In Good Taste

Purple Potato Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Rosemary

I'm not sure if there's a better kitchen scent than the aroma that emanates from a pan of onions crackling and caramelizing in a pan of butter and olive oil. It's right up there with the smell of fresh cinnamon or a soft sourdough loaf fresh from a hot oven.

If you've been reading this blog for long, you know that I have a small kitchen. You remember when I discovered exactly how small my kitchen the first time I opened my oven after moving in last December. My first thought when I had fully digested the reality of my oven's handicap was that I would never roast a turkey. My second was that I would never be able to fit a baking stone in the oven - my bread and pizza making days were over.

Baked Chicken Meatballs, Finally

Before we start, I'm excited to share that In Good Taste was nominated for a 2010 Blogluxe Awards in the "Tastiest Blog" category. And hey, that's kind of fun. To vote, head over to the 2010 BlogLuxe Awards Voting Page and choose your favorite blog in each category. And if you want to, you know, vote for me every day, you can even do that. Keep in mind there's no cash prize at stake here, only my Internet dignity. If you're a little confused about what this means, check out the contest rules.

I can definitively tell you that I've been wanting to make these meatballs all year. Even though I have a favorite recipe for classic beef meatballs and for turkey meatballs with basil and cranberries, I knew that my meatball repertoire just wasn't complete.

And then, on New Years Eve, which I spent with friends at Dave and Lisa's, Dave made a batch of baked chicken meatballs that I knew I had to recreate.

Summer Bounty: Cowboy Corn Caviar

I talk about food a lot here, but it's time that I reveal a little personal tidbit about myself: I like country music. I went to college in central Pennsylvania and that's where it all started. At first it was a little Tim McGraw, the occasional Leanne Womack song on the radio.

Then, like a gateway drug, Tim McGraw gave way to Brad Paisely and Toby Keith and before I knew it, I was driving home for holidays with Rascal Flatts playing on a loop for three hours straight.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

It's June. Barbecues, sundresses, flip-flops and frozen margaritas. School is out, summer Fridays are on and your neighborhood pool is open for the season.

So why am I making soup? Not a cool summer soup like chilled avocado soup but a creamy, comforting soup that will stick to your ribs and heal all that is wrong in the world. Why am I making that in June, a month reserved for pasta salads, panzanella and seafood?

Worknight Dinner Recipe: Black Bean Chilaquiles

Sometimes I have grand plans to try a recipe but when I get home, tired or preoccupied, late or famished, the plans go straight out the window and hummus and crackers ensues.  You would think I'd have this down pat by now. I mean, I write about quick, weeknight dinners but sometimes, even I can't manage to come up with something creative.

Now, we all have our days where we just don't feel like cooking. I'm sure even Rachael Ray eats out. Yet, one of the more common excuses I hear among people my age who like to cook but often don't is that it's too much of a hassle just to cook for themselves. Why bother dirtying seven dishes just for yourself? Well, first of all, eating out and skipping meals have both been linked to an increased risk of obesity and certain types cancer.