a Stefani Hood Blog

Family Dinner

Dinner Table 5

So, people assume that because I like to cook that I love to cook EVERY night and plan meals EVERY week. That is not true! I do like to cook, but yes it does become monotonous and sometimes a chore and I have to remind myself why I cook dinner for my family. I cook so that we have “Family Dinner” -a special time for us to just sit down, breathe, take a break from electronics and connect for a few minutes. And, yes sometimes it is for just a few minutes and yes sometimes it is at 5:30pm and sometimes it is at 8:30pm, depending on sports, and sometimes Dad is home and sometimes he’s out of town, but we still have family dinner on most weeknights. And, yes on occasion I say screw it and we hit Chic Fil-A!

So why do I care so much about cooking, besides the fact that I really like it? I want my family to eat healthy meals, sit and talk around our kitchen table and most importantly, I […]

Stefani Hood2020-09-18T16:07:31+00:00August 25th, 2019|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Easy Beef Taco Skillet Dinner

Beef Taco Skillet Dinner is one of those recipes to keep in your back pocket for one of those days when the shit has hit the fan but the people in your house still need to eat! It is easy, comforting, hearty and delicious. My in-home taste tester scarfed the whole plate down. This is rare-he hates everything so if the 13 year old likes it you know its good!

You can make this entire dinner in one skillet which makes clean up a breeze and is an added bonus for those nights when you are too tired to clean 5 pans. This recipe is also one that you most likely have all the ingredients in your panty or fridge. So go rummage or stock up when you are at the grocery and you will be able to pull this together in 20 minutes!

Also, a quick nag for all you crazy busy families-take 10 minutes on Sunday night to make a rough weekly meal plan. I have the template on the right side of the blog. Just print it […]

Stefani Hood2020-09-15T15:20:49+00:00September 11th, 2018|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Berry Galette

What is a Galette? It is a French term for a freeform cake or pie. In my words it is a lazy man’s pie. It’s super easy and fast and you do not have to worry about making the crust look pretty or getting it into a pie plate. Just roll out the pastry dough and place it on a cookie sheet.

You can make a galette with anything you want-berries, apples, pears or you can go savory and fill it with chicken, vegetables, ricotta…. there are a million things you can put into a pastry dough. For this recipe I made a sweet galette as a treat for the boys when they got home from school. I don’t make desserts for normal family dinner. First, I don’t have time and second we don’t need the extra sugar!

I had a ton of berries in my fridge and they were about to go bad so I mixed them with some sugar and vanilla and voila I had a pie! No one needs to know it takes about 6 minutes to assemble! Serve with a dollop […]

Stefani Hood2020-07-14T16:16:45+00:00April 25th, 2017|Desserts|0 Comments

Easy Chicken Pozole Verde

If you are looking for an EASY, QUICK, dinner/lunch this is it! Easy Chicken Pozole Verde is so delicious and perfect during the cold winter or the hot summer. It is a bit tangy with a tiny bit of heat (you can always add more) and it is filling and comforting. Its just so good!

I have dumbed this recipe down so it can literally be made in about 20 minutes and I promise you will not know it did not take all day to make. Sometimes, most of the time, I just don’t have all day to make soup.

You know I looked and looked for years for a good, quick pozole and every recipe I came across had me making the tomatillo sauce from scratch, which is fabulous, but why waste all that time? Plus finding tomatillos can be hard sometimes. They are the green looking tomatoes that have thin husk on them. I am sure you have seen them in the grocery and wondered, “what the heck am I to do with […]

Stefani Hood2020-02-17T22:52:36+00:00February 17th, 2020|Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Filet Mignon with Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce

Valentine’s Day is holiday that is such a welcome treat after all the New Year’s resolutions of eating healthy and working out more. It is the night that you get to indulge just a bit! But, one thing I don’t like about the Love holiday is the restaurant fight. It is just always such a pain to go out on Valentine’s Day. The restaurants are crowded, the food is pre-made a week in advance, you feel rushed and plus it costs and arm and leg to be romantic on that day. I have found over the years that we prefer to just stay in on Valentine’s Day. This recipe for Filet Mignon with Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce sounds so fancy, but it is really simple and delicious!

