Barley Lentil Soup
Lentil beans are so nutritious, so good for a healthy brain and body. Because of that, I am always trying new ways to cook them. So when I saw a recipe that included lentils and barley too, I knew I had to try my own variation. Use a vegetarian bouillon cube to adhere to a vegan dish. If you aren’t concerned with that you could use beef or chicken bouillon as well. The recipe can be cooked stove top too, simmering until the...
Best Baking Powder Biscuits
Mom’s Are The Best! They are. I know. You may think yours are better, but you have to try these and compare before deciding. Mom’s recipes always come through. Sometimes a baking powder biscuit sounds too good to resist. Do you know what I mean? Finding an excellent one has been the challenge. That is, until I happened to find my mother’s old recipe stashed in one of her cookbooks. I was so glad to find it. It wins, hands...
Taco Salad with Cauliflower and Ground Turkey
Sneak More Veggies Into Your Meals Hungry for a taco salad yesterday, I decided to make my own. Once I started cooking the ground turkey, the head of cauliflower in the fridge was calling out to me. It is a natural to add to ground meat anytime you are cooking it, and is especially tasty with taco seasoning! With the spicy flavor, it is still another way to add more veggies to your meals. I bet you won’t even notice it is there....
Eggplant Parmesan Light
Eggplant Parmesan has been a family favorite for many years. We would spend hours preparing it, along with sauce and an Italian feast. Dipping slices I the egg batter and flour, the frying in olive oil until golden brown. My husband would sample the finished product and stash it in the fridge. That was because cold eggplant sandwiches were his favorite. Have you tried it that way? The time it would take and the amount of oil the dish...
Salmon for Dinner, Heart and Brain Healthy
Salmon for Dinner, Heart and Brain Healthy. Lucky for me, salmon is one of my favorite fish. I love it baked, grilled, sautéed, whatever. Since it is considered one the the top foods for brain health, I eat it often. It is also great for heart health. Since improved blood flow surely aids both, you can see why it would be a good choice. It’s interesting, though not surprising, that most of the top 10 foods are on the same list. Nuts,...
Raspberry Coffee
Berry Flavored Coffee. Spruce up your cup of coffee with a raspberry flavor. I recently tried Raspberry Butter Crunch coffee by Door County here in Wisconsin. It was fantastic tasting. I added a little chocolate creamer. I was hooked! What a way to start your morning with an awesome tasting coffee. Another raspberry flavor by Door County is Chocolate Raspberry Truffle which I’ve tried too. What a toss up between the two. Both...
Apple Slice Cut-Out Designs
Did you know you can make designs in apple slices? I’d never really thought of that until I saw it while looking for some apple recipes. I just have to share it, plus I had to try it. When I found out you could make designs in slices the photo I found was of Halloween. As the fall season sets in, these apple cut-outs will be great. The fall seasons are perfect for for doing these since the apples are fresh off the trees. Who...
Salted Caramel Cookies
When I saw this limited edition flavor by Betty Crocker I couldn’t resist making these. I got the package and took them home to make. Package mixes are really easy. Generally all you need is stick butter, eggs and maybe some water. This recipe only called for the butter and eggs. Just make as directed on the package. You can’t go wrong. When I tried the cookies when they were done I loved the flavor. A very simple flavor of caramel in...
Maple Bacon Cookies
The bacon craze for cookies is here! Sounds interesting, huh? Quite the combination! As I was walking around in the store one day I saw a cookie mix flavor called Maple Bacon. It said ‘Limited Edition’ on the package plus the mix is by Betty Crocker. I’m not the biggest fan of bacon so this was going to be something new to try for sure! Although, bacon in my cookies? When I got home I read the instructions. They are made...
The Inspiration of Popeye the Sailor Man and A Spinach Sandwich
The Inspiration of Popeye the Sailor Man and A Spinach Sandwich. In 1929 on January 17th, the comic strip of Popeye first debuted in King Features. Apparently it appeared on the comic strip Thimble Theater, but before long became its most popular cartoon. Orginally created by Elzie Crisler Segar, since his death in 1938 several other writers continued the comic strip. It appeared daily until 1994, when it was went to Sunday only...
Oven Roasted Vegetables With Delicious Creative Dressings
We swear by eating lots of vegetables in my household because we know that doing so is the best way to maintain a healthy state and equip our bodies with everything they need to fend off all sorts of illnesses. Oven roasted vegetables just happen to be one of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables when I make any sort of roast dinner. I have found a wonderful website that proves my theory. It belongs to Micheal Gregor MD who is a...
Homemade Folgers Cappuccino
If you’re someone who loves cappuccino like me then you’ll love this easy homemade version you can make yourself right in the comfort of your own kitchen. I found this easy cappuccino recipe you can make with Folgers coffee which is my favorite brand. All you need to use is your coffee pot, saucepan and electric mixer. Of course you’ll need milk and coffee. I don’t own a French press so making this with coffee...
Quick and Easy Recipes: Delicious Langoustine with Hollandaise Sauce
Have you ever eaten langoustine? Mmm … they are my favorite seafood followed closely by smoked salmon. If you’re looking for quick and easy recipes that will impress your family and friends then langoustine should be on top of your list. First Some Facts about the Langoustine: Langoustine are also called the Norway Lobster, Dublin Bay Prawn or a Scampi It is actually from the lobster family The largest langoustine can...
Mackerel Recipes: How to Make Delicious Smoked Mackerel Pate
Smoked mackerel has a strong flavor and therefore makes a delicious paté that my family really enjoys. In my house we try to eat as much oily fish as possible because it is very good for you and we think that paté is one of best mackerel recipes around! It is an oily fish and therefore is a very rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Although fish is very good for your health, unfortunately it seems that much of it contains toxins, so...
