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Mom has only the vaguest recollection of a tuna casserole (“I think it had broccoli in it.”) In fact, today, she said she had no memory of it at all. Did she really make it? Or are dad and I remembering something instead from a school cafeteria? In any case, I attempted to reproduce it for today’s lunch, in honor of the weekend and long-forgotten family traditions. Tuna Casserole With Cream of Mushroom Soup Entering our pantry for the first time in 20 years was a can of Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup (really must use this one, no other will do....

This coffee Oreo cookie ice cream lives up to the best of memories! It is as good as my dear friend Heidi H. remembers it, when she made it with friends in an old fashioned, hand-cranked ice cream maker decades ago. Heidi and I made a batch of this ice cream together recently with the new ice cream maker I got for her for her birthday. She will tell you that I was slightly skeptical at first....

The soup is served with a variety of garnishes, including a special salsa, “Aji”, that truly defines the dish. What is Ajico Soup? Ajiaco soup has all sorts of variations, but they all seem to rely on potatoes – some of which are cooked so long they dissolve, thickening the soup – corn (usually on the cob), and chicken. We decided to finely dice russet potatoes so they would dissolve quickly, and we pureed the soup base with an immersion blender, which saved hours of cooking time....

That it’s vegetarian and gluten free will enable you to satisfy a lot of your holiday guests no matter what their dietary needs. It’s an easy and fun way to make a dish that requires no modifications for special dieters, and that anyone who enjoys mushrooms will adore—no matter what else they do or don’t eat. You can even make this soup dairy-free by omitting the cream before serving. Made with cremini mushrooms, packaged chestnuts, thyme, stock, onion, garlic, and just a touch of cream, the taste is reminiscent of cream of mushroom soup but is sweeter and less filling....

Limoncello is a traditional digestif (a drink served after the meal to theoretically aid in digestion, but also an excuse for another nip) served throughout Southern Italy, particularly in the area surrounding the Gulf of Naples. It’s produced by infusing a strong alcohol with the zest of plenty of lemons and then adding sugar, resulting in a sweet, floral, and citrusy spirit. It’s a bright and memorable end to a genial meal with friends and family....

I can only handle eating a piece of Rob’s Chocolate Ganache Torte once every few years. It serves at least 20, so it’s a great dessert to make for a gathering. Think giant chocolate truffle, in a chocolate cookie pecan crust, covered with a caramel sauce. The Best Cookies for Making The Torte Crust The crust for this torte is similar to a graham cracker crust, but made with pecans and thin chocolate wafers, such as “Nabisco’s Famous” chocolate wafers....

It might be the simplicity of a bottom crust only pie — no need to make a lattice top or fear shrinking apples and a crust gap. It could be the perfection of fall apples baked until tender and juicy or the buttery crumble top flecked with the barely sweet flesh of pecans. Maybe it’s the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove wafting through the air making my home smell like how a warm blanket feels on a cold day – inviting and cozy....

Oops! Open the refrigerator door, see half a dozen eggs, half a carton of milk, some cheddar cheese, leftover sausage from biscuits and gravy the day before, a little broccoli, a leftover ear of corn (cooked). Open the freezer and see half a loaf of sliced bread. Saved! Whew. I won’t have to reach for the boxed mac and cheese. Video: How to Make Easy Breakfast Casserole What Is a Breakfast Casserole?...

Can I substitute leftovers for an ingredient in a recipe I want to make? Can I serve this meal in a variety of ways? Is it doable to make this on a weeknight, or can I change it a bit to make it special for a weekend dinner party? When it comes to this Easy Chicken Mac and Cheese, the answer to all of those questions is “yes!” We make this recipe frequently at my house because it’s so flexible and delicious....

What is Duck Confit? Gently cured duck legs bathed in their own fat and slowly cooked to falling-off-the-bone perfection. Then the skin is crisped in a pan or oven, giving you the sinful combination of silky meat and crackling skin. It’ll roll your eyes back it’s so good. Real confit takes more than a day to make. But I have a work-around that takes just a little more than two hours and is nearly as good....

This is my father’s favorite recipe for pork carnitas which we put into fresh tortillas for tacos, with fresh tomato salsa. I think I could eat this carnitas recipe everyday for a week and not get tired of it. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered for 3 to 4 hours (or longer) until meat pulls apart easily. Add salt to taste if needed....

Grated Zucchini Makes The Moistest Bread Fortunately, the pathway into my naturally resistant-to-new-foods teenage mind had already been cut with carrot cake. Heck, if you could get something that good out of carrots, why not zucchini? After one bite, I was sold forever. Grated zucchini, mixed into the batter, brings moisture and tender texture to what is essentially a spice cake. VIDEO: How To Make Zucchini Bread No Need for a Mixer This is a favorite, tried-and-true zucchini bread recipe....

Luckily, there are only a few things that you need to know about the eggplant to cook it successfully. Once you know how to do that, there are an endless number of dishes from cuisines around the world at your disposal! When Are Eggplants in Season? Eggplants are in season from mid-summer to early fall, with peak months being August and September. If you’re growing them at home, this is likely when they will be the most prolific in your garden!...

After several misfires over the last few years, I’ve given up with going out that night, and instead focus on lovely dishes we can make at home. Here is a classic date night meal—filet mignon in a red wine reduction. What Is Filet Mignon? Filet mignon is a steak cut from the tenderloin, a missile shaped muscle which lays beneath the ribs, right along the backbone. The tenderloin muscle is called “tenderloin” because it is just that, tender....

Because breading can be tricky if you have gluten sensitivity and frying eggplant isn’t the healthiest treatment for the veggie, we’ve come up with an oven baked version that also happens to be gluten free and equally as delicious as the traditional version. This entrée serves four and reheats without losing any texture. It’s a modern take on a classic entrée that can be enjoyed by assorted special diet followers, as it’s both gluten free, keto friendly, and vegetarian....

Assembling the Best Homemade Lamb Burger I season these lamb burgers with some of Greece’s most-loved flavors – like garlic, dried lemon peel, and oregano – before grilling them up and serving them on toasted buns. I like to set out a little buffet of Greek-inspired toppings near the grill for everyone to help themselves. Some of my favorites are fresh tomatoes, lettuce, feta, red onion, and of course, that tzatziki....

The Green Mojito Smoothie from The Blender Girl Smoothies is a perfect example. Like the mojito flavors of lime and mint? Blend in some pineapple, coconut water, and kale, and you have not only the zesty refreshing taste of a mojito, but it’s good for you too. Like your power green smoothies? So do I, but not so much the flavor of raw greens. That’s one reason why this smoothie is so lovely, you feel like you’re enjoying a mojito, while you’re drinking kale....

“Don’t worry, it’s a beef burger, with lots of mushrooms, you’ll love it.” Bingo, that was it. “Okay, sure! We’ll be right over.” It used to be, “mushroom burger” just meant a hamburger with lots of mushrooms piled on top. These days it usually refers to a burger in which a portobello mushroom takes the place of the patty. Nothing wrong with that, but it wasn’t what my father wanted....