You can use any cut of steak that you prefer and you can use any mix of mushroom you can find. The key to this dish being so fabulous is the sauce. Please do not be scared off by the word SAUCE. It is EASY, […]

Stefani Hood2020-02-11T21:52:54+00:00February 10th, 2020|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Beef Bourguignon

Beef Bourguignon is a famous French recipe also known as Beef Burgundy because its beef braised in red wine (typically red Burgundy wine) and beef broth. It is a go to recipe that everyone should know how to make. It is easy and DELICIOUS! The leftovers are just as good as the first round so be sure to double the recipe. I serve this over mashed potatoes or noodles and with a huge hunk of fresh bread to soak up all the fabulous juices.

I love the Trader Joes frozen mashed potatoes. They come out perfect every time. Just add some milk and heat in the microwave.

This Beef Bourguignon recipe is not fast only because it takes hours to get the beef so tender, but it is easy in that there is very little hands on time. I will put this in the oven in the afternoon and by dinner everyone is so hungry from smelling it all day. It is a dish that […]

Stefani Hood2020-03-17T14:59:58+00:00January 29th, 2020|Soups & Salads, Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Spaghetti Squash Chicken Skinny Alfredo

I LOVE alfredo sauce and I LOVE pasta, but my waist does not. So, sticking with the theme of trying to eat healthy in January here is recipe for Spaghetti Squash Chicken Skinny Alfredo. I posted awhile back a recipe I found from Katie Lee for a skinny alfredo which is amazing! I mean amazing! You will not be able to tell the difference, I promise! So I combined that recipe with spaghetti squash to take out the carbs and added in rotisserie chicken to increase the protein and what you have is delicious, healthy and hearty Chicken Alfredo without all the guilt. And my boys ate this and went back for seconds so it passed that test which is huge!

There are a couple steps to this recipe, but by using rotisserie chicken that takes away one step of roasting or grilling the chicken breasts. And you can make this in advance and reheat- so make it on a Sunday and serve it one day when you have zero time to make […]

Stefani Hood2020-01-10T18:31:37+00:00January 10th, 2020|Meats & Fish, Pasta|0 Comments

15 Bean Soup in the Slow Cooker

This time of year I am gung ho to cook healthy for me and my family, but I am exhausted from the holidays. January is just the month of rest not the month of exercise plans and planners, in my opinion. I need EASY recipes that they will eat. So…here is a super easy one for you. Now, if you live in Texas or the South the weather has been GORGEOUS and it seems like we should be eating spring salads, but its still January so soups and stews are on the menu. And if you are like my sister and in-laws who live in the Northeast, god bless you and you need this recipe more than all of us! It is hearty, filling, healthy and I swear your kids will eat it because it has a ham hock in it so it makes it very savory and rich.

I am not a huge slower cooker fan only because the meat tends to be dry and bland when it comes time to serve, but I […]

Stefani Hood2020-01-08T18:03:38+00:00January 8th, 2020|Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Sausage Balls

Oh the sausage ball! A Southern staple at any party, kinda like Pimento Cheese. They are just good even after all these years. I guess they have stuck around so long because they are super easy to make and use pretty basic ingredients. Remember Bisquick when your mom would make pancakes or waffles? Well, it makes a come back in this recipe and its is so good! Another ingredient in this recipe is good ole’ pork breakfast sausage. I like to use regular breakfast sausage, like Jimmy Dean and add red pepper flakes to up the heat because I feel like the hot sausage is too spicy for everyone, but if you like it spicy then by all means use the Hot Breakfast Sausage.

