PRAISEFORSimplyDeliciousSundayDinners

“Mom’sSweetSausageBakedBeans,CreamyChickenTomatoStew, and JalapeñoPopperMacandCheesearejustafewofmanysupreme,savorydishescreatedbyDina.Easy,simple,anddelicious,theseareperfecteverydaymealsforyoureverydayfamily!”

—recipechart.com

Notice: ebookpiracy isboth illegal and immoral. Ifyou suspect thatyou receivedthis ebook from an illegitimate distributor or retailer, please look at our list ofauthorizeddistributors. Ifyoureceivedthisbookfromaretailerorpromotionnoton this list, thenneither the author nor publisher have been paid for theirwork.Pleasesupportussothatwecancontinuetoprovideyouwithqualityliterature.

Tomypreciouskiddos!ThankyouforsacrificingyourtimewithmesothatIcouldworkonthisproject.The

mommyguiltreallygottomethistimearoundbutwithalloftheeffort,energy,andhardworkthatwentintothisproject,whatremainsisapricelesstreasure.Thiscookbookisfilledwithfamilyrecipesfrombothmychildhoodandyours.Ihopethatwhenyouareolder,you’llcherishthisbookbecauseitisfilledwithlove,laughter,andwonderfulmemories.Nowsit

downandeatyourdinner!

Loveyouallsomuch,

Mom

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

COOKINGGLOSSARY

CHICKEN,PORKCHOPS,ANDLAMBStickySoyChickenwithAsianCarrotSlaw

UltimateSlowCookerTurkeyBreast

SherryChickenDivanwithBabyBellaMushrooms

SimpleSkilletPorkChops

Oven“Fried”ChickenLegs

ChickenCobblerPie

CreamyWhiteWineChickenandBiscuitswithPimento

Five-SpiceChickenwithCherryBasilSalsa

SeasonedLambPitaswithMintTzatzikiSauce

Sweet-Mesquite-BBQWholeRoastedChicken

CitrusChicken

SweatPeachBalsamicPorkChops

SlowCookerShreddedBBQChickenSandwiches

SIMPLEPASTASANDSEAFOODRoastedRedPepperandFennelBakedRotini

ChickenPastaSaladwithArtichokeandAsparagus

AngelHairPastawithFreshBasilMarinara

FoglioSundaySauce

CreamyVodkaPenne

EasyFriedFish

ZestyShrimpTacoswithFreshMintPineappleSalsa

SlowCookerBeefBologneseoverFettuccine

QuickSpinachLasagnaRolls

JalapeñoPopperMacandCheese

CheesySpinachTortelliniBake

CreamyVelveetaCheeseburgerCasserole

ShrimpandAndouilleSausageJambalaya

ChickenandBasilStuffedShellswithSauce

HOMESTYLEFAVORITEBEEFDINNERSFirecrackerBarbacoa

SlowCookerBalsamicThymePotRoast

BeefGravyShepherd’sPie

IndividualGuinnessBeefPotPies

LayeredMexicanCasserole

ItalianSausageandPepperHoagies

SpicyBeefSweetPotatoStir-Fry

PhillyCheesesteakPizza

BigFlavorHoisinBurgerswithDijonHoisinSauce

HomestyleCajunDirtyRice

CreamySlowCookerBeefStroganoff

PlantainPicadillo

SimpleSalisburySteakwithOnionMushroomGravyandMashedPotatoes

MongolianBeef

WARMYOUUPSOUPSANDSTEWSHolidayLentilSoup

CurryPumpkinSoup

Dad’sChickenNoodleSoup

PastaeFagioli

FrenchOnionSoup

Dina’sUltimateCinnamonChiliwithBeans

SlowCookerBeefBurgundy

ThaiCoconutShrimpSoup

CreamyChickenTomatoStew

WhiteBeanChickenHabañeroSoup

HaddockStew

FRESHHOMEMADESIDESRoastedAsparaguswithLemonandParmesan

GarlicMashedPotatoes

CreamyAppleColeslaw

AsianCarrotSlaw

JalapeñoCranberrySalsa

SweetHushPuppies

FarmFreshFruitSalad

Ashlynn’sAmbrosiaSalad

SweetCornPudding

Mom’sSweetSausageBakedBeans

CountryFriedApples

FreshHotSalsa

Parmigiano-ReggianoBabyRedPotatoes

FluffyMashedPotatoes

HomemadeCaesarSalad

ShrimpCeviche

TenderGarlicGreenBeans

PerfectPotatoSalad

Mom’sMacaroniSalad

FAMILYFAVORITEDESSERTSItalianCreamCake

ChocolateSilkPie

SouthernRedVelvetCakeTrifle

LemonyPeachPieBundtCake

DarkChocolateChipWalnutCookieBars

BourbonPeachRaspberryCobbler

SugarCookieAppleCrisp

Company’sComingRaspberryTrifle

Grandma’sCoconutRicePudding

Baileys®Brownies

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR

T

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

hese recipes did notmagically appear. If it were not for receiving untiring support,encouragement and positive refocusing frommy family and friends, then this book

