Natural All Purpose Cleaner

Today is a little bit different kind of recipe for me. If you have followed me for any length of time, you will know that over the last year I have been working to dramatically cut the amount of chemicals I use in my home and in my life.   One of the ways I have done this is by making my own, all …

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Crockpot Beef Tips w/ Mushroom Gravy

Even though the weather is getting warmer, we've been getting A LOT of rain.  I'm not going to lie, rain does not bring out the productivity in me. So on those long and rainy spring days, I like to throw something warm and hearty into the slow cooker and let it do all the work while take a…

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Perfect Crisp Potatoes

(This is from a previous post I did about a year ago, but I thought I would spruce it up a bit for ya.  If you want to see what I'm talking about click HERE .) Who doesn't love a great batch of fries? I will confess that I have been known to request fries, without salt, while in the drive-th…

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Perfect Steak Fajitas

I love steak! I said it.  I'm not ashamed!  Nothing beats the flavor of great beef.  The thing is, steak can get pricey. But don't let that discourage you.  With my Perfect Steak Fajitas you can have a great steak dinner, that will feed 4-6 people, for UNDER $20!  YES!!!  Isn't that aw…

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Dear Kitchen Wife: Vol. 1

So often I get asked questions about substitutions, technique, cooking temperatures, and more.  Most of the time I answer these questions on a personal basis, but I thought it would be fun to, once a week, answer a "Dear Kitchen Wife" with you all.  This way we can all grow and learn new…

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Cheesy Sour Cream Noodle Bake

As a cook, I am always trying to broaden my horizons. Whether it's trying new and exotic flavors, or learning new technique, I am always up for the challenge.  Recently those challenges have led me to the world of casseroles.  I know crazy, right!?!  But the truth is, casseroles were not some…

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Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Asparagus is probably one of the favorite vegetables in my family.  I'm pretty sure I could serve it every night and no one would complain.  My personal favorite way to eat it is roasted.  A little olive oil, some lemon pepper seasoning, salt, PERFECTION.  However, just when I thought roasted …

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Honey Glazed Ham

I'm pretty sure at least half of the homes across the nation were serving some sort of ham this past Sunday.  Why?  Because it was Easter Sunday, and well, that's what you serve on Easter, right? And how difficult is ham?  I mean honestly, you put in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes per p…

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Ravioli w/ Smoked Sausage & Caprese Alfredo

I know I have said this time and time again, but my pantry is my greatest source of inspiration. The other night I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner.  I hadn't really had a chance to make a menu and go to the store, so went to the pantry and fridge to see what I had on hand.  I…

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Roasted Broccoli and Potatoes

I have a new food addiction. I know I may be late to the game with this one, but the other evening I was talking to my friend Catherine about new ways to make broccoli, and she said to me "Have you ever tried roasting it?"  I was like "No, why would I do that?"  She replied &q…

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Guinness Braised Short Ribs over Polenta

Last week was a crazy week in the Pogue house. It seemed like every night we had something going on, and the weekend was shaping up to be pretty busy as well.  That is when I decided I wanted dinner on Friday night to be something extra special for Studhubs.  I had some time on my hands that day,…

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Chicken & Strawberry Salad w/ Balsamic Poppy Seed Dressing

The weather has been all over the place hasn't it? One minute it's 70 degrees and sunny.  The next, x-amount of inches of snow on the ground.  It's okay though.  Spring is pushing it's way through, and that makes me happy!  So happy in fact that I am out grilling any time I can, a…

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Cauliflower Soup

I have a problem. Sometimes I buy things at the store with the best intentions to use them for this, that, and the other. However life happens, and before I know it, I HAVE to use said item or I am going to lose it! Does anyone else have this problem? This is what happened to me tonight.  I had …

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Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

If you follow me on just about any of my social medias you will know that I am passionate about shopping local and eating local.  Because of that my husband and I have been purchasing our beef, in bulk, from local farmers.  This year we decided to purchase from  Foggy Dale Farms in Richie Co .,  and…

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McCafè Coffee Affogato

This McCafè Coffee Recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #McCafeMyWay #CollectiveBias Life can get so hectic, can't it. There is work, family, errands, housework, and every thing in between.  Sometimes I feel like I am walking arou…

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Mussels w/ Linguine

Some of you may remember the January Va. Beach trip I took for my birthday.  Well, on this trip my friends took me to this great seafood buffet called Captain George's .  I will confess, I was not super excited.  Why?  Because I am not a seafood lover, but I willingly went along and thought &qu…

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Easy Chicken Curry Recipe

Many of you may know that, though I reside in West Virginia, half of my heart lives in Peru, Indiana with my step-daughter and grand children.  This past weekend Studhubs went up to see them while I stayed home to take care of Momma Pogue.  It is on weekends like this that I REALLY get adventurous…

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REESE'S Mini Peanut Butter Pies

This  shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnackTalk  #CollectiveBias  Though it is officially still a few days off, spring has sprung in the Mid-Ohio Valley!  With that comes the big basketball tournament which means parties and get tog…

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Chipotle Chicken Sausage Stir Fry Recipe

