Winter-Spiced Beef with Tomatoes in Rice

I have to say, I've been loving my allspice jar lately. The smell is just so lovely at this time of year, I kind of want to dump it on everything. So I dumped it on some beef. The flavor profile would probably be better in a nice beef stew, but it was still tasty and definitely interesting. I made the rice to go with it mostly because I had a sad looking tomato on the counter that obviously needed a home. This serves 1.

Baked Acorn Squash with Maple-and-Spice Drizzle

The drizzle was soooo good! Best part of the recipe, honestly. I will totally do this again, as it's a delicious way to eat acorn squash. This makes 2 servings.

French Onion Soup

Growing up, I really didn't like onion soup. But given my recent attitude of branching out into new culinary territory, I decided to try making it. After all, it's healthy (onions are a vegetable) and inexpensive, which are both important to me, given the fact that I have no income and am trying to break my candy addiction (again).

Anyway, I actually liked this soup! This recipe makes 4 1-cup-ish servings, and reheats well. On the down side, it may make you cry. A lot.

Pepper and Garlic Steak

Well, the steak part of this cooked up really juicy and tender. However, the seasoning tasted a little...strange. And therein lies the adventure of making up recipes when you don't really know what you're doing!

Baked Eggs with Tomatoes and Cheese

I got the idea to bake eggs this way from the many posts about it that I've read on the blog For The Love Of Cooking, which by the way is an amazing work of art that you should definitely check out. I decided to make these specifically because I had some leftover fire-roasted diced tomatoes from the mini casseroles I made. Unfortunately I didn't quite remember the directions I'd read on how to bake eggs, so this was my attempt. It turned out pretty well, but next time I think I'll cook it 5 minutes less. I'll also drain the tomatoes.

Individual Macaroni and Cheese with Panko Topping

This macaroni was simple, yummy and comforting! The recipe makes 2 servings, so you can stick one in the fridge and have it another day.

Chicken, Rice and Tomato Mini-Casserole

I made this casserole essentially because I had nothing else in the house but wanted something simple, easy, and warm. I also happened to have these nifty 1-cup casserole dishes I bought with a Christmas-gifted gift certificate to Archambault. This recipe makes 2 casseroles: one for now and one for another day. If you cook it after keeping it in the fridge, add about another 10 minutes to the lid-on cooking time.

Herbed Pork Medallions with Sweet-and-Sour Onions

This was honestly some of the best pork I've ever had -- and it was so easy to make, too! There's nothing particularly innovative about this, but it is delicious, and the onions are simple and satisfying as well. Give it a try: you won't be sorry!

Lime Pie in a Bowl

These don't look like much -- and probably would have been prettier if I made them in jars instead of custard bowls -- but they were pretty good. Light, refreshing, limey. A little light on the limey side for me, but still lime. The downside of waiting months to make this recipe was that I had a cold dessert in the middle of winter, and that canning season was over so I couldn't purchase small jars. This was supposed to make 6 serving in 3/4 cup jars, but I made 4 in 1 cup custard dishes.

Spicy Chicken and Orange-Ginger Stir-Fry

Okay, I admit it: I purchased a pre-made bottle of sauce rather han making my own. It was probably more expensive and less healthy. But it enticed me! It wasn't my fault!! I had a coupon!!! [insert more excuses here]!!!! I also had a recipe that called for it in a conveniently commercial calendar full of recipes calling for specific products. And, might I add, full of handy cupons for things I would normally be too cheap to buy. As it turned out, the meal was tasty and easy. Sometimes, it's okay to let the cupons win out. This makes 2 modest servings.

Bread With Coarse-Ground Pink Himalayan Salt

This is the first loaf of risen bread I have ever made, and I did it pretty much without knowing what I was doing. In other words, instinct and guesswork ruled the day! I'm not sure I did everything right, and the bread did bake for a frighteningly short period of time I thought, but in the end the crust was perfect (not burned!) and the inside was soft and fully-cooked. The bread was delicious! I chopped it in 4 pieces and served it with dinner. Because the bread is lean and has only 4 ingredients, I recommend using good water. Mine went through a Brita filter.

Spice-Rubbed Turkey Breast with Brown-Butter and Rosemary Carrots

This turkey was brilliantly colored and mildly flavored, and the carrots were simple but delicious. The turkey recipe makes four servings, and the carrots serve two. Leftovers ahoy!