The Horseshoe Sandwich: A Central Illinois Classic I remember my first encounter with a Horseshoe Sandwich. I was fresh out of culinary school, working a summer internship in Springfield, Illinois. My colleagues, a boisterous bunch of Midwesterners, insisted I try this “local delicacy.” I was presented with a plate piled high with golden fries, a … Read more
The Easiest Creamiest Cheese Sauce I remember one particularly gloomy afternoon as a child. The rain was lashing against the windows, and the sky was a dismal grey. My grandmother, sensing my discontent, led me into the kitchen. There, amidst the comforting aroma of simmering broth and freshly baked bread, she whipped up a batch … Read more
Greek Cauliflower: A Taste of the Aegean in Every Bite The first time I tasted this dish, I was a young cook assisting in a bustling taverna on the island of Crete. The air, thick with the scent of oregano and sea salt, swirled around me as I watched Yiayia Eleni, the matriarch of the … Read more
The Ultimate Vegan Cheese Sauce: Creamy, Dreamy, and Guilt-Free My childhood was filled with the glorious, melty goodness of cheese. From grilled cheese sandwiches dripping with cheddar to bubbling bowls of mac and cheese, it was a constant comfort. When I transitioned to a vegan lifestyle, one of my biggest concerns was saying goodbye to … Read more
Gammon (Ham Steak) With Egg and Cheese Sauce There’s a certain nostalgia that washes over me whenever I think about gammon steaks. As a child, Sundays at my grandmother’s were synonymous with the savory scent of ham wafting from the kitchen. She always served it with a rich, golden cheese sauce, and the simple pleasure … Read more
Elevating Your Veggies: A Luxurious Velveeta Cheese Sauce for Cauliflower and Broccoli I remember being a kid and side-eyeing any green vegetable that dared to cross my plate. Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts – they all seemed like culinary punishments. My grandmother, bless her heart, had a secret weapon: a velvety, cheesy sauce that transformed even … Read more
Smoked Gouda Chicken: A Taste of Colorado Summer It was the summer of ’99, and I was fresh off the plane in Colorado, wide-eyed and eager to soak in everything this new landscape had to offer. Flipping through channels one afternoon, I stumbled upon a local news segment where the legendary Paul Prudhomme was whipping … Read more
Irish Cod Pie Topped With Mashed Potatoes: A Taste of Home The scent of the sea, warm butter, and fluffy potatoes… some of my earliest and fondest memories are tangled up in dishes just like this Irish Cod Pie. My grandmother, a County Cork native, would make a version of this every St. Patrick’s Day. … Read more
Roasted Cauliflower With Gruyere Cheese Sauce: A Culinary Embrace I remember the first time I truly appreciated cauliflower. It wasn’t steamed, boiled, or hidden in a vegetable medley. It was roasted – deeply caramelized, tender, and transformed into something almost magical. My grandmother, a woman who could coax flavor out of anything, made it this … Read more
Magic White Sauce (and Variations!) The first time I encountered a béchamel – the fancy French name for white sauce – I was intimidated. Visions of fussy chefs and complicated roux danced in my head. I spent far too long meticulously measuring flour and butter, terrified of lumps. Then, a wise old chef shared a … Read more
Cheez-A-Roni (From the Uncheese Cookbook) My first foray into vegan cooking was a potluck, and, terrified of bringing yet another sad salad, I decided to get adventurous. I landed on a “cheesy” casserole from a well-loved cookbook, and, let’s just say, it was a hit – devoured in minutes, with everyone clamoring for the recipe. … Read more
Mom’s Chicken Wiggle: A Comfort Food Classic The memory is as vivid as the aroma that filled our small kitchen every time Mom made it: the creamy, savory scent of cheese, the comforting presence of tender chicken, and the bright pop of green peas. Mom’s “Chicken Wiggle,” as she playfully called it, wasn’t fancy, but … Read more
Decadent Mascarpone Cream Sauce: An Italian Indulgence I’ll never forget the first time I tasted a truly exceptional mascarpone cream sauce. It was in a tiny trattoria tucked away on a cobblestone street in Rome. The dish was simple – perfectly cooked gnocchi, bathed in a sauce so rich and creamy it felt like a … Read more
Papas a la Huancaína: A Taste of the Peruvian Andes The first time I tasted Papas a la Huancaína, I was a student backpacking through Peru. I remember sitting in a small, sun-drenched cafe in Cusco, the air buzzing with the sounds of Quechua and Spanish. The vibrant yellow sauce, generously coating the boiled potatoes, … Read more
The Easiest Cheese Sauce You’ll Ever Make Cheese sauce. Just the words conjure up images of bubbling macaroni and cheese, elegant Eggs Benedict, or even a simple, comforting bowl of steamed broccoli transformed into something special. For me, cheese sauce always brings back memories of my grandmother’s kitchen. She wasn’t a fancy cook, but she … Read more
