Gourmet Food on a Budget
Recipes and tips for foods you might want to serve for a holiday celebration, special occasions, or just because you want something a little fancy.
This Spicy Cranberry Sauce is very easy to make and will delight your guests. It’s very tasty with the seasonings of the season and goes very well with whatever you serve. Freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice combine to make a great side dish for your meal.
This recipe for Oyster Cornbread Dressing has been in my family for generations. There’s a reason for that – it’s damn good. The oysters do not taste fishy, they just give the stuffing umami which takes it over the top.
This Halloween Pumpkin Fortress Cake is stuffed with cream cheese and has red food coloring. With decorations, it’s meant to be a “scary” treat for the season. Wafting with pumpkin spice, the cake has an espresso glaze to remind you of a good coffee house cake. Surprisingly, it’s a pretty simple cake to make.
A long time ago, when Trader Joe’s was close to me, I tried a sample of their Roasted Vegetables in Balsamic Butter Sauce with a dollop of creme fraiche. I loved it. Ever since then, when I would visit the store, I would always get a few bags to put in my freezer. But, you know, sometimes you’re at the store, not Trader Joe’s, and you really want those vegetables with no time to go and get them. That’s when you get the stuff you need and make your own. Now, I’m going to share with you my take on these wonderful roasted vegetables with balsamic butter sauce.
Fresh Strawberry Sheet Cake will never, ever get old. It’s a very simple cake to make and my goto white cake. Topping it with strawberries and whipped cream makes it a great summer cake that can feed a crowd.
These tender barbeque ribs are made in the Instant Pot, so they are quick to make and very tender. You don’t need hours and hours to enjoy a summer favorite.
There is nothing like fresh tortillas to make a great cheese casserole. When you are starting out making tortillas by hand, your tortillas might not turn out as nice and thin as those at the store, but that shouldn’t stop you. Use them for a casserole. You can use canned enchilada sauce as I did, or you can make your own salsa, which I will show in another post.
These cheesy Quick Chili Rellenos are great for a weeknight and a good way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.
Moist chicken in a Graniteware roaster to keep moisture in and have nice crispy skin. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner, elegant enough for guests.
Colcannon with bacon and cheddar, is my take on the traditional Irish dish that can be served as a side or stand on its own. Thrifty, filling, and delicious.