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Sunday Bloody Mary
February 17, 2019 – 1:34 pm | No Comment
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)
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A tasty, zingy spiritual uplift on this cold, rainy day.

Place 1 cup ice in a 2-qt. pitcher.
Add 1 cup beef broth, 1 cup vodka, 4 cups tomato juice (or V8), 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon green olive brine, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish (more if desired), 1 teaspoon celery salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper and 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco, Tampico, or Texas Pete’s); stir to combine. Serve over ice. Garnish with celery stick and green olives. Serves 4.

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Chicken Vegetable Soup & Cheesy Garlic Biscuits
February 16, 2019 – 6:17 pm | No Comment
Chicken Vegetable Soup & Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

Perfect for a cool (or cold) evening’s dinner. Fresh vegetables, dark meat chicken, stock, and Cheesy Garlic Biscuits (instead of crackers) make this a satisfying meal for any member of your family!

Chicken
Vegetable Soup

2 quarts chicken …

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Perfectly Frank’s “Crack” Dip
February 15, 2019 – 6:33 pm | No Comment
Perfectly Frank’s “Crack” Dip

Four ingredients. Zero leftovers.

This is one of those dip recipes that you wouldn’t believe could taste so very good, yet be so very easy to make. Local restaurant extraordinaire Perfectly Frank’s makes this as “Crack …

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Cheesy Fiesta Bean Dip
February 10, 2019 – 9:54 am | No Comment
Cheesy Fiesta Bean Dip

Not the best photo, but this turns out like the filling of a bean burrito as a dip, and is well worth the time to make!

The final in the trinity of dips that are our …

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The Wannabe Gourmet’s Special Deviled Eggs
February 9, 2019 – 10:19 pm | No Comment
The Wannabe Gourmet’s Special Deviled Eggs

There are as many different deviled egg recipes as there are stars in the sky. Our version uses both horseradish and Old Bay to amp up the flavours. A winner in our neighbourhood Deviled Egg-off…great …

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Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip
February 7, 2019 – 7:04 am | No Comment
Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

This dip always goes over well (you can adjust the spiciness/heat by how much of the buffalo wing/hot sauce you choose to use) at parties. Pair with chips/pita wedges and a good chilled white wine. …

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Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
February 6, 2019 – 8:32 am | No Comment
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip

The ultimate easy dip — served cold with corn chips, crackers, crostini or pita wedges. You can lighten up the calories by using reduced fat cream cheese and reduced fat sour cream, but don’t …

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Loaded Tot Appetizers
February 3, 2019 – 5:20 pm | No Comment
Loaded Tot Appetizers

More recipes coming soon — I’ve discovered three dips that are beyond wonderful.

(Original recipe courtesy of Kraft Foods)

48 (about 1/2 of 32-oz. pkg.) frozen tater tots 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese 1/2 cup …

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Endless Vacation Cocktail
March 10, 2018 – 7:11 pm | One Comment
Endless Vacation Cocktail

A dynamic drink from a former watering hole in Hampton Roads, Charades.
Endless Vacation Cocktail
2oz Malibu Rum
2oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
2oz Triple Sec
2oz Blue Curacao
6oz Pineapple juice
1 maraschino cherry
1/2 orange slice
Combine all liquors with juice, shake to …

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad
February 24, 2018 – 10:17 am | No Comment
Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Hearty enough to be a main course in itself, use this recipe as a springboard to your own favourite creation!
1 lb of tri-colour rotini pasta, cooked to al dente.
1 lb artichoke hearts in brine
4 tbsp olive …

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Cranberry Wild Rice Soup (Lighter Version)
February 23, 2018 – 9:55 am | No Comment
Cranberry Wild Rice Soup (Lighter Version)

This recipe has been “lightened up” slightly and is a wonderful soup that, while meat-free, is able to satisfy the carnivores in your life!
Cranberry Wild Rice Soup (Lighter Version)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large carrot, …

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Potage Aux Carottes with Balsamic Reduction
February 18, 2018 – 8:23 am | No Comment
Potage Aux Carottes with Balsamic Reduction

Continuing with the “French Connection,” Potage Aux Carottes is merely “Carrot Soup.” Thickened with rice instead of cream or flour, this is great served hot on a cold winter day, or served chilled on a hot …

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Beef Daube Provençal
February 17, 2018 – 10:20 am | No Comment
Beef Daube Provençal

Beef Daube Provençal is basically a fancy way of saying a rustic beef stew served over noodles. The above shot is shown served with the Gorgonzola Asparagus Slice (recipe here) – please see note at the …

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The “Nutty Nikolai” Cocktail
February 16, 2018 – 9:23 am | No Comment

A variation on a White Russian cocktail, I came up with this last night…and dang it was good! Sorry for the lack of photograph, however.
The Nutty Nikolai Cocktail
1.5 oz of Hazelnut Liquor (such as Frangelico®)
1.5 …

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Custard Pie
February 11, 2018 – 12:23 pm | No Comment
Custard Pie

You can use a store-bought pie shell for this, or you can create your own. Either way, it’s a wonderful finish to any meal!
Filling:
3 large eggs
1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
1 cup white sugar
1 …

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Rustic French Onion Soup
February 10, 2018 – 3:25 pm | No Comment
Rustic French Onion Soup

Nothing can compare to a warm serving of French Onion Soup…especially if it’s homemade! This recipe has been modified from Julia Child’s French Onion Soup recipe…you can adjust the ingredients to your own tastes.
INGREDIENTS:
5-6 cups of …

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Bourbon Street Chuck Roast
February 6, 2018 – 8:15 pm | No Comment
Bourbon Street Chuck Roast

Marinated and slow cooked to perfection. It’ll keep them coming back for more!
1 1/2 cups water
2/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1/2 cup good bourbon
1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
4-5 pound …

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Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken
February 3, 2018 – 7:47 pm | No Comment
Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Chicken

CHICKEN:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 2 lbs)
2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to season

SPINACH ARTICHOKE FILLING:

8 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed
8 oz reduced fat cream cheese at room temp
5 oz (I can) artichoke hearts in brine, drained, chopped
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon minced …

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Southern Fried Chicken
January 29, 2018 – 6:32 pm | No Comment
Southern Fried Chicken

A sometimes treat as this isn’t something that can be made, successfully, in a lower-fat option. Spicy, savory, crunchy deliciousness!
6-8 pieces of chicken (skin on, bone in – I used thighs and drumsticks)
Marinade:
2 cups buttermilk
1 …

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Chicken Tortellini Crock Pot Soup
October 28, 2017 – 5:46 pm | No Comment
Chicken Tortellini Crock Pot Soup

So easy to make, so filling to serve as lunch or dinner!
1 bag of frozen chopped spinach
2 cans of diced fire roasted tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
2 lbs of …

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Brian’s Pumpkin Mini-Muffins with Spiced Icing
October 28, 2017 – 10:10 am | No Comment
Brian’s Pumpkin Mini-Muffins with Spiced Icing

Halloween season brings forth the pumpkin-lovers in most people. Brian created these mini-muffins with a pumpkin spiced buttercream frosting, guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser!

(Note: You can use any size muffin tin and adjust baking …

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