One good thing about this recipe is you can make these in advance and freeze them. Then just pull them out when you are ready to party and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until warmed through. You can serve them at fancy parties or at a football tailgate […]

Stefani Hood2019-12-17T23:05:18+00:00December 17th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets with Homemade Canes Sauce

Ok, who needs an EASY yet healthy dinner for the little ones? Or for you-these are so good and I often make them for the boys then end up eating most myself. I have to test them to make sure they are not poisoned, right? One for you, two for mama! Anyway, I promise these are easy and do not take that much time and so, so much better for you than Chic alay (as my son used to call it). I mean don’t get me wrong we LOVE Chic alay, but I am trying to cut out the fast food in my boys diets as much as I can. It is very hard when they can drive. I swear the only good a drivers license is for teen boys is for them to get fast food. I’m paying a bloody fortune in insurance so they can eat Taco Bell! So, if I can get them to eat at home it is a win in my book. And, if teenage boys like these Oven […]

Stefani Hood2020-09-15T15:22:14+00:00December 17th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Shortbread Cookies

I have said this before, but I’ll say it again…I am not a baker:) We don’t eat a lot of sweets and I don’t like the exact measuring thing that goes along with baking. But, every now and then I will find a recipe that is super easy and always turns out perfect and this is one of those recipes. Christmas Shortbread Cookies are delicious and not too sweet. So many of the treats over the holidays have SO much sugar that it hurts your teeth. These cookies are perfect with a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon.

I “glazed” these with a quick powdered sugar/lemon glaze, but you can absolutely leave that off and they are still delicious. And, I obviously used some Christmas cookie cutters, but you can cut them with a knife into squares or use a round cutter-no idea where in the world those Christmas ones came from. I have so much crap!! I need to get rid of some much crap:)

A couple notes- 1) if your butter is […]

Stefani Hood2019-12-10T17:21:22+00:00December 10th, 2019|Desserts|0 Comments

Garlic Edamame

I am always looking for quick, easy and talked about appetizers. Well, I was at a friends house a few weeks ago and she made these amazing little edamame bites and DAMN they were delicious. She got the recipe from Joyous Apron and happily passed it on to me. We had a party to go to this weekend and I made these Garlic Edamame and everyone inhaled them in about 15 minutes. They are just so easy to eat and kinda addicting.

Not only are they easy to eat they are SUPER easy to make. Seriously, they take about 10 minutes to make. My only tip to pass on is to watch the garlic. You want the garlic to LIGHTLY brown, not burn. If it burns you need to throw it out and start over. There is a huge difference between browned and burnt. Here is a picture of my garlic that is browned.

I found frozen edamame at Trader Joes, but you can find it in […]

Stefani Hood2019-12-09T19:26:38+00:00December 9th, 2019|Starters, Sides|0 Comments

Lemon and Herb Roasted Chicken Drumsticks

It’s Sunday and I don’t know about you, but I am tired from the weekend. During the holiday season I feel like the weekends are a lot of work-I mean going from party to party and charity event to kids activities and dropping of neighbor gifts and just trying to be everywhere and be sparkly and cheery-its a lot of work:) Don’t get me wrong I am SO grateful to be invited to parties and honored that people still want us around, but every weekend in December is packed full. I love it, but by Sunday night I am DONE and the last thing I want to do is get in the kitchen! BUT, this dang family still needs to eat and you know how I feel about take out so here is a VERY LAZY dinner-Lemon and Herb Roasted Chicken Drumsticks. Serve these with a side of Trader Joes mashed potatoes, a side salad (from a bag) and dinner is DONE. Or these are perfect to serve at a football bowl […]

Stefani Hood2019-12-08T16:47:40+00:00December 8th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Cheesy Roasted Asparagus

Well if your kids don’t like their veggies with this recipe then they are not normal:) This ooey, gooey, cheesy asparagus is so delicious and easy enough to whip up on a crazy busy night, but still gorgeous enough to serve at a dinner party. All your guests will love it, even the ones that say “I don’t like vegetables”. And I promise your kids will love it! This is recipe is also Keto friendly so if you are on that diet then this is PERFECT for you.

In the winter it can be hard to find those beautiful thick asparagus stalks so be sure and watch your cook time if you all you can find is the skinny stalks. There is nothing worse than mushy vegetables so for the skinny stalks cut the cook time down a couple minutes. If you are lucky enough to find the thick ones then be sure to use your vegetable peeler and peel off the bottom 1/2 of the stalks (after you have cut off the tough woody ends).