wouldnothavecometobe.Thankyoutothosewhogentlycritiquedmyphotographyforthebook,taste-testedtherecipes,offeredcookingvesselsorpropsformyphotoshoots,andkeptme going when I didn’t think I had anything left inme. Cooking has a greater personalrewardwhen themeal is over.My kids smile and say, “Thatwas a good one,Mom. Youshouldputthatinyourbook!”

Buttercream Bakehouse is where I began. My love for baking, sharing cooking tips, andinspirationtocreaterecipesisshowcasedonmylittleblogoflovewhereyou’llfindmemostoften.Ithankeachofyouforallowingmetocomeintoyourkitchensvirtuallythroughyoursteady readership and faithful following.The camaraderie of foodies and support frommyreadersiswhyIdowhatIdo.

TomyamazingfriendswhooffertheiradviceandsharetheirunbiasedviewandcritiquesonFacebookwhenIuploadyetanotherfoodpictureforthebook,Ithankyou.Youropinionsandthoughtfulcommentsaboutmyphotographyhelpedmeselectthefoodphotosthatmade

the cut for this book.Comments like “the plate was beautiful,” “that hamburger looks sojuicy,Iwantsome!”andmyall-timefavorite,“OMGthatlookssogood,Iwanttoputmyface inthat!”allmeantthatmyfoodandphotosweredarngoodandIwasonaroll.So,Ithankyou!

Tosomeveryspecialanddearfriends(youknowwhoyouare),Ithankyouforthepricelessgiftoffriendship,love,encouragement,andcontinuedsupportyouhaveshownmewithoutboundaries.Ittrulydoes“takeavillage,”andIappreciateyoumorethanyouwilleverknow.

Mostimportanttomychildren,Tristen,Ashlynn,Kayeden,andBrennen,whonevertireofMom’scookingorbakingexperiments.MysweetlittleMaltese,OllieandFinn,wholovethescraps, the mess-ups, or leftovers and are forever cuddling at my feet while I sit at mycomputereditingphotosandtypingaway.Tomyadoringparents,LucyandJimmyFoglio,fortheirunconditionallove,support,andencouragement.ToAndriaPost,afoodieatheart,thankyouforofferingyoursupportivetalentsandcritiques.

Fromthebottomofmyheart,Ithankallofyou!

Dina

M

INTRODUCTION

ychildhoodisfullofmemoriesofstorytellingandsiblingshenanigansaroundthedinnertable.Wewereabusybunch,justlikemostfamilies,butontheweekends,

especiallySundays,wemanagedtositdowntogetheratthedinnertableandenjoyahome-cookedmeal.Myparentsbothsatateitherendofthetablewhilemybrotherssatacrossfromme.IusuallysatclosesttomyMombecauseIknewshewouldprotectmefrommybrothers.Iwasthemiddlechildandonlygirlsoyoucanimaginethefuntheyhadwithme.Whethertheywereflickingmorselsof foodatmyface, touchingmyplatewiththeirdirtyfingers,orblowingonmyfoodtoseewhatIwoulddo,therewasalwayssomethinghappeningatthetable.BetweeneachbitemyMomdemandedthey stop and eat their foodwhilemyDad tirelessly chimed in with stories of hisboyhoodmischief asmy brothers and Imanaged to settle down and quietly relisheverybite.Andthefood—itwasdelicious.

WhenIwasgrowingup,myDadwasahardworkingmanwithlittletimetohimself.Nomatterhowbusyhewas,healwaysmadetimetocookforhisfamily.OnSundayshewouldmakeafabulousdinnerfromscratch.Hewouldgetupearlyinthemorning

toboilthechickenneededtomakehisdeliciouschickennoodlesoup(page89).

