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by Brooke
Hands down, one of the comfiest comfort foods around. Creamy, cheesy, packed with veggies, and warm pasta. It’s perfect for a cold winter night or a quick prep before a summer baseball game. It’s also excellent (Jay argues better) frozen and reheated. So make lots and freeze some for later! From our table to yours, Chicken Spaghetti!! Ingredients: 16 oz thin spaghetti 8 cups … Read More Chicken Spaghetti
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by Brooke
My first three stops when I cross the Texas state line are Whataburger for a number 1- add jalapenos, Bucees for all things Texas, and HEB for veggie chips and jalapeno artichoke dip. (And that’s just the beginning of my quest to eat my way through the state.) Now, I won’t claim that this recipe is quite as good as HEB’s but it’ll definitely … Read More HEB Jalapeno Artichoke Dip
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by Brooke
Every good Texan knows two things about Kolaches: One, you never drive through West or Caldwell without stopping to get some, and two, you always get enough to share. At the holidays, coordinating who will bring kolaches is just as important as coordinating who’s making turkey and dressing. (At our house, we count on Aunt Cindy and Uncle Paul.) There are lots of chain … Read More Kolaches
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by Brooke
Think Cheddar Bay Biscuit meets Chicken and Dumplings. Yeah, no introduction necessary. A cheesy pie crust with a traditional pot pie filling…. It’s pretty much the epitome of all things comfort. The Crust: 5 c. flour 2 c. butter 1 1/4 c. milk 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar The Filling: 1 cup peeled and sliced carrots 2 stalks celery, finely chopped 1/2 purple … Read More Cheddar Chicken Pot Pie
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by Brooke
My great-great grandmother was known for her sweet caramel pie and her even sweeter spirit. She was alive until she was 99 years young. Unfortunately for me, she suffered from Alzheimer’s most of the 15 years I got to know her, so I never got to try that legendary caramel pie. But I do hear about it year after year, so this holiday season, … Read More Apple Pear Caramel Pie
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by Brooke
This mornings’ church sermon was all about embracing interruptions in our lives….you know, when things don’t quite go according to our plans. In true God fashion, that was exactly what I needed to hear today. Because, you see, this whole past week has been one big, fat interruption. It was fall break. I had big plans of wooing my kids with movies, chic-fil-a lunch dates, … Read More Pecan Apple Pie
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by Brooke
Social media is covered up with everyone declaring their love for fall…the cooler temperatures, the colorful leaves, the sweaters, the campfires, the boots, and the food. Oh, for the love of fall foods. And I’m a sucker for every single bit of it. September 1st, I practically skipped around the farm wearing flannel and decorating with pumpkins and mums and hay bales. If I … Read More Brisket Chili
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by Brooke
My tomatoes have overtaken an entire half of my garden this year. Keep in mind, I’d allocated about a sixth. I’m not sure how it happened, but six plants have given me well over 200 beautiful, deep red, delicious tomatoes. We eat lots of store-bought tomatoes year round, but I love, like really love, the fresh-from-the-garden variety during the summer. Aside from all the … Read More Spaghetti Sauce
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by Brooke
2017 at The Smokin F will definitely go down as the summer of Tomatoes and Cukes. Salsa, pickles, spaghetti sauce, pickles, BLT’s, more pickles, fresh with mozzarella and basil, even more pickles….we’ve had both more ways than I thought were possible. And all have been glorious. While we got experimental with the tomatoes, we knew all we wanted from our boatloads of cucumbers….was boatloads … Read More Crispy Dill Pickles
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by Brooke
I have literally never made this. True story. Call me spoiled rotten, but my Mimi does this every year, so no one else even thinks about making it. Partially because she’s amazing at it. And partially because the thought of chopping neck and liver doesn’t particularly put me in the holiday spirit. But this year, I don’t have a choice. I’m in Tennessee … Read More Mimi’s Giblet Gravy
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by Brooke
I can’t be the only one who heavily weights a restaurant’s credibility by its ranch dressing. I mean, right? Bad ranch = bad restaurant. So for 3 years, I’ve played with a homemade recipe. I’ve toyed with low fat, fat free, whole milk, sour cream, mayo and even heavy cream. While I felt very Ree Drummind making it completely from scratch, I was severely … Read More Buttermilk Ranch
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by Brooke
In Texas, the beginning of fall is mostly just a date on the calendar. It’s still hangs around 90 degrees and displays varying shades of brown. While that never stopped me from cranking down my a/c and breaking out my fall wardrobe, I’m pretty excited about living in the land of cooler temperatures and hills covered with oranges and yellows and reds this year. … Read More Ham, Potato & Cheese Soup