Smothered Chicken with Mushrooms
Served on a Bed of Zucchini & Squash Noodles A light sauce made with sherry and broth adds a lovely flavor to these chicken fillets. Mushroom slices, green onion and cheese perfect it. What a delightful dish! Especially served over spinach and squash noodles. You can never have too many ways to cook chicken breasts. When you eat them often it is so nice to have a variety. This particular recipe has just been added to our...
Betty Crocker Apple Crisp
I’ve made this apple crisp recipe for as long as I can remember. I have a Betty Crocker Cookbook that I’ve had for years. It looks quite worn but this is where this recipe comes from. Apple crisp is so easy to make. I love to fill my pan to the top with apples which means I don’t always go by the recipe in how many apples to use. Apples cook down and I like my crisp to be thicker not thin. I’ve never had a pan of apple crisp that...
Zucchini Noodles Alfredo
Zucchini is a wonderful substitute for fettuccine in this Alfredo recipe. Make it with a light version of sauce, and you have a dish you may be eating much more often. Fettuccine Alfredo is a long time favorite. It’s also a dish that we wouldn’t prepare often because it can be so rich and high in calories. Tasty firm noodles, with the flavorful creamy and cheesy sauce—it’s hard to resist. Which made it a natural to try with...
Crock Pot Apple Butter
This recipe is a combo of two different ones I found. It was the spices that I combined after looking at different recipes to see which one I liked the best. As I’ve found that I can make other apple desserts with my crock pot I figured I could make apple butter with it too. Boy was I right! This is so easy using a crock pot. Really it is. All you do is cut up the apples. Mix some of the spices with the apples then fill the crock pot...
Apple Crock Pot Dessert
Apple Crock Pot Dessert Recipe. Autumn is time of the year that apples are ready to pick and enjoy. I know I do since I grew up on an apple farm when I was younger. We had many apple trees always loaded with many different kinds. With those apples are all kinds of desserts you can make but I’d never made one using a crock pot before. So I looked up some recipes and thought I’d give it a try. I soon found that out that not only is a...
Wasabi Roasted Cauliflower
Roast cauliflower is the vegetable appearing in the test kitchen this week. We see so many different versions of it, that it seemed appropriate to experiment. Cauliflower roasts beautiful, retaining its firmness and texture, yet adapting to the flavor of its seasonings so well. We see the in Cauliflower Fried Rice and Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes. A favorite method here is to roast it with lime and cilantro. Since the Mexican flare...
Roast Cauliflower with Turmeric
Experimenting with cauliflower has been a recent project of mine. Since roasted cauliflower is so popular, I thought I would try it with some different flavors. Turmeric came quickly to mind since it is a spice recommended for brain health. Some studies have shown it may actually slow or stop the deterioration that leads to Alzheimer’s disease. Anything we can do to improve our brain’s health is a good move. Healthy olive oil, or...
Watermelon Cake
Watermelon cake with vegan coconut whipped cream. My granddaughter had her 20th birthday in July. Her wish was to have a vegan dinner as that is the diet she and her boyfriend follow. So my daughter, her mother, decided to make an unusual cake for her made of watermelon and topped with whipped cream made from the cream part of the canned coconut milk. Here is the link for the various results from different brands of coconut milk when...
Martha Washington Chocolates
Hand Dipped Chocolates. Now what are these Martha Washington Chocolates, huh? They are hand dipped chocolates. They are perfect for the holidays. These are such a favorite of mine. Memories….. My mom use to make these chocolates every year for the holidays when I was younger. Oh how I love them so much with that coconut sugary chocolate flavor. As I got older and didn’t live at home I’d still ask her to make them....
Banana Recipes
Some of our favourite banana recipes. We know that not every food that we love is necessarily good for us. But bananas are something we can eat at any time, guilt-free. They can also be a delicious way to add more fruit – and therefore more goodness to the meals we eat or make for our families, especially when baking. They can be used for savoury dishes too – I like to add sliced bananas to a spicy curry at the last...
Lady Baltimore Cake
Lady Baltimore Cake Recipe. A white cake with whip cream topping and fruit on top and the middle. Traditional Lord and Lady Baltimore cakes were white cakes with a boiled frosting. Topped and filled with raisins, dates, figs and topped with some nuts. They marinated the fruit in sherry wine. I worked for a bakery in the 70s and the recipe my boss made used coconut, cherries, peaches and bananas. I have gone to bakeries that have had...
Aidell’s Spicy Mango and Jalapeno Chicken Meatballs in Spaghetti
My daughter made us a very quick and easy meal last night using Aidell’s meatballs. She cooked the pasta according to the package directions. She made her favorite tomato based pasta sauce and added the Aidell’s Spicy Mango and Jalapeno Chicken Meatballs. You can use any kind of pasta sauce for this quick meal. She added some spinach just before serving so that the spinach was just wilted. For my serving I need my pasta...
The Best Ever Tuna Casserole
My other half has started to do most of the cooking on weekdays. Simple cooking, but really good cooking too! He is retired and I’m still working so some of the cooking duties fall to him. Tonight we just had the best ever tuna casserole, it really beats anything I have made in the past, hands down. Ready in a pinch, good for you, and it uses us some of the pantry goods that might otherwise overlooked. The kicker is the topping that...
Fruit Cake
Pioneer fruit cake without alcohol from Sweden and Wales. Fruit cake without alcohol: This formula for fruitcake has been handed down from Sweden and Wales. There have been many variations of it. It does not use alcohol as their religion did not accept the use of alcohol. The difference was that you first cooked the raisins in the cinnamon and water. Save Print Fruit Cake Rating 5 from 1 reviews Prep time: 45 mins Cook...
Eat Cabbage, Lose Weight
Lose weight by eating cabbage. Do you remember that many years ago there was a diet called The Cabbage Soup Diet? If I remember rightly, it originated in Miami and was very popular. And recent studies, also originating in South Florida, have shown that yes, cabbage can without doubt help you considerably in your quest to lose weight and improve your health. According to the study, cabbage contains a substance called tartaric acid....
