Category Archives: Dinner Ideas

Glazed Sweet Pearl Onions

Dinner Ideas November 27, 2025 Leave a comment

These glazed onions are versatile and pair well with a variety of savory entrees such as roasted meats, grilled steaks, or hearty vegetable dishes. They can be served as a side dish or used as a topping to enhance the flavor of the main course. The sweetness of the brown sugar glaze complements the savory elements of the entree, creating a balanced and satisfying dish that appeals to a broad range of palates. I started making these for my family 30 years ago, I am asked to bring them to every holiday dinner celebration. Start your own traditions!

Ingredients

  • 2 12-ounce bags of frozen pearl onions
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • ¼ teaspoon Koren Red Pepper Powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Process

  1. Defrost onions for about an hour before cooking, it’s okay if they are still partially frozen before cooking.
  2. In a heavy 12” frying pan or cast-iron pan melt the butter on medium heat, add the pepper flakes and the rosemary and stir into the butter to infuse the flavors.
  3. When the melted butter begins to foam, add the onions.
  4. Spread the onions out in the pan and let cook slowly, releasing the water from the onions.
  5. Cook for about 5 – 7  minutes on medium heat and stir. The water that has been released from the onions will begin to evaporate, leaving the butter. At this point turn the heat up to medium high and let the onions brown. Stir occasionally until they become a nice golden color. Start to finish this should take about 10 to 12 minutes.
  6. Reduce the heat to medium low and add brown sugar, stirring continuously until the sugar has melted and the onions are fully coated.

Note: Onions can be made a day in advance of the meal, just reheat and serve.

Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Vanilla Bourbon Sauce

Bread, Breakfast, Dessert, Dinner Ideas November 27, 2025 Leave a comment

This is the absolute best recipe for bread pudding. it will fill your home with warm, welcoming aromas of brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. It also makes a wonderful addition to your holiday brunch. With the holidays around the corner, I feel the need to share some of my favorite recipes for you and your family. This rich, comfort food and so addicting.

Ingredients for Pudding

  • 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • 10 cups chopped day old bread or pastry
  • 3 cups Half-and-Half
  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 5 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions Bread Pudding

  1. Mx bread, brown sugar, Half & Half, whipping cream, sugar, eggs and cinnamon ingredients in a large bowl and let sit for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Preheat oven to 350F. degrees.
  3. Spray a 9 x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray. Spray a piece of aluminum foil with cooking spray to cover the bread pudding while it is baking.
  4. Pour bread pudding batter into pan. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour or until center of pudding is firm.
    1. NOTE: This can be made about 1 or 2 days in advance, reheat at 250F. degrees for 30 minutes before serving

Ingredients for Vanilla Bourbon Sauce

  • 4 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ to ½ cup bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional)

Directions Vanilla Bourbon Sauce

  1. Pour heavy cream into a heavy saucepan and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Stirring constantly to keep from scalding, continue to boil until cream is reduced by almost half, about 30 minutes.
  2. Add brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and bourbon and allow to boil until sauce thickens slightly (another 15 minutes). For extra thick sauce, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the boiling liquid, stirring constantly.

Serve warm, drizzling sauce over the top of each pudding square after placing on a plate.

Pineapple Gravy for Ham

dinner, Dinner Ideas November 24, 2025 Leave a comment

If you’re preparing a ham for the holidays, consider adding a special dish to your table. I recommend trying a pineapple gravy. This flavorful gravy can enhance your holiday meal, making it more delicious and memorable. Pineapple gravy is easy to prepare and adds a sweet and tangy touch that complements the savory ham perfectly. Whether you’re hosting a large gathering or a small family dinner, this recipe is a great addition to your holiday menu, providing a unique and tasty accompaniment to your main dish.

Ingredients

  • 8.5 ounce can of crushed pineapple
  • ½ cup orange juice (or pineapple juice)
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Process

  1. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and stir until well combined.
  2. Bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat. Boil for 1 minute or until thickened.

Baked Ziti

Dinner Ideas November 23, 2025 Leave a comment

It’s all about Sunday dinner on a cold winter day. How about Baked Ziti, an old time favorite, a wonderful comfort food. Served with a green salad and toasted garlic bread.  Today you can buy the old-fashioned white pasta or replace it with whole wheat, protein or high fiber pasta. I use jarred spaghetti sauce in this recipe, but you can use your own homemade sauce, I have been known to cook Italian sausage or meatballs (my recipe – search meat balls) and add to the mixture. Use fresh parsley, easy to cut if you bunch it and just slice it with a knife at the top of the bunch into thin ribbons.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 18-ounce box of Ziti, cook and drain as directed on the box. Do not rinse
  • 3-1/2 cups (32-ounce jar of sauce) spaghetti sauce
  • 2 cups Ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup chopped, fresh parsley
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cook pasta according to directions, drain but do not rinse (rinsing pasta prevents sauce from sticking to it)
  2. In a large bowl combine all ingredients and only ½ cup spaghetti sauce
  3. In a 3 quart casserole pour another ½ cup of spaghetti sauce on bottom of dish and spread out
  4. Pour contents of ziti mixture into casserole and spread out
  5. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce on top of ziti mixture, sprinkle with parmesan cheese
  6. Bake covered with aluminum foil in a 375 F. degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until hot and bubbly

Jalapeño Popper Dip

Dinner Ideas November 22, 2025 Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 4 Jalapeño peppers
  • 8 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 jar (4 oz) pimentos, drained
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Process

  1. Preheat broiler with rack 6” from broiler element.
  2. Place jalapeños on a rimmed baking sheet, broil until charred and flip to other side to char. About 6 -8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let sit for 10 minutes. The skins should slide off.
  3. Remove and discard skins, stems, and seeds from the jalapeños, transfer to a food processor with the cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, pimientos, salt and garlic powder. Puree until smooth; pour into a 1-quart baking dish.
  4. Combine Panko, parsley or cilantro, and oil, sprinkle over dip. Bake at 375° F. until golden and warmed through, about 15-20 minutes.

