HYMNS IN THE KITCHEN

Kotleti, which are meat patties commonly made with a mixture of different meats, are something we had weekly growing up. A couple of these with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and a salad of freshly chopped cucumbers and tomatoes - comfort food, the European way. I vaguely remember running home from school with a grumbling belly (always hungry, as I was growing like a weed), the smell of frying food drifting blocks from home. Mama in her comfy slippers, scarf around her hair

This recipe is one whose difficulty level can be scaled from 'medium' to 'easy' simply by buying a rotisserie chicken and shredding it, instead of cooking your own chicken (which will be just as delicious). I cooked my own chicken, and saved the broth from the chicken for soup that I made a couple days later. If you plan to cook your own chicken for this recipe, don't be shy about adding a bay leaf or two to the pot, along with some peppercorns and an onion perhaps, to amp up

The great thing about this recipe is that it can be enjoyed without any sauce, just as simple fried chicken wings, or be the base to any sauce of your imagination. Barbecue, buffalo, spicy Thai.. the options are endless. I've always thought that fried chicken wings are something that are just too much work with too much clean up, but when I finally gave them a try (yes, this is my first time frying wings!), I was surprised how easy they can be! I covered my cookie sheet with

Let's talk about Kefir for a moment. It's something that most Europeans are quite accustomed to and have grown up drinking, but it's not as popular here in the United States. Kefir carries an abundance of probiotics, but because it taste like a yogurt smoothie the kids love it, making my life a little easier. However, there's something else that I haven't thought of earlier. Because it is a close cousin to buttermilk, adding Kefir to a batter can make the outcome more fluffy

Seeing as today is Valentine's Day, I've decided to share my recipe for a very special dessert. This tart has such bright, springy flavors with the ultimate crust that's the right amount of crunchy and chewy. The ginger adds a nice flare and it's not too sweet, so as far as I'm concerned, it's the perfect adult dessert to share with your girlfriends or your loved one on this special day. The best part is that it doesn't take much effort, so you have time for other dinner prep

The first time I ever made a pizza dough was when I was newly married, making a mess in our tiny kitchen, in our small apartment, when I had just started my attempts at cooking and baking. The dough seemed too sticky to me (I based this on doughs I have seen my mother make), so I kept adding flour and kneading it, adding flour and kneading, until I ended up with a huge, stiff ball of dough. I shrugged, rolled it out, and covered it with toppings. When I took the pizza out of

I won't lie, this recipe has quite a few steps. You first need to pound, bread and fry the chicken, then make the vegetable sauce and cook the pasta. But I'll tell you what- it is worth it! Make this on a day when you don't have much going on and then maybe invite some friends for dinner, because this makes a lot. I used my Cajun seasoning in this recipe, and my husband claims it's now among his favorite dishes. I hope you give it a try! Cajun Penne with Chicken Serves 8-10 I

Although Cajun Seasoning is something I've often seen in recipes, finding this seasoning has proved to be a little difficult, as not all grocery stores will carry it. I've long wanted to try this spice mix, so I've decided to find a recipe for it and make it myself. I'm sharing it with you here. The recipe for this spice mix can be altered based on your preference. If you don't like as strong of a paprika flavor, add less of it and more of another spice you do like. I'll be u

This oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe is one that's been on repeat with both my sister and I, it's so delicious! I'm not a picky eater and never have been but one thing that I to this day cannot force myself to love are raisins.. so it's chocolate chips for us! And although oatmeal cookies are typically made with raisins, no one is complaining. I mean, chocolate. Enough said. Anyway folks, I hope you give this one a try. Easy to make, no need to chill before baking, and