The taste and texture of any lesser cut of meat is always on point to be fork-tender and the best made in a slow-cooker.

Even going to old-fashioned diners can't come close to the flavorful meats in these slow cooker meals, you're family will be loving the meals and think you cooked over a hot stove all day!

Enjoy the gallery and let me know which one you like the best!

Chili Mac

Leftover chili can be repurposed easily with pasta, rice, on top of polenta and a totally delicious new meal

Our family is a big fan of chili and we make a variety of kinds, White Chicken Chili, South Western Chili, and Buffalo Chicken Chili are among the favorites here.

The kids love when I use different-shaped pasta to make this easy pasta dish so mix up your meal with various shapes and make it fun.

Their favorite is always the twist or spring pasta as they call those shapes.

The chili is a basic recipe you can use mine listed here or your favorite you make for your family.

There really isn't much to this one, it's just a filling comfort satisfying meal and a great second meal if you have that big pot of leftover chili.

I also include a quick hamburger helper suggestion below for those who don't even like making chili!

We also love pouring chili on a hamburger or over a taco bowl salad, nachos chips for an appetizer, tortilla casserole, or making hot pockets.

Making a huge pot never goes to waste in our home, we always have another idea to use it up.

Check out the recipe ideas and scroll down to print this off.

This is a delicious comforting meal during the cooler months in winter.

Lasagna Soup

This soup is fantastic in flavors and if you love Lasagna, is is a fast spot on tasting lasagna soup that everyone raves about.


A great way to satisfy that pasta craving in minutes, this is so easy for any night of the week.


The kids love it, the family enjoys it all winter long and they don't have to wait for a special occasion to get that pasta fix they love during a holiday like Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter!


I love making this as a start for my guests and it goes great with a Pot Roast meal or really just about anything you serve.


Actually, you can make this comforting soup as a whole meal, it's really one of my best soup recipes!


Scroll down for this easy Italian style Lasagna soup and see how to make this no-fuss pot of yummy soup, and print it off!

Homemade Apple Cider

The cooler weather is perfect for this Homemade Apple Cider recipe because served cold or warmed up, baby it's cold outside.


This is our family easy instructions on how to make cider when apples are plentiful in the fall and will make your house smell with that fall cinnamon, apple scented aroma.


Growing up in East Utica, New York, apples were plentiful and making homemade apple cider was a must since almost every neighbor had an apple tree in the neighborhood.


Apple Cider is much different than apple juice (which is clear) and cider tastes so much better than any store-bought.


Luckily, they were actually happy to have me take them off their hands.


Mom would make apple pies, apple cakes and this was an all-time favorite that dad loved, apple cider.


It was pure comfort, a drink we even heated on a cold October day around Halloween.


Those memories are etched in my mind forever, warm and cozy feelings of the 1960s as a little girl.


This was the perfect drink after going to the pumpkin patch in Westmoreland and usually every year Halloween was a frigidly cold night.


Warm apple cider with a cinnamon stick did the trick getting off the hayrides we took.


There is even an adult version spiked at the end.


Making homemade apple cider is much easier than you think and with these step by step easy instructions, you'll never buy it again.


I also recommend you use New York State Apples, of course, I am a little bias but hey I live in Florida and still only use them!!!


Scroll down and print off this simple recipe and HAPPY FALL!

Homemade Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders, nuggets, fingers whatever you want to call them, seem to be the most popular fast food item on every menu and everyone loves them.


Mommy homemade Chicken tenders are so easy to make and the crispy outer crust is 100 times better than any restaurant frozen chicken with preservatives and full of fat.


These can be baked, fried or air fried and perfect every time.


I have made these into nuggets and strips for the kids and they love this recipe.


Whenever I am stuck for what to make for dinner these are always welcome on our table.


Great using any leftovers for a buffalo chicken sandwich, or addition to toss the chicken in any pasta you like.


I love basic recipes, nothing goes to waster there is always another dish to create with these chicken strips.


Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces or plain, both ways are scrumptious!


Scroll down and see how easy it is to make homemade Mommy McNuggets or tenders, they're not a copycat recipe but the kids will love them!

Best Buttermilk Pancakes

I love specialty pancake recipes, and these are truly the best buttermilk pancakes made from scratch on the web!

They are the fluffiest pancakes out there.

Buttermilk makes them so high, light, and tender.

The edges are perfectly golden brown with a little crisp edge and then when topped with some butter and real maple syrup, a home run in our house.

What makes this basic recipe so special? For me it's buttermilk, it adds a soft texture smoothness, and loads of flavor!

You can add fruits on top or fold in the batter, add chocolate chips, berries, and flavored syrups, and turn them into the best buttermilk gourmet pancakes all homemade.

Most of these pantry staple ingredients are already in the house, all you really need to add is some fresh buttermilk to make these.

Breakfast, brunch, and even late-night Sunday dinners make these a perfect treat anytime.

There isn't a tastier pancake around.

I love using a gourmet kind of buttermilk to me it makes a difference instead of the substitute version of 1 tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk, it seems much richer and thick.

If you love buttermilk like we do try my homemade buttermilk pork sausage recipe with these pancakes, they're a perfect side dish!

Scroll down to get this simple recipe you will make time and time again!

30 Appetizers and Side Dish Recipes

Here is a great roundup of many kinds of appetizers, side dishes, and just some fun food recipes for all your party needs.


Holidays, family events, gameday and any kind of parties you have, this will be your one-stop appetizer and side dish shop!


Do you love easy foods to make for a crowd or quick simple foods to pick on during a fun get together? Well, this is a great roundup for you then!


This gallery has anything from healthy roasted baked vegetables to comforting casseroles, along with some delicious popular appetizers like my Baked Artichoke and Spinach dip or Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip to satisfy friends and family during any occasion, holiday or event you may be hosting.


If you want to show off your skills, try some of the fritters or the roasted vegetables that are so vibrant in color to make your dinner menu burst with flavors.


There is something for everyone here, just scroll through the photos.


Each recipe has its own link to show you exactly how to make these recipes!

Pumpkin Custard Tart with Pecan Crust

I love easy recipes and here is a fabulous Pumpkin Custard Tart with Pecan Crust that is a creamy baked custard in a decadent crunchy pecan crust.

The fall season is the best for pumpkin spice desserts, and this pumpkin tart is perfect with all the right blends for the season in one tart.

You are going to love it.

I just had to share it with you guys!

With the Thanksgiving Holiday upon us, this custard with an easy alternative to making a pie and so pretty to serve!

It's really quick and easy.

You can throw this together in no time and if you're pumpkin lovers, like us, you're going keep this one on the top of your list to make every Holiday season.

This tart also goes great with my pumpkin latte recipe down in the slow cooker.

Scroll down to the recipe, it's so easy and pretty to serve!

Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies are easy to make with a few simple ingredients and take only around 20 minutes.

With the addition of chocolate chips these banana oat cookies are delicious any time of the day and you can even add any of your favorite mix-ins to make them super-special!.

With just two bananas, and some old-fashioned oatmeal, this delicious cookie using those bananas makes the sweetest-tasting soft cookies you'll ever eat, these banana cookies are the best!

Seriously, the next time your bananas turn black try these cookies instead of tossing them.

I always have bananas that are brown and overripe and used to throw them out too but not anymore!

Finally, a banana cookie to make instead of the classic banana bread. We all love these cookies, this is a great change and a cross between cookie and cake-like!

Adding chocolate chips and walnuts makes these cookies scrumptious but you can leave them plain if you prefer. Also, try our Banana Sour Cream Streusel Bars these are also a great way to use up bananas!

If you love fruit cookies you may also like our blueberry drop cookies and oatmeal raspberry bars.


Scroll down and see this easy all-in-one bowl recipe and print it off!