Author: Anita

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette

One of my favorite things is roasted red peppers, so I was happy to find this recipe for Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette. Of course, the roasted red pepper flavor is delicious. But the vinegar gives it a little bite, and the honey balances it all out. Sometimes my husband and I will have salad week for dinner and we will change up the salads and make a couple of dressings for the week. This dressing has become one of my favorites!

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette is easy to make and you probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry. I used jarred roasted red peppers instead of roasting my own, but either will work.

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette
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5 from 1 vote

Roasted Red Pepper Vinaigrette

I used jarred roasted red peppers instead of roasting my own, but either will work.
Course Salad Dressing
Cuisine American
Keyword roasted red pepper, vinaigrette
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 104kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Rachael Ray

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the peppers, garlic and vinegar into a food processor.
  • With the processor on, drizzle in the honey and oil. Process until smooth.
  • Stop and taste. Add salt and pepper as desired. Process a little longer. Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 96IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

I needed a side dish for lunches last week. This old fashioned macaroni salad was just what I was looking for. This brought back memories of the macaroni salad people would take to pitch-ins. It is deliciously creamy and has some crunch from the carrots and celery. It has a hint of sweetness from the sugar which is tamed by the apple cider vinegar. Elbow is my preferred pasta for this salad, but you could use whatever you have on hand.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

I like that the sauce in this salad isn’t runny like a lot of recipes or the kind that you buy in the deli at the grocery store. The next time I make this old fashioned macaroni salad, I will add peas to it. You could also add cheese, ham or bacon to make it your own.

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try our creamy pasta salad.

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad

The next time I make this old fashioned macaroni salad, I will add peas to it. You could also add cheese, ham or bacon to make it your own.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword old fashioned, pasta salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
2 hours
Servings 8
Calories 674kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Molly Yeh

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Salt a large pot of water and bring to a boil.
  • Add the macaroni and cook per package instructions, but add 2 extra minutes to the cooking time.
  • Drain well and place in a large mixing bowl.
  • Gently stir in the apple cider vinegar and set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
  • Add the carrots, the white and light green parts of the green onions, celery and yellow onion. to the pasta.
  • Sprinkle the top of the pasta with 1 teaspoon of pepper.
  • In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, milk and sugar and gently fold the mixture into the pasta.
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Before serving, stir the salad. If too thick add a bit of milk (about 1 tablespoon at a time) and stir. Also add salt and pepper if needed.
  • Serve garnished with the green onion slices.

Nutrition

Calories: 674kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 29g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 438mg | Potassium: 300mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 5489IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Snicker’s Cheesecake Bars

Oh me. These little Snicker’s cheesecake bars are dangerously good. Oooey gooeyness from the Snicker’s. Creaminess from the cream cheese. A little crunch from the Oreo crust. Yowsa. The problem (if there is such a thing) with little bites like these is that it’s easy to lose track of how many you’ve had.

Snicker's Cheesecake Bars

I plan on making other versions of these bars. The base recipe is so simple, lending itself to using all sorts of other candy bars. But, I have to say, this Snicker’s version is pretty darned good and maybe shouldn’t be messed with.

Also try my sweetheart buddies.

Snicker's Cheesecake Bars
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5 from 1 vote

Snicker’s Cheesecake Bars

Oh me. These little Snicker’s cheesecake bars are dangerously good.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword bars, chocolate
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 395kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction

Ingredients

For the crust

  • 20 Oreos
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

For the filling

  • 2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 13 fun size Snickers bars chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Tear off a piece of aluminum foil that is a few inches larger than a 9″ x 9″ baking pan. You want some of the foil to hang over the sides because you’ll use it as a ‘handle’ to remove the bars later.
  • Place the Oreos in a blender or food blender and pulse until they form a fine crumb. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl.
  • Add butter to Oreo crumbs and stir.
  • Pour mixture into the baking pan and flatten out using a spatula. Press down to make a dense crust.
  • Place pan into the oven and bake 9-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
  • Meanwhile, make the filling by beating the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla extract in a mixer for 3 minutes.
  • Gently fold in the Snickers.
  • Once the baked crust has cooled completely, spread the Snicker’s mixture over the crust, pressing into the corners.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes (ours only took 30) until the cheesecake has started to brown just a little on top.
  • Remove from oven and let cool before then placing into the fridge for 3 hours.
  • Remove the cheesecake from the pan by grabbing two sides of the overhanging foil and pulling upwards. The cake should pull out easily. Place onto a cutting board.
  • Cut cheesecake into 16 bite-sized pieces.

Nutrition

Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 389IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Sauce Boat, Ashtray and Sweets Comport

Here are some miscellaneous items (Sauce Boat, Ashtray and Sweets Comport) I put together by The Homer Laughlin China Company.  On the left is a Fiesta sauce boat in green.  I really love the streamlined look.  The sauce boat was produced from 1937 until early in 1969.

The middle item is a Harlequin regular ashtray in yellow.  It’s in perfect shape and I was happy to find it.  Usually when I see a Harlequin ashtray, they have chips and have been used.  I don’t think mine was ever used.  Production began in 1938 and was discontinued in 1945.

