Home Cooking

Mandarin oranges are little segments of bright citrus flavor suitable for salads, vegetables, main dishes and, of course, desserts. Although mostly used in canned form, you may have eaten a fresh mandarin orange and not even realized it. Find out about the tangerine connection and try one of the many mandarin orange recipes such as Turkey & Mandarin Orange Cheese Wraps, Orange Almond Greens, Mandarin Orange Muffins.

• Mandarin Orange Recipes and Cooking Tips
• Lime Recipes and Cooking Tips
• Marmalade Recipes and Cooking Tips
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Mandarin Oranges Photo © 2012 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

If you are looking for a simple dessert munchie for your Super Bowl party, you must give this a try. Warning! My friends and family refer to this candy bark as "legal crack," because it is so addictive. Luckily, it requires few ingredients and couldn't be more simple to make. You can make it ahead of time, because you can store it in the refrigerator for weeks. Better hide it well, though! You may substitute your favorite chopped nuts, but do go with a salted nut -- salt enhances the chocolate and offsets the sweetness of the toffee. I've tried this substituting saltines or buttery club crackers for the graham crackers with equal success. Save this recipe for a quick and easy gift from the kitchen.

• Chocolate Graham Toffee Bark Recipe
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Chocolate Graham Toffee Bark Recipe Photo © 2005 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

If you are on a budget but want something special, try making this for your special loved one for Valentine's Day. Steak Diane is a gourmet treat at the finest restaurants, but it can be quite expensive. Here is a version using ground beef patties with a similar rich mushroom and wine sauce. If you cannot use wine, you may substitute strong beef broth.

• Hamburger Diane Recipe
• More Ground Beef Recipes
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Hamburger Diane Recipe Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

These pretty little crescent heart cookies are fast, easy, colorful and tasty. Perfect for Valentine's Day or any special occasion. They begin with refrigerated crescent roll dough and only have a few ingredients. Let the kids help.

• Chocolate-Dipped Crescent Hearts Recipe
• More Valentine's Day Recipes
• More Chocolate Recipes
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Chocolate-Dipped Crescent Hearts Recipe Photo © 2005 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

What could be more romantic than a meal cooked with champagne? From main dishes to desserts, prepare a truly special meal for your loved ones using champagne. If champagne is not in your budget or alcohol is out of the question, you may substitute non-alcoholic sparkling wines or even some sparkling grape juices or apple ciders.

• Cooking with Champagne Tips
• Champagne Recipes
• Valentine's Day Recipes
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Champagne Photo © 2007 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Truly decadent chocolate-dipped strawberries are stepped up a notch with the injection of Grand Marnier. They are easy to make and an impressive end to any romantic meal. Also great for kitchen gifts. Feel free to substitute orange sections (with the membrane left on) or dried plums for the strawberries. Perfect for Valentine's Day or any special occasion.

• Chocolate Grand Marnier Strawberries Recipe
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• More Grand Marnier Recipes
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Chocolate Grand Marnier Strawberries Recipe Photo © 2010 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Popular at tailgate and Super Bowl parties, beer brats are good year-round. It is hard to believe you only need four simple ingredients to make this quick and tasty dish. You can throw it together at the last minute. Do not restrict yourself to bratwurst. Use this method with hot dogs, Italian sausage, knockwurst, or just about any link sausage.

• Super Bowl Beer Brats Recipe
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Beer Brats Recipe Photo © 2009 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Meatballs are always a big hit as appetizers at parties, but this recipe packs a surprise. Hidden inside each meatball is a tiny ball of mozzarella cheese, and they swim in a deliciously piquant vodka tomato sauce. Hang on to this recipe, because it can also be used to make a stuffed meatloaf, spaghetti with meatballs, or as a stand-alone marinara sauce for pasta. If you cannot find the baby mozzarella balls (usually sold in supermarket deli sections), just cut up a standard ball of mozzarella. If you are unable to use vodka in the sauce, simply omit it. The sauce is almost as good without it. Try these for your Super Bowl party, potluck, or any party. Keep them warm in a crockpot or buffet warmer.

• Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs with Vodka Sauce Recipe
• Meatloaf Recipes
• Ground Beef Recipes
• Appetizer Recipes
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Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs with Vodka Sauce Recipe Photo © 2012 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Marinated ham and Swiss buns make a killer finger food appetizer for any party or gathering, and better yet, you can make them a couple of days in advance before baking. Guys ask for this recipe more than the ladies, believe it or not. They are that good. Cook these up for your Super Bowl party, and you will definitely be a winner!

• Marinated Ham & Swiss Buns Recipe
• Appetizer Recipes
• Super Bowl Recipes
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Marinated Ham & Swiss Buns Recipe Photo © 2005 Peggy Trowbridge, licensed to About.com, Inc.}

Cook up a Super Bowl party menu using beer-based foods. Beer was the first legal alcoholic beverage to be made legal on April 7, 1933 after the repeal of prohibition. Others were not made legal until December of that year. With new studies showing beer is actually healthy, why not eat your beer? Learn about cooking with beer, and try some of the many different beer recipes, such as Basic Beer-Can Chicken, Beer and Ginger Marinade, Guinness Stout Brownies, Quick Beef Carbonnade, and many more.

• Cooking with Beer Recipes and Tips
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Beer Recipes Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.}