3-Ingredient Banana Nut Cookies

These are my kind of recipes - 3 ingredients.  I got it from a favorite site, Skinnytaste.  Basically this was 2 bananas, mashed, 1 cup of quick oats and crushed pecans.  Into a 350°F oven for 20 minutes and voila, done!

Ina Garten's Lamb and Chickpea Curry

I was watching Food T.V. and saw Ina Garten make this on her show.  Said this was the only dish she would order at this restaurant because it was sooo good, then finally asked Chef for the recipe, which they shared.  I knew this would be the next special dinner I made.  There is a shitload of ingredients in it, so I went through my pantry to make sure I had everything that I needed and shopped for what wasn't there (only 5 ingredients, including lamb!).  The grocery store I went to only had shoulder chops, so I removed the bone and cubed them myself.  I bought  2 & 1/2 lbs but probably ended up with less than 2 lbs when all the bones and fat/gristle were removed.  It was not fun either.  Next time I want boneless, shoulder roast for this recipe.  What I used (with my minor edits):

Brussels Sprouts and Smoked Bison Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner

Tonight's dinner special... I've said before, I don't really like cooking on Fridays, so this was literally easy to throw together...

Miss Daisy's Beef and Cabbage Casserole

I re-watched "A Chef's Life" recently and wanted to make this casserole I saw on it.  My son and I love casseroles.  He doesn't love cabbage though, but I thought I'd give it a go and see if it took away from the dish for him... This certainly wasn't pretty looking but Vivian Howard said it was her favorite on the church homecoming buffet table when she was a kid.  Said she memorized Miss Daisy's dish so she could head straight for it.  This part of the episode brought tears to my eyes, in a heartfelt way.

Scarlett's Chicken and Rice (Bog)

One of my favorite chefs, Vivian Howard did this recipe with her mom on her show.  It is also in her cookbook which I own and adore; Deep Run Roots. In her book she says this dish is called "Bog" in some parts of the south.  This dish is about simple southern foods, which I love.  It also reminded me of another dish I tried to make which was chicken and dumplings .  Chef Sean Brock made that with his mama.

Grandma's Shortbread

Happy New Year and New Decade!  This recipe is not my grandma's, but off the back of the Canada Cornstarch box.  This was always my favorite cookie at Christmas when I was little.  My absent-sous-chef son and I planned to make this before Xmas but only got to it today.  A great way to start off the "healthy" new year.  😉

Ham Bone Pinto Bean Soup with Okra

I had a ham bone, so soup was on the menu.  It was a high-end ham, uncured, no nitrates, antibiotic free, low-sodium (compared to all others) and I had a ton left over.  I soaked my pinto beans overnight and thought about how I'd put this together... I knew I wanted some heat in it but that was all.  I slept on it and below is what I came up with today.  I will say my ingredients may have been inspired as I marathoned a 20 year old cooking show today called "Great Chefs of New Orleans" on Amazon Prime...😊

Macaroni & Cheese x Three!

I certainly don't make this often as it's so unhealthy.  Period.  However, over the holidays, I don't mind excess and splurging, and I'm not going to lie - we have been...  It's part of enjoying the season, though I am starting to wind down with the "bad foods".  Personally, I honestly feel better when I eat well (healthy).  For my son, this dish was for him.  He LOVES mac 'n cheese. 🥰

Christmas Day Dinner: Savory Mushroom Bread Pudding and more...

Merry Christmas!!!  ❄🎄⛄❄ There was a lot of debate over what would become Christmas dinner this year - steakhouse surf & turf? Greek pastitsio?  Porchetta (next year!)?  In the end, it was Prime Rib, again (at my son's request), and I chose to make this as a side in place of my usual Yorkshire pudding.  I took my own liberties with it.  I love stuffing, so this seemed suitable to serve.  I also made these pomegranate roasted carrots as the veggie side.  Riced potatoes w/ butter and cream completed the entree course.  There was no appetizer, but I did do dessert!

Christmas Day: Maple Apple Tarte Tatin

This looked "relatively" easy to make for Christmas Day dessert so I gave it a go with minor edits...also, puff pastry and Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream from the grocery store.  I made it in the afternoon and served it at room temperature after dinner.