cooking tips tagged posts

Easy Halloween Treats Kids Love

Happy Halloween from my Las Vegas kitchen! My name is Kathey Raskin, and Halloween is one of my favorite times of year to have children around. I love seeing their costumes when they come to my door for treats, but more than that I love serving Halloween-inspired treats to my grandchildren.

When it comes to making food spooky, you are limited only by your imagination. Here are a list of some of my favorite fast and simple Halloween hits:

  • Mummy Crescent Rolls – Cut refrigerated crescent rolls into strips and criss-cross them around a hot dog, then bake according to the directions on the package. You can add faces to these with olives, condiments, and more.
  • White Chocolate Ghosts – Anything becomes a ghost when you dip it in white chocolate and put candy eyes on it! You can find white cho...
Read More

Best Sugar and Spice Nuts Ever

Happy National Nut Day! My name is Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to invite you to my Las Vegas kitchen. My Sugar and Spice Nuts is one of my favorite recipes because you can whip it up in a hurry and serve it for any occasion, whether it’s game night or a PTA meeting. Your guests may ask you what the secret ingredient in this recipe is. It’s paprika! I’ve found when combined with the other spices and kosher salt it gives this mixture just the right amount of kick. Consider serving this dish with a platter of your favorite cheeses and a favorite cold weather drink like hot apple cider or Mexican hot chocolate.

Ingredients

¼ cup packed raw sugar

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

½ tsp paprika

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp kosher salt

1 cup almonds

1 cup pecans

1 cup dry...

Read More

It’s National Mushroom Day and National Red Wine Day, so Let’s Celebrate!

I am Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to welcome you to my Las Vegas kitchen! Today is one of those lucky days when we have two incredible food holidays to celebrate, because it is both National Mushroom Day and National Red Wine day. These are two great tastes that taste great together, and with the weather getting cooler, doesn’t a hearty steak with red wine and mushroom sauce sound great?

One of my favorite things about this sauce is its simplicity. This is a versatile recipe, and many chefs add their own special twist. Personally, I enjoy a cream sauce using rich burgundy with a pinch of herbs du Provence and cremini mushrooms. With so many varieties of wines, mushrooms, and cuts of meat to choose from, you can really have a lot of fun with this recipe.

Some mushrooms you could choose...

Read More

The Secret to Great Slow Cooker Pulled Pork? Liquid Smoke!

Today is National Pulled Pork Day, and I can’t think of a better reason to celebrate! I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and I think pulled pork sandwiches are reason to throw a get-together any time of the year. This October the weather is all over the place across the US. Some of us are hot, some are cold, and some are drenched. This is a meal you can throw together in any circumstances, and you can adjust the sides to go with your situation. If it’s cold where you are, try serving with garlic mashed potatoes to warm your guests up. If it’s still warm, serve with a simple fruit salad. This is an incredibly versatile and easy meal with only one hard-and-fast rule, and that is this: if you want to get that smoky flavor in the slow cooker, don’t skip the Liquid Smoke!

To make pulled ...

Read More

To Serve Man: Fun Twilight Zone-Inspired Cocktails!

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call Kathey Jo’s Kitchen. Got you, didn’t I? But, doesn’t cooking feel that way sometimes? This classic television show – written and narrated by Rod Serling – aired from 1959-1964, and left an imprint on pop culture for years to come. Today, we’ll be drinking to celebrate the day in Kathey Jo’s Kitchen. Do you have a themed drink to enjoy the day? Then let us know in the comments below.

The Twilight Zone

Ingredients

  • 1 fluid ounce Bac...
Read More

Homemade Treats for Man’s Best Friend

Emily Dickinson once wrote, “dogs are better than human beings, because they know but do not tell.” At Kathey Jo’s Kitchen, I like the idea of celebrating a day that simply recognizes the joy and love that puppies of all shapes, sizes, and ages bring into our lives. One of the goals of the day is to encourage adoption, something I strongly believe in. If you’re on the fence about adoption, why not go to the pound, and see who’s waiting to go home? You may find the newest member of your family. When you do, you’ll want to try one of the recipes recommended by Kathey Jo’s Kitchen below.

K-9-Ingredient Meatballs

Ingredients

  • ½ pound ground beef
  • ½ cup cooked brown rice
  • 1 carrot, shredded
  • 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
  • ½ cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
  • 2 tables...
Read More

Eat Your Vegetables: Best Spinach Recipes

It’s a lot of fun to find out how many unofficially official holidays there. There’s something for everybody. What’s great about spinach is that there’s no shortage of recipes. Everybody has one tucked away, like I do in Kathey Jo’s Kitchen. It can be used in everything from casseroles, omelets, salads, soups, and much more. It can be eaten raw or cooked. I’ve shared a couple of great recipes to enjoy spinach today. What’s your favorite way to enjoy spinach? Let your friends at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen know in the comments.

Chicken, Bacon, and Spinach Spaghetti

Ingredients

  • 12 oz. spaghetti or angel hair
  • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 slices bacon
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 c...
Read More

Thick and Juicy: Prime Rib You Won’t Forget!

I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and nothing gets my mouth watering like the thought of juicy prime rib. Don’t you agree? Get a big, thick, juicy cut of prime rib, cooked to your liking. If you need some recommendations on preparations, or you’re looking for a different way to prepare it, you know we’ve got you covered at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen. Don’t forget the au jus and the fully loaded baked potato. How do you like your prime rib? Let us know in the comments, and I hope that you enjoy your day.

Closed-Oven Prime Rib Roast

Ingredients

  • 1 boneless or bone-in beef rib roast, trimmed and tied
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. The night before you are going to cook the prime rib, unwrap the roast and let it sit uncovered in the refrigerator...
Read More

The Sleeping Fox Catches No Poultry

I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and poultry is a staple in my kitchen. It pleased me to discover that we have a whole (unofficial) day to celebrate them as a dish. Chicken, turkey, and other commonly consumed birds are excellent choices for any meal because of their versatility. Chicken and turkey are low in fat, and cholesterol than other meats, meaning they’re better for the health-conscious in your family. What are the different ways you can celebrate today? Have eggs for breakfast, a chicken sandwich lunch, and one of the delicious recipes below for dinner. How are you going to celebrate today? Let everyone at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen know in the comments.

Slow-Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken, neck and giblets removed
  • 2 tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. chili powder
  • 1 ...
Read More

As for Me, I Will Eat Pecan Pie

My name is Kathey Raskin, and today I’d like to invite you to my Las Vegas kitchen to sample one of my favorite recipes: pecan pie. Pecans contain more antioxidants than any other nut, and they can help reduce the risk of heart disease as well as lower cholesterol levels. They contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals, and they’re a natural, high-quality source of protein and naturally sodium free. Isn’t that a wonderful reason to start incorporating pecans into your daily snacks? I hope the recipes I share with you today become staples in your weekly menus. Let the rest of Kathey Jo’s Kitchen know your favorite way to enjoy pecans in the comments.

Pecan-Crusted Chicken Waffle Sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (5 ounces each)
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup plus ...
Read More