Chili Con Carne

Chili con carne is a robust and rich chili made with beef roast that includes deeply flavored Mexican chilies and spices all simmered together in a stew-like dish. This is a Texas style chili and it's made of mostly beef and chili sauce without lots of added fillers.

It uses a generous amount of browned beef chuck chunks rather than ground hamburger and this really builds up the meaty flavor. Whole dried chilies are used in place of pre-ground store-bought chili powder, and those chilies are toasted in a skillet then soaked in liquid and pureed in a blender to build the base of this hearty chili.

The chili is simmered low and slow on the stovetop for well harmonized depth of flavor and to tenderize the beef.

It's an impressive made from scratch chili that may seem intimidating at first but once you try it you'll see it's easier to make than you'd think.

It's also a tasty change from the original style chili and you may find tasters to love it even more, especially meat lovers! Plus it could just win your next chili cook off!

What is Beef Shawarma?

If you’ve never had beef shawarma, you’re in for a treat.! A famous Middle Eastern street food, shawarma is made with chicken or beef that is heavily marinated in oil, lemon juice, and warm spices. Then, it is placed on a vertical rotisserie or spit and slow-roasted for days until it is unbelievably tender. 

Most commonly, it is shaved off and served stuffed into bread with fresh toppings and a drizzle of tahini or tzatziki. However, you can also find it presented as part of a platter along with sides like tabbouleh and hummus. No matter how it’s plated, it’s always incredible and is guaranteed to leave you coming back for more. 

Don’t worry, though. You don’t need a fancy spit to make your own beef shawarma at home. I’ll show you how to create the same bold flavor and tender texture by searing on the stovetop instead! 

What Is Shish Tawook?

In the Turkish language, “shish” means skewer, and “tawook,” also sometimes spelled tauk, means chicken. Put together, the two translate to mean chicken skewer or chicken kebab. 

Believed to have first been served during the Ottoman Empire, shish tawook quickly became popular throughout the entire Middle East, spreading into Egypt and Levant during the Ottoman’s rule. 

It features pieces of chicken that are soaked in a yogurt marinade infused with garlic, lemon juice, and lots of warm spices. It is then grilled or baked until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. 

Thanks to the marinade, chicken shish tawook always turns out juicy and is virtually fail proof. It’s one of my all-time favorite recipes and is always what I order when we dine at Middle Eastern restaurants. Luckily, it’s simple to make at home, too! 

What’s the difference between chicken shish tawook and chicken shawarma? 

Both dishes are made with boneless skinless chicken and Middle Eastern spices, but they are not the same. There are key differences in how the two recipes are created and prepared. 

• Shish tawook is created with a creamy, yogurt-based marinade that features garlic, warm seasonings, and tomato paste. As a result, it has a rich, bold flavor and a distinct hue. 
• Alternatively, shawarma does not use yogurt or tomato paste. Instead, an olive oil-based marinade creates a stronger citrus flavor with warmer seasonings and a slightly spicier flavor. 
• Traditionally, shish tawook is grilled on skewers, and shawarma roasts long and slow on a spit. Although, you can also make oven baked chicken shawarma at home.

An Easy Applesauce Cake Recipe

Who can resist a simple, flavorful, homestyle cake just like Grandma would have made? This cake is just that!

It's brimming with applesauce, generously speckled with warm spices throughout, there's just enough sweetness, and it's all balanced with a rich cream cheese frosting to polish it off.

It's an autumn cake worthy of celebrations, bringing to the holiday dinner parties, nice for gifting, or just a great applesauce snack cake to have in the fridge to enjoy after dinner throughout the week.

You'll find it's so good in fact that it really doesn't even need a frosting if you aren't feeling up to it. That's right, a cake so good you can even skip the frosting!

A luscious cake that will have you savoring every tempting bite!

Watch the Video!

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Pair it with coconut rice and fresh pineapple to create a tasty and simple Caribbean meal!