The Healthy Brain Salad
A Salad Using Top Foods for Brain Health. The best thing about salad is that anything goes. I can’t believe how many different recipes there are–all that look delicious–with ingredients I never would have considered. It is also a pleasure to pull out everything in the crisper drawers in the refrigerator and start chopping. There is no wrong ingredient! The salad I prepared here was designed with a specific goal, even...
Dad’s Potato Salad
Dad’s Basic Formula – Potato Salad. This recipe was developed in the 1950s before they told us that too much mayonnaise [cholesterol] was not good for you. Save Print Dad's Potato Salad Rating 5 from 1 reviews Ingredients 8 to 10 pounds Russet potatoes [he always made a BIG batch] 8 to 12 hard boiled eggs, 8 jumbo or 12 regular 2 cups celery with tops, chopped 1 large Onion, chopped 1 large bell pepper, chopped 2...
Creamy Pesto Lasagna with Artichoke Hearts
Baked Creamy Pesto Lasagna with Artichoke Hearts. Save Print Creamy Pesto Lasagna with Artichoke Hearts Rating 5 from 1 reviews Serves: 6 portions Ingredients 1 box lasagna noodles 10 oz frozen spinach OR 2 to 4 cups fresh spinach 1 can quartered artichoke hearts in water (optional) 16 oz ricotta cheese 1 egg ½ t garlic powder ½ t parsley or oregano (optional) 1 T olive oil 1 T butter 1 to 2 cups onion (one...
Mom’s Spanish Rice
My Mom’s Spanish Rice and My Adapted Version. Here is my Mom’s basic recipe with adaptations by me to follow. Save Print Mom's Spanish Rice Rating 5 from 1 reviews Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 50 mins Total time: 1 hour 10 mins Serves: 4 cups Ingredients 3 - 8 oz cans tomato sauce 1 - 28 ounce can whole tomatoes 24 ounces water 4 tbsp olive oil 1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 cup uncooked...
Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Cookies
Silver’s Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Cookies. Nom Nom! My daughter Silver has an issue with gluten so she has been cooking gluten free for a few months. That has helped her to get rid of her gluten intolerant intestinal pain issues. My daughter Silver is my second to the oldest daughter. I was living with IoBlue my youngest daughter. I now live with my oldest daughter Miss Norway who is a good cook as well as a...
Pre-Cooked Mac & Cheese with Burger Hotdish
Easy hot dishes make for easy meals especially this recipe. There is no boiling the macaroni noodles. They are already precooked. You’re probably wondering about what this precooked means, huh? Well it’s a precooked mac & cheese. I didn’t know about these sort of noodles until I got a package like this. I wasn’t even sure what to do with it. I’d never heard of it or seen it before. It comes in a bag and can be kept frozen until...
Barilla Gluten Free Pasta with Shrimp Recipe
My daughter Silver [her pen name] has had issues with her digestive system. She was having severe intestinal cramps and other symptoms. She was finally diagnosed with intolerance to gluten products. She had to forget about eating breads and pasta dishes. She heard about new products that are alternatives for pasta and other wheat substitutes. Finally, there is a solution for her with the new arrival from Barilla America company who...
Make Your Own Cocktail Sauce for your Fresh Shrimp Cocktail
You’ll Never Buy Cocktail Sauce Again. Cocktail Sauce Made Easy at Home Shrimp Cocktail is always a special treat. It used to be a required appetizer at any restaurant we visited near the ocean. The two go together so well. My husband first made this sauce for me. It became an instant favorite that I’ve used many times over the years. The easy ingredients mean I can have it ready in minutes anytime. Since it’s...
Swedish Flat Bread
Family Tradition. I learned to make Swedish Flat Bread with my boyfriend and his Dad. It’s a family tradition in his family for the Holidays especially Thanksgiving. I had never made this before so I was excited to learn this new family tradition. I thought it was really neat since I am of Swedish nationality. It’s always fun to learn from your heritage. It was a lot of fun to learn. It’s not that hard but is a...
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
With Autumn just around the corner these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie are perfect. I love baking with pumpkin in the Fall. It is such a treat. Loaves & Fishes & So Much More Cookbook This pumpkin cookie recipe featured is one that I found in a cookbook that I got while out on an adventure driving through Elroy, Wisconsin. We saw a cheese store and just had to stop. Sitting on the counter was the Loaves & Fishes & So...
Oven Ready Lasagna
Lasagna is always a good meal; not to hard to put together either. The reason I call this one oven ready lasagna is because of the noodles. I’ve never tried noodles that were oven ready before and decided to give this a try. Oven ready noodles means there is no boiling them. You just put them into your pan and add the layers. I used the recipe right off the box of the oven ready noodles as well. Not something I usually do. I...
Easy Pizza Hotdish
Make a simple pizza hotdish for a easy dinner to put together. It’s nice to have a quick and easy recipe when you’ve had a busy day and want something like pizza – yummy to eat. The flavor is exquisite and simple. Make a salad to go with this hotdish and you’re all set to fill your tummy with good food. You could make this hotdish with regular hamburger or with veggie burger. Either way it’s a reversible...
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Mediterranean Tuna Salad. I can’t think of anything that scares people more, than the thought of getting cancer…..doctors, nutritionist, and a host of people are convinced that diet plays an important part in reducing your risks of becoming another victim of this hideous disease. To that end, I get several different recipe sources that are supposed to be good for you in any and every situation in life. Some of these recipes...
Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna in Tomato Sauce
Lasagna was a regular meal in our household, along with most every Italian dish you can think of. When my husband cooked, it always seems like we did it all. Two huge pots of his homemade pasta sauce, meatballs, sausage, even ribs and chicken legs. Then as long as we were at it, may as well make eggplant parmesan and lasagna. The aroma of garlic lingered for days, much like an Italian deli. Back then we would use a meat sauce or...