Enjoy […]

Stefani Hood2020-03-30T21:57:15+00:00December 6th, 2019|Sides, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Creamy Baked Fennel

Many, many years ago on our way to the Outer Banks we stopped at a random Italian restaurant in a sketchy part of Norfolk, VA. It turned out to be one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Ok, let me rephrase that-it was one of the best random lunches I have ever had. It did not compare to Daniel in NYC or Village Pub in Palo Alto, but it was damn good! One of the the dishes we ordered was Creamy Baked Fennel. It was to die for! I mean it was one of those dishes that you think about for weeks after. The entire family loved it which was pretty amazing considering my boys were pretty young at the time. I tried contacting the restaurant many times asking for the recipe and there was never a response so I have been trying to recreate the dish since then. I think I have finally come up with a recipe that can compete. Now, keep in mind this is in NO way healthy […]

Stefani Hood2020-01-09T16:45:09+00:00December 5th, 2019|Starters, Sides|0 Comments

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Is it cold where you are? I am so sorry if it is, but it ain’t in Texas, woohoo! It is gorgeous today and I am loving it! I have the doors open, the music playing and I am in the kitchen. Even though it is sunny and 65 degrees I am still wanting soup because it is December and that is what you are supposed make, right? Well, luckily when I asked my son what he wanted for dinner and he said Broccoli Cheese Soup. Which works out great because I happen to have cream, broccoli and cheese left over from the holiday, so here it is…

If you like Panera’s Broccoli Cheese Soup then you will love this! I put a lot of broccoli in this recipe because A) I like broccoli and B) it is Broccoli Cheese Soup. Oh and I put a lot of cheese in this recipe also, because the name says you have to, duh. A note about cheese for soups- grate your own off the big block. Don’t […]

Stefani Hood2019-12-03T20:13:18+00:00December 3rd, 2019|Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Cornbread

Cornbread is kinda like chili-everyone has an opinion about how it is made. In my opinion, there is NO sugar in cornbread! I’m happy to add cheddar cheese, jalapeños, chilis…., but no sugar or honey. I don’t want to eat cake with chili or in my Thanksgiving Day dressing. I want bread, so again, NO sugar!

Now that we have that clear here is my recipe for cornbread to served withTexas Chilior soups or for this time of year, Thanksgiving Day Dressing. It freezes great so go ahead and make it in advance if you want. Or make extra and have it for Chili night. Just wrap it in plastic wrap then put it in a zip-lock bag and freeze for up to 2 months.

I like to make my cornbread in a cast iron skillet-we have talked about this and about how every house should have a cast iron skillet. I use mine every single week for something. Put it on your list for Christmas if you don’t have one-I will link a good one below. […]

Stefani Hood2019-11-27T16:27:34+00:00November 27th, 2019|Sides|0 Comments

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole

Ah the Sweet Potato Casserole…you either hate it or you love it. I personally hate the traditional sweet, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and sugared pecans-its too sweet. I know a ton of people that love that dish and that is the highlight of the Thanksgiving dinner, but if you come to my house you will see no marshmallows:) with sweet potatoes. Don’t get me wrong I love sweet potatoes, but I like them savory. I have worked over the years to come up with a recipe that is not sweet, but still a great side dish for the turkey. I think you will really like it!

Now, I call this a casserole only because I put it in a casserole dish for easier heating and serving, but I like my sweet potatoes to be kinda like mashed potatoes-creamy, smooth…so by all means treat this like mashed potatoes and serve in a bowl if you prefer.

Side note-Sweet Potatoes don’t have the gluten like regular Russet, Yukon, Baby Bliss… so you do not have to […]

Stefani Hood2019-11-20T16:20:30+00:00November 20th, 2019|Sides|0 Comments

Roasted Carrots

Roasted Carrots 2

Roasted Carrots are always a staple on the Thanksgiving table and they could not be easier to make! I make these year round because my family loves them so much and they are weeknight friendly, meaning I can whip them up in about 20 minutes. And they are pretty hands off so I can pop them in the oven and don’t have to think about it until the timer goes off.

If you are making these for Thanksgiving just get them prepped and put the baking sheet on the back of the counter until the last minute then put them in the oven while the turkey is resting and you are heating any other side dishes. Or if you don’t have counter space or an extra baking sheet you can toss the carrots with the oil and spices and put them in a plastic bag until you are ready/able to put them on a free baking sheet.

