Kevin Lee Jacobs – Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Cowboy Cookies

Cowboy Cookies travel under numerous aliases. You might know them as "Kitchen Sink Cookies," "Everything Cookies," or "Texas Cookies." By any name, these big, bold biscuits are yee-haw delicious! I make mine with rolled oats, slivered almonds, unsweetened coconut, and chocolate chips. Here's the recipe in video and printable formats:...

Baked Gnocchi Passata

Let me be the man who introduced you to Baked Gnocchi Passata! I'm talking about tender gnocchi, pure tomato puree (a/k/a "passata"), baby spinach leaves, fragrant herbs, sliced black olives, and a lid of three cheeses. It's the kind of February comfort food that says "Be My Valentine." Here's the...

Sheet Pan Dinner with Delicata Squash, Apple, and Sausage

Can we all agree that a new year deserves a rockin' new sheet pan dinner? This one, which Mr. Fox and I have fallen passionately in love with, features Delicata squash, diced apples, and sweet Italian sausage. It's easy to prep, fast to cook, and divine to devour. Video and...

Coquilles St. Jacques (Vlog plus printable recipe)

Take some naturally-sweet scallops, drape them in wine and cream, spoon them into scallop shells (or a small baking dish), pop them under the broiler until brown and bubbly, and what will you have? A fabulous French first course or main course called Coquilles St. Jacques! Click the "play" arrow...

Holiday Cookie Roundup

I'll admit that Christmas 2020 will be very different from all previous (and, we hope, all future) Christmases. Fox and I will not be hosting our annual holiday party for 60-plus guests this year. But we will have cookies! And to prove this point, here are seven holiday-worthy cookie recipes...

Butternut Squash Pie

I love every component of this Butternut Squash Pie. I love the all-butter pastry crust. I love the thin layer of crushed gingersnap cookies. I love the light, airy, cinnamon-scented butternut squash filling. Ready for a new taste sensation? I made a video and wrote out the recipe for you:...

Sally Lunn (Batter Bread)

Sally Lunn is an 18th century bread made from flour, yeast, milk, and eggs. I love it for toast, French toast, and for simply topping with good butter and homemade strawberry jam. It's certainly an easy bread to make. The only special equipment you'll need is a stout spoon! My...

Chicken Tikka Masala

I love Chicken Tikka Masala! I love the yogurt-marinated chicken morsels. I love the cream-enriched tomato sauce finish. I love the ease with which the dish comes together. Do you love what I love? Here's the video and printable recipe for this classic Indian main course: Video Recipe: Chicken Tikka...

Pierogi with Butternut Squash and Sage

Oh, the delicious things we can create with our autumn harvest! Yesterday, for the third time in my life, I made Pierogi with Butternut Squash and Sage. Pierogi are filled dumplings of Polish descent. The dumplings are first cooked in boiling water, and then sautéed in melted butter until crisp....

Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon, Sherry, and Thyme

I developed this soup 19 years ago, and I've been serving it every Thanksgiving and Christmas since. It’s a beautiful brew of caramelized butternut squash, smoky bacon, savory thyme, and smooth sherry. Serve the soup for dinner tonight, and your family will think you're a genius. Butternut Squash Soup with...

Pandemic Home Improvement Projects

Did you nix your 2020 vacation plans, and focus on home-improvement projects instead? You're not alone. Fox and I spent our travel money on things that memories are not usually made of: We cancelled our annual trip to the Equinox resort in Manchester, VT, and purchased a freezer instead. Heck,...

How to Harvest, Cure and Store Butternut Squash

I’m dreaming of luscious soups, sauces, and savory side-dishes today. Why? Because my butternut squash is begging to be harvested! Here's how to pick, cure, and store this powerhouse of fiber and beta carotene: How to Harvest, Cure and Store Butternut Squash Wanna see butternut squash growing with gusto on...

How to Freeze Bell Peppers

Why bother to freeze bell peppers in autumn? Well, just think of all the time and money you'll save in winter, whenever you need sliced or diced peppers for pizza, chili, and other cold-weather meals! I tackle the freezing job this way: How to Freeze Bell Peppers Wash, rinse, and...

Molasses Whole Wheat Bread

Moist, light, and aromatic, this Molasses Whole Wheat Bread is THE best "healthy" bread I've ever baked. It's an easy thing to mix and knead. Like my Basic White Bread, all you need is a bowl, a loaf pan, and at least one clean hand! Here's the recipe in both...

Tuscan Salmon Skillet Dinner

I have three good reasons for sharing this Tuscan Salmon Skillet Dinner recipe with you. First, it's screamingly delicious. The salmon and its sides -- cannellini beans, sun dried tomatoes, and leafy greens -- are cloaked in a fragrant vermouth and cream sauce. Next, it's a one-skillet meal, just as...

Simple Lemon Loaf Cake

This Simple Lemon Loaf Cake is one of the lemony-est treats I've ever put in my mouth. Lemon zest and pure lemon extract give the cake its sunny flavor and intense perfume. And nothing could be easier to make. The only equipment you'll need is a bowl, a whisk, and...

Homemade Pretzel Rolls

There's nothing I don't love about pretzel rolls. I love their bronzed, sexy outsides, and their deliciously-chewy interiors. You can't beat 'em for hamburger buns. And get this -- the rolls are really easy to make!

March 2021 House and Garden Chores

Happy first day of March, everyone! The gardens here at Clover Hill are an absolute mess just now, with some areas squishy and thawed, and other places frozen beneath snow. We won't be opening the pool this month, but we WILL attempt the following March House and Garden … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 28, 2021 6 Comments

Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe

I love Spaghetti Carbonara! It's glossy. It's glorious. It's shockingly fast to make. I make it the so-called "Roman" way, with just pasta, pork, pepper, cheese, and eggs. Some folks add garlic to the mix, but the Roman version is (supposedly) garlic-free. It's … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 25, 2021 9 Comments

Cowboy Cookies

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 21, 2021 17 Comments

Baked Gnocchi Passata

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 13, 2021 17 Comments

Chicken Fricassee

Chicken, veggies, herbs, wine, and cream -- what's not to love about Chicken Fricassee? Here's my step-by-step recipe for this one-pan classic: Chicken Fricassee: The video, step-by-step, and printable recipes I made this dish the other day and filmed the whole … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 4, 2021 40 Comments

Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread

Ah, Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread. I made it. Ate it. Loved it. I think you'll love it, too! Here's the easy (yes, easy) recipe for this hand-made loaf that is delicious, decorative, and downright addicting: The recipe begins with the ingredients for Basic White Bread. … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 31, 2021 15 Comments

Black and Decker 8-Cup Food Processor: My Review

When it comes to food processors, price isn't always commensurate with quality. As proof, consider my 12-cup capacity, $250 Cuisinart food processor. It bit the dust last week, after less than three years of use! Rather than buy another expensive processor, I decided … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 26, 2021 72 Comments

Linguine with Mushrooms and Kale

Linguine with Mushrooms and Kale. I made this colorful symphony for dinner last night, and mama mia! -- my taste buds did a happy dance. Fresh lemon juice brightens the works and eliminates any bitterness from the greenery. And should I mention that the dish comes … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 13, 2021 19 Comments

Easy Shortbread Cookies

Looking for a cookie that requires just 4 basic ingredients? Make my Easy Shortbread Cookies! These are better than anything you can buy at the store. The biscuits are slightly sweet, slightly salty, and deliciously dense. And if I can make them, YOU can make them! … [Read more...]

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | January 9, 2021 28 Comments