Something Different: Stuffed Peppers with Creame Burilee

Smooth and creamy Crème brûlée finishes your savory stuffed roasted bell peppers.

Crème brûlée, also known as burnt cream, is a rich custard topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel served at room temperature.

The custard is flavored with vanilla, but can also be flavored with lemon or orange, rosemary, lavender, chocolate, Amaretto, Grand Marnier, cinnamon, coffee, liqueurs, gree

Meatless Monday: Vegetable Cassoulet

It's Meatless Monday. This recipe mimics the classic French cassoulet with onion, garlic, baby carrots, peppers, beans and tomatoes.

Go Meatless Monday is recognized by cities and countries all around the world. It's a day people unite around food.

This dish is named after its traditional cooking vessel, the cassole, a deep, round, earthenware pot with slanting sides.

Love Food: Grandma's Cheese Enchilada Recipe

Talk about good, scrumptious and utterly delicious, here is our family's cheese enchilada recipe. It's an enchilada recipe that is a family favorite with my three kids and their kids, too. It's magic on a dinner plate today.

I don't believe any cheese enchiladas that I have ever ordered and eaten at a Mexican food restaurant rises to the taste level of our very own enchiladas. This is a recipe handed down from my grandma.

Sunday Dinner Recipes: Roast Turkey Dinner

Let's start with a blessing from Psalm 51:12
      
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation O Lord, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

My dad used to get up in the wee hours to put the Thanksgiving turkey in the oven. It was a ritual that he made a lot of fun: It wasn't a chore for him.

After he made the "chestnut dressing," he'd stuff the bird and lift this giant pan onto the oven rack. It was just one of the memories he gave me that steered my life.

I've dolled it up a bit, but my perfect Thanksgiving meal starts with fresh banana and cranberry-orange bread lightly toasted with creamy butter and hot cocoa in the morning. Maybe with a few marshmallows and a peppermint.

Dinner would be served at noon, maybe early mid-day. A big roasted turkey would sit at one end of the long table, ready to be carved as if it was part of the meals entertainment. I see my children's happy faces around the table.

This is not a buffet day. Bowls sit in the middle of table filled with turkey stuffing, whipped mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole (not to sweet), green bean casserole, corn casserole with chilis. Two jello salads like the kids used to love.

Hot rolls in napkin covered baskets and fresh-made cranberry sauce. Tall water glasses with ice cubes by each china plate. Two lit candles and some flowers. Music would waft in the air, over the giggles and laughter. Our family smiles a lot.

For dessert, cheesecake, apple pie, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, chocolate ice box cake, maybe even bread pudding. Tons of freshly whipped cream. A cold punch, no soda cans, maybe homemade flavored iced tea or a white wine spritzer would bless my meal.

Roasted Turkey with Giblet Gravy
Serves 12-16 with plenty of leftovers

1 (18 pound) whole Honeysuckle White® turkey
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Salt and ground black pepper
1 1/2 quarts turkey stock
8-10 cups already prepared chestnut stuffing

Remove the turkey neck and giblets, rinse the turkey inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Loosely stuff turkey cavities, front and back, and truss closed with string.

Place the turkey, breast side up, on a rack inside roasting pan. Rub the skin with the softened butter, and season with salt and pepper. Position an aluminum foil tent over and around the turkey.

Place turkey pan in the 325 degree preheated oven, and pour 2 cups chicken stock into the bottom of the roasting pan. Baste every 30 minutes. If drippings evaporate, add stock to moisten turkey, about 1 to 2 cups at a time.

Remove aluminum foil after 3 1/2 hours. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted in the meaty part of the thigh reads 180 degrees, about 5-6 hours, maybe 7-8 hours depending on how big and luscious the turkey is.

Transfer turkey to a large serving platter, cover loosely; let rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes to set in juices (so meat won't dry out) before carving.

Turkey stuffing vs turkey dressing. Stuffing is prepared inside the turkey as it bakes; whereas turkey dressing is prepared separately in a casserole dish. Baking inside turkey adds flavor,

The boo-hoo about stuffing vs dressing is that the turkey juices may contain salmonella bacteria and that can soak into the stuffing; stuffing must be cooked to 165 degrees to be safe. Make sure your meat thermometer is 165 degrees.

Turkey Giblet Gravy
Neck and giblets (from whole turkey)
2 medium stalks celery, sliced (1 cup)
1 medium onion, sliced
2 cups drippings from roasted turkey
1/4 cup chicken broth, if needed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Salt and pepper to taste

In 2-quart saucepan, place giblets (except liver); add enough water to cover. Add celery, onion, salt and pepper. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 1 to 2 hours or until giblets are tender. Discard celery and onion. Cool.