Another note- you can absolutely use baby carrots if you do not want to cut the large carrots, but the […]

Stefani Hood2019-11-19T19:37:40+00:00November 19th, 2019|Sides|0 Comments

Pumpkin Chipotle Cheddar Grits

Ok here it comes…..Thanksgiving recipes! We are about a week and a half out and this is about the time people start really thinking or stressing about the big day! My only advise is to calm down! It is just dinner and not many people make the entire dinner themselves. If you are hosting, come up with your menu this week and assign recipes to friends and family. Take some of the pressure off! And if you are hosting then I would suggest you make only the turkey, but if you are the guest or making some of the sides along with the main course then this is a good one! Pumpkin Chipotle Cheddar Grits! It’s not traditional, but it is DELICIOUS and will pair perfectly with all the other traditional sides and that juicy turkey.

A side note-chipotle peppers are spicy! So start out using one and work your way up to 2 or 3 depending on how spicy you like it! You can freeze the left over peppers for up to 3 months.

Enjoy!

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Stefani Hood2019-11-18T15:36:36+00:00November 18th, 2019|Sides|0 Comments

Lasagna Roll Ups

Yes, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and all I am seeing is Thanksgiving recipes and I promise I have some great ones coming, but until then we still need to feed our families and they don’t want turkey. So, this is a great quick, easy, hearty dinner to put on the table during this crazy season. By the way, how the hell did we get to November? The middle of November no less! I am trying to wrap my head around all that I need to do in the next 6 weeks and it just makes me want to pour a glass of wine and get into a hot bath and go into denial mode!

But, since Mom and Dad don’t get to rest here is a great recipe the whole family will love. It is just an easy version of lasagna-I’m sure you picked that up in the title, but just in case… Serve this with a side salad and dinner is DONE!

One thing to make this even easier or quicker, I should […]

Stefani Hood2019-11-13T20:07:28+00:00November 13th, 2019|Pasta|0 Comments

Sun City Specials

The other day I started flipping through all the hundreds of cookbooks I have, yes I have a lot, looking for inspiration! And I found some old cookbooks that my mom passed down to me. Most were neighborhood or school cookbooks-which I think are the best. They are typically tried and true recipes that have either been handed down or been used a million times at cocktail parties, family gatherings or neighborhood parties. However, in the 80s (when I was a kid and era these cookbooks are from) the gourmet food scene was just coming about and the recipes were still a bit “hearty”. Lots of canned soups, MSG, shortening, canned crab…. So, I have gone through and picked a few (that I have tweaked a bit) that bring back great memories that I am going to post. Here is the first one-Sun City Specials. Our very dear neighbor and my best friend’s mom used to make these all the time and I loved them! They are perfect for football watching parties, neighborhood block […]

Stefani Hood2019-11-04T18:01:51+00:00November 4th, 2019|Starters|1 Comment

Miraval Vegetarian Chili

If you have never been to Miraval Spa in Arizona you must put it on your list of places to visit. It is fabulous and every time I go I say I am going to come back sooner rather than later or stay longer the next time, but life gets in the way. I normally go with girlfriends, but the last time I went it was just me and my husband and it was wonderful! It was a much needed couple days of quiet, rest, eating well and focus.

One of the things I like most about Miraval is the food. It is healthy and delicious, but most of the recipes are very complicated or time consuming and as you know I don’t like those kind of recipes. I am most happy to eat them if a chef prepares them for me, but I just don’t have the time or inclination to spend 2 hours on one dish. So, when I came across this recipe for their amazing Vegetarian Chili and it seemed pretty easy […]

Stefani Hood2019-10-30T23:37:04+00:00October 30th, 2019|Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Bacon Wrapped Ancho Chili Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

Guests are coming and you don’t know what to make! Yes, you can order take-out or go out to a crowded restaurant, but there really is noting better than a host cooking a delicious, easy home cooked meal. This Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin is the PERFECT dish to make for guests. It looks very fancy and complicated but is really so easy. Give it a try-I promise you will not be disappointed!

