Foodwhirl Page for Karen

How to make Mint Juleps

Republished from April 2010 This weekend is the Kentucky Derby, and last weekend was the Atlanta Steeplechase.  To me, this season means Mint Juleps, a refreshing minty alcoholic drink.  Easy to prepare, although it does take some prep time. One day in advance make the Mint Simple Syrup and refrigerate. The day of the race, […]

Chocolate Hearts

Editor’s Note: this was originally published for last year, but I thought it would be fun to see again! For the last few years, the hubby and I have spent Valentine’s Day with our good friends Grieg and Dennis for dinner and a movie.  This year, Grieg came up with the idea to make your […]

Spinach croquettes

I was one of those picky eater kids who would never eat vegetables.  I would gag, cry, induce vomit – anything to not eat my green beans.  Once, during a family vacation to Cape Cod, my uncle placed celery stalks in the shape of a cross outside my bedroom door to keep me in bed. […]

Sweet Potato Fries

These are great for Summer cookouts! -ed We weren’t always fans of sweet potatoes in this house, but that wasn’t the fault of the sweet potato – it was ignorance on our part. Our only knowledge of this orange potato was the mashed and topped with marshmallows version served as a Thanksgiving casserole. Not that […]

Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken is one of my loves, along with chocolate, mint juleps and David Tennant’s Dr. Who.  However, like most things I love, it’s something that I can only have in small amounts. Why is that?  Why do we love that which is bad for us?  Why can’t fried chicken be a HEALTHY meal? That […]

Braised Beef Cannelloni

This recipe came out of a desire to use the beef pot roast that was on sale without actually making POT ROAST AGAIN. I mean, I love pot roast.  But I get sick of it. See, here’s a scenario for you:  you find a great price on an inexpensive cut of beef, the kind that […]

Scottish Eggs

Traditionally, a Scotch egg consists of a hard-boiled egg, peeled, wrapped in sausage, coated in bread crumbs and fried. What’s not to love. Prepare ahead of time, wrap and bring on a picnic! Ingredients: one dozen eggs 2lbs bulk breakfast sausage breadcrumbs oil Boil eggs until completely cooked.  Chill and peel shell. Rolls eggs in […]

Loosemeat Sandwiches

This is a messy sandwich. But that’s ok. I’m told there is a sandwich similar to this, a Maid-Rite, out of Ohio or Iowa or Illinois.  Maybe Wisconsin.  I have no idea – just passing along what I’ve been told in the interest of full disclosure.  Cause I like to disclose it all. I just […]

How to boil an egg (so the shell peels off easily)

Anyone who has ever tried to peel an egg shell easily (and unsuccessfully)  knows that this isn’t as intuitive as one may think. 1. Place eggs in deep pot. 2. Cover eggs with cold water.  Cover pot with lid. 3. Place on stovetop over high heat.  Bring to boil. 4. Immediately at boiling, move pot […]

The Italian Meatball

It has taken me years to perfect the Italian meatball.  I have yet to find a restaurant that makes it to my standards.  And yes, I am very well aware that it’s most likely my standards that are the problem and not the restaurants, but let’s just thank me for my 15+ years of meatball […]

Chicken Meatballs

I love meatballs.  But who doesn’t? This chicken meatball recipe is a nice departure from the standard beef meatballs – less fat but still moist and flavorful.  Recipe as listed includes cream cheese and Parmesan cheese but shredded sharp cheddar works as well. One thing to note is that the mixture is extremely wet and […]

Irish Soda Bread

I rarely seem to make the same recipe twice.  Boredom mostly. But with corned beef, comes cabbage.  And with corned beef & cabbage comes Irish soda bread. This recipe is not the true Irish soda bread I remember from my youth.  There is no buttermilk or seeds in this recipe, and it is definitely more […]

Guinness Corned Beef

Right now Niki is detailing how to actually corn a beef over in the Seasonal/Holiday category —–> How I got lucky There are still some days remaining until St. Patricks Day, so there is still time to brine your own Corned Beef.  For the first time ever I am actually considering it.  Niki is an […]

Brussels Sprout

Wow – do Brussels Sprout have a bad rap.  Never has there been a vegetable so maligned without basis. Foolish person (aka my husband):  “Like, OMG Brussels Sprouts are like, so gross!” Me:  “Have you ever had one before?” Foolish person:  “No.  I don’t need to have one to know how much I hate it!” […]

Lasagna

Everyone has their favorite lasagna recipe.  This is mine.  And while others are probably more authentic to Italy, this is pretty durn authentic to my Sicilian grandmother, my mother, and my New Jersey Italian relatives although I have made some changes over the years. I’ve tried many recipes, and many variations.  I’ve added spinach, I’ve […]

Dirty Rice with Smoked Sausage

I came across this dish after a  friend posted the Food Network link to it on Facebook .  I saw the ingredients (all pantry/freezer staples) and the time involved (sub 30 minutes) and immediately put it on my weekly menu.  I buy in bulk when on sale, so this entire recipe fed all of us […]

Cheesecake cupcakes
Cheesecake Cookie Cupcakes

You had me at cheesecake. Another recipe from Grieg Wehr, a true Renaissance man – photographer, entertainer, and…nanny. Well, he prefers “manny”. Grieg brought these to a recent party and as he put the finishing touches on them, all the party guests followed him from the kitchen (where all party guests seem to accumulate) to […]

About Karen

Hello, my name is Karen and I am NOT a foodie. I do however, like to eat. A lot. I like to eat a lot of food…a lot. My approach to food has its’ basis in four tenets: 1. I love to cook 2. I despise artificial ingredients of any kind. 3. I am frugal. […]