Comfort Foods and Indulgences

Let start by saying that the flavor in this breakfast bake is absolutely fantastic. We couldn't stop eating it. My husband came out of his cave (office) four times while I was making this. The aromas were just so hearty and comfort-food-smelling, he couldn't stay away.

Between the knock your socks off flavor, the crisp bottom and the chewy moist bread? Oh my goodness, this is a breakfast I want to wake up to. The truth is, it's great for dinner too. It's one of those meals that you take the first bite and throw your head back as you are experiencing the incredible flavors.

If you ever have a houseful of guests coming over, I recommend making this...however, with food this good, they may not go home!!

A grilled cheese sandwich is as American as American gets. But other countries have their favorite form of cheese sandwich. The Swiss have the tradition of eating melted Raclette cheese spread on toasted bread. The French have the cafe favorite, the Croque-monsieur, a hot ham and cheese sandwich. The English have Welsh rarebit, which features slices of toast doused in a savory cheese sauce. And of course, the Americans have processed cheese product melted between two pieces of cardboard white bread. It's what most kids grow up on, even me. But I think it's time for a more mature grilled cheese sandwich.

My version puts a twist on an English classic, the Ploughman's lunch. It's a sandwich I enjoyed countless times through my travels in England.

So simple looking yet packed with an unreal amount of flavor, not to mention its perfectly thick consistency.  It's just the way I like my soup, creamy, cheesy and yummy.

Cheddar cheese soup has always been a favorite of mine but when made at home it can often turn out lumpy.  Cheddar has a tendency to clump together or get grainy when added to a hot liquid.

One way to solve the clumping issue is to grate the Cheddar finely and add it to the soup once it's removed from the heat; do not boil the soup once the Cheddar has been added   The cheese will melt easily and you will end up with an amazing meal. 

Using a good quality sharp, white Cheddar will yield the most flavor and you won't believe what an incredible taste this soup has, it's definitely company worthy.  Serve some fresh baked bread on the side and you have the perfect meal.

Wings are a major part of any Super Bowl party. For many people, they're just as important as the game. I mean, can you imagine watching the game without a wing in one hand and a beer in the other? I don't think so! Buffalo wings are simply the classic football appetizer, but there's more to good wings than just a coating of hot sauce.

Sweet and spicy is my favorite combination of tastes. When a recipe has both, I'm immediately in love. So to come up with my recipe for chicken wings, I chose the sweet and spicy route. And the thing I like about this recipe most is that at first taste, the sweetness tricks your taste buds into thinking it isn't hot, but then the sriracha kicks in. Surprise!

If I were to describe the flavor of these wings, I'd say they're a cross between buffalo wings and the Chinese takeout favorite, orange chicken. The best part is they're incredibly easy to make. The recipe starts off with a spice rub, which gives the wings a great foundation of flavor. While the wings bake, prepare the sweet and tangy kumquat glaze. Feel free to adapt the level of spiciness to suit your heat tolerance. These wings will surely have everyone fighting for more.