Cinnamon Pie

One of our favorite shows on television is Psych. Everyone, even my eight year old son, can appreciate the humor of a fake psychic working with the police department to solve more murders than ever thought possible in a small town. Somehow, this show always manages to stay in the top five slots in the "Recently Watched" category of Netflix for us. A couple weeks ago, we were watching an episode called "Dual Spires", an episode were Shawn and Gus go to a small town that is hosting a cinnamon festival. While there, they enjoy many slices of cinnamon pie. Which got me thinking....

Chef's Day Off #1

Every chef needs a day off. For me, that day off is Wednesday, but I still need to eat. That means on Wednesdays, I'm going to need your help figuring out what to have for dinner. Link up any recipe on your blog to inspire me on my day off. Since this is my first week taking the day off, I do not have a featured recipe. Starting next week, I will be featuring the recipe that catches my eye and inspires me the most. 

The Official Chef's Day Off Link Party Rules

1. Post a link to any recipe post on your blog (not your main page)

2. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter or GFC (optional, but courteous)
3. Link back to my blog by using the button on my side bar (optional, but courteous)

Philly Cheese Steak Pizza w/Jalapeno Popper Crust

This weekend brought a break in the NFL playoffs as the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the Super Bowl. While they readied themselves for the championship game, the all-stars from the other thirty teams in the league gathered in Hawaii to play in the Pro Bowl. When I initially starting planning this series of pizzas, I considered doing a Hawaiian pizza, but that seems too easy and too predictable. Instead, I decided to go a different route and select some of my favorite foods to combine and make an all-star pizza of my own.

Homemade Green Bean Casserole

Growing up, green bean casserole was a staple at our holiday table. I'm talking the stuff on the back label of a can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. A can of soup, some milk, a couple cans of green beans, and some canned French fried onions. It is still a taste that reminds me of dinner at grandma's house.

Orzo w/Roasted Vegetables

Anyone who has read this blog for any period of time knows my family and I like our vegetables roasted (click here, here, or here for examples). So when I came across a recipe online for a mixture of orzo and roasted vegetables, I was pretty excited. I quickly browsed the recipe, then moved on to other things, forgetting to bookmark the site to be able to go back later for a better look.

Firebomb Pizza

In our house, there is one thing we usually agree on. We love spicy foods; anything from hot wings to spicy chili to jalapeno poppers is good with us. So when I told my wife I was planning to do a series on pizza for this blog, her only request was a spicy pizza. Well, this one's for her. Spicy pizza and the Patriots losing to the Ravens. Now that's my definition of a perfect Sunday.

Pumpkin Muffins

According to my wife, pumpkins are only good for two things: pumpkin bread and Halloween decorations. I personally like pumpkin a little more that, and try to work it into the rotation whenever possible. I like everything from pumpkin pancakes to pumpkin ravioli, but these are for her. These muffins are very similar to her beloved pumpkin bread, and are a great accompaniment to a cup of coffee.

Chicken w/Tarragon and Mustard

Quick dinners are essential in our house. Weeknights are especially hectic. Between work, school, and extracurricular activities, dinner needs to be on the table as fast as possible so as not to interfere with anyone's schedule. This dish is perfect for those nights when food has to taste good and be ready in a short amount of time.

White Pizza w/Spinach and Garlic

This weekend was the divisional playoff round for the NFL, which meant one thing for me. Four football games in two days. What a way to spend the weekend.

Apple Cranberry Chutney

Chutneys are a group of condiments common in Indian and other southern Asian cuisines. Most chutneys are a blend of fruit and spices, and many typically feature a vinegar base. The number of chutneys is virtually unlimited, and can use many different varieties of fruits or vegetables, along with multiple different kinds of spices.

Stuffed Thin Crust Pizza

This pizza is the first a series of five pizza recipes in five weeks, set to coincide with the NFL playoffs. When I sat down to plan out this series, I decided I wanted to start with a thin crust pizza for the first week and work my way though pizzas with thicker and thicker crusts.

Basic Pizza Crust

Pizza is a much loved food in our household. Since my wife and I have been together we have lived in eight different places in five different states, and one of the first things we do when we move is find the best pizza in the local area. We have tried all different types, from crispy thin crust to thick Chicago style pizza. We've tried lots of different toppings, from traditional to exotic. I guess you could say we are pizza connoisseurs.

When I make pizza at home, this is the basic recipe I use for the crust. It can be adapted to fit whatever type of pizza you wish to make. For example, if you wish to make an herbed crust, stir two teaspoons dried basil into the flour with the salt. This recipe makes multiple pizzas depending on the type and style of pizza you want to make. For thin crust pizzas, this will make four 12-14 inch pizzas. For hand tossed, this will make three 12 inch pizzas or two 16 inch pizzas.

Sweet Potatoes Anna

Potatoes Anna is a classic French dish that consists of two ingredients, potatoes and butter. The potatoes are very thinly sliced and layered into a casserole dish with butter and baked until soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. The original is amazing, but not very healthy for the body.