Our Favorite Recipes!

On the following pages you'll find some of our favorite recipes - for holidays and everyday. Some are recipes that have been passed down for years and others are favorite cookbook recipes. If you don't find the recipe you're looking for, e-mail me!

Kentucky Pimento Cheese: Budget-Friendly, Easy, and Delicious!

June 13, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Pimento Cheese, Fixing to Happen

Okay, so why do I call this Kentucky Pimento Cheese?? Well…

It’s Pimento Cheese
I live in Kentucky

Mystery solved! Actually, I thought the words Pimento Cheese looked kind of lonely and wanted to give them a friend.

This is my go-to recipe for pimento cheese because it’s easy, simple, and (most importantly) delicious. It’s creamy and a little sweet (thanks for all you do for me, cream cheese). You can add a little jalapeno and/or cayenne pepper (just a little, don’t get crazy with it) to it if you’d like to balance the sweetness, but as a true southerner, sweetness floats my boat, so I take him as he is.

A few quick notes…

Make this your own by adding more cheese if you like, as much salt and pepper as you prefer, and adjusting the mayo to fit your personal tastes.
It’s always a great idea (with any food, actually) to shred your own cheese rather than buying it shredded. It simply tastes a lot better. A LOT better.

Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion

May 14, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Inevitably, after months of shopping and planning, my best-received gifts are the cookies and candies I’ve made for my loved ones. That’s why, in the days leading up to Christmas, you can only find me if you look in my kitchen. I’m the one covered in powdered sugar, chocolate, and corn syrup – dancing around to Christmas music.

Man, I love this time of year!

If you love giving gifts you’ve made in your own kitchen, too, here’s a cookbook you’ll want to add to your library right away. Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion, by Annie Rigg (Amazon link) is an uncommonly beautiful book. As a cookbook collector, one of the first things I notice about a cookbook is how good it feels about itself – the cover, artwork, and photographs let you know, right off the bat, if the cookbook feels really good about itself or if its heart is only half in it.

Gifts from the Kitchen (Amazon link) feels amazingly good about itself – we’re talking “supermodel” confidence, here.

Naturally, for a book to be a great book – there has to be more than just great looks going for it. Thankfully, Gifts from the Kitchen comes through in the personality department, too – it’s not just a pretty face.

{Continued Below…}

The book covers all celebrations and all seasons. Not only can you use the beautiful delicacies for gift-giving, you can also use them to celebrate special occasions.

Special Occasion Recipes Include

Fortune Cookies (Chinese New Year)
Chocolate Valentine’s Cakes (Valentine’s Day or Anniversaries)
Love Heart Sugar Cubes (Valentine’s Day)
Double Dark Chocolate, Pecan and Ginger Cookies (Father’s Day)
Easter Nest Cupcakes (Easter)
Rugelach (Jewish Celebrations)
Baby Shower Cakes
Wedding Cake
Stained Glass Snowflake Cookies (Christmas)
And More…

Recipes for Gifts That Fit Any Occasion Include

Chocolate Truffles
Peanut or Macadamia Brittle
Creamy Vanilla Fudge with Chocolate and Nuts
Pickled Beets
Pickled Shallots
Spiced Cranberry Jelly
Florentines
Chocolate-Coated Candied Almonds
Mango Chutney with Chili Pepper and Ginger
English Muffins
Cherry Jam
Strawberry and Vanilla Preserves
Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread
Honeycomb (look especially perfect for Halloween)
Pesto
And Many more….

In addition to the clear and simple recipes, Gifts from the Kitchen (Amazon link) provides beautiful examples of ways to present many of these food gifts to your lucky foodie.

This is not a “gluten free” cookbook, but many of the candies and other recipes are, in and of themselves, gluten free. I have not tested any of the other recipes with gluten free flours, so I can’t say how well they’d take to substitutions. It is, however, in my opinion, more than worth having in your collection. The candies, spreads, jellies, etc. outnumber the cakes and cupcakes… and even they provide inspiration and ideas for the gluten free cook.

I’m especially excited about a recipe for “Wholegrain Honey Mustard.” Wholegrain mustard is an obsession of mine – I add it to more recipes than you can imagine (potato salad, BBQ sauce, deviled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, salad dressings…). I can only imagine how amazing this homemade Wholegrain Honey Mustard will be!