Jamaican Jerk Chicken Recipe

This is one of the best marinade recipes you'll ever try! It's brimming with fresh flavor and it may seem like a strange combination of ingredients but together they create incredible, well balanced flavor. And it all compliments chicken perfectly.

Jerk Chicken Video

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It's a great recipe to make for a summer cookout yet it's easy enough for a weeknight dinner. Just prep the marinade the night before or morning of, add the chicken and let it soak while you're at work, then when you get home pop it in the oven or throw it on the grill (simmer the rice while the chicken is cooking) and you've got a dinner that's sure to satisfy!

These are perfectly hearty and tender and you'll love that this version is oven baked so there's no tending to each meatball individually and cooking in two batches to fit in a skillet. 

What are Swedish Meatballs?

Swedish Meatballs are a classic Swedish dish typically made up of a blend of ground meats, vibrant spices, and they're paired with a rich and creamy beefy gravy.

Traditionally you'll find them served up with mashed potatoes and paired with a side of bright, sweet lingonberry jam (which tastes a lot like cranberry sauce).

It's a comforting homestyle dinner that's sure to satisfy! And did I mention these are way better than Ikea's?

Swedish Meatballs Video

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I love them paired with both when I've got time to make mashed potatoes but for an easier weeknight dinner they're also delicious served over a bed of egg noodles, the prep is so much easier!

Spice Cake

Fall is that time of year where you have more excuses to make cake right? At least that's how I feel about it.

It's that time of year to break out all those delicious, sweet spices on a cold day and get baking!

One cake I've been wanting to try for years is just an old fashioned spice cake. I always loved the boxed spice cake growing up but I rarely cook with them anymore so I need a good homemade version. So here we are.

So Much Better than Box Mix!

It took a few attempts and a lot of contemplating on exactly what I wanted from this cake but let me tell you this cake is worlds better then anything you get from a box!

It is probably the most moist cake I've ever had and filled with the perfect amount of all those delicious autumn spices.

It uses brown sugar instead of white sugar which gives it a sweet caramel-y note and pairs so well with the spices.

The fusion of Jamaican island flavors here is most definitely set to impress. It's a meal you'll crave and want to make again and again!

Seared Pork Chops with Sweet Apples and Red Onions

I'll be honest, pork chops haven't always been my first choice of protein for dinner. But these pork chops change everything!

They are perfectly seared, perfectly spiced and seasoned and I just can't get enough of the fresh apple and red onion addition.

Oh and that pan sauce! Let's talk about that for a second because it is a key highlight of this dish.

It's made with chicken broth for depth, apple cider for sweetness (and because it's the perfect pairing to pork), then dijon mustard for zip, and those fresh herbs and autumn spices for flavor.

You know those spices that I can't help but add to everything lately, even my main dish like so.

It's a dessert worthy of any celebration but especially perfect for fall and Thanksgiving. They're easy to prepare and destined to get compliments all around!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

At least once during fall you need to make pumpkin cheesecake right? This year I decided to go with a bruleed version because I remember last year seeing bruleed pumpkin pies and cheesecakes all over the place and they always looked amazing!

Well these pumpkin cheesecake bars with a brulee topping are just that and more!

I mean we could say that topping is optional but once you try it I think you'll agree, it's a must!

A Perfected Recipe

I made these several times to try and get that perfect cheesecake consistency. The trick was in reducing the liquid in the pumpkin puree simply by wrapping it in paper towels to remove some of the excess moisture. It's a trick I like to do with pumpkin on occasion when I'm baking because it has such a high water content so sometimes it just helps to take some of that out.

It took the batter from a runny soup to a batter more similar to a regular cheesecake, meaning it gave a better end result.

Save this recipe because you'll want to take them to any and every get together this fall, they'll be the talk of the party! They have a perfectly spiced pumpkin flavor and the contrast of that crisp bruleed sugar shell next to the luscious creamy texture of the cheesecake is divine! Trust me, you don't want to miss out on these!