Place 1/2 cup drippings in roasting pan or skillet. Stir in flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly and scraping up brown bits in pan, until smooth and browned. Gradually stir in remaining broth. Cook, stir constantly until mixture boils and thickens. Remove meat from neck; finely chop meat and giblets; add to gravy, if desired. Salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information
Calories 262; Carbohydrates 0g; Cholesterol 119mg; Fiber 0g; Sodium: 111mg; Fat 10g; Protein 48g

GI means glycemic index. The number listed next to each food is its glycemic index. This is a value obtained by monitoring a person's blood sugar after eating the food.

Honeysuckle White® Fresh Whole Turkeys are the first from a major brand to be raised without using antibiotics for growth promotion. Since 1965, families have trusted the Honeysuckle White® brand to deliver quality turkey products, great taste and supreme value. Turkeys have the "USDA Process Verified" seal.

According to BodyandSoul.com, skinless turkey is low in fat. White meat has less fat than the dark meat, but perhaps not so much as to matter. A typical turkey consists of 70 per cent white meat and 30 per cent dark meat.

Turkey meat is a valuable source of protein, iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus. It is also a source of vitamin B6 and niacin, which are both essential for the body's energy production. Regular turkey consumption can help lower cholesterol levels. The meat is low-GI and can help keep insulin levels stable.

Turkey contains the amino acid tryptophan, which produces serotonin and plays an important role in strengthening the immune system. It is also a source of selenium, which is essential for thyroid hormone metabolism. It boosts immunity and acts as an antioxidant.

Turkeys are descendant of the wild turkey native to northern Mexico and farmed in Eastern United States. Turkey farming is significantly different from typical poultry farming. Please do start now to plan your thankful meal with the family you love so much.

I miss those family gatherings.

Meatless Monday: Spaghetti Squash Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce

It's Meatless Monday. This recipe mimics the classic French cassoulet with onion, garlic, baby carrots, peppers, beans and tomatoes.

Go Meatless Monday is recognized by cities and countries all around the world. It's a day people unite around food.

Spaghetti squash is a unique vegetable, to be sure, but it’s the sauce in this recipe that’s likely to raise your eyebrows. Featuring ginger, hot sauce and – gasp – chocolate peanut butter, this dish is a taste experience you won’t forget! This recipe comes to use from Aditi & Nikhil of Confused Bawarchis.

Something Different: On-The-Go Salad with Lemon Pudding Cake

Sweet and savory food sometimes go together, sometimes they don't. Today, it's both in a lunch to go.

Take a forkful of moist sweet lemony pudding cake and a savory harvest salad with you when you're "on the go." Bake the cake ahead and freeze in portion-size ready-to-eat, grab-and-go containers.

A packed lunch all started with the lunch pail, didn't it? Did you take a lunch to school when you were a kid? Do you pack one for your kids?

Today, everyone's buzzing about the "jar" on the go for working moms and dads. Lunch in a Mason jar is pretty brilliant way to compete with all those zip and click plastics. Not such a bad idea. It's a good way to save money and eat healthy, too.

Love Food: Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Havarti Cheese

Talk about a fabulous taste delight for guests at the Thanksgiving table, This recipe for Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Havarti Cheese makes my mouth water just thinking about it. You serve a surprise meal that is so melt-in-your-mouth yummy that family and friends beg for the recipe.

This is one of my special recipe treats and it is a real treat. So so good. The secret ingredient is the Jalapeno flavored Havarti cheese. The secret to the delicious-ness is the soft and gently bathed corn tortillas. Read on.... You'll love this one!

Make It Monday: Albondigas Verde with Sweet N Smoky Glaze

It's Make-It-Monday with a bowl of delicious. This recipe from Spice Islands uses paprika, a spice made from air-dried fruits of the chili pepper family.

Vividly red in color, paprika is made from ground Capsicum chili peppers. It doesn’t pack the punch you’d expect from a chili. Instead, it has a sweet flavor and a delicate aroma that can vary from fruity to sharp. Do you know what foods spices go with?

Sunday Dinner Recipes: Gourmet Enchiladas Verde

Let's start with a blessing from Psalm 51:12
      
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation O Lord, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

It's shop for Sunday Dinner recipes. This Sunday dinner recipe fiesta is a modest 3-course meal with Gourmet Enchiladas Verde from El Comal, Lettuce Strawberry salad, Tres Lleche Cupcakes and suggestions for wines. You can certainly add more courses to your meal planning.

The family dinner table starts with a colorful centerpiece, serape table covering, flatware and glassware. Here's how to set the table for this delicious Sunday dinner. 

Meatless Monday: Miracle Lasagna with Garlic Toast

It's Meatless Monday. Traditional, full-flavored lasagna from Cambell's Kitchen is layered together in just minutes with pasta sauce, noodles and three cheeses. It's paired with the most crunchy munchy garlic toast from McCormick.

Go Meatless Monday is recognized by cities and countries all around the world. It's a day people unite around food.

Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese made from sheep (or cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo) milk whey left over from the production of cheese.

Something Different: Ultimate Pumpkin Pie and Chili Chicken

Here's a sweet pumpkin pie with heavenly caramelized walnuts after a savory meal of chili chicken with rice casserole.

