As of this writing, I wasn't sure what subject to explore this week. I looked down at the snack I had in my hands, which happened to be a bag of corn chips, and thought, "Hey, why not?" So, let's have a little fun with some recipes that use corn chips! They are delicious all by themselves, so they are sure to be just as delicious mixed into a salad or casserole.

Fritos chili pie

Feb. 5 is the date for the 2012 Super Bowl Sunday, but if you're a football fan, you already know when the big event is. If you are going to be a guest, or are having guests over for the big game, you may be wondering what kind of food you can bring or serve.

No matter what the occasion is, I have observed that meatballs are consistently one of the favorite foods. Most cooks probably have served small meatballs (or mini sausages) in a sauce made with grape jelly and chili sauce, so we won't go into that recipe here.

I don't make fortune cookies very often, but I do love to eat them when I go out to eat Chinese food. The origin of the fortune cookie is a subject that is often under dispute, but in this day and age, the treat is appreciated by most of us, no matter where the earliest one came from.

In honor of the Chinese New Year, which begins on Jan. 23 this year, I thought we could explore some recipes for fortune cookies. They can be challenging to make, at least at first, but once you get the hang of it, they are a fun kitchen project. It is especially fun to come up with your own fortunes -- serious or hilarious.

Even though my dad used to grow barley in his hay fields, I don't remember having that grain on the dinner table, except for an occasional ingredient in soup. I discovered that I really like barley, so I thought I'd share some recipes that feature the tasty, healthy grain.

My favorite way to include barley in a recipe is to make soup, but salads are nice, too. (Just thinking a lot more about hearty, warm soups these days!)

I would venture to guess that most of us were raised with at least an occasional bowl of chicken-noodle soup. Sometimes it came in a can and sometimes our moms or grandmas (or other family member) fixed a pot of it from scratch. Besides the fact that hot chicken soup has several health benefits, most of its appeal comes from its great taste.

 I have a pot of it cooking on the stove as I write this, and can hardly wait until it's done! Wish you could join me, but you can always make a pot of chicken-noodle soup of your own. Hope you enjoy it!

Chicken noodle soup

Many years ago, one of the most popular wedding gifts was the fondue pot. Everybody was making fondue; it was as popular as avocado green shag carpets and kitchen appliances.

Then fondue seemed to fall out of favor for a while. As far as I can tell, it is enjoying a revival of interest, so I thought it might be fun to consider adding a melty, cheesy fondue to our New Year's party menus. Fondue can be served at a New Year's Eve party, or at a gathering on New Year's Day.

Even though we all know that broccoli is healthier than candy,

I don't know anyone who plans to tuck the green stalks into their kids' Christmas stockings. If you are in the mood to celebrate the holidays with a little homemade candy, here are a few recipes you might like. Maybe Santa would like some candy along with the traditional cookies and milk! Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and stay warm, safe and happy.

I know that for many families, it is hard to find time for breakfast on Christmas morning.

If you have kids or grandkids, they are up very early and can't wait to see what's under the tree and in their stockings. But no matter if you have breakfast before or after opening gifts, eventually everyone is ready for something to eat. The kids can put the candy canes and treats down for a while and have some yummy breakfast.

Eggnog seems to be one of those beverages that people either love or hate. But it isn't really that simple, as there are so many variations in recipes that some are treasured and others are shunned.

Some recipes utilize uncooked eggs (can potentially be a health issue), and some require the eggs to be cooked, while others don't call for any eggs at all. There are eggnogs with alcoholic beverages added, such as rum and others that use flavorings and extracts. Some eggnogs are whipped and foamy and others are thick and rich.