Jennifer Cooks |

Peppermint Mocha Affogato

The holidays are right around the corner and this year has been unseasonably warm here in Texas, so it doesn’t feel much like the holidays at the moment. The weatherman is forecasting cooler temperatures for the upcoming weekend, so that will surely help the holiday spirit come alive. One thing about the holidays is that you can bet on plenty of family favorites and sweet treats. But what if you’re short on time and need a quick dessert? Or maybe you’re not the cooking or baking type? If any of those apply, or if it’s another reason, I’ve got a great solution for you! Affogato! Peppermint Mocha Affogato to be exact. Affogato is a very simple dessert made up of ice cream and coffee. It’s like a coffee float, or a grown up milkshake. There are so many possibilities of different combinations when it comes to this dessert, so feel free to use your imagination! Check out my "original flavor" Affogato Al Caffe recipe HERE. I recently received some samples of ...

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This creamy chicken and wild rice soup is packed with flavor and perfect for warming up on chilly nights. Chicken, Wild Rice and a cheesy creamy base make this velvety soup so comforting. It’s finally cooling off here in Texas. The heat has lasted way too long this year, and I’m ready for a break! We don’t…

Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan, for me, is kin to one of my comfort food favorites, Chicken Fried Steak! I love the tender, juicy and seasoned meat with that crunchy, crispy crust. The savory marinara sauce and gooey mozzarella knock it out of the park for me when I’m in the mood for Italian! In this Chicken Parmesan…

Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

Knowing my love for Rice Krispie Treats, I couldn’t pass up trying to make a chocolate version. I’m here to tell you that they didn’t disappoint. These Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats have all the buttery sweet flavors of the original Rice Krispie Treats with a chocolaty twist, and hit the spot for a cocoa craving….

Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and Sour Pork is a classic and well-known Chinese dish made with cubed pork, stir-fried peppers and fresh pineapple, and coated in a mouthwatering sweet and sour sauce. This was one of my favorite dishes to order when I was a kid and I still like to order it from time to time now….

Pina Colada Cake

This Pina Colada Cake is super moist and combines your favorite tropical cocktail into one delicious cake! I love to make this cake, especially in the summer when it’s hot and I’m craving something cool and sweet. I keep it in the refrigerator, which keeps it moist and super cold and makes for a delicious,…

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

These Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches are made with pork roast and slow cooked in a sweet and savory Texas-style sauce of onion, root beer, barbecue sauce, garlic and seasonings. This simple recipe is something you can throw together in a hurry and let simmer away while you’re at work or busy doing other things….

Almond Poppy Seed Bread

Almond Poppy Seed Bread brings back so many great memories of long leisurely mornings solving the world’s problems with my faithful and dear friend, Becky. Back in the day of toddlers and elementary age kids, we would get together at least once a week at her house or mine and eat breakfast together and drink…

Classic Creamy Coleslaw

This Classic Creamy Coleslaw combines crunchy cabbage, green onions and a sweet and tangy dressing to make a great side dish. My family serves up coleslaw alongside meals of fried fish, fried chicken, BBQ, Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. Back when I was young, my mom or grandma would hand cut or shred cabbage from the…

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Earlier this summer, I spent a week with my sister and her family in Colorado. While I was there, I whipped up some great Tex Mex classics like, Beef Enchiladas and these Homemade Tortilla Chips. My nephew, Jackson, loves Tex Mex like I do, so I thought it would be fun to teach him how…

Mushroom Risotto

Risotto is a classic Italian comfort side dish that I fell in love with many years ago. This Mushroom Risotto is a variation of the original Classic Risotto, and is wonderful on its own or as a decadent side dish. I don’t make risotto all that often because it requires about 25 minutes of steady…

Chinese Egg Rolls

Earlier this week I posted a recipe for Hibachi Style Fried Rice and these Chinese Egg Rolls are the perfect addition to a make-at-home take-out style meal! Egg rolls are surprisingly easy to make, so don’t worry about it if you’ve never made them before. I buy egg roll wrappers in my grocery store’s produce…