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Mushroom Tortellini in a Brown Butter & Sage Sauce

It's Monday, the sun is FINALLY shining, and the snow is beginning to melt.  All of these things has my mood in a good place, and since Spring is starting to show her face around here, I thought today would be a good day for a Meatless Monday dish! Some people shy away from meatless meals, but…

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Homemade Swedish Meatballs

Every once in a while my husband gets a "hankerin'" for something and asks me to make it.  It doesn't happen very often, but when it does I'm usually happy to comply.  Recently he was craving Swedish Meatballs.  Of course I smiled and said "Sure, I can do that", but…

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Perfect Pasta e Fagioli

Well, it looks like we are about to have another huge winter storm come through the Mid Ohio Valley.  And though I have had my fill of winter already, I have decided to take it all in stride!  So when life gives you the possibility of 10 inches of snow, make Pasta e Fagioli!  Yes, this Italian st…

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Dirty Rice

Sometimes I feel like the humble side dish gets a bad wrap.  You know what I mean.  So many times we just throw something on the plate to compliment an amazing entree, but what if it could be more?  What if a side dish was so flavorful, so filling, yet amazingly simple, that I dare say it could be…

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How to Make Easy Blackened Chicken

Can I be transparent with you for just a moment? This past two weeks have been a NIGHTMARE!  Sickness ran rampant through my home, but I am happy to say that after two trips to the doctor, two prescriptions, and countless over-the-counter medications, I am starting to feel like a human again! With…

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Italian Lentil Soup

I AM SO COLD! I don't know how else to put it!  We have had a lot of snow recently.  Not NEARLY as much as some places, but a lot for us.  And this cold.  It is so brutal.  When the weather is like this I will be honest with you, all I want is soup to eat.  However, soup is not always a hearty…

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Roasted Truffle & Parmesan Fingerling Potatoes

Yesterday I mentioned that chicken is America's go-to protein, and if chicken is our go-to protein, then potatoes are our go-to side dish. I love potatoes.  I really do.  I like them mashed, boiled, fried, baked, roasted, you name it, I love it.  But sometimes potatoes can get a little monoto…

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Lemon Pepper Chicken

Where would the American home cook be without chicken?  Whole chicken, fryer chicken, skinless chicken, boneless skinless.  I would be willing to say that 4 out of the 7 nights a week you will find chicken on the table.  That's why I am ALWAYS on the lookout for quick, simple, but flavorful ch…

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Stuffed Shells

The weather in our area has been crazy.  One day it will be sub-zero temperatures, with tons of snow and ice, and the next day it will be 60 degrees and sunny.  No wonder half of the Mid-Ohio Valley is down with the flu.  I have been lucky enough to escape the flu bug, but I HAVE been battling a n…

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The World's Best Chocolate Fudge Recipe

So here we are, the 13th of February, and it is the last post of my Choc-o-Palooza.  It has been a rough week, but I have pressed through, for you, my precious, precious readers. Oh who are we kidding!  It has been a great week!  An ENTIRE week of CHOCOLATE!  No one in this house has been complai…

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Crockpot Peanut Cluster Candy

Has this been a great week or what!?! I know for me it has, and I KNOW it has for Studhubs!  (He thanks you all for this by the way.)  We have chocolate on every counter of my kitchen, and the hits just keep on coming! Today I am going to share one of my very favorite candies, peanut clusters.  N…

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The Ultimate Chocolate Cake

Chocolate cake. I'm pretty sure I could stop right there and those two words would say it all, but this For the Love of Chocolate Cake , oh my, it is taking things to a whole other level.  I first experienced this cake at a church dinner many years ago.  The lady who brought it told me how to …

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Studhub's No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

This week I have decided to change it up a little on the blog. Since it is the week before Valentine's Day, I am going to focus my kitchen energies on all things chocolate!  This came about when Studhubs (aka my husband John) asked me if he could play in the kitchen on Saturday.  I said "…

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Poor Man's Vegetable Beef Soup

What a wild and crazy weekend! I don't even remember what I did Friday, but I DO know that Saturday was emotional to say the least.  If you follow me in Facebook , you know that my husband and I got our first smoker recently.  To christen our smoker we decided to smoke a Boston butt or pork shou…

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Oven Baked Sweet and Spicy Asian Hot Wings

It's Friday, and this Sunday is the BIGGEST game of the NFL football season, the Super Bowl!  And when I say Super Bowl I KNOW the first thing that comes to your mind is WINGS!  Oh man, who doesn't love a good chicken wing?  However, when you are planning a party, you don't want to be s…

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Crockpot Lemon Chicken

So as you know, a couple of weeks ago, I took a winter trip to Virginia Beach. If you follow me on Facebook , you will also know that I literally spent an entire day going to posh kitchen supply and grocery stores.  While you are perusing around these establishments, you can bet your bottom dollar t…

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Nachos Supreme Recipe

Okay, it's been a busy week.  You've had work, errands, housework, the kids had a thousand places to be.  You barely had time to make dinner.  However, here you are, Super Bowl Sunday and YOU HAVE NO SNACKS!!!  What are you going to do!?!  You HAVE to have snacks for the big game!  Don…

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