In the food world, recipes gain popularity on a referral basis.  In my humble opinion, one would be mighty ambitious to pick up just any cookbook and expect that every single recipe published within the pages is delicious.  It just doesn’t happen that way.  There are usually fabulous recipes in cookbooks that the authors are thrilled to present coupled with a few so-so recipes that could have been left out, but were needed in order to fluff up the amount of content in the section they are in.

As for me, I don’t care for fluffing up the pages.  I want a no-fail reference list of recipes that I can serve to my family and/or dinner guests with confidence that they will enjoy it.  Although I cannot control what flavors my family and/or dinner guests enjoy the most, I can control that the blend of flavors within the food presented on the table is at its best.

The Tried and True Recipes page will only publish recipes that we find (and try out) along the way and enjoy enough to put our stamp of approval on.  In other words, my Gaga’s infamous chicken corn chowder, which (after its creation) was gifted from household to household within the family until it spoiled, will not be found on these pages; although her ham salad will surely make an appearance.

Trusting that you, our loyal readers and chefs-in-training, are following the directions to the recipes we submit with care, you can try out any of these recipes and know that they have already been tested out by your friends at Save Pray Smile.  That being said, if you don’t care for the taste of grapes, it would still be best not to wing it and make my mother-in-law’s grape salad for a special occasion.

Have a great time in the kitchen!  We hope that you enjoy our favorite dishes as much as we do!