Are you feeling like something new for dinner tonight? Our recipes are sure to tempt you.
The Gardening Cook is here to help you plan delicious meals with less stress. If you love cooking with garden fresh vegetables, that is our specialty!
We offer fresh, flavorful and mainly healthy recipes as well as cooking tips to make your time in the kitchen easier.
These food ideas are made for your daily life, as well as for entertaining with friends.
From cocktails and drinks to appetizers and desserts, make sure that your next gathering will be a hit.
If you are in the mood for something new tonight, these posts are sure to delight.
Here are some of my favorites breakfast ideas from some very talented bloggers. Breakfast is the start of the day. No matter whether you want something that you can grab and take with you, or a recipe that will fuel you for the day, there is a recipe below to tempt you. The recipes range…
Mmm, mmm, dessert! My favorite part of the meal. I thought it would be fun to put together a round up of some of my favorite dessert recipes. The recipes range through all types of desserts. Whether it is a simple berry, whip cream and ice cream dessert like this one, or something more elaborate,…
This recipe for creamy garlic mashed potatoes is a slimmed-down version of the original recipe. Light sour cream and skim milk are the secrets to keeping the fat in check but not losing any of the flavor. The potatoes are cooked with garlic cloves in fat free chicken stock to give additional flavor and then…
I am a breakfast person. Whether it is eggs and bacon, or a quick muffin, I need something to get me going in the morning. I don’t like breakfast really early in the morning, but I do like to have something that is considered a breakfast food sometime before 10 am or so. I am…
This Mexican chili dip could not be easier to make. It is one of my favorite “go to” recipes when I am invited to a pot luck party. The bowl is empty before the party even gets going. It is that delicious! Best of all, you can make it ahead of time and then just…
Anyone can dunk strawberries and other fruit into melted chocolate. It is easy and fast to do and makes a great looking party appetizer. But perfectly drizzled chocolate looks so much more professional. These cooking tips will make sure that your drizzled chocolate will rival those on any dessert tray. Growing strawberries is much easier than…
Are you looking for a effortless meatless meal? This recipe for bean burritos uses a kidney bean and pinto bean combination, which is a nice change from the traditional black bean recipe and is really tasty. These burritos take only 15 minutes from start to finish, so they are perfect for any meatless Monday. My…
I admit it. I adore making fudge….pretty much any kind of fudge. My favorite is peanut butter, but I still love them all. This is a collection of a few of my favorite fudge recipes. One of the great things about making fudge is that the portions are controlled and the taste is quite sweet….
This cucumber mint sauce is the perfect side dish to tone down the heat of any Indian food recipe. The cool taste of the yoghurt combines with the cucumber mint and garlic to give a refreshing change from spicy foods. It’s a great way to use up cucumbers with a bitter taste, or those that…
Looking for a delicious dessert that is easy to make but fancy enough for any dinner party? This no bake strawberry almond cheesecake is perfect! It has a lovely glazed topping and makes a great addition to your collection of cheesecake recipes. Keep reading to find out how to make this tasty cheesecake dessert. Fresh…
Pepperoni and Cheese Calzone – Printable Recipe My daughter and I often go to Lily’s Pizza in Raleigh. One of their specialties is their calzones. Sort of like healthy little pizza pockets! I do my best to duplicate the taste at tome and my family loves these! You can add whatever fillings you like. For…
This beer braised pork roast is my latest in a long list of crock pot recipes. There is nothing like coming into your home after a long day at work to the aroma of a pork roast that has been simmering all day long. And if it has simmered in beer…all the better! Keep reading…
It’s grill time at our house! There is nothing like a few skewers of grilled shrimp to take your barbecue to a whole new level. Shrimp hold up well on the BBQ and this blend of spices and honey is just delicious. I used fresh herbs in this recipe. I have fresh herbs growing in…
Oh my goodness – all my favorite things in one dessert! If you love peanut butter as much as I do, and the combination with chocolate is one of your favorites. If coconut and pecans tempt your taste buds too, look no further than this delicious recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge Cake with Coconut Pecan…
Generally, I don’t eat macaroni salads. I try to limit carbs where I can. But this macaroni salad with fresh peas and carrots appeals to me, since I adore fresh peas. The recipe is rich and creamy and makes a great picnic or barbeque side dish. This Macaroni Salad with Peas and Carrots makes a…
Tropical Taste Sensation – Orange Delight Are you looking for something light but still gives you a hint of sweetness? My mother used to call this Orange delight recipe the “Weight watcher’s dessert” since they had one very similar and it was about all the original weight watchers diet used to allow for desserts…something with…
These yummy turtle brownies are shout out to my dad. One of my dad’s favorite sweet treats are turtle chocolates. He always has a bag hidden in his bed side table (with 11 grandchildren visiting, he has to hide his sweets!) This recipe for easy turtle brownies combines the great taste of caramel, pecan and…
This Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Recipe has no Fat and Very little Sugar I love peanut butter and I love oatmeal, but putting them into a cookie can make otherwise good for you ingredients not so great for your diet (or waist line) I adjusted my normal recipe to lighten it up a bit and…
This spicy Mexican vegetable casserole combines a host of nutritious vegetables with a blend of spices and cheese to make a hearty and healthy main course dish. It is the perfect dish to serve for meatless Mondays. Enjoy the spicy taste of Mexican Vegetable Casserole Add a tossed salad or some avocado slices and you…
This easy strawberry pie is fast and simple to make and will satisfy the sweetest of taste buds in your family. I just used deep dish pie crusts for mine but you can make your own crust if you wish. Easy strawberry pie Fresh strawberries make such a great addition to desserts. They are fresh…
One of my favorite restaurant dishes is Shrimp Alfredo with broccoli. I love the richness of the dish. My daughter always orders it when we eat out together too. It is one of my favorite shrimp recipes to make at home. Shrimp Alfredo with Broccoli – Decadent Main Course I have a bumper crop of…
In Thailand, watermelon food carving is considered a traditional and highly cultivated art. There are different opinions as to when fruit and vegetable carving originated but the most popular theory is that it started in Thailand in the 14th century. There are many different types of watermelon with varying flesh and rind colors. Their flesh…
Do you love the Samoas Girls Scout cookie? Try making these Samoas bars! When my daughter was much younger, I used to wait anxiously for the month when the Girl Scout cookies were ready to be sold. I bought boxes of Samoas cookies and Thin Mints and froze them so we could enjoy them during…
This Strawberry Chocolate Chip Mousse could not be easier to make. It combines just a few ingredients, all layered in a large wine glass and served with a dollop of whip cream. Best of all, this chocolate mousse is low in calories but still elegant. It is simple enough to make any night and fancy…
Whenever I go to Ruby Tuesday or The Red Lobster restaurant, I always look forward to their cheesy herb biscuits. I decided to try and make an approximation of them that would not break my calorie bank. These biscuits are savory and slightly rich but have far less calories than the restaurant version. Cheesy Herb…
Slow Cooker Vegetable Curry with Chickpeas is a perfect vegetarian recipe for a busy week night. It is warm, comforting and packed with nutrients. The recipe will work with just about any vegetables you have on hand. I make this dish all the time and rarely make it with the same ingredients twice for that…