Easy Pumpkin Muffins

The other day, my MIL (mother-in-law for those of you that don’t speak in acronyms!) made a batch of these easy pumpkin muffins.  The recipe came from a friend of hers that goes to Weight Watchers.  According to the friend, these muffins are only 1 WW point each!  Not too bad!  And, who doesn’t love a recipe that only calls for 3 ingredients?!?!  Plus, this recipe is a great way to use up extra pumpkin that you have after the holidays!

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Honey and Spice-Glazed Pork Chops

It’s a Keeper has moved!  Come on over to www.everydaytastes.com.

We all have them.  You know…those days when you’ve got a million things going on, you’re running late and you haven’t even thought about what to have for dinner.

Well, that was my day.  So, it only makes sense to test out a new recipe…right?  Riiiiiight!

Call me crazy.   But I like to think of it as a testament to my dedication to It’s A Keeper! Originally, I think this recipe came from an old issue of Cooking Light magazine. 

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The Perfect Risotto

A while back, I had the pleasure of being in the studio audience for a taping of the Martha Stewart Show!  I love Martha.  And, I was so excited the day of the show, I could barely contain myself!  My mother and I had such a great time in NYC for a few days too!

On the show that day, Emeril Lagasse was one of her guests.  He made the most delicious looking pumpkin risotto that I’ve ever seen.  As soon as I got home, I had to tweak my own risotto recipe to incorporate the tips that I learned from the show.

The result was a sinfully creamy, uber hearty risotto that is the ultimate adult comfort food!  This recipe is my basic risotto recipe.  You can stir in your favorite add-ins at the end — shrimp, sausage, chicken, a little vodka sauce…the possibilities are endless!  My favorites are sausage and peas!  YUM!

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Savory Onion Chicken

My family loves chicken!  S0, I’m always on the look-out for quick and easy chicken recipes — something that can be whipped up after a long day at work and not wear me out so that I’m too tired to fold the three loads of laundry that are awaiting my attention.

I found this recipe in “the pile” and it looked promising.  It came from a Taste of Home email that I received. 

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Uncle Carmen’s Sicilan Cauliflower

I have to admit it…I’m not a huge cauliflower fan.  Neither is my husband.  I don’t know if it’s the color, the texture, or the fact that for one of my 5th grade science projects, I used a head of cauliflower to represent a brain. Whatever it is, I’m just not a fan.

However, if you put my Uncle Carmen’s Sicilian Cauliflower on the table, you can consider it devoured!   In fact, whenever Uncle Carmen makes this dish for a family dinner, he usually has to double the recipe!  It’s gobbled up that quickly!

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Braciole (Italian Stuffed Steak)

Braciole (pronouced: bra-joel) is my dad’s favorite meal!  Every year, I make it for his birthday.

It seems to me that Braciole is one of those dishes that you just make — no recipe, no instructions.  If there is a recipe, it’s usually been passed down from family members.  When you look online for Braciole recipes, you will see there are lots of different ways to make it — it’s mostly a matter of preference.

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French Toast Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

Breakfast as a cupcake?  Sounds heavenly!  My good friend, Lisa, gave me this recipe and it sounded divine.  What’s not to love about French toast and maple syrup…and even a little bacon?!?!

I know what you’re thinking though — I thought the same thing too.  I have to admit, I was a little skeptical about the whole bacon as garnish thing, but I decided to take one for the team and give it a try – just as the recipe described.

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The Best Meatloaf!

Nothing says homemade comfort food like meatloaf.  It’s not the sexiest dinner — you probably wouldn’t make it if company was coming to dinner.  It’s not the prettiest dinner — sometimes it falls apart.  But, in my humble opinion, that’s what makes meatloaf, meatloaf.

However, it is the perfect meal on chilly fall days — when there’s a bite in the air.  It’s the most comforting meal — when you have a “bad case of the Mondays”.  It’s one of those meals that fills your tummy and warms your soul.

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WANTED: Italian Bread Recipe

I am on the quest to find a good copy cat recipe for Wegman’s Pane Bread (I think that’s a bit redundant since ‘pane’ is ‘bread’ in Italian!).

I’ve always wanted to learn how to make bread, the old-fashioned way — without a bread maker.  I have to admit I’m a bit afraid of any recipe that calls for yeast, but I have had some success with a Norweigen cinnamon bread (thanks, Aunt Kirsten!) that I make at Christmas.  So, I think I’m ready to jump right in and tackle this!

And, that’s where I need your help!  If you have a great recipe for Italian bread, would you mind sharing?  I’ll be sure to post my results here for you all to see!

Thanks!

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Filet Mignon with a Mushroom Sherry Cream Sauce

The other night, my husband and I went out with some great friends to one of our favorite restaurants, the Cafe Rinaldi in Old Forge, PA.   Their food is absolutely fantastic!  I find that I never order off the menu – I always get a special.  And this night was no different.

I ordered Pasta Mignon.  It sounded good…filet mignon served with pasta and a mushroom-sherry cream sauce.  Sounds good, right?!  Well, let me tell you…it was unbelievably delicious!  My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

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