See Gifts from the Kitchen (Amazon link) for more information.

While you’re on Amazon, check out the other beautiful cookbooks by Annie Rigg!

Himalayan Salt Block for Grilling (Review)

May 9, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Have you ever used a Himalayan Salt Block (Amazon link)? They are so incredibly cool and fun to use, you’ll wonder why in the world you never ordered one before! I highly recommend buying Salt Block Grilling: 70 Recipes for Outdoor Cooking with Himalayan Salt Blocks by Mark Bitterman… (Amazon link) as well.

Features of the VOLTAS Himalayan Salt Block:

100% Natural Himalayan Salt Cooking Block & iron Steel Holder to Avoid Rust.
Recipe Pamphlet, Size, 12 X 8 X 1.5
Kosher Food Grade Natural Himalayan Salt.
Salty Flavor Extra Sizzle: Add extra sizzling salty flavor taste to all your meals Meat, Fish, Vegetables, seafood and more.
High Quality Metal Tray: The Salt Block Holder is made out of high quality steel that provides the sturdy support and protection to extend your Salt Block’s life.
Great Serving Plate Presentation: Himalayan Salt’s natural pink crystals also enhance food presentation, making it suitable for serving chilled food. Place Salt Block in the Holder, refrigerate for an hour or two and use it as a serving plate. Whether hot or cold, Himalayan Salt tiles hold temperatures effectively (up to 500°F). Impress your guests and yourself with an all natural serving dish.
Simple & Easy to clean: Unlike all those hard to clean cutting boards, given the salt blocks natural properties the salt disinfects themselves and is cleaned by simply wiping it with a wet cloth, And let the air dry it.

This Himalayan Salt Block (Amazon link) would make an outstanding gift idea for Father’s Day – just in time for grilling season… or, in this case, grilling seasoned.

Sorry, I had to.

Burgers and Asparagus on a Himalayan Salt Block

Not surprisingly, the first thing he wanted to fix on the block were burgers (he could give Popeye’s buddy Wimpy a run for his money) and asparagus (his favorite vegetable). He cooked some burgers and asparagus on another part of the grill (for comparison’s sake) and the juiciness of the burgers were BEYOND noticeable. In fact, “JUICY,” was the first thing out of our mouths – when they weren’t full, of course – our mothers taught us manners, after all. They were delectable and juicier than any burger I think I’ve ever had.

Ever.

As for the asparagus, if all asparagus tasted as great as these did, it’d be more people’s favorite vegetable. Before putting them on the block, I lightly oiled them with EVOO and seasoned them with pepper and garlic powder – I trusted the block to take care of the salt factor.

They were just fantastic – flavorful with the perfect amount of crispiness. Wilting, overcooked asparagus is depressing and these were nowhere near that.

Himalayan Salt Blocks are PERFECT for:

Steaks
Kabobs
Fish
Burgers (Juicy burgers, that is)
Vegetables

I think the cast of characters for a fajita – skirt steak sliced bell peppers, mushrooms and onions – would be out of this world too. The possibilities are endless. See Himalayan Salt Block (Amazon link) for more information.

Salt Block Grilling: 70 Recipes for Outdoor Cooking with Himalayan Salt Blocks by Mark Bitterman (Amazon link) would make a perfect companion as a gift. It’s full of ideas, recipes, and tips – everything a new salt block griller needs to know to have the confidence and swagger to work their salt block magic.

Book Description: Over 70 all new recipes for grilling traditional and nontraditional dishes on a Himalayan salt block from salt expert and best-selling author of Salt Block Cooking, Mark Bitterman.

Everyone who loves the excitement and pleasure of discovering new cooking techniques will enjoy this guide to grilling and entertaining with salt blocks. The introduction is your salt block owner’s manual, with everything you need to know to purchase, use, and maintain salt blocks with confidence. The six chapters that follow are divided into over 70 recipes organized by key ingredients: Meat, Seafood, Poultry, Vegetables and Fruit, Dairy, and Doughs. You’ll find recipes for Salt Seared Smoked Pork Belly, Lamb Satay with Mint Chutney and Spicy Peanut Crumble, Salt Seared Tuna Nicoise Salad, Hot Salted Edamame with Sesame, Shiso, and Szechuan Pepper, and Salty, Smoky Walnut-Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

Bitterman is the foremost salt block expert and one of the largest importers and retail distributors of salt blocks. The precious pink mineral mined from ancient hills in Pakistan’s Punjab province has arrived on the American cooking scene as an exciting and enticing new form of grilling. Himalayan salt blocks are available at specialty retail stores around the world and the market is growing.

