Every BBQ and potluck growing up my mom would make this great Strawberry Salad. Spinach, strawberries, jicama and a light, fresh dressing come together to make this fresh salad perfect for any day when the sun is shining. Have fun sharing this easy salad recipe with everyone. With a slight sweetness to the dressing and delicious seasonal ingredients that provide flavor with a crunch, this salad will please all audiences.Ingredients: Dressing½ - ⅓ cup  vegetable oil ¼ cup cider vinegar ⅓ cup sugar2 Tbsp sesame seeds1 Tbsp poppy seeds2 scallions chopped¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce¼ tsp …

I have a friend who in addition to being a fabulous cook has a mother who keeps her in constant supply of Nutella. Every time I visit her there are cabinets full of the stuff and I leave knowing that on my next trip to the supermarket I will inevitably end up with a jar. It’s easy to quickly consume, but one of my favorite things to do with Nutella is make brownies. The brownies come up out thick, moist and extra sweet. Here’s What You Need: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cinnamon 3/4 cup Nutella 2 tablespoons…

On days that I know the evenings are gong to be rough – everyone out of the house, or a late meeting, etc., or even when I don’t feel like cooking a full dinner – the slow cooker is my saving grace. This was delicious, the rib meat was to die for and I will definitely be making more roasts with this marinade. So yummy! Ingredients 3 lbs. boneless short ribs 4 cups chicken broth 1/3 cup soy sauce ¼ cup sugar 3 Tbs. Freshly minced ginger 2 Tbs. Toasted sesame oil 4 cloves minced garlic 1 package mei fun Directions Put ribs in slow cooker. Whisk together broth, soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and …

When I was in New Orleans, I tried a chicken and andouille sausage gumbo that was delicious. I had a similar dish just recently while visiting family out in California and when we returned home I decided that I needed to have a gumbo recipe as part of my own repertoire. I was frankly, surprised at the ease of the recipe that I pulled together, not to mention the delicious taste! This made a lot of gumbo – enough for six to enjoy for dinner and still have lots of leftovers. If you want to make this a little spicier, add between 2 Tbs. And ¼ cup of Tabasco sauce with the vegetables. Ingredients…

Sometimes, all I want is a simple dinner that will make lots of leftovers for lunch the next couple of days (or feed a bunch of people). Baked ziti is the perfect answer to that dilemma, and is delicious at the same time. I love the added pepperoni on top; it adds a whole new dimension of flavor. Ingredients ½ lb. ziti or other tube pasta 1 lb. ground beef, cooked through Pasta sauce Shredded mozzarella cheese Pepperoni Salt and pepper to taste Directions Preheat over to 350. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Combine pasta, beef and sauce in 8”x8”x2” casserole dish. Mix to …

Easter Sunday is a special time to gather with family and loved ones. From sunrise services to Easter egg hunts, all of the day’s activities often end up with hungry patrons looking for appetites to be filled. We’ve scooped up five easy but savory dinner recipes that you can share with your family to wrap up this festive day. Have a wonderful and delicious Easter. 1. Baked Easter Ham If you have a large family or plan to have a large gathering of people at your Easter dinner, then this baked ham is the perfect choice to feed a small army. Who knows how to make an elegantly delicious ham …

Ingredients: 1/4 tsp. salt 2 packed cups of basil leaves 1/4 c. olive oil 3-4 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped 1/2 c. walnuts or pine nuts 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, grated 1 pkg. thin spaghetti Directions: Using your food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan cheese, garlic, nuts, oil and salt. Blend until it's almost smooth, occasionally scraping the sides of the food processor to ensure all ingredients blend evenly. Meanwhile, cook the thin spaghetti. After draining – and while still hot – toss the pesto mix with the spaghetti until the spaghetti is coated evenly. Garnish with a sprig of …

Even though it is called "Irish Soda Bread," this isn't a traditional bread recipe that involves yeast, multiple risings and lots of kneading. It's a pretty easy recipe. Sometimes it can be a tad bland, so you need to add some punch. I saw Ina Garten from the Barefoot Contessa add orange zest to her recipe on her show. That really makes a difference. She doesn't add caraway seeds to hers, but I do as I like their unique flavor. You can use currants or raisins in this recipe. I like to bake my Irish Soda Bread in a 9" x 9" brownie pan. It can be baked in a round pie plate as well so it can be …

What is more traditional than corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day? Try this classic recipe and serve it with horseradish sauce for a new kick. Classic Corned Beef & Cabbage Serves about 6 3-4 large onions — you need one cup diced and the remainder in large chunks 10 medium carrots — you need one cup diced and the remainder in large chunks 3 pounds corned beef brisket, spiced or unspiced. If a spice packet is included, use that. If unspiced, add a dash each of mustard seed, coriander seed, peppercorns, dill seed, whole allspice and 1 bay leaf or a combo of whatever you have on hand ½…

A small flock of red breasted robins swept past me: a tangible harbinger of spring. The signs are unmistakable. Although it may be hard to fathom after a winter that never seemed to get started, warmer days will be upon us before we know it. These next weeks will entail changing wardrobes from winter to summer-wear, putting away the unused sleds and pulling out skateboards and bikes. My boys have already located their baseball gloves, and been to the cages twice. With the change of season we will do away with the cozy comfort foods, and dust off the old grill for the next round of barbecued …

