Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Potatoes

This is the way I always make Mashed Potatoes, and I’ve got 3 mashed potato loving sons to please. These will taste great with gravy, or equally great with just butter, salt and pepper. You can scale this recipe up and down as needed for 

Oliebollen

Oliebollen

This is the traditional treat served on New Year’s Day in the Netherlands. Whatever you do, don’t call these doughnut holes!My mom would make these when I was a kid and I enjoy making them now when we have company at New Years. I like 

Easy Apple Turnovers

Easy Apple Turnovers

These Apple Turnovers are very easy to make, and delicious served with some vanilla ice cream.

Pico de Gallo

Pico de Gallo

This salsa made with fresh veggie ingredients is healthy and full of flavor. It goes great on chips, or in your favorite Mexican dishes. This is not completely traditional, as I like to add a pint of tomato sauce to help bind it all together.

French Onion Dip

French Onion Dip

You can make the easy dip out of onion soup mix and sour cream, or, you can make the real thing with richer flavors.

Black Bean Salsa Dip

Black Bean Salsa Dip

This is a more substantial dip than salsa, with rich creaminess and a lot of flavor. This would go well with chips or crackers.

Hamburgers

Hamburgers

The classic American picnic and summer holiday meal. This recipe will allow you to make juicy and flavorful burgers that will satisfy your guests.

Christmas Pavlova

Christmas Pavlova

A traditional Christmas dessert in British Commonwealth countries, I got this recipe from Paul Hollywood of the Great British Baking Show. It looks fancy and it tastes delicious. It is a lot of work, but for once a year it is definitely worth it!

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie

This was one of my mom’s regulars during the holidays, along with apple, pumpkin, and sometimes mincemeat. It is decadently sweet with a complex yet comforting flavor. It is also relatively easy to make. Pecan Pie has strong roots in the South where most Pecans 

Cheesecake

Cheesecake

The New York classic. For a fancy dinner with guests this is my go to dessert. It is time consuming and takes some patience and care, but is really not that difficult (hey, if I can make it most anyone can). You could serve this