Serve with chips or raw vegetables such as bell or red pepper, chunks of cauliflower, broccoli or celery sticks.

Jalapeño Popper Cheese Ball

Dinner Ideas November 20, 2025 Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 2 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 10 slices applewood smoked bacon (cooked crisp and chopped)
  • 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
  • ½ cup scallions, chopped

Process

  1. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground black pepper with a hand mixer until smooth.
  2. Add in 1-1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese, half of the cooked bacon, half of the minced jalapeño peppers, half the green onions and fold gently until mixed. The remainder of these ingredients will be used for the coating.
  3. Shape the cheese mixture into a ball, using plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.
  4. In a bowl mix the remainder of the cheddar cheese, bacon, jalapeño pepper and green onions. Refrigerate.
  5. 20 minutes before serving, unwrap cheese ball and roll into the leftover topping mixture to coat entirely.

Smoked Salmon wrapped Cheese balls

Dinner Ideas November 19, 2025 Leave a comment

Ingredients

  • 1 8-ounce cream cheese block
  • 8-ounce cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons chives, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 4-ounce package of Smoked Salmon
  • 1 English cucumber sliced into 1/2-inch rounds for garnish

Process

  1. Bring cheeses to room temperature.
  2. In a mixer, mix cream cheese, cheddar, Garlic salt, and onion powder.
  3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
  4. Remove plastic wrap and using a ¾ inch cookie scooper, scoop cheese into small balls.
  5. In a small bowl, mix parsley and Parmesan cheese together.
  6. Roll each ball in the parsley and cheese mixture.
  7. Separate the salmon layers and cut 1-inch circles of smoked salmon and wrap around each ball. Place the balls in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  8. Before serving, dip the top of each ball into chopped chives.
  9. Place cheese ball on top of cucumber slice and secure with a toothpick.

1970’s Party Cheese Ball

Dinner Ideas November 19, 2025 Leave a comment

Here is a wonderful throwback to the 1970’s. This cheese ball was my first introduction to the world of different kinds of cheeses. It would be a great appetizer for the upcoming holidays, serve with crackers, pretzels, or toasted pita chips.

Ingredients

  • 1 8-ounce cream cheese block
  • ¾ cup blue cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup yellow or sweet onion, minced
  • ½ cup chopped, toasted pecans
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 bunch parsley, finely chopped

Process

  1. Bring cream cheese, blue cheese, and cheddar cheese to room temperature.
  2. Crumble the blue cheese and shred the cheddar cheese.
  3. Put cheeses in a mixer and beat on medium speed until fluffy, scraping sides and bottom of bowl. Stir in chopped, toasted pecans.
  4. Cover and chill in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
  5. Shape chilled cheese mixture into a large ball and roll in the chopped parsley. Keep chilled in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Marinated Asparagus Spears wrapped in Prosciutto

Dinner Ideas November 17, 2025 Leave a comment

These asparagus spears are a dream, one of my favorites because they are easy to make ahead. Marinated fresh asparagus spheres in seasoned rice vinegar with herbs and garlic, then wrapped in a salty prosciutto. No cooking involved! Guaranteed to please your guests.

Ingredients

  • 1-pound fresh, thin stalk asparagus
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • ¼ cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar
  • 2 cloves of fresh grated or pressed garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 3-oz package of prosciutto

Process

  1. Clean the asparagus and trim off ends. Place in a gallon zip-lock bag with the rest of the ingredients except the prosciutto.
  2. Marinate in the refrigerator at least an hour or more.
  3. When ready to plate, and serve, slice prosciutto slices into thin strips horizontally and set aside.
  4. Remove asparagus from the marinade (do not rinse).
  5. With a thin strip of prosciutto begin winding it up the stalk from the base of the asparagus to the top.
  6. Plate the spears and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Roasted Stuffed Dates

Dinner Ideas November 17, 2025 Leave a comment

The holidays are fast approaching and you may need to consider appetizers for your guests, or perhaps you volunteered to bring something to a gathering. Why not something sweet and elegant? Roasted Stuffed Dates. Filled with goat cheese topped with a walnut, and herb mixture and drizzled with honey. Simply amazing.

Ingredients

  • 1 12-ounce package pitted Medjool dates
  • 1 4-ounce log goat cheese, softened to room temperature. I love the honey flavored
  • 1/3 cup very finely chopped walnuts
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest plus 2 teaspoons fresh orange juice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Hot honey for garnish

Process

  1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
  2. Slice the dates open lengthwise, do not cut all the way through.
  3. Fill each date with 1 to 2 teaspoons of the goat cheese.
  4. Arrange dates in a 9” x 9” baking pan.
  5. Combine walnuts, rosemary, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon, salt, and olive oil in a small bowl. Mix well.
  6. Spoon walnut mixture over dates. Bake for 15 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before transferring to a platter.
  8. Drizzle with hot honey.