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars
Chocolate Chips, Toffee, Nuts Do you occasionally get a craving for a rich, gooey cookie? A Chocolate Chip Toffee Bar is sure to satisfy that desire. Easy to put together, these delectable morsels are a great dessert to have on hand to serve family or guests or both. This is a recipe I got from my mother, THE best baker! (I bet you thought your mom was). She was always asked to bring dessert to any function or party. Every year at...
Zucchini Brownies
I kept seeing this brownie recipe with zucchini, banana and apple sauce in them floating around Facebook for awhile. It caught my attention cause it seemed to be on everyone’s page. So I thought I’d give it a try. I’ve put zucchini in other desserts so it can’t be that different plus it was healthy in other ways too. Read on to find out more about it! It was really moist with using bananas and apple sauce which...
Creamy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Noodle Casserole With Tuna. Tuna noodle casseroles can be made in many varied ways. I make mine stove top. It can also be made in the oven. I usually use elbow noodles. You can use egg noodles which makes for a nice swirly casserole look. There are times I’ve used half and half of each kind of these noodles and it turned out really great. I like to use mushroom soup in my casserole because it turns out nice and creamy. I add...
Cocoa Krispies Treats
Making Rice Krispies. One of the simplest bars to make is Krispies treats whether plain or flavored. I just recently made cocoa krispies ones that lasted only a few days in my house. The chocolate flavor was divine! You can make then in so many varieties with using plain, chocolate or colored rice krispies cereals. You can top them with sprinkles or frostings; even leave them plain. They’re perfect either way. There are three...
Piradzini: Latvian Bacon and Onion Stuffed Rolls
A Canadian Treat given to us by the Latvians. Who doesn’t love bacon? I have just come across a recipe that pairs two of my favorite flavours and foods. Bacon and onions….In Canada we are looking at a long weekend coming up Aug. 3rd. So to make the weekend really memorable, I try to find something that takes a little longer to make (because now I have the time) and something that my family will really enjoy. Enter into my...
Lasagne Recipes
Lasagna Recipes. As people what their favourite cuisine is and I imagine that a large number would tell you that Italian food is at the top of their list. Understandably, too. Here are some of our favourite lasagne recipes: Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna in Tomato Sauce Lasagna was a regular meal in our household, along with most every Italian dish you can think of. When my husband cooked, it always seems like we did it all....
Fried Cauliflower Rice
All of the Flavor Looking for a lighter version of fried rice? I was, and was very pleased with the results of this one! This recipe substitutes cauliflower for two thirds of the rice. I couldn’t tell the difference. You get the wonderful taste of fried rice, a good serving of healthy vegetables, and far less calories. It’s also very inexpensive to make. I used brown rice that I had prepared the night before. If you...
Garden Veggie Hot Dogs
Lettuce On A Hot-Dog. So have you ever had lettuce on your veggie hot-dogs before? Believe it or not, I’ve never had before until now. I opened up a can of vegetarian Big Franks. I put them in a fry pan and browned them up a bit. Normally these are just warmed up in a sauce pan. I had some fresh garden lettuce that I had in my refrigerator from a friend and thought why not, I’d give it a try. I chopped it up and topped it...
Shrimp and Veggie Burritos
Quick and Easy Dinner If you like shrimp, I bet you will enjoy this delicious, satisfying Shrimp and Veggie Burrito. Not only does it have tasty big bites of shrimp, but it also provides the extra nutrients of spinach and cauliflower, all at a lower calorie count. Burritos of any kind are one of my favorite Mexican dishes, whether eating at home or dining out. Usually my requirements for home cooking are 1) fast and 2) easy. Burritos...
How to Make Japanese Croquettes
Croquettes are one of the most popular things to eat in Japan. You can pretty much find them almost anywhere you go-the supermarket deli, bento shops, mom and pop restaurants and meat shops. They are loved by everyone young and old and although they have their origins in France, they are considered comfort food for many Japanese. My mom’s croquettes are the best in the world! And I’m not just saying that because...
Bourbon Chicken
It is said that Bourbon Chicken, a New Orleans favorite, is named after Bourbon Street there. Could be, though the ingredient certainly adds meaning to the title. While that may be subject to dispute, either way, with a half cup of the whiskey included, you can imagine the rich, delicious flavor. Sweet and spicy, it’s best when marinated overnight so the flavor (and the Bourbon) can seep in to every scrumptious chicken bite. The...
Lasagne – an Authentic Italian Recipe
Lasagne is one of Italy’s most loved and famous dishes – it was one of my favourites when I was growing up, and I was very fortunate to have an Italian granny who taught my mum, who in turn taught me this recipe, so it is authentic. That means there are no sausages, chopped vegetables, cottage cheese, or anything else that people throw in – the result is an absolutely delicious dish that any Italian trattoria would be proud to serve....
Red Beans and Rice
Vegetarian. Super nutritious. An excellent source of protein. A rich, satisfying taste. What could be better than that? Rice and Beans is a traditional dish is many different countries. From a cajun version we often find in the state of Louisiana to a Korean dish named Kongbap, to the Middle East and South America. It makes sense when you consider that both rice and beans are usually low cost and very available. It makes for a...
Fresh Spinach Recipes
Recipes using fresh spinach. In the twentieth century, children had to be more or less force-fed if their mothers wanted them to eat spinach, despite Popeye. But today, fresh spinach is to be found in some of the tastiest recipes – on pizzas, in lasagnes dishes, on fresh salads, in casseroles, dips … Spinach it adding its health-giving properties to a huge variety of delightful dishes. And of course, here at JAQUO Magazine...
Cinnamon Rolls From The Bread Machine
Fresh Baked Cinnamon Rolls, Right Out of the Oven My adorable Norwegian grandmother would always have a pan of fresh cinnamon rolls just out of the oven whenever we came to visit her. I can see her still, standing in her little kitchen, pulling them from the oven, flipping them over to get them out of the pan. She would serve us coffee, with a little cream, in a very small cup, since we were very young. Coffee wasn’t a drink we...
