Nonna’s Italian Giardiniera

Giardiniera is a staple condiment found anywhere in Chicago where you can get an Italian Beef sandwich. You can usually choose a hot or mild version of this delicacy depending on your tolerance for heat. My recipe is pretty much right in the middle. Aside from a sandwich condiment, Giardiniera can also be included in Antipasto or just served as a side for just about any dish hot or cold.

Chicken Puff Pie

When I was growing up, chicken and other pot pies were not a homemade meal. Instead they came from companies like Swanson® and Banquet® to be served when mom didn’t have time to make dinner. But somehow, since that time, pot pies moved out of the frozen dinner category and into the realm of comfort food.

Parmesan Crunch Chicken Breast

Boneless, skinless chicken is convenient, healthy, fast cooking and adaptable to a wide variety of uses. The problem is that much of the chicken character is missing because the bone and skin are well, “less”. So, when we prepare these healthier alternatives to their intact relatives, we have to add some sparkle and pizzazz.

Cheddar Drop Biscuits

It seems that cheesy biscuits have become a “signature” item at every chain restaurant. They’ve become so popular that several chains now sell their own mixes so you can enjoy these treats at home.

Spicy Drunken Shrimp

 
There is a little place tucked away in Homosassa, Florida named The Freezer Tiki Bar. This recipe was inspired by their most popular menu item that keeps locals, and visitors who are lucky enough to find out about the place, coming back again and again.

Split Pea Soup with Roasted Vegetables

Soup can be made two ways. You can throw everything in a kettle and let it simmer for hours with very little supervision or you can finesse it into life in about an hour. This is one of the latter – you’ll be tending this most of the way through as you layer it with good things, some which just might surprise you.

Pulled Pork Stuffed Buns

These gems are prefect for your next Super Bowl party or any game day buffet. The recipe is flexible enough to let you prepare hearty handful sized portions or smaller two bite nibblers. We begin by preparing our pulled pork in a slow cooker with a recipe so simple you’ll wonder what got left out. One of the many plusses of this recipe is that the meat cooks completely unattended and then you put it away for a day or two until you’re ready to use it. On game day, the hands-on preparation is super simple and leaves you with plenty of time to prep the house for guests.