Mimi’s Blog

Pollo Contadino, Italian Roasted Chicken Farmer Style

Tender and juicy chicken roasted with onions, carrots, tomatoes, and capers served over a bed of hot fluffy rice. Cibo di comodità – true Italian comfort food.

Cauliflower Cheese Bacon Chowder

A bag of riced cauliflower is transformed into a delicious, healthy bowl of steamy chowder. Just like baked potato soup without the potatoes. Treat yourself to a bowl garnished with shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and crispy bacon bits.

Mimi’s Kitchen Remodel Part Four: What a Difference!

Mimi’s Kitchen Remodel Part Four: What a Difference!

WOW! What a difference a week makes. All the flooring is installed. All the wall and island cabinets are in place. This picture is misleading. The wall cabinets are all the same color, Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray. I've received a lot of compliments on the...

Mimi’s Kitchen Remodel Part Two

Mimi’s Kitchen Remodel Part Two

Let's take a look at my rooms being remodeled during the first phase. We had to move the contents of the living room, dining room, and kitchen into the family room and office. We're keeping the old fridge in the garage. Don't worry. It looks much worse now. Emptied...

Mimi’s Kitchen Remodel Part One

Mimi’s Kitchen Remodel Part One

I do admire folks who have the courage and vision for a total kitchen remodel. It's no project for the weak of heart or wallet. Read: I have no courage. I have a weak heart. I found my wallet at Goodwill. Ugh! And this is not just a kitchen remodel. It's a...

Creamy Crunchy Bacon Pea Salad

Creamy Crunchy Bacon Pea Salad

This is one delicious salad. My Grandma Smith was fond of these kinds of salads like carrot salad, roasted beet salad, and sauerkraut salad. These are folksy homey old-timey country salads with bright colors and flavors. They're easy-peasy to put together. And they'll...

Pan Seared Cod with Tomatoes, Onions & Capers

Pan Seared Cod with Tomatoes, Onions & Capers

We're attempting to eat healthier around our house. Oh, Richard and I still revisit old-fashioned family meals like fried chicken and meatloaf, especially when our grandsons come for a weekend supper, but we don't eat like we used to. We don't sit down to big evening...

Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken with Spinach & Orzo

Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken with Spinach & Orzo

Quick and amazingly delicious, try this spin on one of Tieghan Gerard's skillet meals One Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken and Orzo. Please visit the link to Tieghan's recipe to read her post and to ogle her beautiful photographs. Read about her here in "I Love Your...

Rice Pilaf with Pignoli, Peas & Cheese

Rice Pilaf with Pignoli, Peas & Cheese

This is a side dish with a perfect bite. Savory basmati rice, orzo, and pignoli (pine nuts) married with onion, peas, and Parmesan cheese. Rice Pilaf with Pignoli, Peas, and Cheese is a homogenous bite of savory, crunchy, cheesy, and fresh. You can serve this side...

Chili 101: Mimi’s Favorite Chili

Chili 101: Mimi’s Favorite Chili

It's that time of year! Here in central Indiana, we're having the coldest winter of any I remember here in quite a long time. In fact, it's been warmer in Billings, Montana, my former home. Temps reached -16°F last night. No weather for man nor beast. But a perfect...

Joe Carson’s Ginger Cookies

Joe Carson’s Ginger Cookies

Here's another good choice for a holiday treat for your cookie plate, to take to a cookie swap, or to give as gifts. Joe Carson's Ginger Cookie recipe was first published in Midwest Living magazine in 1999. I've been making them every Christmas since. My husband loves...

Cranberry Orange Cookies

Cranberry Orange Cookies

I've made these cookies for five consecutive Christmas cookie plates. They're a big hit! Cranberry Orange Cookies are so easy to put together. You mix everything in a food processor. These cookies have an interesting mix of dried cranberries, orange zest, allspice,...

Mom’s Stuffed Green Peppers – Uncover Buried Treasure

Mom’s Stuffed Green Peppers – Uncover Buried Treasure

Uncover precious buried treasure. Dig down into a deep bowl filled with beef and rice stuffed green peppers smothered with a perfectly seasoned tomato-onion-basil gravy. Grab a couple slices of Italian bread slathered with butter to sop up all the gravy goodness....