Rice is the seed of a certain type of grass. It's the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize. The varieties of rice are typically classified as long-, medium-, and short-grained.

Rice is typically rinsed before cooking to remove excess starch. However, rice produced in the US is usually fortified with vitamins and minerals, and rinsing will result in a loss of nutrients. For enhanced taste and texture, rice may be rinsed repeatedly until the rinse water is clear.

Make It Monday: Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

It's Make-It-Monday with another mouth-tingling meal. This recipe from McCormick uses rosemary, an herb indigenous to the Mediterranean. Rosemary has a warm, peppery aroma and a piney flavor with hints of nutmeg. Its strong flavor imparts both sweet and savory notes to food and works well in a variety of dishes.

Sunday Dinner Recipes: Savory Grilled Lobster

Let's start with a blessing from Isaiah 40:31

“Lord, renew my strength as I wait upon You; let me mount up with wings like eagles; let me run and not be weary; let me walk and not faint.”

It's shop for Sunday Dinner recipes. This Sunday dinner recipe, Lobster stars in a modest 3-course meal with from Red Lobster Kitchen, Boston Salad, Peanut Butter Pie and suggestions for wines. You can certainly add more courses.

Clawed lobsters are large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically essential as one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas.

Something Different: Gouda Grits Casserole with Cheesecake

Today, it's a sweet slice of Hershey's cheesecake paired with a savory Gouda and grits casserole.

Now, don't turn your nose up at grits yet.

Grits refers to a ground-corn food of Native American origin that is common in the Southern United States and eaten mainly at breakfast.

Corn has long been a staple in the American diet. In fact, Purdue University reports that it was cultivated more than 5,000 years ago.

Grits are similar to other thick maize-based porridges from around the world such as polenta.

Meatless Monday: Eggplant Parmesan

It's Meatless Monday, and Labor Day 2015, an annual federal holiday to celebrate the economic contributions of American workers to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the United States. The day usually marks the end of the summer vacation season and the beginning of back-to-school days.

Other countries, as well, celebrate their labor workers, some on different days and with different names. Many Italians commemorate labor day on May 1 each year.

Go Meatless Monday is recognized by cities and countries all around the world. It's a day people unite around food.

Eggplant Parmesan, parmigiana di melanzane in Italian, is one of the classic preparations of southern Italy. It's a no-meat casserole that makes a delicious dinner statement with plenty of easy to prepare leftovers.

Make It Monday: Beef Sirloin Steak

It's Make-It-Monday with another fabulous, quick and easy meal. This recipe from Campbell's Kitchen uses a can of soup and the heart-healthy wonder food, spinach..

Spinach is a leafy green, heart-healthy food. It’s an outstanding source of vitamins C and A which are antioxidants that help reduce free radical amounts in the body. The antioxidants work to keep cholesterol from oxidizing. In addition, folate is good for a healthy cardiovascular system, as well as magnesium, a mineral that helps to lower high blood pressure.

Sunday Dinner Recipes: Dressed Chicken Breasts with Angel Hair Pasta

Let's start with a blessing from Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a pure heart, O God. Cleanse my heart through and through, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

It's shop for Sunday Dinner recipes. This Sunday dinner recipe is the main event in a modest 3-course meal with Chicken and Angel Hair Pasta from Hidden Valley, Lettuce red onion salad, Crustless cheesecake and suggestions for wines. You can certainly add more courses, such as asparagus.

A well planned menu starts with a nicely decorated table centerpiece, beautiful placemats or ironed tablecloth, polished silverware and gorgeous glassware. Of course, the most important ingredient is the cook. Here's how to set the table.

Something Different: Coconut Cake and Pork Roast with Gravy

It's sweet angel flake coconut cake today with a melt-in-your-mouth savory pork roast and gravy.

Coconuts grow on trees and are different from any other fruits because they contain water. Various parts of the coconut have culinary uses.  Here's the good and bad news about coconut.

This coconut cake makes knees weak, eyes water and lips curl up into a wide grin smile. It might be because there's coconut in the cake as well as in the frosting and on top making it triple the cconut delight. This is the uber coconut bite.

Make It Monday: Turkey Meatballs with Tomato and Aioli Sauce

It's Make-It-Monday with such a smooth and crunchy bite, you want to hold it in your mouth to savor the Yum. This recipe from Badia Spices uses thyme, an evergreen herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses.

Sunday Dinner Recipes: Kobe Burgers Two Ways

Let's start with a blessing from Romans 15:13

“Lord, you are the God of hope. Please fill me with all joy and peace as I place all my hope and trust in You, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

It's shop for Sunday Dinner recipes. Dinner recipes are the main event in family meal, aren't they? This is a modest 3-course meal with a Kobe Burger from Marx Food, small salad and a dessert suggestion. You can add more courses.

Sunday dinners are the special meal of the week when everyone puts "busy" aside. It usually starts with a decorated table centerpiece, beautiful placemats or ironed tablecloth, polished silverware and gorgeous glassware.