My family and I recently attended a family reunion and we had some wonderful food.  My favorite dish was the Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad.  The orzo and roasted vegetables made an excellent side dish to the steak and smoked pork that was served.  This salad is a great side dish for a large gathering because it can be made ahead of time and served at room temperature.  You could also add grilled chicken or shrimp and make an entire meal out of this dish as well!
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  …

Nothing compares to the taste of a freshly cooked homemade hamburger. The following classic hamburger recipe is easy to make and is one of the best hamburger recipes I have come across.

My husband and I love to try new foods and he always inspires me to try new recipes.  But last night he did the cooking and made the most delicious molasses-mustard glazed pork dish.  The pork was so tender and the sugar in the molasses caramelized the meat giving it the richest flavor.  This glaze would go excellently with chicken or ribs as well.
Heat grill or skillet to high heat.  In a small bowl whisk together:
1/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
salt and pepper to taste
Using a meat tendorizing …

We just had dinner at my good friend Kelly’s house and this is the dish she made for us.  This Moroccan dish was exotic and delicious, plus it is so easy to make because it all goes into the crock pot.  This chicken dish goes wonderfully with couscous.
In a slow cooker, layer:
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1 inch pieces)
2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced
4 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 dried apricots, coasely chopped
In a medium bowl, whisk together:
2 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons …

I made these ribs last night for my family and they were delicious.  The meat was so tender and flavorful.  These ribs are so easy to make because it all goes into the crock pot.
In a small bowl, combine:
2 tablespoons peppercorns, coarsely ground
2 tablespoons yellow mustard seeds, coarsely ground
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Rub peppercorn, mustard seed and salt mixture onto 5 lbs of beef short ribs.  In a large pot, over medium high heat, add:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Once heated, add ribs and brown on all sides.  Should take about 10 minutes …

My husband and I recently went to a dinner party where the hostess served the most amazing meatballs I have ever had. They were exceptional. She was kind enough to give us the recipe, which deserves to be shared. Since these meatballs require a little more work and preparation, you would serve them along side risotto, mashed potatoes or fresh pasta.

Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food, but this recipe brings meatloaf to another level.  This recipe embodies the ease of making meatloaf, but with a much richer and more sophisticated flavor.  And golden bread crumb toppings make this a beautiful dish to serve.  You can always substitute dried herbs for fresh, but fresh herbs taste richer.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and position a rack in the lower third of the oven.  Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil to coat the bottom of a roasting pan.
In a large skillet, over medium …

Limoncello is an Italian liqueur that is sweet and citrusy.  When it is heated and the alcohol has evaporated, the sugars left from the liqueur make an amazing sauce.  You could substitute white wine for the limoncello in this recipe but limoncello provides a much deeper flavor.  Plus you can enjoy a cocktail while cooking or drizzle some limoncello over vanilla ice cream for dessert so limoncello is worth the purchase!
In a deep bowl, beat together:
2 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of milk
Set aside.  In another deep bowl, mix:
1/2 cup …

This is a lighter version of a fried honey chicken you would find in a Chinese restaurant.  It is so easy to make and the lemon compliments both the honey chicken and the rice.
In a small saucepan, over medium high heat, add:
1 tablespoon of butter
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
Once the butter has melted into the oil, add:
1 cup rice (I prefer jasmine, but any long grain rice is fine)
salt and pepper to taste
Cook rice about 3-5 minutes or until it starts to brown.  Add:
1/2 cup of dry white wine
Allow wine …

My husband loves burgers so I am always looking to find new ways to prepare them.  This recipe is a wonderful twist on Caesar salad.  For a really decadent treat, I like to top them with a slice or two of bacon.
In a large mixing bowl, combine:
1-1 and 1/4 lb ground chicken
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bunches of green onions, chopped
zest from 1 lemon
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
with a large spoon, mix all ingredients together and then form into four equal sized patties.  Refrigerate patties for at …