Ground Beef Gnocchi Say ‘oky gnocchi’ to trying this creamy pasta dish

International cuisine website “Saveur” features an article called “Pasta’s Predecessor: The History of Gnocchi,” that I found really interesting when trying to figure out how the little potato dumplings came to be. As with all traditional foods, there is controversy about where in Italy the dish originated, as well as when it was first developed, …

Crispy Mexican Potatoes You have my ‘parmesan’ to treat yourself to potatoes this weekend

“What makes them Mexican potatoes?” a friend asked as he scooped my latest food experiment onto his paper plate in our backyard. “I think it’s just the spices that put it in that category,” I told him. He looked at me quizzically and only grabbed a few. But after finishing off that first spoonful and …

Brussels sprouts with bacon and pesto pasta Flex your cooking ‘Brussels’ with a new summer side dish

I don’t know about you, but I find myself searching the Internet every summer for new side dishes to take to barbecues. Joey is really, really not a mayonnaise fan, so the traditional offerings like potato salad and coleslaw are mostly out of the question. But then you also have the problem of how to …

Creamy Chicken and Tortellini Creamy chicken and tortellini is ‘pasta’tively perfect for dinner this winter

I have officially reached the hibernation stage of winter. Once I’m home from work, I am constantly clad in my fleece pants, thick socks and carrying a fuzzy blanket for our schnauzer and me to curl up under on the couch. On top of that, I’m mostly attracted to meals that are warm and carb …

Crockpot Lasagna Pantry clean out calls for finally using my noodle

After weeks of opening my pantry and sighing deeply at the mess and disorganization, I finally pulled every last item out this past weekend. Joey came into the kitchen to find boxes, bags and containers on every countertop. “Today’s the day, huh?” he said, and then he wisely made himself scarce. He knows better than …