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National Dessert Month: Apple Pie a la Mode
As we get into the holiday season, we start getting ready for the crush of desserts that will be coming our way during the season. One popular dessert during this time of year is apple pie. Here is another entrant for National Dessert Month — apple pie a la mode. My paternal grandmother made apple pies (and cobblers but that’s story for another day) a lot. I remember watching her — no measurements needed there — and hoping that I could make things that tasted as good as her baking. I think we are getting there… The recipe for No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream included in this post as well.…
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It’s National Dessert Day: Lemon Raspberry Loaf
Another cool month: National Dessert Month. So you can eat dessert every day this month! Woo-hoo! And on top of that, October 14th in National Dessert DAY. If you don’t want to have dessert every day, you can just do it on the 14th. It doesn’t matter, this is a great month to enjoy any number of desserts all throughout the month. One selection is this Lemon Raspberry Loaf. This delicious lemon raspberry loaf is a welcome addition to Sunday brunch, or it can be enjoyed as a not-too-sweet treat morning or night. For a little added sweetness, be sure to add a light drizzle of the optional lemon glaze…
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Cooking Pasta: How to Tell When It’s Done
Have you ever had pasta that was too hard or just plain mushy? Everyone likely has prepared a pot of pasta that wasn’t the best. You may have wondered if there were a secret to cooking pasta and knowing when it’s cooked to perfection. The truth is, there is a secret but it isn’t hard to learn. And with it being National Pasta Month, it’s a good time to talk about it! Al Dente Do you know what “al dente” is? It is Italian for “to the tooth” which is what perfectly cooked pasta is called. But what exactly does it mean to have pasta cooked “al dente” and how…
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Tips to Make Great Chili
Now that it’s getting cool, you may be considering making a big pot of chili. And it’s National Chili Month, so it is a perfect time! Follow these tips to make a great chili for your family. These steps may make ho-hum chili into something your family will ask you to make again and again. Fresh is Best Start with the freshest ingredients possible. While opening a couple of cans of beans and tomatoes may make your chili quick and easy, it simply can’t compare with homemade all-the-way chili. Use fresh, seeded tomato and peppers. Even though the seeds often provide a bit of flavor, seeds can detract from a…
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National Chili Month: Instant Pot® Pulled Pork Chili
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links below are affiliate links meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you purchase something using the link. Read the full disclaimer policy here. It’s October of this amazingly strange year, and it’s even getting chilly right now in Southern Texas. It’s starting to be chili season! October is National Chili Month. There are so many types of chili — beef, pork, turkey, meatless. I love experimenting with the different recipes and seeing which one my family likes best. Since fall is my favorite season, I tend to make a LOT…
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A Couple of Drinks for National Vodka Day
October 4th is National Vodka Day. As i have noted in the past, vodka was my choice of alcohol when I was still consuming alcohol. It is not completely clear who invented vodka — Russia, Sweden, and Poland debate this honor. It consists of mostly water and ethanol — coming from distilling fermented cereal grains. In some instances, potatoes have been used or fermented fruit. Vodkas in the US have to be 80 proof (40% alcohol by volume). Commonly, vodka is consumed neat (straight with no mixers, ice, or water) and freezer-chilled. However, it is also a frequent component in mixed drinks and cocktails. I was not a huge fan…
