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Kids Love Apple Quesadillas The kids gobbled them up, and one of them, Teddy, exclaimed loudly after the first one, “Elise, you HAVE to put these on your website!” The others nodded in agreement, while busily chomping away. Quesadillas are typically made with just tortillas and cheese (in Mexico typically one would use corn tortillas, closer to the border flour tortillas are often used). Want to make your own tortillas? Try this recipe: Homemade Flour Tortillas...

It was my first time away from home, with no decent place even to make instant noodles, let alone cook a meal. Luckily, a street food vendor right outside our college sold baked samosas for just a few rupees. Spicy potato, cheese, or chicken filling inside a light and flaky pastry pocket, served with a ton of ketchup. It was delicious, filling, and most importantly, dirt cheap! It was my breakfast, lunch, and dinner....

Even though summer isn’t officially over till later in the month, for all practical purposes, it’s gone. Playtime has passed. We put on our worker bee wings and get ready for the fall. Baked Chicken Thighs in a Hurry This baked chicken dish is made for busy days. It takes all of 10 minutes of hands-on time and 45 minutes in the oven. Cherry tomatoes can still easily be found at the market, or in your garden in many parts of the country....

“A great Mac and Cheese comes down to personal taste. I like mine extra saucy, creamy and cheesy. And it just so happens that it’s made one pot – WITHOUT cream!” There are so many Mac and Cheese recipes “out there” that it’s mind boggling. I have made it various ways. I particularly like to try “chef” versions. When I came to choose one that I wanted to share with you, I didn’t know which to go with....

But then pretty soon, friends of roommates discovered my cooking talent and would conveniently drop by at around 7pm. I knew cooking was my calling back then, because each new friend would try to find a suitable trade to be able to snag a coveted spot at our dinner table. No more grocery bill, laundry, ironing, washing the car, or studying! Broccoli Beef was one of my specialties, mainly because broccoli was cheap and beef could be sliced thinly to stretch and feed unexpected guests....

When I was a little girl growing up in Alabama, every year our family would get a Christmas gift in the mail from Charleston. Amidst the usual holiday mayhem, no one really paid a lot of attention to the tin of benne wafer cookies that emerged from the package – except for me. While everyone else was busy indulging themselves with homemade Christmas fudge and stocking candies, I was stealthily and systematically emptying the tin of benne wafers....

The best Scotch subscription boxes will provide you with more than a new, intriguing bottle. They’ll also enhance the experience by helping you understand what makes the Scotch in your glass so special. This education can turn beginners into aficionados and existing enthusiasts into experts. If you’re ready to learn why you like Scotch whisky, a Scotch of the month club is the perfect way to find out. (Note: Not all states allow liquor delivery, so before you commit to a subscription, it’s best to check the availability in your area....

This has to be the easiest stuffed mushrooms recipe ever! It’s just mushroom caps, stuffed with Boursin herbed cheese, sprinkled with smoked paprika, and baked for about 8 minutes. Boursin is a brand of spreadable cheese, similar in texture to a lightly whipped cream cheese (which you could easily substitute). The kind we use is peppered with garlic and herbs. A light dusting of smoked paprika is just a zingy accent....

For this savory Brioche Stuffing with Mushrooms and Bacon, it does the same, kicking the Thanksgiving side dish game up a notch. This recipe hovers somewhere in between a savory bread pudding and stuffing—meaning it’s a little bit decadent and a lot delicious. This stuffing has crispy bacon and sautéed mushrooms to balance out the lightly sweet brioche with a hit of umami. A healthy dose of fresh herbs (including stuffing essential, sage) add earthiness and lift....

What Is Broccoli Rice Casserole? This homemade vegetarian casserole combines fresh broccoli florets with tender long-grain white rice. The filling is covered in a simple cream cheese sauce that is layered with cheddar cheese. The layers melt into each other as they bake, creating a creamy casserole that is filling enough to be a veggie main or a side dish with pork chops or baked chicken. Frozen Vs. Fresh Broccoli Fresh broccoli is really what makes this recipe stand out....

Not that I ever ate them. Even now that I have the gift of hindsight, I can’t say what governed my sensibilities around deviled eggs as a child. Or any other food for that matter, which is a common trial many parents face when feeding their children. I was no exception. The fact that deviled eggs looked kind of gross—regardless of the fact that I actually loved eggs, mustard, and mayo—was reason enough....

I love a dish with a bit of a kick to it, and this buffalo pasta has just that. If you’re not too sure on spice level, you can always leave out the jalapeños, and just add a little hot sauce, then add more at the end to taste. There’s some heat to the Cajun spice too. Yes, spice on three levels. Perfect! A mild Cajun spice will work as well though....

Tip for Making the Best Pecan Cookies By the way, here’s a tip I learned over lunch with Bay Area pastry chef Shuna Fish Lydon of Eggbeater. Beat the butter first. Then, add sugar and beat them together. This is the way it is supposed to be done. (Thanks Shuna!) When you’re ready to bake the cookies, let the dough thaw on a baking sheet while the oven preheats. Then, flatten the dough with a glass before baking as directed....

Seasoning Your Corn With Cajun Seasoning Cajun seasoning is a blend of spices with an earthy flavor and some heat! It’s mostly made of paprika, garlic powder, peppers, and thyme. It’s often used in Cajun and Creole dishes, but still a great all-purpose seasoning to add a twist to any dish. I have a homemade recipe that I use. You can use a store-bought Cajun seasoning if you don’t want to make a homemade one....

Follow these steps and I promise you perfect biscuits every time. These biscuits only take about five minutes of active work and 12-16 minutes to bake. This means you can whip these babies up in no time flat for picnics, last minute guests, or dinner parties. The cut up biscuit dough can be frozen in an airtight container and stored for a few months. This means that if you want to double or triple the recipe and save some aside for quick baking later you can....

It is pretty rich. In my trial run I substituted some (gasp!) low fat version of cream cheese, and was promptly reminded by my mother that they make up for the fat with carb-loaded filler. I also just used my substitutions as an excuse to eat more. So now I’m sticking with the original full octane approach! Before putting the quiche in the oven I sprinkled it with green onions, bacon, and cherry tomatoes....

My mom was a part of the great migration, when millions of pioneering Black folks left the American South for cities where they’d heard whispers of equal opportunities for all. She wanted to make sure that we stayed connected with our Southern roots and her way of doing this was always through food. Her efforts would have a lasting impact on how I carried on the legacy of my family....