Gourmet Food on a Budget — Ever Forward, Ever Flavorful
These balsamic caramelized onions go very well with the Roasted Duck with Raspberry Sauce, as well as on burgers, with cheese, on toast, just about anywhere – they are sweet and tart at the same time.
Caramel Sweet Potato Casserole is a little different than the one you usually see at the holiday table. Is it sweet? You betcha! But it’s more interesting because it has caramel, pineapple, and cashews – marshmallows are optional.
Twice Baked Potato Casserole is great for a special occasion. My adopted mother used to make twice baked potatoes in the potato skin and everyone loved them. They were one of her specialties that she served at important dinner parties. I took her basic recipe and made it quicker and easier, but still just as delicious.
Green Beans with Toasted Garlic Almonds will make you forget about that green bean casserole you have been bemoaning for years. This has excellent flavor and is easy to make any time.
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.
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.
Sometimes, it’s nice to have something that is a little lighter fare. This Asain dish, Asian Meatballs with Spicy Cucumber Salad really hits the spot flavorwise. It’s very simple and quick to make, so you can make this for a weeknight dinner – I don’t know about having leftovers, this will probably get all eaten up! If you don’t like spicy food, you can leave the chili out of the cucumber salad.
We make this healthy by including wheatgerm in the meatballs, and we bake the balls in the oven instead of frying or sauteing them.
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.
I made this a few years ago and forgot about it. It languished in my recipe box for many years, until as I was going through it to see what I could remove, I came across it and thought I should try it again.
It’s delicious. But be warned – if you don’t like blue cheese, you won’t like this. If you don’t like red wine, you won’t like this either. This is not a traditional risotto, it is very assertive and needs to be served with well-marinated beef. I think broccoli goes very well with this and steams quite quickly while the roast rests. Serve with a nice red wine and Sour Cherry Jellies for dessert.
You all have to forgive my surfer platter. Under the roast, it says “Seas & Greetings” – I just couldn’t resist it for the holidays a few years ago, and it has served me well.