Do you love strawberries? Who doesn’t? If you want to learn how to make incredible homemade ice cream, celebrate National Strawberry Day with me, Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, this Wednesday, February 27^th! Strawberries are showing up in the markets again just in time for this favorite food holiday. Once you’ve had a taste of this rich, decadent strawberry ice cream, you may not be able to go back to store-bought!

This is the perfect dessert for spring and summer, and here where it’s warming up already it’s a good choice for winter as well. I promise this will be the best strawberry ice cream you’ve ever tasted, with a burst of fresh berries and vanilla in every bite. There are recipes with egg and without, and this one is the latter...

February 20^th is National Cherry Pie Day! Celebrate with me, Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, by trying my favorite cherry pie recipe. I know apple pie is the traditional American dessert, but cherry is a close second, which is funny when you consider that the first cherry pie was made for England’s Queen Elizabeth I. Traditionally this favorite dessert is made using tart cherries rather than sweet. Tapioca starch is the key to making your cherry pie turn out just right every time. Are you ready to get started? Let’s bake!

Crust

The secret to perfect crust: pastry flour.

Ingredients

3 cups pastry flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup ice water

1 tbsp vinegar

Directions

Using a pastry cutter, cut cold butter and shortening into your flour, then mix in vinegar and ice wa...

I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and I’d like to invite you to celebrate National Peppermint Patty Day with me! Since they were introduced in 1940, York’s Peppermint Patties have remained a favorite with candy lovers around the world. If you think the temptation is too much to resist when you see these candies in the grocery store checkout aisle, just wait until you try the homemade version! These should come with a warning label, because they’re addictive.

Ingredients

5 cups sifted powdered sugar

3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 ½ teaspoon peppermint extract

1 tbsp refined coconut oil

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

24 oz finely chopped dark chocolate

½ cup corn syrup

2 teaspoons shortening

Directions

Sprinkle half the powdered sugar over parchment paper...

February 5^th is World Nutella Day, and if that isn’t reason to celebrate then I don’t know what is. I am Kathey Raskin of Las Vegas, and I’d like to welcome you into my kitchen for some delicious, nutritious, homemade Nutella! This is one of those foods we don’t normally think of making ourselves at home, but I think the extra work is worth the effort. Try it for yourself and let me know in the comments how you thought this recipe stands up to the real deal!

Ingredients

1 ½ cups raw hazelnuts

½ cup almonds

1 ½ tbsp vanilla extract

¼ cup cocoa powder

3 ounces of bittersweet chocolate

4 ounces milk chocolate

3 tbsp honey

¼ tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp oil

½ cup whole milk

¾ cup powdered whole milk

Directions

The first step in this recipe is toasting the nuts in your oven,...

My name is Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to welcome you into my Las Vegas kitchen! February 1^st is National Baked Alaska Day. You may think this dessert is too complicated to make yourself, and I am happy to show you how simple it can be. Don’t be intimidated to try making your own Baked Alaska. It only takes five ingredients, and it’s easier than you think.

This is an old favorite dessert that is long overdue for a comeback. Charles Ranhofer, the chef at New York’s famous Delmonico’s restaurant, first invented this cake in 1867 to celebrate the purchase of Alaska. Originally called Alaska-Florida Cake, the name was eventually changed to Baked Alaska...

I am Kathey Raskin. Welcome to my Las Vegas kitchen! Today is National Granola Day. There are many delicious varieties of granola available at the store, but I like to make my own. Store-bought granola is costly, it can be fattening, and it never has as many goodies in it as I like. If you have a baking sheet, a mixing bowl, and an oven, you can make your own granola. Once your house smells like fresh-baked granola, you’ll thank me for the suggestion!

The Benefits of Eating Granola

You may have heard granola is unhealthy, but the truth is you can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you’d like. The benefits of granola are too numerous to list in their entirety, but even the short list makes an incredible case for adding this delicious food to your diet.

• Increased energy
• Reduced chole...

Today is National Bagel Day, and here at Kathey Jo’s Kitchen we are ready to celebrate! My name is Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to welcome you to my Las Vegas kitchen. We’re all so busy these days, it’s easy to fall into the habit of eating fast food and unhealthy snacks when we’re on the run. I love bagels because with the right choices they present a healthy alternative that doesn’t skimp on convenience.

Bagels may have originated in Poland, but since they were brought over by 19^th century immigrants they’ve become a popular treat here in America. It’s easy to see why we love bagels. They are convenient and delicious for any meal or for a snack. There are many varieties, including options that appeal to children like cinnamon raisin and blueberry.

You may have heard t...

Healthy New Year from my Las Vegas kitchen! My name is Kathey Raskin, and like most of you, I usually start my year off by making a resolution to eat healthier. And also like most of you, I slowly creep back into my old habits. The problem with “eat right” resolutions is eating well doesn’t always mean eating the most delicious foods. If you’re thinking of vegetable dishes as bland, think again because they don’t have to be. Although, when prepared correctly, simple favorites like steamed and grilled vegetables are delicious, you can do a lot more with your veggies than offer then up as side dishes!

Want to try a vegetable main course so satisfying that you won’t feel like you’re missing a thing? Then you’ve got to try my Vegan Lasagna! It only takes 2-3 hours from start to fi...

Scrambling to find fun new cocktail ideas to serve your guests at tonight’s New Year’s Eve party? Inventing new cocktails is both a science and an art, and so is mixing the perfect drink. My name is Kathey Raskin, and I’d like to welcome you into my Las Vegas kitchen tonight, where I’m preparing for my own New Year’s Eve party. I’ve been having fun reading the newest savory cocktail recipes and seeing what today’s bartenders are doing with fresh herbs. I plan to offer my guests classic favorites like martinis and margaritas, but I’ve also been infusing my own alcohol with savory herbs so I can offer this new twist on our old favorites.

This week, rather than give you drink recipes, I’m going to explain how to infuse your own liquor so you can experiment with your own drink recipes.

Ingre...

Happy 2019! Can you believe the new year is already almost here? I love hosting New Year’s Eve parties because it means I get to start the year off in my own home, surrounded by the people I love most. But of course my favorite part of the festivities is meal planning, because that’s how I show my loved ones how much I appreciate them.

As much as I love hosting, just like everyone else I know I am also strapped for time. My Crock-Pot curry meatballs recipe is simple, easy, and delicious, and your guests will be begging you for more long before the clock strikes midnight!

Kathey Jo’s Crock-Pot Curry Meatballs

Ingredients

1 bag of frozen cooked meatballs

12 oz jar of pineapple preserves

1 can of coconut milk

1 – 2 tablespoons of curry powder, or more if you like spicy dishes!

1 cu...