One Year Later…

by Lana on February 7, 2010 · 2 comments

Has it really been a year already? I can hardly believe it. Last year on Superbowl Sunday I sat down at the computer and started this blogging adventure. It has been so much fun and one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in a very long time. All along the way I’ve met some super nice people. I’ve cooked a lot. I’ve gone from photographing with a cheap point and shoot camera to trying to learn to use a DSLR.  Still working on that part :-)

Since I started Never Enough Thyme one year ago, I’ve made 115 posts and all of you have left 1,119 comments. Not bad. Not bad at all. To mark the one year anniversary, I thought I’d share with you some of the most popular of those 115 posts.

The most visited post, by far, was the Slow Cooker Ribs. I would have never guessed when I posted that one that it would be so popular! But you all really went for that one. Some of your other favorites were:

  • Seafood Casserole - this one was published online by Saveur Magazine and ran a close second to the Slow Cooker  Ribs. Saveur publishing this recipe was one of the highlights of the whole year for me.
  • Bistro Chicken - No surprise there! This one is easy to prepare and the whole family will love it.
  • Salmon Croquettes – Comfort food from my childhood. Probably from yours, too.
  • Homemade Marshmallows - So much fun! I plan on doing more recipes in the coming year featuring items you typically purchase at the grocery store but which can be made simply and less expensively at home.
  • Hambone Soup – Another favorite and a good “use it up” recipe for leftovers.
  • Pot Roast with Rosemary and Garlic - Just a really good, flavorful pot roast. Great Sunday dinner.

Those are all really good recipes! I enjoy each one of them, but there are a few others that fall in my personal favorites category. If you missed these, you might want to go back and give them a second look:

It has truly been an incredibly fun year! But I couldn’t have done it alone. So many people have encouraged and complimented me along the way. My Mama who always has something positive to say, my daughter Laura who made the very first comment ever on here and, of course, Bill. My wonderful husband without whose help, encouragement and pride in me I’d never have taken the first step on this path. He cleans up after everything I cook, lifts the heaviest pots in and out of the oven, and patiently holds lights and helps arrange props while I’m photographing his dinner. And, last but certainly not least, all of you who visit and comment on the recipes I post. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

I’m going to keep cooking and I hope you’ll all keep visiting. As a matter of fact, the kitchen timer is beeping at me right now. Gotta run!

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Cheesy Beefy Mac

by Lana on February 1, 2010 · 7 comments

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I imagine there are as many variations of macaroni and cheese as there are cooks. And, of course, that’s exactly what this is. Another macaroni and cheese recipe. Or is it? Hmmm. You might want to look a little deeper, because this mac and cheese is low-fat and full of vegetables! And you could pack even more in there if you wanted. I’ve used lean ground sirloin, nearly 4 cups of vegetables and low-fat or fat-free dairy products in this special macaroni and cheese. If you have trouble getting your kids to eat their vegetables, then this may be just the dish for you.

All you need to accompany this hearty, low-fat macaroni and cheese is some bread and a salad. Let’s get started!

Keep reading…

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Italian Sausage and Peppers

by Lana on January 25, 2010 · 12 comments

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Do you have recipes that are your “go-to” dishes? Ones that you’ve cooked so many times you could make them with your eyes closed? I do, and this is one of them. Italian sausage and peppers is a long-time favorite in our house. While neither one of us has an ounce of Italian heritage, we are avid fans of the cuisine. Given the choice, we’d probably take a local Italian pizza place over any other kind of restaurant.

This recipe is my own method of making sausage and peppers. Though probably not strictly authentic, it’s pretty tasty. And if you use a turkey sausage and pan spray instead of olive oil, it’s pretty darn low in fat, too. I know that many people enjoy this mixture on a bun, but I always serve it over hot cooked pasta. Usually fettucine. That’s spinach fettucine in the photo. I think it makes a lovely dish.

Keep reading…

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Lime Cupcakes

January 22, 2010
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Two lonely limes. Just sitting there in my produce basket. Looking back at me for over a week. Poor little limes. They felt so neglected. I could tell. I’m sensitive like that.
Those limes were originally destined for pico de gallo, or salsa, or something with a southwestern flair. I don’t know how they wound up [...]

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Huevos and Grits, Y’all

January 18, 2010
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 Those of us who really enjoy cooking find recipes in all sorts of places, don’t we? Cookbooks, magazines, newspapers, grocery store flyers, the internet. Sometimes they just come as inspiration out of nowhere. A few weeks ago, I woke up with this one forming in my mind. I must have been really hungry.
At first glance [...]

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Toffee Bars (a.k.a. Redneck Toffee)

January 11, 2010
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If your New Year’s resolution had anything to do with dieting or healthy eating, please be warned. This post is not going to help you keep that one. Just go on somewhere else and forget you ever came here. Seriously. Turn away now!
Still here? Good…me, too.
This is a recipe that I first saw at a fellow [...]

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Bistro Chicken

January 8, 2010
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I found this recipe for Bistro Chicken on the Kraft Foods web site a while back and since I happened to have some chicken breasts on hand I thought I’d give it a try. It turned out to be a keeper! It was simple and quick to put together and uses ingredients that most of [...]

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Red Rice

January 4, 2010
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Another one of BeeBop’s favorites! Red Rice. Based on the famed Charleston Red Rice. Sort of. Well, kinda. It’s similar anyway. If you’re a fan of Low Country cooking, please indulge me. I know this is not the accurate, authentic Charleston Red Rice. It does have one thing in common, however. It’s good!
When BeeBop was [...]

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Traditions

January 1, 2010
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Traditions run deep in southern families. They’re the core of most of our celebrations and family gatherings. And they’re particularly strong during the Christmas and New Year’s seasons.
Today I cooked and ate a meal nearly identical to the same meal I’ve eaten on January 1 for my entire 55 years. A few items may change, [...]

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Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2009
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Twas the night before Christmas, and…
Nana was so busy she could barely take time to write a short blog post!
A and Mag have been here since last Friday. We’ve been baking cookies and other goodies and finishing up last minute Christmas details. We had Uncle J’s two girls over to play all day yesterday — [...]

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