American Food

It's time to break the habit of preparing the same old chicken dishes. If you're like me, you serve chicken for dinner more often than you'd like to admit. Plus, when you stop to think about it, you're probably cycling through the same five or six recipes over and over again. So why not shake things up a bit and try some new variations? Recipes like Chicken with Fresh Orange Salsa, or Chicken Fricassee with Asparagus and Fresh Dill, and Garlic and Fennel Grilled Chicken will provide just the lift your weeknight meals may need.

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Personally, I feel that breakfast or brunch for mom on Mother's Day is way overdone. So I propose that you do something different this year and instead satisfy mom's sweet tooth with a wonderful homemade dessert. Here are some perfect sweet recipes just right for celebrating the most important woman in your life!

Ultimate Chocolate Layer Cake

Mocha Caramel Custard

Apple Cake with Caramel Glaze

Luscious Lemon Bars

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America's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, is happening in just a few days. And even though the race lasts just a couple of minutes, the pomp and circumstance that surrounds it is astounding. But I say forget about the Derby hat parade that takes place inside Churchill Downs and the two weeks of parties that lead up to the race, and let's talk about what I consider to be the best part - the area's famous food! Because really, what would the Kentucky Derby be without a Mint Julep, a slice of Kentucky Derby Chocolate Bourbon Pie, the famous Benedictine spread, or a real, authentic bowl of Kentucky Burgoo? Well, it'd just be another day at the races.

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Bring the waffle iron out of hiding and try these delicious recipes. You might reserve the waffle iron just for breakfast― and probably just on the weekend at that. But I say leave it out on the counter and make waffles during the week. They're so easy, and you can even make the batter ahead.

Lemon Waffles with Fresh Blueberries

Applesauce Waffles

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What's not to love about grilled pizza? Cooking the crust over the intense heat of an open fire gives it a smoky, crispness on the outside and a light, chewy texture on the inside. Plus, it's an easy technique to master. The key is to have everything ready, because once the dough goes on the grill, the toppings follow in about a minute. Give these recipes a try, and soon you may have a successful pizzeria right in your own backyard.

Grilled Tomato Pizza with Prosciutto and Basil
Grilled Pizza with Sausage and Broccoli Raab

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Nothing beats the taste of a homemade smooth, creamy, slide-through-your-teeth pudding or custard. One bite of these desserts and I'm transported back to my childhood where it seemed every cook in our neighborhood claimed their own special recipe for rice, bread, or chocolate pudding. Today, homemade puddings are harder to come by, but they are so easy to make and really, the taste is far superior to the versions that come out of a package. Treat yourself and those you care about and try one of these recipes - you won't be disappointed!

Strawberry Rice Pudding
Decadent Chocolate Rice Pudding with Caramel Sauce
Old-Fashioned Butterscotch Pudding
Mocha Caramel Custard

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T. S. Eliot wrote in his poem "The Waste Land," that April was the "cruellest month" - well, he was living in England at the time, and the weather there can be dreadfully rainy and cold during spring. But from a cook's point of view, April is anything but cruel. The month brings us some of the freshest, most wonderful foods. Consider the first stalks of rhubarb, ripe strawberries, sugar snap peas, asparagus, fiddlehead ferns, artichokes, tiny peas, and so much more. If you're a cook, you'll probably agree that April is the most "splendid" month.

Try some of the these great spring dishes:

Pasta with Asparagus Pesto
Spring Pea and Asparagus Pasta Primavera
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

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Forget about the cherry blossoms and tulips, the first sighting of a robin, pastel colored sweaters, or even the opening of the baseball and fishing season. The real sign that spring is here is the abundance of fresh, thin asparagus at the grocery stores and markets. Now's when these delicate, tender spears are at their best and least expensive - and will be for a couple of months to come. So don't miss out!

Try some of these terrific recipes:

10 Delicious Ways to Enjoy Asparagus

My first introduction to "rhubarb" was as a slang word for squabbling or confusion. Growing up, my dad or uncles would respond to quarrels among kids with "What's all the rhubarb?" Or, if someone was talking nonsense, you might hear "Don't listen to that bunch of rhubarb." So you can imagine my amazement the first time I was served rhubarb to eat.

I can see the correlation between its slang meaning and its flavor though: Rhubarb has a bitter bite that needs sweetening and coaxing. But once you tame its sharpness, you begin to love its tart taste.

In my opinion, there's no better way to showcase these rosy-colored stalks (which are in season right now) than with fresh strawberries in a pastry crust.  If you've never tasted homemade Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie, then you don't know what you're missing  - and that's no rhubarb.

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When it comes to cookies, there are just too many good ones out there to pick a favorite. From chewy oatmeal and smooth peanut butter to the ubiquitous chocolate chip and fresh lemon bars, there's a cookie out there to suit every mood, every taste, and every occasion. And the best part is, they're so easy to make, almost anyone cake bake them - plus, few things compare to the aroma of delicious cookies baking away in the oven.

No matter what the time of year, time of day, or weather outside, there's no better time to bake up a batch and satisfy the cookie monster lurking in us all.

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