Mushrooms in Red Wine Recipe
Delicious mushrooms in red wine with pasta. We are a meat-free household but we certainly enjoy our food. This recipe is splendid for a family dinner but equally good to serve to guests. Although I generally serve this with pasta – any sort – we’ve also had this with plain boiled rice which made a pleasant change and the rice soaks up the delicious sauce beautifully. You could also serve this – with or...
Vegetarian Special K Casserole
Special K Casserole is a very easy to make. It’s been around for years. This is a well know vegetarian casserole to those who are Seventh Day Adventists such as myself. I learned to make it from my Mom. We made a lot of vegetarian foods as I was growing up. It is quite simple to make. All you do is sauté the onions and celery then mix the rest of the ingredients together. Put it in a baking pan and pop into the oven for 45...
Wheat Gluten Steaks: Vegetarian
Vegetarian Steaks! Wheat Gluten Steaks are a home made vegetarian meat-like steak that takes the place of real meat. This is a great alternative if you are not a meat eater. I know these gluten steaks as Choplets as they somewhat close to the Worthington brand I buy but making them at home is even better. They make a delicious sandwich at dinnertime. You can fix them up with lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, or anything you like on...
Haystacks: Taco Salad
What is a Haystack? If you’re a person who likes taco salads then you’ll like Haystacks. What is a Haystack you might be thinking. It’s like a big taco salad except you get to make your own stack! All you do is assemble it in layers starting with tortilla chips, then add the bean mixture, then add the veggies. Top it with salsa or sour cream as desired. Its a simple and easy recipe and everyone can join in once all...
The Battle for the Everglades
It doesn’t look like a battle, does it? The Everglades seems to be much the same as always, with the slow, shallow stream of water – what Majorie Stoneman Douglas famously called the River of Grass – flowing slowly south. I recently visited the Miccosukee Tamiami Trail Reservation Area – a beautiful lily-pad dotted expanse of water alongside U.S. 41, known as the Shark River Slough. Experts consider this one of...
Spinach and Mushroom Layered Casserole
Spinach, mushrooms and cheese seem to belong together. They taste fantastic! This recipe is no exception. When I first ran across this tasty casserole it was made quite differently than it would be today. It called for 6 tablespoons of butter and a teaspoon of salt. That seemed too much to me, so I’ve changed it up, making it healthier and lighter. First, I used coconut oil to sauté the mushrooms. That is healthier and lighter....
German Chocolate Cake
German Chocolate Cake Recipe. A tasty distinctive dark chocolate flavor is German Chocolate. This chocolate makes for a great cake. It is topped with a coconut pecan frosting and used for filling between layers too. You won’t want to miss trying this cake! Ever since I was little this has been my all time favorite cake. Between my grandmother and my mom making this cake; it was heavenly tasting! After my mom knew it was my...
Hot Spinach Dip
Every spinach lover must have their favorite spinach dip. This is mine. The first rule for me is that it must be hot. Leftover it is very tasty cold, but it is cheesy delight served warm from the oven, with crackers, chips or sliced fresh vegetables. It’s easy to make, yet tastes like you went to a lot of trouble. Guests love it. So does family actually. I prefer to make it without artichoke hearts, but they are a popular...
Spinach and Mushroom Calzones
Using a bread machine makes it so easy to have fresh bread any day. Lately I’ve been making dinner and sandwich sized rolls with it so I can use the fresh bread for hamburger buns. This time I cut off a piece to try my hand at calzones. A calzone is another recipe that is surprisingly adaptable. Not only can you use your favorite ingredients and cheese, you can also leave the veggies uncooked when you make the calzone and allow...
Ham and Cream Cheese Roll-ups
Easy Ham Roll-Ups These little bite sized ham and cream cheese roll ups were lunch yesterday. I happened to have some ham slices on hand. Since I didn’t feel like a sandwich, I pulled out some cream cheese, spread it on the ham with some onion, and had one of the fastest lunches I’ve ever made! If you are looking for a low carb, low fat meal, try this out. I always use 95 – 99% fat free ham, and usually use...
Spinach Dumplings with Dipping Sauce
Spinach Dumplings with Dipping Sauce The Chinese New Year celebration is beginning! While searching for a menu of what is usually served, dumplings caught my eye. Aren’t they a favorite to most of us? You can fill them with vegetables, meat, or even something sweet for dessert. And the sauces for dipping often make the dumplings twice as good. The idea for using spinach and tofu came from a recipe I saw in Food and Wine...
Hot Fudge Cake in the Slow Cooker
Hot Fudge Cake in the Slow Cooker Gooey chocolate goodness made in a slow cooker. This scrumptious, moist dessert is so easy. No mixer required, simply stir, pour, and let your crockpot do the rest. This was a first for me. I’ve never made dessert in a slow cooker before. I can see I have been missing out! Wouldn’t you know Betty Crocker already had this and several other recipes to suggest? When I saw the words...
Cinnamon Biscuits
Lightly Sweet Biscuit Made with Coconut Oil Baking powder Biscuits taste so good with coffee in the morning. Let’s be honest, they taste good nearly any time of day. Since I started making them with cinnamon they’ve become a favorite lightly sweet breakfast treat. Often I will simply drop them by small spoonfuls onto a baking pan. That makes them half size and bite size. Since they often go to a brunch at church, smaller works...
Avocado Chicken Quesadillas
Avocado Chicken Quesadillas Avocado Quesadillas with Chicken are another San Diego County favorite. There was a little local restaurant on the coast that served them. It wasn’t fast food, but it was very casual dining frequented by locals. Fresh avocados grow in many backyards there, so we ate them often. The dish was always so good that it was hard to order anything different. Since it is far away now, I had to try to copy it. ...