Hovering over the kitchen sink, he would tirelessly shred the chicken between hisfingers,cautiouslymakingefforttokeepthechickenaveryfinetexture.Atruelaboroflove!Thenhetossedinvegetablesandseasoningsandletitsimmerallday.Whileitsimmered,Dadtendedtowhateverneededfixingaroundthehouse,ortinkeredinthegarageononeofthevehicles.Butheneverlosthisfocus.Hetookfrequentbreakstobabyhisboilingpotofliquidgold,addingatouchmoreofthisandatadmoreofthatuntilitwasanoriginalmasterpiece!

Dadhasadelicatepalateandcanre-createrecipesthatheenjoys.Hewasabsolutelyspotonwhenre-creatingmyGrandmaFoglio’ssauce(FoglioSundaySauce,page33)that shemade forhimgrowingupandnowI sharewithyou.MyGrandmaFogliowasagreatItaliancook.Shemadeherownpastaandstrungitaroundthekitchentodrywhilehersauce,thepreeminentofallsauces,bubbledtoperfectiononthestove.Itwasahearty,savorysaucewithauthenticItalianflavor.Likenothingyoucouldeverorder inarestaurantor thatcameoutofa jar. Itwasmadewith loveand is simplypriceless.Tothisday,thearomaofhomemademeatballscookingremindsmeofmychildhoodinBurke,Virginia,whereIgrewup.

My Dad was the dinner guru while my Mom loved to bake desserts and inventdelicious side dishes that she is well-known for. During the summer months, mydaughteroften requested thatherGrammymakeher favorite,macaroni salad (page127)whilefriendsandneighborsfalltotheirkneesforherPerfectPotatoSalad(page126).

Therecipesinthiscookbookhavebeeninourfamilyfordecades.IremembertheexcitementofscoopingspoonfulsofMom’ssidedishesonmyplate.TheonethatIlovedmost,andstilldo,isMom’sSweetSausageBakedBeans(page118).Ithasthatsweet/heatcombinationfromthebrownsugar,molasses,andredpepperflakesthatIlovesomuch.Youwillnoticethesweet/heatcombinationrepeatedlyinthisbookandMom’sSweetSausageBakedBeans iswhat shapedmypalate to crave this complexflavorexplosion.

Thisrecipeisstillrequestedbyfriendsandfamilywhorememberitbeingsoenticinganddeliciousyearsago.“Bringyourmom’sbakedbeans!” is somethingIhearquiteoften,andnowIamsharingthisfabuloussidedishwithyou.

Mymomwasalsoahardworker.Withbothmyparentsworkingtwojobseach,webecame latchkey kids in a hurry.Whenwe would come home from school,Momwouldoccasionallyleavehomemadecookiesorbrownieswaitingforus,somethingIwillalwaysremember.MyparentstookthetimetofillourtummieswithloveasIdonowformyownkiddos.

I picked up on my parents’ love for food at a young age. As a child I loved toexperimentinthekitchenanddiscoveredmyfirstlove:bakingdesserts.WhenIwasanadultandstartedmyownfamily,everythingwascenteredaroundfood.Iplannedforeverymealeachdayoftheweek.Icreatedeverypartyandholidaymenuwithnew

recipes and old favorites too.When I baked and decoratedmy son’s first birthdaycake,IknewIhadaknackformakingfoodthat lookedasgreatas ittasted.Asmylove forbaking and creatinggrew, Iwanted to inspireothers to try somethingnewandsimpletocreate,soIdecidedtosharemypassionandmyrecipeswiththeworld.In 2010, I started my own baking blog called Buttercream Bakehouse(www.buttercreambakehouse.com)todojustthat.

Asmybloggrewinpopularity,Isecuredmyfirstbookdeal.In2014adreamcametrue:my first cookbook,DeliciousMornings, was released. It has been a whirlwindsince I became a published author and now here I am, releasingmy second book.WithmynewdinnercookbookIcancontinuetosharefabulousrecipesthatareeasytoprepareandtasteoutofthisworld.

Thisbookisspecialtomebecauseeachrecipeismadewithlove,whichissomethingIlearnedfrommyparents.Iaimtopreparequalityhome-stylemealsformyfamilyandyoursthatcanbeenjoyedtogethersittingatthetablewhenpossible.Thereisnothingmorememorableandmeaningfulthansittingwithyourfamilyandreconnectingoveradelicioushomestyledinnerandtheflavorsyoucreatedforthem.Inourhomethatmeansourcellphonesareputaway,thedogsarebyoursidebeggingforscraps,andthekidsarechatteringabouttheirdays… .Orsometimesthrowingmorselsoffoodateachotherandcreatingtheirownhavocandchildhoodmemories.

