My name is Arlene but my family calls me “Sugar”. You can call me Sugar too. I’m a 43 year old wife and mother of two teenagers. My passion for food comes from generations of cooks and I want to pass it on to everyone around me. In my lifetime, I have learned to carry those old world traditions into my very modern, very busy American lifestyle. And I started Cooking with Sugar so that I could share these traditions with you...

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Shrimp and Corn Chowder

July 28, 2010 2 comments
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Shrimp and Corn Chowder This rich chowder is easy to make and I promise everyone will love it. I consider this a treat meal if you make the full fat version. It’s one of my sister’s favorite dishes and one that I often make for special occasions, or dinner parties. I made it this week [...]

Dijon Grilled Pork Chops in Balsamic and Rosemary Marinade

July 22, 2010 0 comments
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This recipe works great for lamb or chicken but my daughter just loves pork chops so this is one of her favorite dishes.   I like to buy a large package of thick boneless pork chops at Costco.  They have never let me down with their meat department.  It is usually a nice lean cut [...]

Oven Baked Tilapia with Summer Tomato Salad

July 13, 2010 2 comments
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My family and I eat a lot of fish.  It’s a great way to make a simple healthy meal in minutes. The biggest mistake people seem to make with fish is that they over cook it. You are better off undercooking fish and having to put it back on the grill or back in the [...]

Summer Heirloom Tomato Salad Recipe

July 13, 2010 2 comments
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My Aunt Rosie and my Grandma Reo made this salad all the time when I was younger.  This amazing salad can be used in so many ways. It’s great by itself or over some mixed greens.  I like to serve it over grilled fish, shrimp, chicken, or steak.  It also makes a great appetizer served [...]

What Europeans Can Teach Us About Food and the Joy of Life

July 7, 2010 9 comments
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Cruising through the Aegean Sea this past weekend with Rome and Greece behind me and Naples, Sorrento and the island of Capri in front of me, it really hit me how much the Europeans get it – food, love, laughter and life.   Over the past two weeks, our magical stay in Rome and our breathtaking stops [...]

Angel Hair Pasta with White Clam Sauce and Cherry Tomatoes

June 21, 2010 0 comments
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This recipe is easy to make but you need to have all your ingredients ready, because it all cooks very quickly.  It’s so delicious you will never want to order pasta and clams at a restaurant again, because nothing you order out will ever taste this good. Your family and friends will be wowed by [...]

Simple Summer Berry Cobbler Recipe

June 17, 2010 12 comments
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Simple Blueberry Cobbler This is an easy dessert to make for a yummy treat. Everyone loves this one with some homemade whipped cream or ice cream. You can even substitute peaches or mix different types of berries with this recipe. (not a low fat treat! enjoy on your “treat day”) Ingredients: 4 Cups fresh blueberries [...]

Grilled Vidalia Onion Burgers with Honey Mustard Sauce

June 8, 2010 7 comments
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This summer, don’t just throw burgers on the grill from a big sleeve of frozen patties.   Unless you’ve got to feed the neighborhood (which happens from time to time), take 10 extra minutes and whip up these simple, healthy and delicious burgers for a little extra zip in your summer supper.   My husband [...]