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Combining Cauliflower with Potatoes Mashed potatoes seem to be a favorite side dish with all of us. But, if you’re like me, you don’t fix them very often because most other vegetables are healthier for you. On top of that, many are lower in calories too. After experiments with cauliflower in lieu of part of the rice in my Fried Cauliflower Rice recipe, I decided to try it in potatoes too. I’d heard of mashed...
Vegetarian Enchiladas with Crumbled Soy and Cauliflower
Vegetarian Enchiladas with Crumbled Soy and Cauliflower Mexican food is usually a top choice when deciding to go out for dinner. Since I enjoy eating it more often than I go out these days, it has been fun and tasty to try some dishes in my kitchen. Burritos and enchiladas are among the most requested. In either dish, the ingredients are so flexible. Any meat, poultry or fish, all sorts of vegetables, and cheese, rolled up into a...
Potatoes in Light Cheese Sauce
Lighten up Cheese Sauce for a Delicious Potato Dish Potatoes in Cheese Sauce is another of my sweet Mom’s recipes. I hadn’t thought of it in so long, that it was like seeing an old friend when I did remember it. We didn’t have it often, but I can even see Mom serving it at dinner one time. I thought it looked so pretty when she served it, and, as with all of Mom’s dishes, it tasted so good! Once I...
Chicken Florentine Pasta
Ah…Pasta! Seems I can never have noodles often enough. Sometimes I’ll mix zucchini noodles in with it. Sometimes long skinny angel hair sounds best, other times ziti or rigatoni. Anyway you serve it, it’s a favorite choice. That being the case, it is a continual challenge finding ways to lighten up the topping I serve with it. As you see in this recipe. Spinach is a must, along with chopped onion. This time I...
How to Lighten Up a Chicken Salad
How to Lighten Up a Chicken Salad Chicken salad has been a favorite of our family since the late 70’s. A good friend and I would stop at a deli called Kaplan’s for lunch quite often mostly because I would crave their chicken salad. I don’t know if the restaurant still exists, but my chicken salad recipes still does. It took years of testing and tasting to come up with a recipe I thought was similar. We used it for years. These day I...
Gobly Cake Recipe
Who wants a slice of Gobly Cake? Gobly Cake is a recipe I found in the West Yorkshire Archives today. I was searching for something else and found this instead, and couldn’t wait to try it out. The recipe appears to date back at least 70 years. ‘Gobly’? Most likely because it’s tasty so you want to gobble it down. It’s the sort of daft Yorkshire word you would conjure up here to describe something...
Veggie Platter with Buffalo Ranch Dip
Fresh, Crisp Vegetables in a Spicy Dip Fresh vegetables are in abundance right now, fresh being the operative word. While it is a good idea to freeze, can, dry, etc., to preserve the variety for the rest of the year, there isn’t much better or more delicious than fresh, raw, cut up vegetables. Fresh from the garden or from a farmer’s market, they taste healthy and wonderful just as they are. So why mess with a good...
Butter Pecan Balls, A Melt-in-Your-Mouth Cookie
A Cookie Tradition. Melt-in-your-mouth buttery goodness, covered lightly with powdered sugar. Sound tasty? Of course they’re scrumptious any time of year, but Pecan Balls are still one of my favorite and longest Christmas traditions. Especially in the dessert category. Christmas is a time for tradition. It’s always a treat to see favorite decorations and ornaments unwrapped, lights hung inside and out, the angel placed on...
No Fail Chocolate Chip Cookies
No Fail Chocolate Chip Cookies These are the best home made chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tasted, and it’s totally because of the recipe not because of me! Rich and chewy and very chocolatey, I can’t believe I made them. I have a confession. Until a friend gave me this recipe, I was a total failure at chocolate chip cookie baking. I’ve tried so many different recipes from relatives, cookbooks, magazines, and...
Salmon and Edamame in Ponzu Sauce
Salmon and Edamame, Brain Health Favorites. Salmon with Edamame in Ponzu sauce is a dish that was a favorite restaurant dish of mine when I lived in southern California. With that restaurant now 900 miles away, I decided to try to create it myself. I think I did pretty well–it came out so tasty! Grilled salmon, one of the best foods for brain health, served with edamame, another powerhouse food. Since we’ve had...
Alfredo Sauce Made from Mushrooms?
Alfredo Sauce Made from Mushrooms? When I first ran across a similar recipe to this on Pure Wow, I knew I had to try it. Mushrooms are so tasty, and also very low in calories. I love Alfredo sauce, but try not to use it often because it is so rich and high in calories. Making a sauce from mushrooms sounded too good to be true. It works! It still surprises me that mushrooms will make such a thick sauce, but they do. The original recipe...
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Four Ingredients I was looking for something easy, low budget and with just a few ingredients. Then a co-worker suggested making home-made sloppy joes. All you use is hamburger, ketchup, mustard and brown sugar she said. That sure piqued my interest. So I went home and made it. Oh my goodness I’ll never buy the canned sloppy joe sauce ever again! Making them like this is so good and even better. I was never reallly fond of the...
Roast Cauliflower with Lime
Roast Cauliflower with Lime Cauliflower is delicious no matter how you fix it. Raw, steamed, roasted, or included in any casserole recipe. Still, cauliflower roasted with lime and cilantro is a hard recipe to resist. Easy to fix, pretty enough for company, it’s new favorite. Seems like I used it in everything these days, from fried rice and mashed potatoes to tuna casserole and meatballs. Actually one head of the tasty vegetable...
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies
A Cookie to Satisfy. Oatmeal and peanut butter are two of my favorite cookies, so what could be better than combining both? I like to include these in my holiday cooking, only then I will sprinkle them with red or green sugar. It’s become a new tradition to bake these along with my favorites, Pecan Balls and Ginger cookies. Of course, these are a tasty snack year round. The oats and peanut butter also offer nutritional value....