Information and Recipes Include:

Essential Tools
Care and Handling
Heating Step by Step and Heating 101
Cleaning and Storage
Sandwich Steak with Peppers Onions and Aged Provolone
Short Rib Tacos
Roasted Chicken Stuffed with Hot Salt Rocks and Fresh Herbs
Salt-Barbecued Scallops with Habanero Sprinkle
Salt-Block Grilled Vegetables
Hot Salted Edamame with Sesame, Shiso, and Sichuan Pepper
Blistered Baby Peppers
Pizza on a Salt Block
Salty-Smoky Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Plus a lot more delicious recipes – like all cookbooks, there are a few you’ll never make (I’m looking at you baby octopuses and you know it) but all will intrigue you and inspire you. The process and food combinations are exceptional and it’s a must have book if this is your first time grilling with a salt block.

See Himalayan Salt Block (Amazon link) and Salt Block Grilling: 70 Recipes for Outdoor Cooking with Himalayan Salt Blocks by Mark Bitterman… (Amazon link) for a lot more information.

Burgers and Asparagus Grilled on a Himalayan Salt Block

Super Sauce for Salmon Patties and Salmon Burgers… So Long, Tarter Sauce

May 1, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Super Sauce for Salmon Patties & Salmon Burgers

I make salmon patties or salmon burgers at least once a week. To keep them from becoming tiresome, I often mix up what I put in them and usually change up the sauce I prepare to go on top. Sometimes I add just onions, sometimes onion and celery… sometimes bell pepper and/or garlic. You get the idea.

I’ve come across a sauce, by trial and error, that I love on top of salmon patties so much that I might not be switching up the sauce any time soon.

I call this “Super Sauce” for a few reasons:

My 4 year old grandbaby has started using the word “super” like its his job. Things are often “super” rare, “super” fun, “super” old (I always duck when he uses this one because someone in their 50s undoubtedly seems SUPER old to a 4 year old!).. so, naturally, if I associate a word with someone who has my whole heart, it becomes one of my favorite words.
It’s super. Plain and simple. It’s super.

Easy, Lemon-y Hummus with Enough Garlic EVEN For My Husband!

April 20, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Easy Hummus Recipe: Garlic and Lemon Make it Happen!

When it comes to hummus, like quite a few things actually, my husband and I have very different tastes. His favorite hummus ingredient, and the flavor he wants to dominate, is garlic. Mine? Lemon…. most definitely lemon.

This particular hummus recipe is one that keeps us both happily dipping our crackers, toast triangles, and veggies.

1/2 cup tahini
1/4 + 1 TBS for drizzling cup extra virgin olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves, mashed and chopped finely (no big clumps!)
2 (15 oz) cans of chickpeas, drained
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water

Combine the tahini and olive oil well – if possible, use a food processor and process until smooth. A blender also works in a pinch. Add the garlic, garbanzo beans, lemon juice, water, and salt. Combine until smooth.

Taste and add more lemon juice or salt if needed.

When serving, I like to add a little drizzle of extra olive oil and a bit of coarse sea salt. Looks pretty and adds a little more flavor.

Hummus and Gluten-Free Crackers

Simple and Easy Strawberry Smoothie with Tofu

February 9, 2022 By Joi Sigers

Strawberry Smoothie with Tofu

I love, love, love smoothies – the the point of being absolutely obsessed with them. Pretty sure my youngest daughter and I are keeping the new smoothie place in town in business all by ourselves.

Of course, it isn’t always convenient to run across town for a great smoothie, so having quick “go to” recipes in your mind, along with the ingredients in your kitchen are MUSTs when you’re a smoothie addict. I always keep frozen fruit, tofu, juices, greens, apples, flaxseed, favorite milks (cashew, coconut, oat..).. and other favorite ingredients on hand.

