Cooked on the Stove or in a Slow Cooker or "Slow Cooked in the Oven"
Have you ever looked and looked (and looked?!) for the perfect way to make a certain something? At Last! Black Bean Soup became my "only" black bean soup recipe, gracious! more than 20 years ago now and today is one of my "signature" recipes. It's super simple to make, just dried black beans, tomato, corn, potatoes and/or sweet potato and a touch of jalapeño. Some times I add ham hocks, other times I skip the meat for a vegan black bean soup that really lets the beans themselves stand out.


Budget-Friendly. Fresh & Seasonal, Perfect for Cold-Weather Meals. Easily not just vegan, Vegan Done Real. Very Weight Watchers Friendly. Naturally Gluten Free. High Protein. Great for Meal Prep. Freezes Well. Rave Reviews.

One of my oldest recipes, a healthy colorful soup made with sweet potatoes and leftover turkey. It's like a bowlful of fall color. And it's extra easy to make, there's no need to even sauté the onion and celery before adding the rest of the ingredients. Just chop 'em up and cook 'em! For the Weight Watchers? Just three or four points! For everyone? A very tasty satisfying soup, a great way to return to "normal eating".I'm republishing this 2003 recipe because it's such and a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Looking for more ways to use up leftover turkey? Check here for lots of ideas! Autumn is upon us. The air is crisp, the sky that shade-deeper autumn blue. The leaves are at their peak, dressed in their fall finery of russet and gold. The leaf tourists are about too, clogging the country roads and stopping for pie and coffee and a small-town welcome along the way. Here, the mums planted last year are in full flower. I think of th…

When picturing a Thanksgiving meal, my mind’s eye moves straight to the pumpkin pie, its crust golden and flaky, the filling tawny orange flecked with spicy brown. But some years, it’s good to part with tradition! Treat your family to this luscious bread pudding, if not for Thanksgiving then before or after. While it’s a bit homely looking, you’ll be licking the dish clean!The original recipe is what makes America obese: the portions were enormous and laden with fat and sugar! Even with half the calories and a third the fat, you’ll find the revised recipe generous and rich. ALANNA's TIPS Use fresh rather than stale bread – it will more easily soak up the pumpkin-infused egg and milk mixture. If the bread is crusty, think about removing the crust before tearing into cubes. For texture contrast, top with a few toasted pecans. If you bake ahead of time, reheat the pudding before serving. The sauce can easily be made in advance, then reheated. If you’ve wanted to experiment with…

Close your eyes and imagine-taste deep-dark decadent chocolate cookies laced with espresso, then imagine-taste deeper, bits of melty chocolate inside. It's a chocolate lover's dream cookie, right? It's also one of my oldest cookie recipes and a "must-make" for a Christmas cookie tray and all the chocolate lovers in your life. If you crave chocolate cookies that are almost like brownie cookies or fudge cookies or flourless chocolate cookies, here you go, get to baking!

Super Chocolate-y, Contains Almost 1.5 Pounds of Chocolate! Crackly on Top, Chewy Inside. Delicious with Cold Milk. Freezes Beautifully.

Another time-tested recipe from Kitchen Parade, one of my very oldest recipes, a favorite of my mom's dating way back to my childhood! Years later, Baked Apples remain a fall tradition here. I just love how small apples soak up the luscious, rich apple-flavored brown-sugar sauce. Utterly addictive!
COMPLIMENTS!
"... tasty :) ... essentially an apple pie without the pie." ~ Anonymous
BAKED APPLES were my mom's favorite. She loved to bake apples (and other sweets) when supper was what she called "a little skimpy".At a young age, I copied Mom's recipe onto my own 3x5 card just to make them myself – and I still do! Baked Apples are a fall tradition here, that's when the local apples are just-picked, the selection and freshness so good. But thanks to imports and new storage techniques, apples are available year-round so apples can be baked year-round on a whim.In the oven, the apples turn dark and soft. The real attraction? The simple brown sugar sauce ta…