It seems that all of my friends have pinned one version or another of pancake muffins on Pinterest, so this week I decided to try my own recipe. The great thing about pancake muffins is that you can put whatever filling you want in them, whether it's blueberries, bananas or chocolate chips. I decided to try mine with sausage. In addition, I used pancake mix (where you just add the water) to make the pancakes instead of making them from scratch. This recipe makes 12 muffins, and can be served with butter and syrup. To make this you'll need: 1 package of 10.6 oz shake and pour pancake mix 1 …

Sunday, Feb. 3, millions will tune in to watch one of the biggest sporting events of the year, the Super Bowl. Don't let your party guests starve, check out these easy to make Super Bowl recipes. Mini Taco Bowls This recipe is inspired by White Lake-Highland Patch Readers Paulette Gollan and Dan Houston. Gollan said, "I use a mini muffin pan, wonton wrappers, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese and green onions. Bake for 10 minutes. YUM!" Top them off with some Global Warming Salsa, a local White Lake product, and Houston said you have yourself the perfect snack. I didn't have wonton …

On days like today, there is nothing better than a nice warm casserole. Casseroles are easy to make, can feed a crowd and are especially nice on days when you want to stay inside by the fire. This recipe for cowboy casserole comes from the blog The Cutting Edge of Ordinary and it serves approximately 12. To make this you'll need: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 can (15.25oz) whole kernel corn, drained 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded 1/2 cup milk 4 tablespoons sour cream 1 bag (30 oz) frozen tater tots To start…

I have a problem when it comes to eating healthy. It can be difficult to fit a lot of fruits and vegetables into my diet. My solution? Soup. I make a gigantic pot of this vegetable and chicken soup and eat it throughout the week. This recipe not only warms up great, but you can make big batches and freeze it - making it the perfect meal on those days when you just don't want to cook. This recipe it something I came up with after looking at several other soup recipes. It contains every I like, and nothing that I don't like. To make it even easier to make, I use frozen vegetable and a …

During the bland months of winter I like to eat foods with a lot of flavor, so I tend to cook recipes that are hearty and will make my taste-buds dance. This recipe for cider braised chicken thighs has a lot of delicious flavors. The cider adds a subtle sweetness to the chicken, and the spices, along with the cider, create a great sauce. This dish is also fairly healthy and a great meal for anyone trying to keep that New Year's Resolution. To make this recipe you'll need: 1 1/2 pounds uncooked boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 6 thighs   1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided   1/4 tsp black …

For 2013 I am going to continue to make healthier choices and find ways to eat food that not only tastes good, but is healthy. If you, like me, made a similar resolution, you won't be disappointed with this recipe for Spaghetti Amatriciana. If you did not, I promise you'll like this as well. To make this you'll need: 8 oz uncooked whole-wheat spaghetti   1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste (for cooking pasta)   1 tsp olive oil   6 slices uncooked reduced-fat bacon   1 large uncooked onion, finely diced   2 cups canned diced tomatoes   1/4 tsp red pepper flakes   1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste   …

Here are 5 easy recipes you can make for your New Year's Eve or New Year's Day gatherings. Pumpkin Chili Ingredients: 1 lb. lean ground beef 1 medium onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, diced 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice 2 c. tomato juice 2 (15.25-ounce) can black beans, drained 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 2 tbsp chili powder 2 tsp cumin 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper Hot sauce to taste To start, brown the beef in a medium saute pan. Drain the fat. Add the onions and bell pepper, and cook until the onions are translucent (about 5 minutes). In a Crock Pot…

These sugar cookies are by far the most popular Christmas cookie at our house, so popular that we often double or triple this recipe so we can share with others. So what makes these cookies so great? For me it's the sugary sweet taste when decorated with frosting, and the fluffy consistency of the cookie itself. My mother Colleen has been making these cookies for my family for as long as I remember. They are only made once a year – making them extra special. This sugar cookie recipe is easy and kid friendly. Nothing says Christmas like cutting out festive shapes in cookie dough with your kids…

Whether you forgot about the office party and need a dish to bring, or you're throwing a family party and need to feed a lot of people - this festive recipe is the perfect combination of salty and sweet. It's sure to be a hit with your guests or co-workers. I found this recipe on Pinterest, but it was pinned from the House on Hilltop blog. In all, this recipe can be completed in 20 minutes and it's kid friendly so feel free to invite the little ones to help you in the kitchen. To make this you'll need: 1 large bag of red and green M&M's 1 large bag of Hershey Kisses 1 bag of round pretzels (I…

When it starts to get cold out there is nothing better for dinner than a nice, hearty stew. One of my favorite stews comes from the Williams-Sonoma Comfort Food cookbook. The recipe, called hearty beef stew, has a delicious sauce and the beef is nice and tender. For extra flavor I like to add sauteed mushrooms and a dash of red wine to the recipe. To make this recipe you'll need: 3 lbs boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes 4 slices of apple smoked bacon, chopped 2 tbsp. canola oil Salt and pepper 1 yellow onion, chopped 3 carrots, chopped 3 stalks of celery, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces 2…