Thing is, I don’t always WANT an elaborate smoothie any more than I always WANT to make one. That’s why this quick, easy, and deliciously simple smoothie recipe is always in mind and often in the blender.

Simply blend 10-12 frozen (whole) strawberries, 1/2 cup tofu, 1 cup cashew or oat milk, and a couple of tablespoons of sugar (or Stevia, Truvia… sugar replacement of your choice) together. IF you like almond milk, feel perfectly free to use it. I personally don’t care for the way almond milk dominates a conversation in my smoothies (same reason I avoid bananas.. none of the other ingredients can get a word in edgewise!). The dominant tendencies of bananas in smoothies is what led me to falling in love with using tofu in their place.

Tofu allows the strawberries to do all the talking… which (for this strawberry fanatic) is a conversation I’m always up for.

Strawberry Smoothie with Tofu

If you’re as into smoothies as I am, you may want to check out something I recently found on Amazon: PopBabies Portable Blender for Smoothies (Amazon link) – the GORGEOUS Apple Green one is pictured below. They come in many different beautiful colors and I think you’re going to want to order one as much as I do. They’re also really affordable and would make great gifts.

Click the link above or the image below for more information.

Gorgeous Whistling Tea Kettles from SUSTEAS

January 31, 2022 By Joi Sigers

One of my favorite times of the day is my evening tea. There’s just something about the experience of having tea that goes beyond the warmth and deliciousness, isn’t there? The entire experience is simply… well… lovely.

The mug you use and the kettle that makes the magic happen are a part of the whole experience as far as I’m concerned. While looking at tea and coffee mugs on Amazon a few minutes ago, I saw a gorgeous new tea kettle (pictured here).

This beauty is the SUSTEAS Whistling Tea Kettle (Amazon link) and I had to come here to put it in the spotlight.

The gorgeous kettle is available in red, black, and white, and each color is spectacular.

When you click through the link, you can see each color available and take a much closer look at these beautiful kettles.

Ergonomically designed handle and push-button technology makes pouring a breeze.. and comfortably safe.
A nice, loud whistle guarantees that you can hear it from another room when the water is boiled.
SUSTEAS tea kettle is made of 3 layers encapsulated base, even heat boils water faster.
Comes in a handsome gift box, so it’s perfect to give to your favorite tea lover.
SUSTEAS tea kettles are 100% Teflon and BPA-free

Take a closer look at these knock-outs here: SUSTEAS Whistling Tea Kettle (Amazon link)

If you love tea, I hope you’ll check out Emily’s wonderful tea blog, Crazy Tea Chick. She’s a beautiful, fun, witty, and wonderful tea lover and her passion for her favorite drink is contagious. She also happens to be my oldest daughter!

Gluten-Free Breakfast Burritos Made with Egglife Egg White Wraps

October 25, 2021 By Joi Sigers

Egglife Egg White Wraps

Every now and then I see something new in a store that’s so exciting and delicious looking that I stop my cart so fast I nearly throw one of my grandbabies out of it! It happened fairly recently at Meijer when I spied these Egglife Egg White Wraps.

I’m crazy about wraps – breakfast wraps in particular. Blame it on McDonald’s – they got me hooked on them with their delicious breakfast sausage wraps. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, I had to give up all gluten and wheat, which meant I had to kiss these wonderful breakfast burritos goodbye. Making them at home has always been a little tricky too because gluten-free wraps aren’t always pliable or soft.

That’s why I got so excited when I saw these Egg White Wraps. I knew they’d be soft enough to fold around my fillings and soft enough to bite into without each bite making my brain register “gluten-free… it tastes and feels like this because it’s gluten-free.”

These wraps were even better than I expected – as easy to use as a tortilla wrap but much, much, MUCH more delicious.

Gluten-Free Breakfast Wraps with Picante Sauce

To make these gluten-free wraps, I cut potatoes into chunks and fried them with onion. While they were frying I made my bacon. I didn’t add scrambled eggs to these wraps because… well… the wraps ARE eggs!

I added shredded Monterrey Jack cheese and Pace Picante Sauce and the wraps were absolutely outstanding. I can’t wait to try them with sausage next time.

If you’re lucky enough to have a Meijer store near you, check for these wraps on your next trip. I got the original flavor but others are available.

