As I remember it, trick or treating is hard work. Lots of walking, in what is invariably an uncomfortable costume, that heavy bag of candy and keeping your best manners on under all that stress. But the promise of a seemingly endless supply of fun-size candy bars made it all worthwhile. I even liked the stripey, crunchy peanut butter Mary Janes and the peanut … [Read more...] about Creamy Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Manicotti
pasta
Kielbasa Pasta with Honey Mustard Sauce
We are in the transitional season. Not quite full on fall, but summer vacation is definitely over. This is a nice, hearty pasta with flavors that bridge that gap between summer and fall. Stone ground mustard provides a nice tang and texture, but the hit of the bright yellow version deepens the mustard flavor. The honey adds a subtle sweetness that pairs well … [Read more...] about Kielbasa Pasta with Honey Mustard Sauce
Tomato, Brie and Herb Pasta
I’ve been making this dish for years, decades if I'm honest. I really thought it was my own unique creation, and I patted myself on the back for its genius every time I made it. It’s been my date night dinner, my decadent solo treat and my impressive meal for friends. I made it in my first apartment kitchen and shared it with my first house roommate. It dates, for me, to a … [Read more...] about Tomato, Brie and Herb Pasta
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Country Ham and Leeks
From the first time I made macaroni and cheese, I’ve used this basic recipe, with the sauce you simply stir up. We were not a big macaroni and cheese family, and never had any version from the box until college, when the hot pot was our main cooking apparatus and I had an ingenious roommate. I think I might have originally found the recipe in a kids’ cookbook, but I don’t … [Read more...] about Creamy Macaroni and Cheese with Country Ham and Leeks
Creamy Bacon and Spinach Rigatoni
I love a simple dish with a little something special. This is such an easy weeknight dinner, with the smoky flavor of bacon, the bright color and fresh bite of spinach and a creamy sauce that is surprisingly simple. I prefer to use regular spinach, not the baby spinach sold in the salad section, which I find really ticky to cut into pieces and remove stems. I love the big, … [Read more...] about Creamy Bacon and Spinach Rigatoni
