Cinnamon Walnut Sweet Bread

Fall is in the air and nothing says fall quite like the warm comforting scent of cinnamon wafting from the kitchen.  This fresh bread baking brought my family to the kitchen as if the scent itself had carried them by their noses, like in a cartoon.   

Cheesy Pesto and Chicken Pasta Bake in 30 Minutes!

Baked ziti is one of my all time favorite dishes, if not THE favorite.  It makes me think of special occasions growing up and has become my comfort food extraordinaire.  I love to take the classic baked ziti and twist it up.  With cravings for comfort food and a garden full of basil, there was only one thing to do.   >> Click to read more

Read the article and get the recipe after the jump~

Check out these fantastic, quick and easy dishes from our Simple Kitchen: Creating delicious meals in a snap!   Click on the image or the link and it will open each one in a new tab.

Hawaiian Muffins: Pineapple, Banana, Coconut and Macadamia Nuts! TWO POST TUESDAY

A simple and delicious breakfast usually leads me to muffins.  I love to freeze them as defrost them as I need them.  In the mood for a change I decided to bake up some Hawaiian flavors; coconut, macadamia nuts, bananas and pineapple.  Oh my, was this a good idea!  These are moist and delicious.  To be honest they are so good I haven't had a chance to freeze them.  The whole family loves them and I am sure you will too!

Sweet and Sour Meatball Poppers

Dinner party, cocktail party or game day food, meatballs can be dressed up and taken anywhere.   No matter how you enjoy them, you will enjoy them.  My munchkin gets so excited to eat meatballs, she says "Mommy, I love meatballs.  They taste like candy".  Well these ones do for sure!

The Best Ever! Simple Sweet and Sour Sauce in 15 Minutes

The last night we had this sauce with meatballs, it looked something like this...  Dinner starts and about 5 minutes later you look around the table and see plates where you should see faces.  Chads started the whole thing, but now Munchkin has joined in the excitement.  Plate lickin' good.  We are fancy like that!  You know its good when the family gives that kind of reaction!  

Candy Corn Rice Krispies Treats

Two great loves come together and create one purely heavenly treat.  Chad has an undying devotion for 2 foods:  Candy corns and Rice Krispies Treats!  I decided to combine the two and surprise him.

White Chocolate Ghost Cocktail Shooter

Chocolate covered marshmallows are a Halloween trick or treating score!  Getting white chocolate covered marshmallows are nearly a miracle.  While creating the cocktail for this weeks Ladies Night Celebration Chad was incredibly inspired by some of his favorite candies from his days Trick or Treating.  In the end he had created 3 amazing cocktails and couldn't choose so he decided to share them ALL with you today.  He created a scrumptious and fun White Chocolate Ghost Shooter for me.  It is creamy, sweet and chocolaty. LOVE!

Candy Corn Cocktail Shooters

As soon as forth of July is here Chad is looking for candy corn. Oh no, I am not kidding.  So, being the supportive and loving wife that I am, I buy a few bags for him.  So weeks later I have an epiphany and decide to make a candy corn dessert.  I ask Chad where are the candy corns.  He looks at me as if I were speaking Greek.  Turns his head to the side...  You know the look.  So, here we go back to the store to buy more. Much to Chads excitement we found a 4 pound bag this year.

Bubble Gum Cocktail Shooters

This year Halloween has us thinking of Trick or Treating.  It brings  back memories of bags and bags of Halloween candy.  Or for some of us... pillowcases full.  But, I won't go there.  I remember after a long and exciting night of Trick or Treating coming home and sorting the 'haul'.  A pile for tootsie rolls, bits 'o honey and candy corns.  A separate pile or Twizzlers, Nerds, Laffy Taffy and gum.  Of course chocolate earned its own pile.

Quick-Draw Cowboy Chili in 30 Minutes

Cowboy Up!  It's Chili Time!  This is now Chad's favorite chili.  I created this recipe with the intention of making it 'stick to your bones good'.  Well, apparently it is "Stupid Good".  I guess maybe that means it is so good, you can't quite come up with the words to describe it.

So thick you can eat it with a fork.  So good we are out already.  So fast I am making it again tomorrow.  Prep to plate in 30 minutes!

Get the recipe and read the article after the jump~

Check out these fantastic, quick and easy dishes from our Simple Kitchen: Creating delicious meals in a snap!   Click on the image or the link and it will open each one in a new tab.

