This Creamy Tomato Sauce is a great tomato-based pasta sauce with a luxurious and satisfying creaminess that makes for a nice change from traditional marinara on spaghetti night. If there's any cooking skill that I HIGHLY recommend everyone developing, it's knowing how to make a few sauces. Once you've got a few sauce methods in...
Pasta
Shrimp Linguine with White Wine Cream Sauce
Creamy Shrimp Linguine in a Parmesan white wine cream sauce with fresh spinach and grape tomatoes makes for an impressive yet easy weeknight meal. I know, I know. This sounds fancy and complicated. Hear me out though... It's not complicated. It's quick and easy. A weeknight meal favorite in our house for sure. Shrimp cooks...
Creamy Chicken and Noodles
Sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day (or night) for a perfectly planned out menu. I call those days Tuesdays. When Michael and I were dating, he used to cook up some chicken breasts and some white rice, and then make a sauce with cream of chicken soup. It was a very filling,...
Spicy Mac and Cheese with Grilled Chicken
There are some things I will never outgrow. Today I get to travel to Walt Disney World in Orlando to attend Food Blog Forum 2015, my first blogging event. I've wanted to go to an event for a while, and Kitchen Joy just had its 2nd birthday so this seemed an appropriate way to celebrate....
Spinach and Chicken White Lasagna
In the battle between white sauce lasagna and red sauce lasagna, I am a firm believer in calling it a tie. Why should anyone have to choose between two so incredible dishes that are sure to please almost anyone? One of my favorite menus for a casual dinner gathering is making one of each. There’s...
Tuna Noodle Casserole
My mission: To create a fantastic Tuna Noodle Casserole that involves no canned soup and will put all other versions to shame. It's not much to look at, but let me tell you...It is amazing. People often comment to Michael and I about how on earth we don't weigh 500 pounds, considering the fact that...
Venison Goulash
American-style goulash made with venison might as well be called Michigan Goulash. Around here, November 15 marks the beginning of the guys' favorite weekend of the year, and a time affectionately referred to as Widow's Weekend complete with sales and promotions for the ladies who have the itch to shop while the boys go to deer...
Homemade Gnocchi with Creamy Gorgonzola Sauce
If there's one thing I thought would be easier to get used to while living here, it would be the lack of conversation. In two months, I have only spoken to my husband of course, and my family a few times via Skype. Everything else is patchy Italian for survival. While I'm definitely not lacking...
Bolognese (Ragù alla Bolognese)
All meat sauces are not created equal. While there's nothing wrong with tossing some ground beef into your favorite tomato sauce, there happens to be a much better, more authentic way to prepare a meat sauce that will sort of take your breath away. Believe me-- this is coming from the person who likes ground...
Pasta with Zucchini and Ricotta
There are a lot of things Italy does really well. For one, they really respect their ingredients. You don't have to speak their language to see that it is deeply ingrained in their heritage. You only really eat what you grow yourself, or what is grown in your immediate vicinity. You're buying from the person...
Spinach Mushroom Skillet Lasagna
Three weeks from today I will be on a plane with my Hubby headed across the ocean to live in Italy for a few months. Let's just say that I've got LOTS to do between now and then, but I don't want to skimp on home cooking either. That's where this recipe comes in. Spinach...
One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
After a long weekend of fun in the sun, an easy weeknight meal is just what we need to settle back in to the swing of things. Fresh basil, juicy red tomatoes, garlic, onion, and linguine are all you need to make this One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta. Just cook, stir, and then enjoy. The results...
Thai Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry
Hubby loves spicy noodles. I love chicken, and anything/everything involving peanut butter. This recipe was a match made in heaven. Just like us. (Swoon) This recipe for Thai Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry is quick and easy, and bursting with flavor. Feel free to adapt the amount of chili sauce to your own preferences. If you make...
Shrimp Pad Thai
This recipe has been a long time coming. My Hubby has been begging and pleading with me to make him a homemade version of one of his favorite dishes. Given the fact that I am quite a wimp when it comes to my tolerance level to spiciness, this endeavor was actually a bit nerve-wracking for...
Cheesy Shrimp and Lobster Penne
Sometimes you just need to add a little something special to your mac and cheese. How about using amazing cheeses, like Fontina, Aged White Cheddar, and Asiago Fresco? If that's not enough, how about some seafood? Now we're talking. Super cheesy. Super creamy. Super amazing. Fontina and Aged White Cheddar give this cheesy sauce a...
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
This was the first time I have ever made Spaghetti alla Carbonara and I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. I knew that Hubby would like it, considering it contains pancetta and eggs and pasta. What's not to love, right? I, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. I'm not a...
Homestyle Turkey Noodle Soup
When it comes to soup, homemade is just better than store-bought. In my previous experiences making homemade stock (usually chicken), I didn't roast the bones in the oven prior to making the stock like I did this time. This method gives a more complex depth of flavor. What better way to use up leftover turkey?...
Mushroom and Leek Pasta with Garlic Bruschette
Note- This post was updated with new photos in 2020. My week spent cooking from Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking by Gordon Ramsay has been delectably delightful. He has long been one of my favorite celebrity chefs, but until now, I haven't cooked very many of his recipes. Better late than never, but I definitely plan...
Lobster Macaroni & Cheese
Nobody is ever too old to enjoy a good bowl of mac & cheese. It's especially "grown-up" in this version which includes freshly steamed lobster. I love Gruyere (from Switzerland- Sorry, Wisconsin!) and combined with extra-sharp cheddar, this is a fabulous homemade macaroni and cheese that I will no doubt be making again soon. Lobster...
Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
The fact that these meatballs are a lighter and healthier version instead of the traditional beef/pork/veal mix is not why I made them. The truth of the matter is that I don't care for ground beef... at all. I can make peace with it on some occasions, but when you taste these turkey meatballs I think...