Mexican Pasta Salad Recipe with Tortellini

Y'all it's my favorite time of year, BBQ SEASON! Nothing gets my heart pumping like firing up the grill, lighting up the smoker, and creating some outdoor cooking goodness.  Burgers, chicken, ribs, you name it, I love it all.  The thing I don't love, however, is trying to come up with sides to bring to said BBQ's when invited.  You know what I'm talking about, the sign-up list goes around for the church picnic and you instantly go into panic mode because WHAT ON EARTH CAN I POSSIBLY BRING THAT CAN COMPETE WITH SALLY MAY'S FUNERAL POTATOES!?!  And if that's not you WHO ARE YOU and WHAT'S YOUR RECIPE because I need it in my life!  All kidding aside, this time I'm going into the BBQ season with a game plan and that game plan is my Mexican Pasta Salad with Tortellini! 

Packed full of hearty vegetables, zesty spices, and a tortellini surprise, this Mexican Pasta Salad is about to breath new life into your pasta salad game!  I can't wait to share it with you so...

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How to Make Sausage Gravy Recipe

Though today's recipe is not the most extravagant I have ever posted, it may very well be the most important.  It's the recipe that would eventually lead to me starting The Kitchen Wife.  The recipe that changed everything, Sausage Gravy.

Let me set the stage for you.  It's May in the year 2000, and I've been married approximately 48 hours.  It's the first morning of our honeymoon in a cabin located deep in the mountains of West Virginia. My brand new husband has asked me to make his very favorite breakfast for him, sausage gravy and biscuits.  Long story short, it was a disaster and I was so embarrassed.  This is when I realized that coming from a family of great cooks doesn't mean you can cook, and it was in this moment I decided that I would spend a lifetime learning how to cook. This way I would never have to experience this humiliation again. So here we are, 18 years later, and I'm making this recipe for you on my RECIPE BLOG (what!?!), where I teach people how to make the food we love, in a way that anyone can be successful at!

So it is my privilege to share with you my very special recipe for Sausage Gravy!  I know you're going to love it so...

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Pea and Asparagus Carbonara Recipe

You may or may not realize this, but here in West Virginia we have a huge Italian culture. In the early 1900’s immigrants settled here to find their fortunes in the coal mining industry.  Ironically enough, one of the dishes they brought with them to this region was carbonara.  Carbonara (translated as burning coals) is a humble dish made of simple ingredients such as cheese, egg, and pasta sprinkled with a heavy dose of pepper which reminded the miners wives of coal dust.  Knowing that West Virginia has a deep coal mining heritage, this dish is well, perfect.  

Now that we are well into spring I find myself inspired by the produce of the season, so today I am sharing with you my Pea and Asparagus Carbonara Recipe!  It’s absolutely amazing and so simple to make, I know you’re gonna love it so...

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Beef Tips with Mushroom Gravy Recipe

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Y'all, I'm married to the cutest man on the planet.  I really am.  For the most part he's a simple man.  Give him meat and potatoes with the occasional side of peas and he's a happy camper.  That's why this recipe for Beef Tips with Mushroom Gravy is right up his alley.  Hearty beef, creamy gravy, tender mushrooms, it doesn't get any better than that right!?!  Well, I would 100% agree with you except this recipe was inspired by his second great passion in life, World of Warcraft!

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Recipe

I live in West Virginia.  Around here we talk a little slower, wave to everyone like we know them, and you can bet your bottom dollar that EVERYONE has a casserole recipe (or two) that they can whip up in their sleep without even thinking about it!  This Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Recipe is just that!

This is one of those dump and go kinda casseroles that require very little preparation which makes it PERFECT for any busy night!  I know you're going to LOVE this one so...

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Garlic and Herb Chicken with Asparagus Recipe

Do you ever see something on The Food Network, a blog, or cookbook and think to yourself "WHAT!?!  That's mind-blowing!"  That's exactly how I felt the other day while watching my Instastories on Instagram!  I honestly don't remember who it was, but SOMEONE was making pan roasted chicken and instead of marinating the chicken or pre-seasoning it, she created this flavor bomb IN THE PAN that developed the most gorgeous crust on her chicken I have ever seen!  

I was like OH EM GEE I HAVE to try this, so that's what I did!  All I'm going to say is HOLY MOLY my chicken game will never be the same again!  This recipe for Garlic and Herb Chicken with Asparagus is so easy that I literally made it live on Instagram in about 16 minutes!  You're going to LOVE this recipe so...

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Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potato Recipe

I don't know about you, but the one thing I struggle with most when it comes to meal planning is sides.  Growing up we always had some form of meat and two sides at every meal.  That's a lot of pressure.  lol  One of my favorites were these rosemary, pan roasted, red potatoes my dad made.  True story, I LOVED when there were one or two left in the pan after supper to nibble on while I cleaned the kitchen as well as any crispy bits!  I was thinking of that recipe the other day while meal planning and thought I would try my own take on it and that is where these Roasted Garlic Parmesan Potatoes were born.  

Tender on the inside, crisp on the out, and PACKED full of flavor I could eat these little gems ALL DAY LONG!  I know you're gonna love them so...

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