Farewell

To my readers,

After some careful consideration and a short hiatus, I have decided I will no longer be posting recipes to this site. I will leave the site up and active for a short time for those of you who wish to look through the recipes, but no new content will be added. After running this blog for a little over a year and a half, I have found myself more worried about the number of people who viewed my recipes or "liked" them on Facebook, rather than enjoying the time in the kitchen cooking things I enjoy. Time to get back to just cooking for my family.


To my fellow bloggers,

Thanks for all the help. I will still continue visiting your sites looking for new and exciting recipes. I look forward to the inspiration. Good luck in the future.

Chef's Day Off #15

This week has been absolutely crazy. Not only am I going to work every day, I am also attending a professional development seminar all week as well. Translation: long days, lots of work, and not enough time to get it all done. So when a day off comes along, I take full advantage of it. This week, I'm just going to sit back, relax, and enjoy a nice slice of Mexican Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake from Joy over at Yesterfood. Simple and delicious. Now where did I put that remote???

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Creamy Spinach Asparagus Soup--Gadgets Are Included #2

This month's featured gadget is the immersion or stick blender. Immersion blenders gained popularity in home kitchens in the United Sates during the 1980s, and have remained popular ever since. These types of blenders are designed to puree or blend in any container, rather than in a special container designed for use with a blender base. While I do not use this device every day, I find it is a lot easier at times than pulling out the full sized blender.

One of my favorite uses for this gadget is pureeing hot soups. When hot liquids are added to a standard blender and pureed, they expand quickly and can create a huge mess, not to mention throw boiling hot liquid all over the person standing next to the blender. Spending the dinner hour at the emergency room is not my idea of a good time. Immersion blenders can quickly turn a pot of ingredients into a smooth soup with the hassle of transferring everything to a blender in small batches. Just be careful to keep the head of the blender submerged to prevent throwing scalding hot soup bits all over the kitchen (it only took once for me to learn that lesson).

My Creamy Spinach Asparagus Soup is a great starter for any spring meal. The flavor of the asparagus really comes through, and the spinach helps give the soup a vibrant green color. Even better, this soup only takes about thirty minutes to come together. Quick, healthy, and vegan (if you leave out the cream). Oh, and tasty.


Creamy Spinach Asparagus Soup

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup onion, diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup carrot, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 lbs fresh asparagus, woody stems removed
5 1/2 cups vegetable broth
4 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper, to taste

In large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Stir and cook 4 minutes, or until vegetables are softened. Add garlic, cook 1 minute longer.





Add asparagus and vegetable broth to pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.






Remove lid and add spinach. Replace lid and let simmer five minutes more, or until spinach is wilted.







Turn off heat. Using immersion blender, puree soup until smooth. Stir in cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with croutons, if desired.

Now it's your turn. Link up any recipe you want that requires a immersion blender to make. Don't forget to stop back the first Monday of next month when the featured gadget will be the ramekin.

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)

Chef's Day Off #14

This past week has been so crazy. The weekend brought temperatures in the 80s, but the forecast still shows snow!!! Looks like I need a nice warm dish to make it through another day off. The Chicken Marsala from Shauna at The Best Blog Recipes looks delicious. I mean, chicken, mushrooms, BACON, and sun dried tomatoes. You could serve it over gym socks and I would ask for seconds...

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Steakhouse Meatloaf

Some days call for a quick dinner, others a light meal; but some days just call for comfort food. My idea of comfort food is a nice steak, but my wife is more of a meatloaf gal. This recipe combines the best of both worlds. Meatloaf flavored with steak seasoning and steak sauce. What could be better?!?

Chef's Day Off #13

The best thing to do on a day off.....is nothing. I love being a able to sit back, relax, and catch up on my DVR. This week's featured dish is perfect for that. The Pineapple Chicken from Danielle over at Peanut Life Adventures combines simplicity with fantastic flavors. And the best part, ten minutes of prep followed by eight hours in a crock-pot leaves plenty of time for relaxation. Perfect day off dinner fare.....

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Chopped Chicken Tacos

We love Mexican food in our house. When I say love, I mean LOVE. At least once, sometimes twice and even three times a week we will have some form of Mexican food. I'm not talking about Taco Bell either. I'm talking good homestyle tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Fresh ingredients, prepared quickly and simply, and served with a side of guacamole. What could be better?

Chef's Day Off #12

This week's featured recipe on Chef's Day Off comes from Heidi over at A Week From Thursday. Her Cranberry Orange Donuts looks delicious, and a great breakfast treat on a cold dreary day here in Eastern Nebraska. Looks like we might dodge the snow (unlike our neighbors to the west), but we could really go for a sunny day in the 60s. At least we need the rain.....

