David’s Breakfast Hash

David was able to visit this past weekend. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to see him for quite some time, as I will be in school and he will be out of the country. I figured it only made sense to have a post about a delicious breakfast that I learned to make from him….

Nani’s Chinese Casserole

Another one of Nani’s standard casseroles from my childhood. Nani’s Chinese Hamburger Casserole was always a staple during our deer and elk hunting trips. Like any good casserole from the ’60’s, it gets its flavor from Campbell’s soup, specifically the Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup. It also works well, because it can easily be prepared ahead…

Nani’s Mouthwatering Meatloaf

Meatloaf always reminds me of childhood dinners at Nani and Papa’s house. Mom was never a big fan of meatloaf, so if she ever worked late at the hospital or was out of town, Nani would usually have us over for meatloaf. This is a quick and easy dinner to make that is also delicious…

Chicken Stuffed Bell Peppers

Wow! Sorry to keep you all hanging for so long! It has been over a year since my last post. A lot has changed since then. I now have an amazing boyfriend who also enjoys cooking and has introduced me to several new recipes. I also recently moved from America’s Finest City. I am happy…

French Dip Sandwiches

You’re on your way home from a busy day and realize that you don’t have any idea what you’re going to make for dinner. A quick stop at the grocery store for four items (the rest you should have on hand in your pantry or fridge) can ensure that you have a rather quick yet…

Bratwurst & Pierogies

This dinner idea really draws upon both of my sets of grandparents. My mom’s parents were born and raised in The Badger State. When you grow up with grandparents from Wisconsin, it’s hard not to grow up eating bratwurst. They’re a staple of every Badger football game, and in my family, we couldn’t celebrate the…

Mom’s German Pancake

It always amazes me how some of my family’s simplest recipes are usually the most revered. This was one of my favorite breakfast’s growing up, and when I started cooking, it was one of the first recipes that I mastered. The recipe is so simple, it’s hard not to commit to memory. My senior year…

Nani’s Peanut Butter Cookies

Whenever we stopped by our grandparents’ house for a visit, we could always count on there being some kind of cookie to munch on. These peanut butter cookies were a staple in Nani’s arsenal of baked goods. Not to mention, they are so easy to prepare everyone will think you spent an entire afternoon baking!…

The Early Bird’s Egg Sandwich

You might think that it’s hard to prepare a breakfast that is quick to make, delicious, and portable, but it’s actually pretty simple. As is the case with other quick-to-prepare recipes, the key is to do as much of the prep work in advance as possible. When I was growing up, English muffin sandwiches were…

The King’s Zesty Sloppy Joes

After I discovered Sriracha in college, I was determined to increase the heat of my meals as often as possible. For those of you who don’t know what produces the heat one feels after eating a chili pepper, here’s a little science lesson. Capsaicin is the chemical compound that produces a burning sensation in the…

Muenster-ously Delicious

There is nothing better on a cold day (yes, occasionally these do exist in Southern California) than a grilled cheese sandwich and a warm bowl of soup. If you’re looking for the perfect cheese, I have just the thing. No, not the run of the mill individually wrapped slices of American cheese. Don’t get me wrong,…

Sriracha Chicken Tikka Masala

One of the great things about having a diverse group of friends is the plethora of new flavors and dishes that I have had the opportunity to dev experienced. One of my close friends that I met in graduate school has introduced me to the flavors of India. Her father loves to cook and I’ve…