The Ultimate Cheese Sauce-Smothered Baked Potato My grandmother, bless her heart, was a woman of simple pleasures. Sunday dinners at her house always involved a roast of some kind, mashed potatoes (of course!), and a green vegetable that, let’s be honest, no one really touched. But what I truly anticipated were her baked potatoes. Not … Read more
Chicken Breasts With Crumbled Bacon and Mozzarella The aroma alone transports me back to Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s house. While her specialty was always her legendary lasagna, sometimes she’d surprise us with these incredibly comforting chicken breasts. I remember the bubbly cheese, the salty bacon, and the tender chicken, all swimming in a creamy … Read more
Turkey Mornay: A Luxurious Leftover Transformation My grandmother, Nana Elsie, was the queen of transforming leftovers into culinary masterpieces. I remember one Thanksgiving, facing a mountain of leftover turkey, I watched in amazement as she deftly whipped up Turkey Mornay. The rich, cheesy aroma that filled her kitchen that day is a scent permanently etched … Read more
Hot Brown Panini: A Kentucky Classic Gets a Grilled Upgrade I’ll never forget my first Hot Brown. It wasn’t in a fancy restaurant or even in Kentucky, but at a small, unassuming diner during a road trip. The waitress, with a thick Southern drawl, placed the steaming, open-faced sandwich before me. As I cut into … Read more
Effortless Microwave White or Cheese Sauce: A Culinary Revelation I remember the first time I attempted a classic white sauce. It was for a family lasagna night, and I was determined to impress. But what should have been a smooth, velvety blanket for our pasta turned into a lumpy, gluey mess. Defeated, I almost resorted … Read more
Five Star Four-Cheese Sauce: An Ode to Decadence I still remember the first time I tasted a truly great cheese sauce. It wasn’t some pedestrian concoction from a jar, but a velvety, deeply flavored elixir that clung to every strand of pasta. I was at a tiny trattoria in Rome, and the chef, a Nonna … Read more
Fluffy Omelet With Cheese Sauce: A Culinary Masterpiece There’s something magical about an omelet. It’s the perfect canvas for creativity, the ultimate quick comfort food, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. As a child, I remember watching my grandmother, a true culinary artist, whip up these glorious creations. Her omelets were legendary, especially this light-as-air version, always … Read more
The Only Cheese Sauce Recipe You’ll Ever Need My grandmother, Nana Bess, had a way with comfort food. Her kitchen was a symphony of bubbling pots and the sweet aroma of baking bread. But one dish, above all others, stands out in my memory: her cheese sauce. It wasn’t just a sauce; it was liquid … Read more
Fresh Herb and Cheese Sauce: A Culinary Symphony I remember the first time I tasted a truly exceptional cream sauce. It wasn’t in some fancy restaurant, but in my grandmother’s cozy kitchen. She always had a knack for transforming simple ingredients into something magical, and her herb and cheese sauce was a prime example. The … Read more
The Ultimate Provolone Sauce for Cheesesteaks: A Culinary Throwdown Winner My first encounter with a truly transcendent cheesesteak was at a tiny, unassuming shop tucked away on a Philadelphia side street. The aroma of sizzling beef and melted cheese hung heavy in the air, a siren song to hungry passersby. I remember biting into that … Read more
Penne With Chicken in Creamy Pepper Jack Cheese Sauce I can still remember the first time I tasted a creamy, cheesy pasta dish. It was at a little Italian bistro tucked away on a cobblestone street during a family vacation. The aroma alone – rich cream, garlic, and melting cheese – was enough to make … Read more
Turkey With Pasta and Broccoli: A Thanksgiving Transformation My grandmother, bless her heart, was a champion of leftovers. But even her creative repurposing of holiday feasts often landed somewhere between “interesting” and “downright questionable.” I remember one year, faced with a mountain of leftover turkey, she decided to combine it with…well, everything in the fridge. … Read more
The Most Awesome Grande Nachos in the World! I remember summer nights as a kid, sitting on the porch with my cousins, the air thick with humidity and the sound of cicadas. One cousin, bless her heart, was a nacho fanatic. Every gathering, she’d whip up a mountain of chips, beef, and toppings – always … Read more
Cauliflower With Marigold Sauce: A Symphony of Flavors and Colors My grandmother, bless her heart, always had a garden overflowing with edible flowers. Nasturtiums, pansies, and, most memorably, vibrant marigolds spilled out of every corner. While I was initially wary of eating flowers, she convinced me with stories of their health benefits and unique flavors. … Read more
Super Fantastic Vegan Cashew Cheese (Slices, Sauce or Dip) The first time I tasted this cashew cheese, I was skeptical. My childhood was filled with grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese, so the idea of a dairy-free alternative seemed like a culinary impossibility. Then, my mom presented me with a slice on sourdough bread, … Read more