Amazon has another brand of egg wraps and many other wraps (Amazon link) available. As of now, they don’t have the Egglife brand available.

Why I Always Have Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Herbs on Hand (and a Few Favorite Ways to Use Them)

October 22, 2021 By Joi Sigers

Fried Eggs, Sautéed Vegetables, Ground Beef, and Parsley

While I LOVE growing my own herbs for use in cooking, sometimes I’ve harvested one to the nub or simply don’t have enough of the one I need on hand to use. That’s when these lightly dried Gourmet Garden herbs come to the rescue. Just a note, this isn’t a paid for post or anything remotely like that – it’s just me raving about something I love and know you will too.

I have, in the past, bought those nice, cheap dried herbs in the supermarket – you know, the ones in the plastic containers that hang above produce? I honestly have never been completely happy with these herbs. I have no idea what happens to the herbs in the process of getting into our supermarkets, but they sure do lose their flavor along the way.

That’s why, last winter, when I wanted some basil for my favorite Italian vegetable beef soup, I grabbed a Gourmet Garden tub of basil. It cost a bit more but, by gosh, my soups are worth it! As soon as I took off the lid, I knew I had made the best decision. Besides, the initial extra pennies spent actually pay for themselves because these lightly dried herbs are so flavorful (tasting like they just came from your herb bed), you actually use less of them than they’re counterparts with the dry personalities.

Gourmet Garden Lightly Dried Parsley

I have used every single herb available in this line and do so regularly. Heck, I buy the parsley and basil ones every time I’m in the store – I use them that often.

Basil: The basil one is delicious in soups, pasta salads, and sauces. I also use it very often as an appetizer – I slice fresh mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and roll up slices of prosciutto, salami, and/or pepperoni. I drizzle everything with Rachael Ray Balsamic Vinegar Reduction (Amazon link… also found in most grocery stores – it’s the absolute best on the market). Then I top it all off with a sprinkling of the Gourmet Garden chopped basil. Delicious!

Parsley: I use this one on and with just about everything – especially potatoes and eggs. You don’t realize just how much parsley brings to the party until you send it an invitation. It’s healthy, adds a bright wonderful flavor to just about everything, and… come on, let’s be honest… looks marvelously high brow!

A quick and easy meal (one of those that you almost always have the ingredients for and comes together super fast) is pictured here – simply make your ground beef patties (seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder). When they’re through, set aside and keep warm. Sauté asparagus, bell pepper, and onion in the juices from the beef…. season with salt and set aside with the meat. Add your eggs and cook them either sunny side up or over easy. Unless your meat was particularly fatty (and do they even make them anymore!?), you’ll need to add a little butter, olive oil, or bacon grease to the pan before the eggs.

Who doesn’t love a quick, easy, flavorful meal?!

Fried Eggs, Sautéed Vegetables, Ground Beef, and Parsley

Beautiful Indoor Herb Garden Kits… Santa, are You Listening?? (Delicious Gift Ideas)

October 20, 2021 By Joi Sigers

I have officially given Santa my first gift request of the season… the Indoor Herb Garden Kit (Amazon link) I just saw on Amazon. For too many years to count, I have planted herb gardens each spring and lovingly used them throughout the summer and even into the fall. But I’ve always wished for an attractive way to grow them indoors as well – year round.

While it’s certainly possible to set individual pots around the kitchen (something I do during the cold months), they aren’t necessarily attractive and don’t look like they have a plan, you know? Yet I’ve always been loyal to the practice because, frankly, I use fresh herbs with just about every meal – even if it’s just topping something with a little chopped fresh parsley or chives.

The ridiculously handsome Indoor Herb Garden Kit (Amazon link) pictured here promises to take care of three of my favorite herbs for me: Basil, Oregano, and Thyme. BUT it gets even better… there are also matching kits (equally handsome) for…

Basil, Cilantro, and Parsley (I use cilantro and parsley about as often as I use salt and pepper)
Cilantro, Parsley, and Chives

My first thought was… in a perfect world, each of the three kits available would have completely different herbs, with none overlapping (as basil, cilantro, and parsley do)… but then it hit me – I use these particular herbs often enough to NEED more than one plant! Besides, who’s to stop someone from planting rosemary, dill, or stevia seeds in one and labeling it such?!