Candy Corn Creeper Pops

It is almost Halloween and candy corns and Halloween treats are everywhere.  The 'Candy Corn People' have gotten dressed up for a night out of Trick or Treating.  Featuring your Candy Corn Creepers!

Tuscan Lemon Muffins

Fall and comfort food seem to go hand in hand.  This week has been the perfect time to break out all my favorite comfort dishes and desserts.  Lemon and cheese are 2 of my three comfort sweets, chocolate being the third.  Not to be a snob, but chocolate and lemon...  Not my thing.

Cookies, Cookies and a COOKIE BAKE-OFF with PRIZES!!!

Elmo Sugar Cookies were perfect for a 2nd birthday party for our munchkin. They are even more perfect to enter into PARADE's Holiday Cookie Bake-Off!!!

The Best Ever Power Packed Vegetarian Chili in Just 30 Minutes

A few weeks ago I made Chad the most carnivorous chili I could have dreamt (seriously that is a word in Florida.  Spell check really needs a regional button.) dreamed up.  He actually reviewed it as "stupid good".  Like as is so good, he couldn't come up with the words (that must be an Iowa thing).  I guess that was quite the compliment!  So, that being said...  With so much going on in our lives that revolves around the health of our loved ones, I have really been focused on eating healthy.

"All Day" Tomato Sauce in Only 20 Minutes

I used to be a hard core all day cooker, baker and candlestick maker (ok, I was just checking to see if you were paying attention).  Seriously though, that is where "The Slow Roasted Italian" originated.  Low and slow, that was the motto back in the day (a whole 16 months ago).  I love the cooked or roasted all day flavor.  My favorite flavors are the deep tomato flavors you get when you simmer or slow roast tomatoes for hours on end.  

5 Halloween Party Perfect Cocktails

Halloween is coming soon and parties are going on everywhere.  Check out these fabulous Halloween cocktails perfect for every event!

Smoked Sausage Pasta and Vegetable Skillet in 30 Minutes

Long Wednesdays (or any day) call for an easy weeknight dinner. Smoked Sausage, Pasta and Vegetable Skillet is exactly what you are looking for.

Olive Garden Copycat Chicken Parmesano Vino Bianco in 30 Minutes

A daydream trip to Venice, Italy is just 30 minutes away with this amazing Chicken Parmesano Vino Bianco served over the most amazing linguine.  Loaded with the most amazing flavor combinations, this is a must on your meal plan menu.    

Crisp chicken served over a bed of fabulously dressed pasta, you need the recipe for this dish.  Trust me, you will thank me for this one.  Click to--->>

Read the article and get the recipe after the jump~

Check out these fantastic, quick and easy dishes from our Simple Kitchen: Creating delicious meals in a snap!   Click on the image or the link and it will open each one in a new tab.

Asian Sesame Rice

Asian sesame rice is so incredibly fragrant and delicious.  From the moment the jasmine rice comes to a boil the nutty aroma permeates your senses.  Once the sesame oil touches the steaming rice, the air is filled with a dynamic nutty aroma.  All of this is building up to the pure satisfaction of diving into a bowl of this fabulous rice.  You are going to love it.

Pierogies and Sausage with Sun-dried Tomato Cream Sauce in just 30 Minutes

Sometimes you find the most comforting foods in the most unlikely places.  I was creating this dish to be a nice romantic dinner and it turned out to be the most amazing comfort food.

Meat Lover's 4 Layer Pizza Dip (with variations) - TWO POST FRIDAY

Every party calls for an amazing dip and this is exactly what you have been waiting for.  Meat Lover's 4 Layer Pizza Dip is perfect and with some short cuts you can have this ready in no time flat.  My grocery store sells my favorite meat toppings precooked and yours may too.  Add those to this recipe and you have the perfect quick and easy appetizer.  Variations make personalizing this dip so easy.  Click the link to get the recipe and the variations!

Read the article and get the recipe after the jump~

Here are more awesome posts perfect for your game day or any day:

Yellow Grape Tomato Sauce

My birthday was a week ago.  My dear friend brought me 2 cases of delicious yellow grape tomatoes.  Knowing my love for tomatoes, you have to know this could not have been a more perfect gift.  Except...  If I had more time on my hands to do all the things I would love to with these tomatoes.  

Root Beer Float Martini

SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR RECIPE

Happy Thursday Slow Roasters!  IT'S LADIES NIGHT and have we got a special cocktail for our party tonight!  

