General family recipes
updated: 10/23/2026 This recipe was found on the King Arthur site. I updated the instructions to make them easier to follow. Tortillas de Maíz 2-1/2 cups masa Harina pinch (1/16 tsp) salt 1-2/3 cups water, about 100 F To make the dough: Weigh your masa harina; or measure it by gently spooning it into a […]
updated: 10/23/2026 I found this recipe online many years ago. I don’t recall making any changes, nor do I remember which site I found it on. Biscuits like Cracker Barrel 2 cups flour 1 Tbsp baking powder 1 Tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1/3 cup vegetable shortening, e.g., Crisco 3/4 cup buttermilk 1/8 tsp taking […]
updated: 07/04/2026 As mentioned in Rub for Ribs #2, I had been using a recipe from Southern Living since the mid-90’s, with significant changes over the years. That recipe is based on Mexican chili powder, which induces indigestion in older stomachs. Substituting paprika helped, but not enough. I read a BUNCH of recipes and developed […]
updated: 06/06/2026 I’ve been using the same rub for baby back ribs for 30 years. If I remember correctly, our friend Alison found it in Southern Living. However … time marches on and as we get older, our bodies change, including digestion. The amount of chili powder in the original recipe was not a problem […]
updated: 04/29/2026 I have been making this bread for several decades, and was surprised I had not posted it before now. This recipe came with our Zojirushi bread machine’s book. I may have altered some details, but it’s largely the original recipe. My change in recent years is to use the machine to make the […]
updated 12/23/2025 The basis for this recipe is from Martha Stewart. I modified the ingredients slightly, and cleaned up the instructions. The original instructions were too wordy. Chicken Crepes Simple Crepes (recipe below) Gruyere Béchamel (recipe below) 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 4 cloves garlic, pressed 11 oz frozen spinach, thawed, drained 3 cups cooked […]
updated 12/12/2025 I was looking for a new wheat bread recipe and found one I liked. I made a few adjustments, including adding baking cocoa to the bread. Honey Whole Wheat Bread 3/4 cup milk, warmed to 90 to 95 F 3 Tbsp honey 2 Tbsp butter, cut in pieces 1 Tbsp baking cocoa 1 […]
updated 09/11/2025 This recipe, originally titled Maple Deer Sausage, is originally for venison, but it works great for just pork. Breakfast Sausage 2 5 lbs pork shoulder, cut in strips to fit in a grinder 2 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp dried marjoram 2 Tbsp kosher salt 2 Tbsp rubbed sage 1 Tbsp fine ground […]
updated 09/08/2025 I’ve wanted to make smoked kielbasa for a while, but I’ve had mixed results with keeping an even temperature in my charcoal smoker, so I didn’t make it. However, the recent purchase of an electric smoker spurred me to make kielbasa, and this one is very successful. Smoked Kielbasa This recipe is an […]
updated 06/07/2025 Lorraine likes Shawarma seasoning, which we purchase as Neomonde and Sassool, both Mediterranean restaurant/deli’s in Raleigh and Cary, respectively. We use it in a variety of meats, including pressured cooked stew beef, tacos, meatloaf, hamburgs, etc. We ran out a few weeks ago, so I decided to try making it. I started by researching […]
updated 06/15/2025 It’s been 4 years since I did any real experimentation with brisket. I make brisket 4 or 5 times a year, based upon the first 4 recorded experiments, but haven’t kept written notes. After reviewing the first 4 brisket recipes and thinking about other results, I came to a few conclusions: vinegar is […]
updated 05/23/2025 I decided I want to make a flat bread to go with a version of Gyros … looking for something new, I found several recipes, and decided I liked this one best. Yeah, I tweaked a couple of things. It’s very easy to make. Since the bread dry-fries in a skillet, the oven […]
updated 01/11/2024 Patrick & Grace were in town at Christmas, so Eric & I discussed making a special dinner. Individual Beef Wellingtons was top of the list. Why individual? Because there are differences in likes, and we want everyone happy. Differences include: Duxelles — some like mushrooms and some don’t. Cheese — some like bleu […]
updated 06/22/2023 I was reading taco seasoning recipes a few weeks ago. The one(s) I’ve been using are good, but the chili powder doesn’t always agree with our stomachs, so I was looking for ideas. One caught my eye — a seasoning that had paprika as the primary ingredient, not chili powder. I found a […]
updated 05/29/2023 For Mother’s Day, Eric found a recipe on AllRecipes for stuff leg of lamb. His rendition was delicious! However, I immediately got the idea to use the recipe for pork tenderloin. This recipe is the result Fruit Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Filling: 1/2 cup coarsely chopped prunes 1/4 cup currants 1/4 dup creme de […]