The next time you feel your dinner is in a rut and you grab the pizza delivery menu, consider making your own. This veggie pizza with arugula pesto recipe takes roughly 20 minutes to prep, maximum 35 minutes to cook and serves four people. If you want to make the recipe even more simple, skip step 2 and use a jar of already prepared pesto (Classico or Buitoni brand). Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray 1 pound pizza dough (Pillsbury® Thin Pizza Crust works well) 1 1/2 cups baby arugula leaves, packed loosely 1/2 cup basil, packed loosely, plus 4 leaves 4 cloves of garlic 1 tablespoon lemon …

Are you starting off your day with a bagel and a coffee ... again? It's easy for a breakfast routine to quickly turn into a breakfast rut. People often sacrifice a well-rounded breakfast that helps fuel morning activities and stave off hunger for a quick breakfast loaded with refined carbohydrates and sugar. The goal is to strike a balance: find quick and easy recipes that balance carbohydrates - derived from whole grains, fruits and vegetables - with a lean protein. One protein to consider for breakfast is turkey, which is available in a variety of breakfast-friendly and often gluten-free …

Banana bread is one of my favorite items to bake. It is a moist, delicious, and almost cake-like treat. Since I am a big fan of chocolate, I added chocolate chips and cocoa to my banana bread. The real star of this recipe though is the vanilla greek yogurt. It is just like baking with sour cream because it adds a refreshing moistness. Also, by baking with vanilla greek yogurt, you will avoid the need to use vanilla essance. Ingredients: 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped) 1 cup white sugar 2 eggs 3 very ripe bananas, mashed 1 1/4 cup (10 oz) vanilla greek yogurt 1 teaspoon ground …

This recipe is a little challenging to make only because it requires a lot of patience. But, if you are a fan of flan you will definitely enjoy this dessert. It encompasses two very different consistencies, allowing you to enjoy custard and cake together. This recipe also allows you to learn and showcase different cooking techniques such as making caramel. Ingredients  For caramel: 1 cup white sugar   1/4 cup of water                                                                    For the custard: 6 eggs (yolks and whites)1 cup of sweetened condensed milk1 cup of milk1/4 cup of white …

Ingredients: (Cake) 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sour cream 3 eggs 1 pinch baking soda Handful dried cranberries (or cherries) (Glaze) 1/2 cup powdered sugar Dash vanilla About 2 tablespoons water Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a 8x4 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add sour cream and eggs. Add flour and pinch of soda, mix well. Add cranberries or cherries for flavor/color. Pour into pan and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into …

There's just one week left until Super Bowl XLVI, but Tom Brady and the Patriots aren't the only ones with a lot of preparation to do. On Sunday, Feb. 5, avid and casual fans will join commercial-watchers alike to indulge in hot wings, chips and dip, and all sorts of game day snack foods. So Dover and Sherborn, what's your favorite Super Bowl recipe? Share them with us and your neighbors by posting them in the comments section of this article or e-mailing them to Benjamin.Paulin@Patch.com. If you're headed to a Super Bowl party at a local bar or restaurant, let us know where! If you're …

My mother makes this dessert whenever we have guests over. I used to call it "Pineapple Upside-down Cake" when I was seven years old. It wasn't until years later that I realized there was neither a cake in this recipe nor anything turned upside-down. One thing that did stay constant though between then and now is the mouth wastering taste of this sweet dish. If you don't have time to bake anything before the big game, try this recipe. Not only will it be a big hit with the guests but the ingredients are also inexpensive. Ingredients 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 tub of Cool Whip 1 tsp …

Meringue is very easy to make and requires the least amount of ingredients. It turns out this cake-frosting combination was not only easy to make but took less than an hour to cook and assemble! If you are interested in baking a wonderfully rich chocolate cake, this is the recipe for you. The cake has a deep chocolate flavor combined with the sweet white chocolate meringue frosting that will keep you coming back for more. Ingredients (for the chocolate cake):  3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 …

The ingredients in this recipe have Middle Eastern influence, producing a light but filing burger that is full of flavor. Be aware that these burgers do take a while to cook, but it is definitely worth the wait! You can dress the turkey burger up by adding a bun and condiments, or you can eat it with rice and vegetables or beans. And if you find yourself with leftover uncooked turkey patties, you can always put them in the freezer to cook at a later time.  Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground turkey 1/2 cup yogurt 1/2 cup chopped mint 1 medium sized onion, chopped 2 tbsp spicy mustard 4 tbsp …

Looking to start that New Year's resolution to eat healthy the right way? Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, folic acid, and potassium. One medium sweet potato contains about three grams of fiber and just 160 calories, making it a good nutritional choice any time of year. Covered in coconut milk, spices, and topped off with fresh mint and cilantro, it is a good choice for your taste buds too! Ingredients: ½ teaspoon mustard seeds ½ teaspoon fennel seeds 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 ½ teaspoon curry powder 1 cup coconut milk 1 cup …