Chad and I have had the chance to try many spirits and take every opportunity to broaden our horizons (palettes) and bring you new cocktails.  After stumbling upon a fantastic deal on root beer vodka, we headed home very excited to make a root beer float martini.  Let's just say neither of us were fans of the martini, but we became determined to make one that would live up to our expectations.

Simple Naturally Sweet Apple Sauce

When you have a 2 year old that loves apples you would think that applesauce would be a staple in your home, right?  Well, I have kind of slacked off on that.  Call it lazy, call it overextended, call it too hot to run the oven.  Either way we haven't had apple sauce since our last large apple purchase about 6 months ago.

30 Minute Tuscan Chicken Shepherd's Pie - TWO POST TUESDAY

Shepherd's Pie, redefined!  The consummate comfort food with a healthy spin.  Made leaner and heartier with chicken and a special ingredient, your meat lovers will never miss the beef.  Trust me, my midwestern meat and potatoes man gobbled this up like it was a big fat steak.  Its soooo good.  Trust me you want the recipe on this one!

Read the article and get the recipe after the jump~

Check out these fantastic, quick and easy dishes from our Simple Kitchen: Creating delicious meals in a snap!   Click on the image or the link and it will open each one in a new tab.

Butterscotch Pecan Cookies

A few years ago I was pretty certain I didn't like butterscotch.  Then I tried these Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies that my friend introduced me to and a whole new world opened up. 

Italian Lentil Soup

CLICK FOR PRINTABLE RECIPE

Just recently I spent a week in Florida with my family.  I sure did a lot of cooking (cooking is an expression of love for me.  I love to cook for my family, so every trip I take or every time they visit I find myself in the kitchen...  a lot).

How To: The Easiest Way to Store Leftover Tomato Paste

Tomato paste is one of those staples that I love.  I really enjoy having my own homemade tomato paste, but if I am buying it...  I opt for the can.  I can't see paying the price of the tube.  I am a big spender like that.

Caramel Apple Pie Martini

Caramel Apple Pie Martini is an incredibly decadent dessert transformed into this scrumptious cocktail.  A cocktail packed with fall flavors; apple, caramel and pie!  Seriously.  Kick 'em off and pour one tonight!

Read the article and get the recipe after the jump~ <<-----Click here

Make sure you check out these fabulous cocktails too!!!  They all open in a new window.  Click the picture or the link to read about this incredible cocktails.

B52 Layered Cocktail Shooter (with variations) - TWO POST THURSDAY!!!

Can you think of a better fall combination than coffee liqueur, Irish cream and orange liqueur?  Well, okay maybe one...  But we will get to that in a minute.  The B52 is a classic cocktail that has been around since the late 1970's.  No way to tell if it was named for the bomber or the band, but either way their are a ton of variations and different ways to whip up one of these that you are going to love.

Spiced Cranberry Banana Cookie Cake Bites (Gluten-free, Naturally sweetened, Vegan)

My munchkins new favorite 'cookies' are these Spiced Cranberry Banana Cookie Cake Bites!  Soft and chewy, they are naturally sweet, moist and so healthy.  I was quite surprised that my sugar princess enjoyed these so much.  But, then again I love them too!

Hearty Pasta Fagioli - in 30 Minutes!

Pasta Fagioli (pronounced Fah Zool in my southern Italian neck of the woods) is a very hearty Italian dish, pasta and beans being the 'hearty' in this traditionally meatless dish.   I decided to throw in some bacon to amp up the flavor, and lets face it bacon makes everything better. 

Kick off fall with this warming Fall dish that is so thick and delicious you can stand a spoon up in the pot.  AND it goes from prep to plate in 30 minutes.

Read the article and get the recipe after the jump~

Check out these fantastic, quick and easy dishes from our Simple Kitchen: Creating delicious meals in a snap!   Click on the image or the link and it will open each one in a new tab.

"Perfectly Chocolate" Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have a little 'thing' for chocolate. I know most of us do.  But, since my daughter was born I also have a 'thing' for simplicity.  Sure, my best friends could tell stories of me spending days on end in the kitchen creating a fabulous cake with imported chocolates.  But, that my friends was my pre-mom life.

How to Make Really Good Vegetable Broth

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So what is the difference between soup stock and broth?  Stocks are made with bones.  Broths are made with meat.  In the case of vegetables, they are always called broth.