This cornbread is truly a “frugal, fast, and fun” accompaniment to chili or soup. While I rarely buy canned vegetables, I keep some creamed corn on hand just for this recipe. The chiles can be omitted, but they add just the extra flavor boost needed to make this bread stand out. And don’t hesitate to…

Yes, I know that enchiladas are really rolled up and yes, spaghetti sauce sounds suspiciously much more like Italian than Mexican food. So here I come with a dish I call an “Enchilada Bake,” based on flat tortillas and a spaghetti sauce base, but the addition of cumin, cilantro and green chiles brings it pretty…

Still looking for something to take to the Valentine’s day party at the kids’ school or for a special treat for friends, family, or neighbors? Here is one that includes two layers of chocolate, and what says Valentine’s day more than chocolate and kisses! Chocolate Kiss Cookies 6 oz butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened2/3 c…

Refrigerator cookies have long been popular because they can be made well ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator (or even freezer) until ready to be baked and served. This recipe is just right for Valentine’s day and, even if you are just making them now, a few hours in the refrigerator or freezer…

When my kids were young, we had the same menu item perhaps two or three (or more!) nights as week: “Casserole.” (If we had lived in Minnesota back then, it probably would have been “hot dish.”) However, my goal was never to serve the same meal two times in the same week, and I was…

Do you ever run out of ideas–and maybe time too–for a variety of family friendly meals that don’t cost a lot? Using chicken and mirepoix as a starting point, here are some suggestions for literally dozens of meals. But, you ask, what is “mirepoix?” It may sound exotic, but it is really just onion, celery,…

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a chowder and a soup? Or, for that matter, what exactly makes a dish a bisque instead of a soup–other than the reputation and cost of the restaurant serving it? True to the Internet’s vast supply of information, half information and misinformation, there are all kinds…

Staying with a theme and having soup again. This one can be completely vegetarian by using vegetable bouillon cubes or broth but it is also enriched by using chicken stock. For an entirely different take on the flavors, use some ham juices (or just put a “leftover” ham bone at the beginning, to simmer along…