As I sit here and write this, the most wonderful aroma is filling the house. It's the smell of sage and poultry seasoning, melding together and making my mouth water for one of the many things I am thankful for this year, my mom's stuffing. This is an easy recipe for the world's best stuffing. Granted, I am probably biased in that opinion but you can make it and judge for yourself. This recipe is not written down anywhere and several people have been dying to get it from my mother for years – people like my aunt Ginger who can't wait for this column to be posted. My mom, Colleen, wakes up …

Throughout the months of November and December, I am collecting holiday recipes from readers. This week's recipe come from White Lake-Highland Patch reader Theresa Stanisz and is called Corny Corn Bread. "I just saw your Holiday Recipe for Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake and thought I'd drop you a line with another wonderful recipe for the Holidays, just as easy and delicious," Stanisz said in an email to Patch. Stanisz said the recipe comes from her friend's family, and that they've been making it for "a century" at least. To make this recipe you'll need: 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix 1 cup …

It's almost Thanksgiving and that means many of you are preparing for company at your homes. When we have large family gatherings, I like to find recipes that are quick and easy to make, and that can feed a lot of people. I find breakfast can sometimes be the hardest meal to plan when you have a large number of people, especially if you want to be able to sit down with everyone and eat when they do. Often if you make waffles or pancakes, you are stuck at the griddle while everyone else eats. This weekend I found a recipe for a cinnamon French toast bake. The recipe, from Pillsbury.com, uses …

Halloween's come and gone, and Jack Frost is the air. Yes, it's time for the holidays. Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday, we want your favorite family recipes. Send your recipe, and the reason you love it, to Local Editor Brooke Tajer (brooke.meier@patch.com), then tune into Good Eats every Thursday to see if your recipe was selected. If you're the lucky winner, I'll make your recipe and post my experience for all to read. So get into the spirit of sharing and help us spread the holiday joy. In the meantime, if you're looking for a new …

Whether you're fueling the kids before they hit the streets trick-or-treating, or preparing for a big Halloween Party - White Lake-Highland Patch has festive recipes to help you make Halloween a night to remember. For dinner, start with a twist on the classic sloppy Joe with this Jack-O-Latern Sloppy Joe Pie. The recipe originally comes from Taste of Home, but I made a few tweaks of my own. To make this recipe you'll need: 1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef 1/2 c. chopped onion 2 tsp. all-purpose flour 1 c. salsa 1/2 c. chili sauce 1 c. frozen corn 2 tbsp. brown sugar 2 sheets of refrigerated pie …

Pumpkin is such a versatile ingredient, and in my opinion you can never have too much of it. When the weather is cold and rainy, I crave chili. So, last weekend, when the weather was terrible, I decided to start searching for a fall flavored chili. I stumbled across this recipe for pumpkin Chili while on Pinterest. The original post is from a blog called Sweet Pea's Kitchen. The great thing about this recipe is that it's different than most chili. The flavor has a hint of cinnamon, and the spices aren't overpowering. The heat in the chili is a slow steady heat that doesn't keep you from …

When the leaves start to fall and the cool autumn chill sets in I like to cook meals that have a warmth to them. While reading through the latest edition of Better Homes and Gardens I came across this recipe for beer-glazed sausage and apples. Never one to turn down an opportunity to cook with beer, I decided to give this dish a try. The crushed red pepper flakes give this dish a nice subtle heat, and you can't go wrong with the fall flavors. The apples add just the right amount of sweetness, and help to balance out the strong flavors of the beer and kielbasa. If you have leftover apples from…

One of my favorite things about fall is cooking with pumpkin. Pumpkin is one of those ingredients that really lends itself well to both sweet dishes and savory dishes. In addition, pumpkin has a lot of healthy qualities. It's high in fiber and vitamin A, and it has some antioxidants. You can sneak pumpkin into several dishes, like macaroni and cheese, or this tortellini with pumpkin Alfredo sauce from Food Network Magazine, and get your family to eat a little healthier. This Alfredo sauce is one of my favorites. The dish is easy to make, and the sauce is incredible. For those who might not …

I'll admit it, I hate the tomato soup that comes from a can. Growing up, it was a classic dish from my childhood, tomato soup and grilled cheese, but I could never eat the soup. I'm not sure why, I love tomatoes, it must be something about the texture. So, when I stumbled upon this recipe for homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons in the October edition of Food Network Magazine, I decided to give it a try and see if it would change my mind about a soup and sandwich combo that many people love. This soup is delicious. The spices give it a unique flavor, while still keeping with the …

I know what you're thinking: "Maple syrup and chicken? Are you sure?" I promise you, it's amazing. Maple syrup is one of those foods that pairs well with savory items. The sweet and earthy flavor of the syrup melds well with the savory chicken and spices in the potatoes. Beside, adding a little sweetness to a dish can be a great way to get picky children to eat their vegetable and dinner. To make this fall flavored recipe you'll need: 2 pounds chicken breast and drumsticks 3-4 medium-sized potatoes, chopped 1 small onion 2-3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2-3 Tbsp. paprika 1-2 tsp. salt (optional) Maple…