First things first start with really good meat! Pork tenderloin is not expensive so try to find the very best you can. If you are desperate buy the ones in the package, but if you can find a good butcher buy from them. Or even better I have found this fabulous company, Butcher Box, that delivers to your house (this is not sponsored-I promise I just have been really impressed with the quality of the meat).

Another trick is to NOT use the really thick cut bacon. It takes too long to cook in the oven and your pork will be way overcooked before […]

Stefani Hood2019-10-29T14:28:01+00:00October 29th, 2019|Meats & Fish|0 Comments

French Lentil Soup

Cool weather is FINALLY here in Texas and it is fabulous! The weather in Texas is amazing about 9 months of the year, but I tell ya the summers are hard and we are so ready for the cool weather when it gets here. And when it gets here, I’m talking about 68 degrees, people break out the winterwear. It’s hysterical! But, I do love being able to make fall dishes and not feel like a fraud. So here come the fall/winter dishes!

This French Lentil Soup is a such a delicious, hearty, easy soup to make and your whole family will really love it. I was kinda nervous to have my youngest try it when I served it for dinner, but he loved it and had two bowls! It is just a rich, filling soup that guys like. I serve it with a crusty loaf of bread and salad. But, the other night my lettuce was kinda yuck so I made grilled cheeses and served along side and that was, of course, delicious!

Celery Root […]

Stefani Hood2019-10-14T20:23:30+00:00October 14th, 2019|Soups & Salads|1 Comment

Baked Pumpkin Rigatoni with Italian Sausage

When we think of Fall we think of pumpkins! Yes, I have not ONE pumpkin on my porch. I have just not had time to go get any, but I have made a pumpkin dish-does that count??? It has just been a really busy fall and I honestly cannot tell you what I have been doing that has been keeping me so busy, but I have been falling into bed every night exhausted. So, I can promise you I have had very little time and energy to make fabulous, elaborate dinners. This Baked Pumpkin Rigatoni with Italian Sausage is super easy and your family will love it. I made this for my crew and did not tell them what it was because I was afraid that if I said it was pumpkin they would turn their noses up, so I just said it was pasta with sausage. After my son went back for seconds (maybe he was hungry because I starved him with no after school snack, lol) I told him what […]

Stefani Hood2019-10-02T14:07:44+00:00October 2nd, 2019|Pasta|0 Comments

Thai Peanut Noodle Salad

I don’t know about you, but lunches are hard for me. I don’t want to stop working and “cook” lunch. And since I work from home a lot of times I get working at my desk and forget to eat and then when I do remember to eat I go to the kitchen and rarely have much in the fridge except for a sandwich or a few leftovers and as you know I am not a huge fan of leftovers. Some things are great as leftovers, like pasta or chicken salad or soup or stew, but leftover fish or pork chops just don’t do it for me. This Thai Peanut Noodle Salad is the perfect salad for lunch! You can make it on Sunday and it will keep in the fridge for a few days and it is still delicious. You can obviously serve it for dinner, duh, but it just makes such great lunch.

Make a huge batch of this and portion it out and take it to work. You can eat it cold, […]

Stefani Hood2019-09-30T23:24:41+00:00September 30th, 2019|Soups & Salads, Meats & Fish|0 Comments

Zucchini Tart

I know it is technically Fall and we are supposed to be making soups and stews and all kinds of Fall stuff but it is still so hot and I keep seeing so much summer stuff in the grocery stores, like zucchini and they look amazing. Not like the end of the season wimpy zucchini. So I bought a huge bag from Costco and have made a crap ton of recipes with zucchini and one of those recipes was this fabulous Zucchini Tart. It looks really fancy, but it is really easy and the perfect light, meatless dinner. Ok, your big teenage boys might not like it, but just feed them a pizza and you eat this. Its delicious and so good with a cold glass of white wine!