Hibachi Style Fried Rice

Hibachi Fried Rice is by far my most loved fried rice. There are some tricks to making fried rice a success when making it at home. Something that may be eye-opening to many home cooks is how much butter or margarine is used in the Hibachi restaurant environment – it’s a lot! But, using a…

Patriotic Popcorn

Need something quick, easy and festive for the 4th of July? This Patriotic Popcorn is the perfect treat for packing to the parade or toting to the fireworks show. I used my mother-in-law’s simple microwave caramel corn recipe and added Jell-O gelatin to the mix for a bright red, white and blue! You can use whatever…

Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos with Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa | Jennifer Cooks

#CookOutWeek – Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos with Strawberry Jalapeño Salsa

I am so excited about this recipe, y’all! I was hesitant about combining a strawberry salsa with shrimp, but let me tell you it more than worked well ~ it was fantastic! These Shrimp Tacos were so quick and easy, I whipped them up in 20 minutes for lunch this week. The slightly sweet, tart…

Grilled Asian Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce | Jennifer Cooks

#CookOutWeek – Grilled Asian Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce

Chicken wings are a favorite finger food at most parties and these Grilled Asian Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce will wow your mouth and your guests at your next party! Something about grilling the wings brings so much added flavor, along with the overnight marinade. I like to sear the wings on the grill…

#CookOutWeek – Grilled Strawberries

I know I’m slow to the party, but for years I’ve watched cooking show after cooking show combine strawberries and balsamic vinegar and tout it’s greatness. For me, I just couldn’t get my mind around adding vinegar to a fruit…until now. These grilled strawberries are truly delicious and a great ending to almost any meal,…

grilled-sirloin-steak-chimichurri-sauce-recipe-4

#CookOutWeek – Grilled Sirloin Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Grilled Sirloin Steaks are perfect for outdoor grilling on a budget. During the summer months here in Texas our family does a lot of grilling out on the patio because it’s quick and easy, and I don’t have to heat up the kitchen! My family loves steak, especially thick cut Ribeyes, but it’s not always…

Balsamic Glazed Fig Salad | Jennifer Cooks

#CookOutWeek – Balsamic Glazed Grilled Fig Salad

I’m in love with this Balsamic Glazed Grilled Fig Salad, and am so excited to share it with you! Grilled fruit is a simple way to prepare and bring out the sweetness of many fruits, especially figs or stone fruits like peaches. Balsamic glazed grilled figs are a great combination of sweet and savory and work well…

Weekly Dinner Menu: Week 9

Hey y’all! Another week’s over and a new one begins. Do you have your weekly dinner menu planned out yet? I’m hoping this dinner menu will inspire you and help you get ready for a new week! Enjoy! Monday: Spaghetti and Meatballs Tuesday: Tex Mex Beef Enchiladas Wednesday: Cinnamon Roll French Toast Thursday: Greek Tostadas Friday:…

Jalapeno Hush Puppies

A few days ago I posted my Cajun Fried Catfish, and nothing goes better with fried fish than Hush Puppies. But I couldn’t make just regular hush puppies, I had to make Jalapeño Hush Puppies (you know how I love spicy foods). You’ll notice these pups are long and skinny, that’s because I piped them…

Broccoli Salad

Have you ever had Broccoli Salad? If not, then you’re in for a treat! This is also my husband’s favorite salad, he just loves it! I usually make extra so that he has plenty to snack on whenever he wants. I like to serve this colorful salad in the place of coleslaw almost every time….

Cajun Fried Catfish

Happy Birthday to my mom and her twin sister Janice! I won’t say how old they are, but I will say they sure don’t look it! It’s just ridiculous…I get asked if my mom is my sister most of the time! I sure hope I age as gracefully as she has! Cajun Fried Catfish is…