• Pantry - Recipes

    Leftover Rice Pudding

    This is one of our family’s favorite ways to eat leftover rice. It tastes great as an evening snack or for a delicious breakfast. Leftover rice soaked in milk with a splash of vanilla, honey or sugar, and some seasoning – it is simple comfort all in a bowl. Most rice pudding recipes call for dry rice that is soaked in milk and baked for an extended period of time. This method for making rice pudding uses leftover rice, significantly shortening the time it takes to have this treat on your table and ready to eat. Not only does it…

  • Pantry - Recipes

    Whole Wheat Pancakes

    A whole wheat version of our basic pancake recipe, these pancakes are delicious and nutritious all in one bite. Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and a whole lot of yummy goodness all over. We eat a lot of pancakes at our house. When asked what we should have for breakfast as a toddler, my oldest always said (and I mean always) emphatically “pancakes!” Pancakes on Monday. Pancakes on Tuesday. Pancakes on Wed– well, you get the idea. We ate a lot of pancakes, and we still do! Though I have to say our weekly breakfast routines have…

  • Pantry - Recipes

    Basic Pancake Recipe

    Nothing says breakfast quite like a stack of pancakes – that is, until you bring out a plate of pancakes with a slice or two of bacon on the side – now that’s a winning plate for sure. Pancakes (as well as oatmeal) are breakfast staples at our house. With a house full of little kids, pancakes – not just for breakfast, but also for the occasional easy dinner on those extra hectic days – is always a win. Served with a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or homemade fruit and berry syrups. Or decorated with fresh fruit, frozen berries,…

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    Scrambled Pancakes

    I realized the other day that I am not original. Back in my undergraduate years, I had this amazing takeout napkin business plan for a breakfast restaurant that was going to be great! The college town I was living in at the time didn’t have a pancake house. And again, it was a college town. In fact, the nearest breakfast joint was a good 35 minute drive in another town. It was perfect. I could open up my pancake house around noon, hire a few college students (which were a dime a dozen) to work six hour shifts in the…

  • Recipes

    Homemade Cornbread (Three-Quarters Recipe)

    Yellow, fluffy, yet full of that distinct cornmeal crunch, and deliciously fluffy, this Homemade Cornbread is a family favorite recipe. Using pantry staple ingredients, this cornbread recipe whips to a batter in under 10 minutes and is out of the oven in 20 [mins]. It’s simple, it’s quick, and boy! does it taste delicious under a large dab of melting butter and a thick drizzle of local honey.   Match Made in Heaven Like any good writer beginning an article late in the evening, I started out by asking my spouse what he would say about cornbread. His response: “[Cornbread]…

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    Garden Spaghetti

    It’s hard to beat a plate of spaghetti as a weeknight meal. Simple ingredients combine together to make a delicious and satisfying meal that can be on-the-table ready in 30 minutes. This garden fresh take on the classic Italian dish adds even more flavor and goodness without adding minutes on the clock during preparation. Simply blend your vegetables, add the basil and a dash of salt and pepper, then toss in your spaghetti noodles to soak in the savory liquid. It’s a plate full of yum, not to mention it’s fresh from your back yard and ready in minutes. Tomatoes…

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    Best Homemade Cornbread

    This homemade cornbread recipe comes together quickly and easily. Delicious and easy to make, you’ll never make cornbread from a box again. Cornbread. Is there really a need to talk for paragraphs about how basic, fundamental, and downright delicious a steaming hot slice of cornbread tastes? Delicious on its own, and a solid notch better with a generous dab of butter and drizzle of warm honey. For other cornbread lovers out there, I know it’s a sermon to the choir to tell you why cornbread is a must make, especially when paired with chili. All the chilis. White Chicken Chili,…

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    Garden Fresh Chili Beans

    This garden chili uses fresh garden tomatoes, peppers, and onions for a super simple crockpot supper that is homegrown and homemade. Toss in a jalapeno or other hot pepper for some added heat, or keep it mild – it tastes great either way! I love eating fresh food from the garden. With tomatoes coming on in full swing at my house, and the slight drop in temperature that often comes this time of year, now is the perfect time to break out the beans and crockpot, and make this delicious Garden Fresh Chili for dinner.  It doesn’t feel more like fall…

  • Pantry - Recipes

    ‘Cream of’ Soups: Recipe Staples for Every Kitchen

    Whether you are planning a delicious creamy soup for dinner or are in the middle of prepping a favorite casserole and discover you’re out of canned cream of chicken soup (or mushroom soup, we aren’t prejudiced!) – these simple from scratch cream of soup recipes are a good thing to have in reach. Delicious, creamy, and homemade – and did I mention simple? Really, you can’t beat these recipes. Cream of Chicken,  Cream of Mushroom,  Cream of Celery, and  Cream of Onion.  Recipe PDF Print PDF to have these recipes within easy reach for whenever you need them.  Directions: Melt…

  • Recipes

    Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

    Whether you have gravy, casserole, soup, or some other delicious meal planned for your and your family’s dinner tonight, it’s probable that you will find yourself reaching for a can of cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, or cream of celery soup to make the dish pop with flavor and creaminess.  Cream of soups are a staple in many recipes — especially those that boast fast cook times.  But a fast and easy recipe doesn’t mean it has to come from a can.  Homemade cream of soups can be fast and easy, while being healthier and even more delicious than…