What makes this recipe so easy is the mandoline slicer. It is a tool that you will use a million times and it is not that expensive and does not take up that much space in your kitchen so just bite the bullet and buy one. But, if you […]

Stefani Hood2019-09-30T17:31:37+00:00September 30th, 2019|Sides, Breakfast & Brunch|0 Comments

Taco Cups

I feel like in the Fall it is one event after another. It is a cocktail party, happy hour, tailgate, parents weekend, pot luck…. I am NOT complaining! I feel very lucky and blessed to be included in so many gatherings and hope I am always invited so don’t forget about me!!! But, it does it get hard to think of things to bring that is not a bottle of wine or a candle. Yes every host loves a bottle of wine, but when you say I am bringing a home made appetizer to a football watching party that is not chips and dip they are over the moon happy. I promise! These Taco Cups are so delicious and filling and your host, guests, family will love them. They are, of course, easy and quick-like 25 minutes from start to finish?? Hell they are tacos in party form.. how hard can that be??

I used beef because I have been getting the Butcher Box and it has ground beef in the box, but you can […]

Stefani Hood2019-09-28T19:29:53+00:00September 28th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Cream of Mushroom Soup

So, they say it’s Fall, but in the South it’s still 98 degrees with 90% humidity and I am still walking around in my swimsuit trying not to break a sweat while I am running errands. It does not get “cool” down here in Texas until about the end of October and then the weather is divine until about July- then we start heating up again. But, in this awkward month it is hard not to get excited about all the Fall food! I am so ready for soups, stews, pies… so I have just said screw it and I am just going to make these awesome Fall foods even though we have to have the A/C on full blast and the fans on high speed to eat soup.

I made this Cream of Mushroom Soup the other night when the house was quiet because the boys had gone hunting. I realized about 7:30pm that I was hungry and I had really nothing to eat in the house and did not feel like ordering […]

Stefani Hood2019-09-23T20:24:25+00:00September 23rd, 2019|Soups & Salads|0 Comments

Cheesy Hot Corn Dip

Its football season! I am of two minds of this season… one, I love it because I really do love college football and I love getting to spend time with my boys watching the games, but two, I hate pro football and my husband is from the East coast and that is all they watch and that season lasts FOREVER and the games are filled with truck, insurance and phone commercials, ugh! But, I live in a house full of boys so we watch football and I make a lot of snacks to watch all those games.

One dip I make that they all like is Cheesy Corn Dip. It is so easy and is perfect to take with you to a football watching party or to a tailgate. This is recipe is spicy, but you can cut that down easily! Omit the diced jalapenos or only use half the can.

Hope you enjoy and Go Team!

Cheesy Corn Dip

Perfect dip for a tailgate or to take to a football watching party!

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Stefani Hood2019-09-20T22:18:26+00:00September 20th, 2019|Starters|0 Comments

Wine and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast casseroles are something you think about for holidays, brunches or funerals and they are perfect for those occasions, but they are also perfect to make on a Sunday afternoon to have in your fridge for the week ahead. I just cut out a piece, re-heat it in the microwave and serve it to the kids for a busy weekday breakfast-it makes breakfasts so easy, but still delicious and so much better than a bowl of cereal.

I have been making this casserole for YEARS! It is so good! It needs a little bit of planning, but it is worth it. If I am making this for the week ahead I will make it on Sunday morning and let it sit in the fridge all day then bake it Sunday night because I don’t have an hour on Monday morning to let it bake or rather I don’t want to get up an hour earlier to let this thing bake. But, if you have the time or get up early then make the […]

Stefani Hood2020-04-04T19:49:01+00:00September 20th, 2019|Breakfast & Brunch|2 Comments

Spinach Artichoke Melts

It’s Monday and if you are like me you are exhausted from the weekend. I don’t know what it is about holiday weeks, but last week with having only 4 days because of Labor Day made this weekend extra crazy! So, I am really phoning it in tonight for dinner:). I am doing a LAZY meal-Spinach and Artichoke Melts. They are so delicious and decadent and SO easy to get on the table. Serve with a simple mixed green salad and dinner is done in about 20 minutes!

I am trying to squeeze in a few meatless dinners, but if your family will have nothing of the sort then this is so easy to add in some rotisserie chicken, grilled chicken, sautéed ground turkey…. and make this even more hearty.

You can use any bread that you have on hand, but if you have the ability to buy a crusty loaf of French bread it makes this even more delicious. There is just something about a slice of French bread!

Enjoy and don’t worry I will get […]

Stefani Hood2019-09-09T17:03:56+00:00September 9th, 2019|Starters, Soups & Salads|0 Comments

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