I have never made an attempt at Shepherd's Pie because in all honesty, it wasn't a common dish I heard much about. Now, I realize it's an easy fix for a ground beef dish that adds some variety to the same old burgers and tacos options. Here's a version of Shepherd's Pie that worked well with my family.

My kids' school recently held a volunteer breakfast where the teachers make a nice spread of breakfast foods for the parents who volunteer at the school. One of the dishes was getting some hype and I was told the teacher was famous for it, so I had to get the recipe. And, if you're looking to be the highlight at the next brunch, I highly recommend bringing this Blueberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast dish.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast Ingredients:

This dish reminds me of a Hamburger Helper dish. But, I'm guessing it's better for you as it's missing all the additives and such. It's a flexible recipe and can be easily altered to your liking... e.g. skip the mushrooms, add broccoli, etc. Here's how to make your own "Hamburger Helper"...

Here's another take on the boring plain meatloaf. If you liked my previous barbecue bacon cheeseburger meatloaf recipe, you will probably like this one as well. It starts with the nice mix of meats, because as any Italian knows, a meatball or meatloaf are never as good if just ground beef is used. I did not try this meatloaf recipe with bread crumbs so it can be made gluten free.

Oakland County Moms reader Michelle F won the March I LOVE Michigan contest and when she came to pick up her prize package, she brought a a container of delicious homemade toffee.

I never made homemade toffee before and Michelle told me her toffee recipe contains only 4 ingredients! Her toffee was so good I asked her for the recipe to post.

How To Make New Friends Toffee by Michelle Fusco:

I just might be the only Italian that is not a fan of Ricotta cheese, so I make my stuffed shells with a special twist - one that doesn't include Ricotta. Stuffed Shells are a favorite in our house. Stuffed Shells are easy to make and the leftovers re-heat well.

Stuffed Shells Ingredients

I think meatloaf has a tendency to get boring. So, I am always trying to think of ways to jazz it up a bit. And, really - the options are endless. Here's my latest concoction - the BBQ bacon cheeseburger meatloaf.

It's rare, but I sometimes luck out with a dinner dish that the whole family loves. I made this sausage and potato hash, and all the plates were clean within minutes and everyone said they loved it.

The key to the sausage and potato hash is finding a quality sausage. My mom makes homemade Italian sausage, so I lucked out. I would recommend hitting a meat counter and getting a decent, fresh sausage - not a prepackaged brand with a lot of fillers.

Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe

This Alfredo sauce recipe is so easy and, in my opinion, tastier than anything you'd buy in a jar. Making this Alfredo sauce was also a perfect excuse to break out my garlic spread recipe.