Italian Spinach Soup by John Spottiswood

Suprise, surprise. Another amazing recipe adapted from Marcella Hazan's Essential's of Italian Cooking. This is one of my bibles. Not only did I love this spinach soup, but all four of my kids did too! Everyone had mutiple servings. We served it with simple sourdough toast, though Crostini (Italian croutons) is what Marcella…

Hearty Red Lentil Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a wonderfully flavored soup that our whole family really enjoyed. I'm a huge fan of traditional Turkish Red Lentil soup which has more exotic flavors, but I was impressed by the down home goodness of this soup. I had three medium sized helpings, and even then I nibbled a bit more as I was putting the remainder into the…

Cheesy Garlic Mashed Potatoes by Mary Joseph

Awesome Split Pea Soup by John Spottiswood

We made this soup by combining the best of two recipes...one from America's Test Kitchen and one from Cook's Illustrated's the Best New Recipe. I think this is a split pea soup that can't be beat!

Creamy Lentil and Broccoli Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a creamy, flavorful, and incredibly healthy soup. The next time you're in the mood for split pea soup (also very healthy), try this instead. It has a wonderful body and a great hearty flavor. If you haven't had sumac before as a seasoning, this is a great dish to try it with. Sumac is commonly used in the middle east to…

Lentil Soup by Nancy Miyasaki

This is my super easy, staple Lentil soup that everyone eats and enjoys. It's healthy and mild, good for everyone.

Old-Fashioned, Homemade Lemonade by Elena Jimenez

During those hot summer days, this drink will quench your thirst!

Easy Chicken Posole by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a super easy and tasty recipe you can whip up in 20 minutes! You can use the meat from a standard rotisserie chicken for this soup. I got mine at Costco. I can buy canned tomatillos in the Mexican section of my local grocery store...but if you don't see them stop by any Mexican mercado. They taste great in soup and are a…

Creole Pralines by Amos Miller

Better than a cookie (sorry bakers, but this is a Creole group) and with the true taste of New Orleans, Creole Pralines are one of the signature treats in the Big Easy! It is time to play 'soft ball', and we're not talking the sport - we're talking Creole candy. When the recipe calls for your concoction on the stove to reach the…

Marinated Asparagus by Robyn Savoie

This versatile recipe made with fresh asparagus can be made year around. Serve it cold or warm as side with any meal. My favorite way to serve this is grilling it. It produces rave reviews every time. Even from guests who may not be fans of asparagus.

Green Chicken Chili by Nancy Miyasaki

This isn't your thick beans and meat sort of chili, but it is absolutely delicious. Think a cross between a soup and a traditional chili. It's pretty healthy too with white meat chicken, hominy, and potatoes.

Chicken, Lime & Tortilla Soup by Nancy Miyasaki

This recipe is light and delicious. I often make it with left over baked chicken. It can also be made with boiled chicken as described below. This is not a heavy handed tortilla soup. It is simple and yummy. Try adding hominy or avocado as well!

Texas Tuff Chili by Curt Despres

Alright then, are you ready for the best chili you’ll ever eat? That’s right, I said it, the BEST. Okay, I know I’ve never experienced all the chili recipes ever made, but it’s the best I’VE ever eaten. And you know what, when you make up a batch of this for yourself, it will be the BEST YOU’VE ever eaten too! It’s time to present…

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a delicious quinoa recipe that we served with our garlic lime grilled pork chops. This is flavorful enough that you'll want to serve it with a relatively simple grilled dish. It would go wonderfully with grilled fish, chicken, or steak. Or try it with the pork recipe linked below.

French Rice Salad by Nancy Miyasaki

This is a light and flavorful as a main dish or side dish. It's a perfect side for any grilled meat or fish.