Sauce Boat, Ashtray and Sweets Comport

The last item on the right is a sweets comport in green.  People sometimes refer to this as a “compote,” but Homer Laughlin used the word “comport” on its price lists.  It was made from late 1935 until late 1946.

Homer Laughlin Decals “Go-Alongs”

‘Go-Alongs’ refers to items that were made by other companies to be used with the colored dinner lines by The Homer Laughlin China Company, like Fiesta, Harlequin and Riviera.  Here is a picture of my decals that my sister got me years ago.  The decals were made in 1945 by the American Decalcomania Company of Chicago and New York.

Homer Laughlin Decals "Go-Alongs"

At the bottom is my set of new decals that are “Genuine Fiesta.”  I think I got these back in the early 90s.

Also check out my Homer Laughlin Epicure pieces.

Homer Laughlin World’s Fair Plate

This is my 1939 World’s Fair plate by The Homer Laughlin China Company.  Six pottery companies joined together and built and operated a kiln at the 1939-1940 World’s Fair in New York City as a tribute to the American Potter.  They produced a variety of plates, figurines, vases and bowls.  The Homer Laughlin China Company entry is the plate that I own and was designed by Fredrick Rhead.  In the center of the plate is the Trylon and  Perisphere that were the adopted symbols of the Fair.  These plates not only appeal to Homer Laughlin collectors, but also to World’s Fair and Art Deco collectors.

Homer Laughlin World's Fair Plate

I love the colors and the Art Deco look of the plate.  It is also Mike’s favorite piece in my collection.  I rarely see these plates and got mine on eBay about 10 years ago.  Once I won the auction, I was contacted by another bidder trying to buy it from me and he was willing to pay a much higher price, but I had to keep it for myself.

One nice thing I found out about my plate is that it is very rare to have the gold stamp:  “Decorated by Charles Murphy, 150th Anniversary Inauguration of George Washington as First President of the United States, 1789 – 1939.”  My plate has the gold stamp.

Also check out my Homer Laughlin sauce boat, ashtray, and sweets comport.

Homer Laughlin Mexicana and Hacienda

In the late 30s, The Homer Laughlin China Company introduced some Mexican-style lines of dinnerware.  They introduced Conchita, Hacienda, Max-i-cana, Mexicali, Mexicana and Ranchera.  Here are some of my dishes from the Homer Laughlin Mexicana and Hacienda lines.  The pie plate (standing up) is Mexicana, and is stamped “Kitchen Kraft” and is not dated.  The large plate (also Mexicana) is stamped “Homer Laughlin 1939.”  The two fruit bowls are Hacienda and are stamped “Homer Laughlin 1937.”  Mexicana was one of Homer Laughlin’s best sellers.  I don’t see too much of the Mexican-style lines any more when I go antiquing.

Homer Laughlin Mexicana and Hacienda

Also check out my Homer Laughlin Red Fiesta pieces.

Homer Laughlin Kitchen Kraft Covered Jar

Here is my Kitchen Kraft Covered Jar made by The Homer Laughlin China Company.  I found this recently for a great price and it is in perfect condition.  The covered jar was made in three different sizes.  The largest is over 7 inches tall, the medium is over 6 inches tall and the small is over 4 inches tall.  Mine has an Art Deco leaf pattern, but they also came in solid colors in red, cobalt, green and yellow.  Production began in 1937 and ended in 1944.  The solid colors are hard to find and are pretty expensive.

Homer Laughlin Kitchen Kraft Covered Jar

This picture shows the covered jug with a Hall pitcher.  I don’t collect Hall, but I have a few pieces.  The Homer Laughlin China Company bought The Hall China Company a few years ago.  I have visited Homer Laughlin a couple of times and the last time I went, I also visited the Hall China Company.

Also check out my Homer Laughlin Marigold.

Homer Laughlin Riviera Casseroles

Riviera was introduced by The Homer Laughlin China Company in 1938.  The Riviera line was pretty limited and was unmarked.  It was much lighter in weight than Fiesta and Harlequin. Riviera came in yellow, light green, mauve blue and ivory.  Red was temporarily stopped during the war.  My yellow casserole does not have a stamp on the bottom.  Riviera came from a line called Century.  Century was an ivory line and was often  decorated with a wide variety of decals.  My Century casserole is marked with the year 1937.Also check out my Homer Laughlin Serenade.

Homer Laughlin Riviera Casseroles

Homer Laughlin Rhythm Grape

Here are some of my Rhythm grape dishes by The Homer Laughlin China Company.  I don’t know the real name of the pattern so I refer to it as “grape.”  On top is my creamer and sugar bowl along with cups and saucers.  The dishes are date-stamped from 1953 to 1955.  I love this pattern!  I got the little coffee hutch at Pier One Imports a long time ago.  Mike calls it the “gerbil cage,” but I think it’s pretty cute!

Homer Laughlin Rhythm GrapeAlso check out my Homer Laughlin Rose pieces.