Fab Foodie Mama

Lohikeitto is a hearty stew made with salmon and potatoes and a staple in Finland.  Every January, here in Hancock, Michigan, we have a mid-Winter festival called Heikinpaiva, in Finnish it means loosely, 'when the bear rolls over'.  It is a wonderful cultural event and where I first tried Lohikeitto.  The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has the highest concentration of Finnish American's in the United States and Hancock was named the 'Most Finnish city in the US' recently.  Foodie Mama herself is approximately 75% Finnish (and 25% Italian).  Finns aren't necessarily known for their food (no offense to anyone) but this stew is amazing, simple and delicious.  I hope you enjoy!   Heikinpaiva 2026   Ingredients 1 small onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground 1 lb  potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 cups  water 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 pound salmon, skin-off, cut into 1-inch chunks 1/2 cup he...

Good Day, Foodies:  I hope you are enjoying this snowy February.  Here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan we have had 292 inches (yes 😠) of snow so far and it doesn't look like it will be stopping any time soon.   As I am watching the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, I thought I'd share a few favorite recipes that are perfect for the cold days.   I have another Alfredo recipe on this blog, but since I found this flour-less version, this is all I have been making for the last few years.  It's so quick and simple and tastes amazing.  Stay warm,  Foodie Mama   5-Ingredient Alfredo Sauce with Pasta Ingredients:   1/4 cup butter 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 t granulated garlic 1 1/2 cups freshly grated, or packaged shredded, Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup fresh parsley, or dried if preferred (for garnish)  1 lb  fettuccine, cooked as directed   Directions: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.  Slow...

 A couple of years ago I read an article in The New Yorker where a man was describing his father recreating a pasta dish at home, made famous by the iconic River Cafe of London.  The River Cafe is a restaurant in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, specializing in Italian cuisine.  It was opened in 1987 by chefs Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray, until Gray's death in 2010.  Since then, Rogers has been the sole owner and operator of the restaurant.    As I was reading the New Yorker article, I was intrigued about the pasta that was beautifully described.  Fragrant Italian sausage, tomatoes, herbs, cream.  I tried to recreate it myself without a specific recipe, but just from the author's description.  It turned out delicious, but I wanted to get my hands on the actual recipe so I searched for it and was able to find The River Cafe Cookbook, authored by Rogers and Gray, on Amazon.  Come to find out, there are two versions of this ...

Happy Thanksgiving week, Foodie fans! 🦃 Since we still have to eat during the week of prepping for the Thursday feast, I was looking for something simple and vegetarian for Monday's meal.  As I do quite often, I went to NYT Cooking and did a search on easy weeknight meals + vegetarian and this lovely recipe popped up.  I have to say, this recipe for Braised White Beans and Greens with Parmesan  became an instant favorite.  So simple but yet it tastes so complex with the fennel, rosemary, and the delicious creaminess of the beans.  The recipe calls for this to be eaten alone with some crusty bread; I served mine over linguine.   Below the recipe were my substitutions.   NYT White Beans and Greens with Parmesan Ingredients: Yield: 4 servings ¼ cup olive oil 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, cored and small-diced 1 small yellow onion, small-diced 2  teaspoons minced fresh rosemary or thyme 5  garlic cloves, minced ¼  teaspoon red-pepper f...

 A Houghton landmark, the Library Restaurant has been in operation since 1967 in a beautiful brick building on Isle Royale Street.  Prior to sitting dormant for several decades, the building was a cabinet making business and another eatery and pub known as the Board of Trade.  But it was Jon Davis who created the spot it continues to be today, after at least three other owners.  Their house soup was always a favorite of mine and so many.  Swiss Onion Au Gratin with its crunchy dark rye croutons and sprinkles of tart Swiss cheese has been on my top ten list since childhood. I got this recipe from a former employee but I did tweak it a bit, after several attempts, to ensure it was as close as I could come to the original, while also bringing the quantity down to feed 6, not 200. Swiss Onion Au Gratin Soup Ingredients: 2 med-large onions, small diced 1 T butter 1/2 c chicken broth 5 c water 3 T dry white wine 1 t dried basil  1 t dried thyme  1/2 t salt 1...

I love White Bean Chicken Chili and I am surprised I hadn't yet posted the recipe I had been using for several years.  But recently, I have made it without flour, therefore it is gluten free.  I actually like this modified version better.  It is a bit lighter and it keeps in the fridge better than the version made with flour.  As we are in the Autumn season, and soon to be Winter, soups and stews (and chili) are always welcome and comforting. This recipe serves a big crowd (16) but it can be cut in half for a smaller batch.    White Bean Chicken Chili   Ingredients: 2 T  olive oil 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (cooked and shredded) 2   onions, minced 4 cloves garlic, minced 4 (15.5 oz) cans great northern beans, rinsed and drained 2 (14.5 oz) cans  chicken broth 4 (4 oz) cans chopped green chilies 2 t  salt 2 t  ground cumin 1 t  ground black pepper ½ t  cayenne pepper o...