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Chef's Day Off #11

This week's day off seemed like it was never going to get here. Although the weekend here in Nebraska was beautiful, now we are looking at rain and possibly snow this week. Seems like we are having a nice winter this spring. Oh well, I can always look forward to the weather actually warming up and being able to prepare this week's featured recipe from The Food Prepper. The Vegetable Garden Minestrone looks absolutely delicious. Perfect for a relaxing spring day (if they ever get here)!!!

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Red Beans & Rice

One of the greatest feelings in life is walking in the door after a long day at work and knowing that dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. I'm not talking a sandwich or leftovers from the night before, I'm talking a slow-simmered, all day long cooking meal. Man, I love my Crock-pot. Especially when it is loaded down with red beans that have been simmering with smoked sausage and a ham hock.

Chef's Day Off #10

This week's day off could not come soon enough. Easter and my wife's birthday made for a very busy weekend, so it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some time off. Looking back over last week's recipes, one post just stuck out to both myself and my wife. The Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting from Diane's Vintage Zest look both easy to make and amazingly delicious. Perfect for a relaxing day!!!

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread--Gadgets Are Included #1

If you were to look in my kitchen, you would find a lot of gadgets and utensils. I have a lot, and I am always looking for new places to store them and new ways to use them. That's what this new feature is about. The first Monday of each month I will be featuring a different gadget or utensil from my kitchen, sharing a recipe I make using that gadget, and asking you to link up recipes that use the gadget of the month.

To get this kicked off, I'm going to start with one of the gadgets I use the most--a whisk. I have a couple, but my favorite is my large balloon whisk. It gets used for everything from making gravy to making bread. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite uses for my whisk is to make quick breads. A single bowl, some basic ingredients, and about 45 minutes in the oven to have a loaf of fresh banana or zucchini bread, all without having to hunt down any of the attachments for the mixer.

Baked Potato Salad

With spring finally showing up here is Nebraska this weekend, and summer just around the corner in other parts of the country, this weekend just begs for a cooking out. We love grilling out when the weather is nice, and this baked potato salad is a favorite in our household as a side for anything grilled.

Chef's Day Off #9

This week's featured recipe on Chef's Day Off comes from Evelyn over at My Turn (for us). Having lived in Texas for five years, I am very familiar with Tex-Mex food. Her Beer Braised Beef Taco Boats are the stuff Tex-Mex dreams are made of. Beef, roasted tomatoes, and beer....let's do this!!!!

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Hummus is an easy to prepare dish originating from the Middle East. It is served as a common part of everyday meals as both a dip for vegetables or as a spread with pita bread. The ingredients used in this dish are very common, and the preparation of this dish is something that be be done in just a couple of minutes. The ease and speed of this dish makes it ideal for when unexpected guests drop by.

Chef Day Off #8

This week's featured recipe on Chef's Day Off comes from Leia over at Latitude Adjustment.   Her Ham and Chicken Calzones remind me of one of our favorite foods--pizza. As she mentions in her post, a calzone is basically a stuffed pizza, and her recipe can be easily modified to suit individual tastes. Looks like today is a calzone day. Works for me!!!

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Pear Crumb Pie

So I have a confession to make. My family and I are a bunch of math nerds, so there was no doubt as to what my post for today was going to be. Today is March 14, also known to some people as Pi Day. Pear Crumb Pie for Pi Day. It's a match made in Heaven.

Chef's Day Off #7

This week's featured recipe combines my wife's favorite ingredient (chocolate) with one of my favorites (chocolate), then stirs in those little chocolate mint candies. I could only be talking about the Triple Chocolate Mint Cupcake Squares from Pamela at Pamela's Heavenly Treats. These look absolutely delicious and so easy to make.

Now it's your turn. Link up your recipes to inspire me for next week.

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)

Chicken Milano

When it comes to cooking, I would have to say I cook more Italian food than anything else. Italian food, like American cuisine, is very diverse. Fresh salads, light pastas, creamy risottos, and beautiful tomato sauces are all part of the Italian experience, but this dish would have to fall under Italian comfort food. I mean, chicken breasts, topped with smoky ham, smothered in Alfredo sauce, and baked until lightly browned and bubbly. What else would you call it?

Roasted Beet and Carrot Salad w/Grapefruit Vinagrette

Salads are a staple in our house, but sometimes we get bored with the standard lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. This salad uses cooled roasted vegetables as well as fresh greens and juicy grapefruit. The addition of radish provides a little crunch and a tangy flavor.