Fall days and comfort foods.....

A big delicious pot of comforting cabbage soup!

Adding chocolate to chili give it that extra something special!

BBQ Ribs, with the secret Ingredients sauce!

Pot Roast with all the trimmings!

Golumpke, the way Hedwig always made them

Today was what fall days are about...breezes, leaves just beginning to turn, and the threat of a chilly evening when a log on the fire isn't such a far out idea. I love these days when I can pull out all the stops to prepare a meal that hearkens back to mom's kitchen..a day for actually using the oven and creating a gastronomic delight that we can refer to as comfort food.  

I decided to make Golumpke  today.  Now, while on the surface this doesn't seem like such a feat, I have to say that mine are especially tasty. I got a recipe from a neighbor past whose heritage is Lithuanian and she told me of a secret ingredient that I still use to this day.  She advises that after I have blended the fresh ground pork sausage, ground sirloin, onion, tomato paste, salt and pepper, vinegar, rice (some use barley) and other ingredients, to add 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the mix. I sometimes add more. Doing this gives my cabbage rolls a taste that has been forever a favorite of my family.

I also love to finally make a pot roast meal.  In the summer months, I wouldn't dream of turning on the oven, especially in Indian summer days that come in August.  Here is a photo of mine, with potatoes and carrots and onions roasted right along with it.  When this meal is done cooking, the meat just falls apart and melts in your mouth like butter!  Serve this with a loaf of fresh bread and butter at room temperature and it is by far the best fall meal I can think of!

Speaking of secret ingredients, as I talked mentioned in my golumpke rolls recipe,   have you ever made chili with chocolate shavings, or barbecue ribs sauce using orange or apricot marmalade and maple syrup?  Do this to taste and you will never be disappointed!  I am sharing some pictures of my dishes here.  I hope you enjoy looking at them and then maybe share some of your favorite secret recipe tips here with me.  I am always on the look out for twists in my old family favorites.  

Enjoy your wonderful fall days ahead.  Thank you for visiting!