Mimi’s Blog

Grilled Steak with Creamy, Cheesy Pasta,Tomatoes & Mushrooms

This dish is inspired by The Pioneer Woman’s Steakhouse Pasta. It’s filled with flavor from tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach and a creamy, cheesy sauce perfect for pasta. Delicious and so satisfying!

Hearty & Healthy Split Pea Soup with Ham and Cornbread Croutons

Mimi’s Split Pea Soup with Cornbread Croutons is an old-timey and satisfying bowl of steamy comfort. This recipe is a good way to use up leftover ham. Add chunks of russet and sweet potatoes and top off the bowl with crunchy cornbread croutons for a filling wintry meal.

Uncle Vito’s Stuffed Lasagna

Uncle Vito’s Stuffed Lasagna

Who is Uncle Vito?  I have no idea.  A close friend of mine who grew up in a culture rich in Italian cooking traditions near Buffalo, New York, made this lasagna for my family many moons ago.  It was the first lasagna I ever ate made with ricotta cheese - a culinary...

Simple Italian Meat Sauce

Simple Italian Meat Sauce

Simple Italian Meat Sauce cooks up quickly for a pasta dinner or to save as the base for a nice pan of lasagna.  This sauce uses butter and a little milk, so it's sort of like a bolognese, but only takes 45-60 minutes. I like the fact that it includes shredded sweet...

Big & Fluffy Homemade Pancakes

Big & Fluffy Homemade Pancakes

I've made these pancakes for over 25 years.  I tried several pre-packaged mixes back in the dark ages, and didn't think much of any of them.  These homemade pancakes are so simple to put together for a quick weekday or weekend breakfast.  Or how about breakfast for...

Cheesy Leek Potato Soup

Cheesy Leek Potato Soup

WOW!  This is an awesome potato soup, if I do say so myself.  Perfect for a cool and windy Halloween night, or any night for that matter.  I just happened to make this on Halloween. Cheesy Leek Potato Soup is a combination of several recipe elements.  I wanted a...

Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

My husband, Richard, loves peanut butter. While he often slathers it on bread, rolls, crackers, and celery, I like to eat it by the spoonful right out of the jar.  I can't help myself. Peanut butter by itself is such a simple pleasure - sweet, salty, creamy.  The...

Chili Cheese Dogs

Chili Cheese Dogs

There really are no words to adequately express the love of a good hot dog. In my early days, the best hot dogs were those at Coney Island in Gary, Indiana, around 13th and Broadway, if I remember correctly, maybe a little south.  My dad would take me and my brother...

Big Texas Chocolate Birthday Sheet Cake

Big Texas Chocolate Birthday Sheet Cake

I visited my family earlier this month to celebrate my grandson's fifth birthday.  Quinten is just the sweetest boy, except maybe for his little brother!  I couldn't miss out on his landmark birthday!! Quinten loves birthday cake, and I'd planned to make him a BIG...

Honey Half Whole Wheat Rolls

Honey Half Whole Wheat Rolls

It's that time of year and everyone is making a variety of warm and hearty soups perfect for the change of seasons.  I love the fall.  Cooler weather is a welcome change from summer's seemingly relentless heat!  Whether you're retrieving the crock pot or bringing out...

Not Just Another Chocolate Chip Cookie

Not Just Another Chocolate Chip Cookie

I love cookies.  They're the perfect nibble.  I know all of us have our favorite go to chocolate chip cookie recipe.  For the longest time, I've made traditional Toll House cookies, you know, the famous recipe on the back of the bag of chocolate chips.  For some...

Bountiful Little Garden Fall 2013

Bountiful Little Garden Fall 2013

My modest garden blossomed into a bountiful little garden this year.  Much to my surprise, as I'm still learning how to make herbs, flowers, and tomatoes grow and flourish in semi-arid Billings.  For several years, I just gave up.  Now that I have lots of time on my...

Vera Bradley Desktop Downloads

Vera Bradley Desktop Downloads

Are you a Vera Bradley fan?  Hard to choose what pattern is your favorite?  Now you can download VB patterns for desktops, iPads, and mobile phones, and change them at your pleasure! I was so excited to find this site.  And the folks at Vera Bradley come up with a new...

Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake

It was cold and rainy yesterday here in Billings.  Perfect time to whip up a cake.  If I still had school-age children hanging around, this would be a perfect after school treat with a tall, cold glass of milk.  Oh my - this cake is fabulous! I'm beginning to collect...