• chicken + grilled cheese = perfect sandwich

    One of my most very favorite things to eat in the whole world is a sandwich and a grilled cheese is at the top of the list.  OK, I know that sounds a little simple from a “food blogger” but I LOVE a grilled cheese sandwich.  There is something so yummy to my tummy about a crunchy buttered bread with ooey gooey cheese…and when you add other yummy stuff to that combo it only gets better. Last week I made one of the most delicious grilled cheese sandwich I have ever had and it was all by accident…I just love it when that happens.   So it all started with some thawed…

  • rich, creamy and oh so good risotto

    Are you a fan of risotto?  Have you made it before?  Were you successful?  Was it worth it (you know all the time and effort)?  Whether you are a pro or not this risotto is a must make, and you won’t believe just how easy it is, you just have to have a little time and some patience…you know those two things you have tons of.  😉   My love of risotto has been a long time in the making.  I always order it if I find it on a menu, and I am always looking for fun new ways to make this favorite treat.  The beauty of it is that you…

  • Orzo in the making…

    Soup is a comfort food for The Hubby and I try to have it for him as often as possible…but in Half Baked Land it is already getting warm outside so I am not in much of a soup mood, until I remembered a recipe I have been waiting to make all winter…Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. When I first came across this recipe it was late summer/early fall so I decided to put it on the back burner until spring rolled back around and finally it is here…and it is finally time for this soup!!  It is a very hearty soup, while still being light with a perfect hint of lemon…

  • cute, mini & skinny meatloaf

    I have been craving comfort food lately.  You know what I am talking about a cheesy hamburger macaroni bake, or maybe some loaded mashed potatoes  or even better how about a salisbury steak with a rich gravy…boy oh boy I could get myself in trouble with all those for sure.  As much as I would love to have any of those delicious dinners I decided to take a little different route…I wanted to make one of The Hubby’s favorite comfort foods but with it lightened-up a bit but still delicious and everything he loves about the original and then my mini skinny meatloaf was created.   The Hubby’s mom made meatloaf a…

  • all day beans…pinto beans

    I don’t know about you but this weekend is going to be all about finishing up some around the house projects and enjoying the nice weather we are going to be having…nice like in weather in the low 80’s with a nice breeze.  This is one of the many reason I love living in SE Texas in February…now of course ask me how I feel about it in the summer and I might be singing a different song then…but for now I will take this crazy nice weekend and enjoy a nice pot of beans when all the work is done.   So you might be asking why would would…

  • garlic & brown rice make a happy couple

    I have a new love…BROWN RICE!  Now rice has always been a love but all of a sudden brown rice is the only rice I crave…and trust me when I say crave I mean CRAVE!   Not too long a go I was not feeling so good…I got a cold that wouldn’t leave me alone and the only thing I wanted to eat was brown rice.  I love the nuttiness of the rice, the texture of the rice and I really LOVE how flexible this rice can be.  It really does take on almost any flavor or spices you throw at it to making it so versatile and perfect for almost…

  • traditional makes a great roast

    Not too long ago The Hubby and I went on one of our infamous shopping trips to Costco.  You know one of those trips where you not only get the essentials such as endless amounts of toilet paper and paper towels but you also end up with way too much cubed cheese and some chicken pot pies that The Hubby swears are “SO GOOD!”  As part of this trip we had some steaks, chicken breasts and string cheese on the list and then we saw the roasts…and immediately The Hubby and I both decided roast had to be on the menu ASAP.   Now over the years I have had…

  • BBQ pork in the winter (no grill needed)

    As the weather cools down using your gill outside is not so easy but don’t worry you can still have your favorite BBQ all made inside and even better it is made in your slow cooker! Break out a freezer favorite! So pork tenderloin is something I always have in my freezer.  It thaws quickly, it cooks quickly and you can do almost anything to it and it takes great!  Just last week I made this roasted pork tenderloin with root veggies that is a great Fall inspired dish and it is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner…but there is just something about a BBQ pork sandwich that transports me back to…

  • Veggies & enchilada soup is so, so good

    Enchilada soup is definitely a favorite of mine & The Hubby’s but I have been working on how to incorporate more veggies into it without losing all the richness of a more traditional version.   There is just something so good about the chicken, enchilada infused broth, beans and of course the cheese…I would never forget the cheese and with the added veggies it is lighter than some other recipes. To start with I wanted to make sure I used veggies that The Hubby and I would both love so zucchini, squash and bell peppers were defiantly a must along with the more traditional veggies of onions and garlic.  I…