Category Archives: Cooking

Chicken Salad.  Its about as classic as burgers and hot dogs.  Wherever there’s a cookout or leftovers, you’re likely to find chicken salad.

To be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of this traditional dish.  Cold chicken with grapes and celery?  No thanks.  It often tastes bland to me and given the choice between creamy calories in a savory entree or a sweet dessert, I’ll always err on the side of sweetness!  But I digress..

Recently, I had a surplus of roasted chicken in my fridge that needed a makeover.  An old recipe from my catering days in Annapolis popped into mind and I just had to give it a go.  Moroccan Chicken Salad.  Chicken.  Honey.  Almonds.  Cardamom!  YUM!  Seriously folks, you’ve got to try this stuff!  In light of today’s holiday and the likelihood of us all having leftover chicken in our fridge at some point, I just have to share this delicious goodness with you.

Combine mayo and honey in a bowl until you have a smooth, sweet mixture (roughly 2 parts mayo, 1 part honey).  The honey helps balance the mayo’s tang.  Add salt, pepper and (most importantly) Cardamom to taste.  TRUST ME!  You do not want to miss the cardamom step.  Its the magic touch that brings this all together.  Toss diced cold chicken, dried apricots, and chopped almonds in the mixture until its is fully incorporated.  I prefer the taste of pine nuts in the salad but almonds are much more budget friendly. 🙂  Serve on a toasted croissant or fresh bread.  Its sweet, savory, creamy and crunchy.  Delicious!

So whip out that leftover chicken and discover the wonders a little cardamom and honey can do to an old classic.  You’ll be glad you did.

The weather seems perplexed lately, caught between winter’s chill and the warmth of spring.  With the wavering temperatures, what is one to do for food cravings?  Do you choose comfort foods that taste like a warm blanket on a frigid day or reach for spring’s fresh flavors?

Answer: toasted coconut marshmallows!  Creamy and indulgently satisfying while light and airy with a hint of tropical goodness.  My how I enjoy this recipe!  Thanks to Ina Garten, these delectable goodies are easy to make and completely worth your while.    I’ve also used her basic recipe to make cinnamon marshmallows before, grinding red hots into a powder and substituting them for sugar.  Any time I’ve made this recipe with kids, they have always been fascinated how such a small amount of liquid whips up into a massive, fluffy cloud.

So go whip up your own batch of Ina’s Toasted Coconut Marshmallows today!  Perhaps they will help make sense of this weather madness. 🙂

This weekend found me in a baking mood.  (Be aware – I do not proclaim to be the most proficient baker at all!  I’d much rather cook than bake, but preggo hormones had me craving something sweet.)  Part of my morning routine is to visit The Pioneer Woman’s website and see if any of her kitchen concoctions spark my curiosity.  Well Friday was no exception.  The delectable image of pineapple pie covered in a meringue topping caught my eye and as the weekend went on, I could not get it out of my mind.

By Saturday night, I had a baking itch that I simply could not scratch.  So with the necessary ingredients assembled, I grabbed my favorite apron and got to work.  20 minutes later, this lovely pie emerged from the oven:

Creamy pineapple filling topped with fluffy meringue.  Mmm.  My first attempt at pie – a success!  Simple and scrumptious.  There’s a very strong chance I’ll be baking this one again.

If you’ve spent any time with me, one thing you’re quick to learn is I’ve a deep love for food.  Looooove it!  From cooking to eating, watching shows to reading articles, I’m a foodie at heart.  Whenever my mom, sister & I get together, most of our time revolves around either cooking or devouring delicious cuisine.  For my birthday this year, my sweet mom gave me an awesome gift: a year’s subscription to Food Network Magazine.  What a fabulous publication!  Each month is chock-full of delicious recipes, creative kitchen ideas & fascinating food facts.  Now the first week of every month finds me giddy and eagerly checking the mail for its arrival.  One of my favorite features is the photo recipe index at the front of each issue.  It shows pictures of all the recipes featured that month.  After all, you eat with your eyes first.  Brilliant!

January’s issue does not disappoint!  I tried my first January recipe last night: mac & cheese soup.  The name intrigued from the get-go.  Our family devours mac & cheese, but the butter and excessive flour always leaves me feeling guilty afterwards and hesitant to make it again.  But each time, the call to cheesy goodness prevails.  As I read the words, “cut the calories in half”, I knew I had to give this recipe a try.

Oh my word.  This soup is SCRUMPTIOUS!  It completely satisfies in the cheesy department with full-bodied flavor coming from the aromatics and chicken broth.  Did I mention there’s a full serving of carrots & celery in every pot?  My hesitant husband (“it won’t taste like watered-down mac & cheese, will it?”) devoured three bowls!  The soup itself has no – I repeat NO – salt in it.  This soup is comforting, filling, jam-packed with flavor and whips up in only 20 minutes!  We Leinos will certainly be enjoying this recipe again and again.

So for all the cheese lovers out there, you’ve got to try this!