Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 24th, 2010

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients (print recipe) 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup unsalted butter/or salted if this is all you have, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 2/3 cup light brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips or chunks cut off of a semi sweet bakers bar.  I use both,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 23rd, 2010

Cheesy Potato Pie

Okay, stop what you are doing right now and go to the grocery store to make, by far and away, the best potato pie I have ever eaten.  This even beats the other Potato Pie recipe I have in my recipe section.  I think the apple gives it just the right amount of flavor.  OOh OOh all the flavors together….I take a bite, close my eyes and go to a place that is taste heaven.  Even if you choose to buy your...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 13th, 2010

Packing Lunch…again.

I often wonder what to put in the kids lunches.  Things can get old very fast.  When did we North Americans decide that sandwiches were the only  choice for lunches everyday?  Our friend visiting from Columbia was surprised when she saw me packing the typical brown bag lunch everyday.  Where she lives, the kids go home from school for a big hearty meal, sandwiches are unheard of.  She also said that lunch is...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 12th, 2010

Tortilla Soup

Today I made Tortilla soup.  I have been searching the internet and cookbooks for the most “authentic” tortilla soup.  What I have learned is that there is no such thing as authentic or original tortilla soup in the sense that it all started at one point by one person and there is only one true way to make it.   The “original” tortilla soup was varied and it varied from one person’s...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 7th, 2010

Potato Pizza

Ingredients (print recipe) 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into thinish slices 1   frozen pizza dough, thawed  or your own homemade dough!!!! or just buy the shells pre-made or…….. 3 tablespoons  butter 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper seasoning salt on the potatoes if you dont use salt and pepper.  Seasoning salt is so good. 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded ...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 4th, 2010

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Thank you Martha Stewart for this sublime recipe. You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do. Serves 12 6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish 5 1/2 cups milk 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon freshly...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 3rd, 2010

An Ode to the Turnip

I am doing my best to cook in season.  Apparently from what I have read, eating in season is more important than we realize.  I recently wrote a blog post about all the benefits of eating locally here. I have been looking through the various charts for what is in season in B.C. right now and what I am finding is a bunch of vegetables that you rarely hear about anymore.  Here is a list: Veggies:  Beans (dried),...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 1st, 2010

Red Cabbage with Apples and Bacon

Ingredients: 2 tbs olive oil or butter 1 large red onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 shredded red cabbage or green cabbage or both! 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped 3 to 4 slices cooked bacon, diced 1/2 cup chicken broth salt, to taste Preparation: In a large saucepan or Dutch...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 31st, 2010

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, chopped-I buy an already cooked chicken from the grocery store!! 1 or stalks celery, chopped- about 3/4 cup 2 green onions, chopped 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup of toasted almonds 3/4 cup salad dressing, such as Miracle Whip- or here is a trick, just add 1 tsp of icing sugar to regular mayonnaise.  That is exactly what Miracle Whip is. 1 Tbs...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 29th, 2010

Almost Flourless Chocolate Cake

OMG. OMG.OMG.  This is probably the best and only home made chocolate cake that I really and truly love.  It was passed on to me by a friend who makes it for just about any special occasion that happens at her house.  What I love about this cake is that it is simple but tastes like you could be eating it at any fine restaurant.  Last night I went to bed craving chocolate cake, and I really am not normally a...