Gramma’s Ginger Cookies
Gramma’s Ginger Cookies Ginger Cookies, My Grandmother’s Way These ginger cookies are one of my favorite comfort cookies! Probably because the recipe is my grandmother’s. Whenever our Norwegian grandparents would visit, we would come home from school to the aroma of cinnamon rolls or these cookies wafting through the house. Sweet, spicy and so delicious. Fresh from the oven or cooled, they are a delightful cookie...
Homemade Veggie Pizza
Veggies on my pizza! Veggies are so good for you and I love them. There are many ways that you can make them. They can be used by themselves cooked or raw, in casseroles or even on pizza. That’s what this recipe is all about, veggies on your pizza. Buying veggie pizzas is a easy, normal instinct to do but making it homemade is just as easy and healthier for you. Just think of topping your pizza with fresh veggies from your...
Vegetarian Taco Hot Dish
Taco Hot Dish. Turn a regular Taco Hot Dish recipe into a vegetarian one instead. Swap out one ingredient for a different one. It’s nice when you can adapt a recipe that you really like a lot to fit the health needs of yourself or when cooking for others. Its fun to experiment with these types of recipes in switching out ingredients to see what works or doesn’t work. So find a recipe of yours to see what alterations you...
Easy Breakfast Sandwiches to Make at Home
Easy Breakfast Sandwiches to Make at Home. Breakfast can be boring. I know oatmeal is one of the best things you can eat for breakfast, and I really like it, but some days I need a change. Yesterday was one of those days. Looking around for something to fix I nearly gave up and thought I’d hit a fast food drive-thru. That reminded me of a breakfast sandwich I used to make often. So why not make one at home? I wanted something that...
Apple Crisp, The Old Fashioned Way
Apple Crisp, The Old Fashioned Way Mom often made this simple, old fashioned apple crisp for us when we were growing up. It was always a favorite. Dad liked ice cream with it, but I like it just the way it is, especially when still warm from the oven. The flavor is delicious, the crumb topping just crumbly enough. It’s very easy to make too which is always a plus to me. The hardest (or most time consuming) part of the recipe is...
Chocolate Zucchini Cake
I love when the end of summer comes and its time for the zucchini to blossom in the garden. It’s like the next part to garden with Fall approaching. There are a number of great recipes that you can make with the zucchini. One that I really enjoy making is Chocolate Zucchini Cake. It is simple to make and usually goes over well with everyone who tries it. Although the first thought may be to those who think zucchini in a cake...
Vegetarian Won Tons
Vegetarian Won Tons Making Wontons Wonton making is incredibly fun! I’ve always looked at wontons and egg rolls and thought they would be too hard to make. Since I had some time this morning I decided to experiment. I hope you’ll enjoy this as much as I have. The best part is you can put anything in them you like! I added two others as long as I was making the basic ones. Kids would get a kick out of helping too, and...
Wafer Sandwich Cookies
Wafer Cookies with Frosting in the Middle. Delight your guests and family with these light wafer cookies filled with frosting. They are lovely for an afternoon tea. These wafer sandwich cookies have become a new family favorite. I first ran across the recipe while looking for something festive to make for a party at my Mom’s memory care residence. I loved the colorful frosting in the center, and knew all Mom’s friends...
Almost instant strawberry tart
Ten minute strawberry tart. This was a popular recipe in the nineteen sixties and seventies and I see no reason why it can’t be revived today 🙂 Yes, it uses a pre-baked pie case (I use the graham cracker type) and, apart from the fresh strawberries, it uses items from the store cupboard but the labour involved is ten minutes tops. Kids love it but you can give it a more adult, sophisticated flavour by adding just a few drops of...
Cheesy Tuna Casserole with a Twist
Cheesy Tuna Casserole with a Twist Tuna casserole is one of this dishes you love or hate. Before you decide though, check it out. This one might be just a little bit different that the ones you’ve had in the past. Whenever I told my husband that I was making it for dinner, we would go out instead—guaranteed! While he apparently wasn’t fond of it, it was always one of my favorites, especially when it has all these ingredients in it!...
Beef & Barley Soup: Comfort in a Crockpot
BEEF BARLEY SOUP: COMFORT IN A CROCK POT Who says chicken soup is the best food to eat when you aren’t feeling your best? Now I now it does have some magical ingredient that apparently does help recover from a cold, but still. When we want something soothing, mild and comforting, I’ll pick this soup instead. Beef Barley soup is one of the favorites in my family. A slow cooker is an ideal way to make soup, especially this...
Berry Ice
Yum Leftover berries? Make a Refreshing Icy Dessert With all the berries looking so appealing last week, I stocked up on strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. A little too much, I guess, since I couldn’t use all of them. So into the freezer with a portion of each. So today, I thought I’d try to make an iced dessert to use them. This one combines strawberries, raspberries, and a few blackberries. I bet...
Marinated Mushrooms & Olives
Yum A Tasty Make Ahead Appetizer. Looking for a sensational appetizer for your next get together? This one is delicious. Mushrooms and olives in yummy oil & red wine vinegar. Being married to an Italian (at least part Italian) meant a lot of Italian feasts over the years. I remember days spent at the stove, making home made sauce in giant pots, sometimes even using tomatoes right from our garden. My husband loved to cook. When he...
Vega-Link Sandwich Spread
Vegetarian Spread Have you heard of vegetarian hot dogs? They make a great spread all mashed up. I use what you call Big Franks, Super-Links and Vega-Links. They’re called veggie hot dogs. At least that’s what I call them. All by a brand called Worthington which come in plain or low-fat. They are wheat, soy and protein based. No real meat in these! These veggie hot dogs are easily smashed up with a fork. The consistency of...
