Mimi’s Blog

Baked Gnocchi with Bacon, Tomato & Mozzarella

It’s that time of year! Cold, rainy, and windy here in Indiana. We’re expecting snow in a few days – Baked Gnocchi with Bacon, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella is the perfect yummy bite. You’ll be all warm and cozy in no time, guaranteed. And it’s a very quick dish – 35-40 minutes.
Serve with a green salad and a warm loaf of crusty Italian bread. Heavenly!

Summertime Tomato, Avocado, Roasted Corn, Basil Pasta Salad

Summertime Tomato, Avocado, Roasted Corn, Basil Pasta Salad is a salad bowl to behold! This salad is the perfect side or main dish for the height of summer’s flavorful bounty. In August, we can find all these ingredients readily available at the height of their freshness. This is what summer eating is all about, without a doubt!

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Peanuts & Kale

Spicy Sweet Potato, Peanut & Kale Soup is a warm, rich, comfort seasoned with sweet curry and tumeric. And it’s thickened with peanut butter, not butter-flour-cream so it’s healthy, too! It’s gluten-free. This soup would be perfect to serve during the holidays.

Easy Apple Pie Cheesecake

I found this brilliant recipe for Apple Pie Cheesecake at Tasty in Kathryn Aubin’s feature 4 Pies to Bake With Your BFF. Just like any cheesecake, this takes some time to bake, but that’s it. The remainder of the process is easy, easy, easy. Seriously – a no-brainer easy.

Brats & Onions

Brats & Onions are quintessential football comfort food. No grill? Cook them up in a cast iron skillet along with caramelized onions. Crunchy, juicy, and peppery sausage goodness!

Mimi’s One-Skillet Chicken, Rice, Broccoli, and Cheesy Casserole

This is such an easy, quick and economical meal! In 30 minutes, you’ll have dinner on the table – no kidding. Mimi’s One-Skillet Chicken, Rice, Broccoli, and Cheesy Casserole is flavorful and satisfying.

John Legend Mac ‘n Cheese

John Legend Mac ‘n Cheese

Some things that happen in life are the work of fate.  I mean, for no reason, there's some unexpected connection, an unexplained event.  That's how it happened with for me tonight with John Legend and his recipe for Mac 'n Cheese. It is COLD here in Billings....

Almond Orange Cookies – Orange Sable Cookies

Almond Orange Cookies – Orange Sable Cookies

  I love these cookies!  They're crunchy, crumbly, made with ground almonds and orange zest. I found this recipe in a 2001 edition of Martha Stewart's Holiday Cookies:  100 Favorite Recipes. Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate and caramel and cheesecake as much as...

Shirley’s Christmas Walnut Roll

Shirley’s Christmas Walnut Roll

Growing up, our family was incredibly spoiled at Christmas time.  My mother, Shirley, and my paternal grandmother, Grandma Szewczyk, excelled at baking.  Because Grandma Szewczyk lived directly across an alley from us, we were doubly blessed. My mom's walnut roll was...

Turkey Enchiladas in Mole

Turkey Enchiladas in Mole

Yes, we still have turkey.  Uh oh - hope I didn't make you roll your eyes . . . Yes, another turkey recipe: Turkey Enchiladas in Mole.  Never had mole?   Boy, are you in for a treat!! I'm crazy for this recipe.  My ex-mother-in-law, who taught me everything I know...

Grandma’s Raisin Bread (Chalka)

Grandma’s Raisin Bread (Chalka)

My Polish grandmother made this traditional bread throughout the year.   We lived directly across an alley from her house, so Grandma was always bringing over freshly baked goodies.  Chalka was one of our very favorites.  It's fabulous warm out of the oven or toasted...

Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

My house is smelling so good today!  And the Packers and the Vikings are in overtime!  It's a happy Sunday afternoon. It's the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Regardless of whether I'm cooking for the two of us or for a houseful of family and guests, I always manage to...

Banana Pecan Caramel Crumb Cake

Banana Pecan Caramel Crumb Cake

What to do with over ripe bananas?  Well, we all know there's lots!  Rather than banana bread or muffins, I wanted to make a cake.  I also love New York style crumb cake, so this cake was a perfect fit.  Wow!  Banana Pecan Caramel Crumb Cake is awesome.  It's a denser...

Ultimate Deluxe Sausage Vegetable Pizza

Ultimate Deluxe Sausage Vegetable Pizza

Richard and I eat pizza about twice a month.  He doesn't care what's on top, as long as there's meat.  I LOVE Italian sausage, so that's the meat default in our house.  Very, very rarely do we order pizza out.  I think it's much more economical to construct our own,...

Vegetable Chow Mein

Vegetable Chow Mein

About a month or so ago, I was shopping at World Market and found this cute package of Hong Kong Style Egg Noodles.  I don't know what makes them "Hong Kong Style," but because I love noodles of all shapes and sizes and because they were reasonably priced, I couldn't...

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

In the mood for something different for dinner?  Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken should be in everyone's recipe quiver.  And you'll have an excuse to buy a jar of blackberry jam. Hooray! Layer chicken in the bottom of a crock pot.  Pour over the sauce.  Turn on the...

Quinoa Spinach Arugula & Cheese Casserole

Quinoa Spinach Arugula & Cheese Casserole

I've not thought about using quinoa as the vessel for a casserole, like you would rice or pasta.  But I came across this recipe a few months ago at Bakeaholic Mama, and it's become one of my favorites.  Simply said, Carrie, aka Bakeaholic Mama, is a genius.  A healthy...

Luscious Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs

Luscious Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs

 Luscious Oven Baked Baby Back Ribs These ribs are phenomenal!   I mean, who doesn't like juicy, "fall-off-the-bone," savory pork ribs?  To begin, I used a spicy dry rub called "Soul Dust" I found at Kayotic Kitchen.  I was attracted to this rub, because it...