In this book, youwill discover original family favorites alongwithmodern recipessuchasJalapeñoPopperMacandCheese(page45)orCheeseburgerCasserole(page49), scrumptious sidedishes that are fresh andexciting, anddelectabledesserts thatarerealcrowdpleasers.Allwithsimple,easy-to-findingredientsandsometime-savingtipsthatwillhelpyoucreateahomestylemealforyourfamilythatyoucanbeproudof.“Secondsplease!”ismusictomyearsandIknowmyjobisdone.

Buonappetito!It’stimetoeat!

COOKINGGLOSSARYHerearesomebasiccookingtermsusedthroughoutthiscookbook.Knowingthesetermswillhelpyouunderstandthecookingdirectionsinthiscookbook,whichwillhelpyouprepare

yourmealwithease.Happycooking!

FOODPREPARATIONMETHODS

BakeCookingfoodusingdryheatwithoutdirectexposuretoaflame,typicallyinanoven

BlanchAcookingprocesswherethefoodisplungedintoboilingwater,removedafterabrieftimedinterval,andthenplungedintoicewatertohaltthecookingprocess

Chop Cutwithaknifeorfoodprocessorintosmallerpieces

CrushSmashintosmallerpieces,generallyusinghands,amortarandpestle,orarollingpin(crushingdriedherbsreleasestheirflavorandaroma)

Dice Cutinsmallcubesofthesamesizeandshape

Pitted Removedtheseedfromfruit

Preheat Heatanovenorautensiltoaspecifictemperaturebeforeusingit

RoastCookalargepieceofmeatorpoultryuncoveredwithdryheatinanoven

SautéCookingandstirringfoodinasmallamountoffatoverfairlyhighheatinanopen,shallowpan

SimmerCookfoodinaliquidthatiskeptjustbelowtheboilingpoint;aliquidissimmeringwhenafewbubblesformslowlyandburstjustbeforereachingthesurface

TenderizePoundingorpiercingmeattobreakdowncollagensinthemeattomakeitmorepalatableandtender

Whisk Beatingredients(suchasheavyorwhippingcream,eggs,saladdressings,orsauces)withaforkorwhisktomixorincorporateair

COOKINGTOOLS

BlenderAstationaryelectricmixingmachinewitharotatingbladeusedforliquefying,chopping,orpureeingfood

Casseroledish

Alarge,deepdishusedbothintheovenandasaservingvessel.Canbeoval,square,orrectangular,andeitherglass,ceramic,orstone

Cookiesheet

Aflatmetaltrayforbakingintheoven.Canberectangularorcircle

Dutchoven

Alarge,heavycookingpotwithalidforcookingmeats,stews,andsoups

Garlicpress

Akitchenutensilusedtocrushgarlicclovesbyforcingitthroughagridofsmallholes

Meattenderizer

Amalletusedtopierceandpoundmeattomakeittenderandeasytoeat

SaucepanAcookingvesselusedonthestoveforheatingfood.Typicallyaluminum,stainlesssteel,orTeflon

Skillet Aflat-bottomedpanusedforfrying,searing,andbrowningfoods

Slowcooker

Alargeelectricpotusedforslowcookingfood,especiallystewsandmeat

Wirewhisk

Acookingutensiltoblendingredientssmoothortoincorporateairintoamixture

Note:SaltandFreshCrackedBlackPepper,toTaste

In this cookbook you will often notice that recipes call for “salt and fresh cracked blackpepper,totaste.”Whatdoesthismean?Inanutshell,thismeanstoseasonthedishaccordingtoyourpalate.Salt,whenusedproperly,bringsoutthenaturalflavorinfood.Howdoyouknowwhatiscorrectifthereisnomeasurementintherecipe?That’sbasicallyuptoyouandyour palate in preparing your recipe.Tome, a teaspoon of salt is nothing, but to some it

couldbeoverkill.Justremember,youarenottryingto“taste”thesaltormakeadishsaltytotaste.Youwantthesalttoenhancethenaturalflavororthedish.Samegoesforfreshcrackedblackpepper.Simplyaddapinchofsaltatatime;thentasteandadjusttheflavortosuityourpalate.Iinviteyoutobecreativewithallofyourseasoningsandtomakethedishyourown.Also,tryandusefreshcrackedblackpepperwhenpossible.Yourtastebudswill thankyou.Happycooking!

CHICKEN,PORKCHOPS,ANDLAMB

Comeandgetit!

Simpleanddelicioushomestyleentréesthatwillpleaseevenyourpickiesteaters.Whetherit’ssautéed,baked,slowcooked,orroasted,theserecipesareeasytoprepareandpackedwith

flavor.