Classic Seven Layer Salad
Quick and Easy To Make. I’ve been making this salad for some time now. It’s a big hit wherever I take it. Everyone loves it. Most of the time I make it just as the recipe says but sometimes I will switch out a veggie for a different one or add another one. It depends who I am making the salad for. My oldest son who doesn’t like cucumbers so I might add radishes instead. For me I love all veggies.That’s the...
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
One of my favorite summer salads is a Zesty Italian Pasta Salad. It is easy and simple to make. You can make it with plain noodles, colored noodles even pretty bow pasta. My favorite way is using colored noodles because they make the salad look so pretty look inviting with all the different colors. You can make this salad with all your favorite veggies from your garden and even a few from the store. If there is one you don’t...
Vegetarian Lasagna
Learn to make vegetarian lasagna with veggie burger. Making lasagna is pretty each and pasta dishes are fun to make. There are so many variations of them. Everyone makes it different. What’s really nice is that you can swap out one ingredient for another one. So if you don’t like a certain kind of burger meat or in my case I needed to make it vegetarian so I used veggie burger. It’s a nice alternative for non-meat...
Fresh Fruit Salad
Calling All Fresh Fruit Lovers! A fresh fruit salad is delightful and refreshing on a warm summer day! This is a super easy salad to make. I had a variety of watermelon, honeydew, strawberries and blueberries in my refrigerator and thought I’d put them all together to make a nice salad with. All I did was cut up the fruit except the blueberries of course. I tossed them on top and stirred it all together. You can use any fresh...
Spinach Fettuccine with Gorgonzola Sauce
A Tasty Gorgonzola Treat Looking for a change from the traditional fettuccine alfredo? Then try this! Recently when my friends and I took our annual road trip to Iowa, we tried this recipe. Gwynn’s brand new kitchen was ideal for shared cooking so we all pitched in. We had a blast, sipping a Cabernet Franc wine, a recent find from friend Michele. A tasty, rich pasta dish, served with a crisp veggie-filled salad, was a perfect...
Asian Cabbage Salad
An Asian Twist to Classic Slaw We first tasted this Asian Cabbage Salad when we lived in Hawaii, many decades ago. We would have it often, served with a stir fried dish called Beef Tomato. It’s been a favorite of mine ever since. As you can see, it is so easy to put together, yet looks very pretty for company. You can use more or less mayo if you like. Using veganaise makes it a vegan dish as well. Normally I will serve it as a...
Chicken Stir Fry with Vegetables
Stir Fried Chicken and Vegetables Stir fry is such a fast and nutritious way to serve up a colorful meal. This recipe came from just that need the other night, and I had dinner on the table in less than a half hour. You can save even more time if you slice the chicken and prep the veggies early. I’ll do that often, putting the onions and celery into a baggy, and the other veggies in another. Then they are ready to pour into the...
Chicken Brunswick Stew
A New Twist for the Traditional Brunswick Stew Brunswick Stew is one of my most popular recipes. It’s also one of my personal favorite soups made with chicken. It’s always on the menu during the winter months, but I love to keep some in the freezer to grab for an easy, filling meal any time of year. It is such a satisfying meal loaded with vegetables, chicken and a tasty broth. Usually Brunswick stew calls for pork, but we...
Fruit Salads
Fruit salads What could be more healthy, refreshing and delightful than wonderful fruit salad? In honour of National Fruit Salad Day, here are our favourites: Summer Fruit Salad with Creamy Honey-Lime Dressing Summer Fruit Salad with Creamy Honey-Lime Dressing Do you love fresh fruit, especially spring and summer fruits? Those luscious strawberries, melons, blueberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, all just call my name at...
Book Review: Indigo Slam, by Robert Crais
Another Terrific Elvis Cole Detective Story I was so sorry to have this book end. Indigo Slam features Robert Crais’ regular characters, Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. With each book in their series I grow to like them more and more. Whenever I start a new one I know I will enjoy their story. It’s like visiting good friends again. This was one of those books that I was was anxious to see what would happen at the end, but once...
Chocolate Chip Mug Cake
Microwave Cake In A Mug I have been dying to try making a cake in a mug. So I did! They looked so fun and easy. I was inspired even more when I’d seen Zoom Yummy’s recipe on her blog. It looked totally inviting. I decided to use my Snoopy’s mug with his name on it for this adventure. Snoopy is my fiancé. We shared the mug cake for our dessert after lunch. We each had our spoons dug right into it! It was cute and...
Shrimp Cocktail Lettuce Wraps
Succulent Shrimp for a Low Calorie Wrap So many foods are wonderful in a lettuce wrap. Nearly anything that can go in a sandwich will work. So when I was in the mood for a shrimp cocktail, I thought, why not? Shrimp cocktail has always been a favorite appetizer of mine. Lovely bites of meaty, large shrimp, blended with celery and homemade cocktail sauce. Yum. The first time my husband made cocktail sauce for us at home, I was...
Bacon, Avocado,Tomato and Spinach Wrap
In the mood for a lighter, healthier version of a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich? Then do try this one! It is similar to a BLT, but I love spinach. So instead of the traditional blend, I tossed together baby spinach leaves, chopped tomato and avocado with some crispy bacon slices for a scrumptious wrap. The flavors go beautifully together. It’s now a favorite. Whether in a wrap or a sandwich actually. Spinach is a super food...
Yorkshire Cooking: Herders’ Fattie Cakes
Herders’ Fattie Cakes Recipe. High on the Haworth to Colne road, on the borders of West Yorkshire with Lancashire, stood an old inn: The Herders Inn. Like many pubs in Britain, this one closed a few years ago and became increasingly derelict (see photo at end of this article). In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the inn was a half-way stopping off point for the cattle and sheep drovers who drove their livestock to market along...
Chocolate Sheet Cake Recipe
Calling all chocoholics! This chocolate cake is a true sweet fix with both batter and frosting chocolate! This was my first time making this particular sheet cake recipe. At first I thought the recipe looked a bit involved but it really wasn’t. It was fairly simple. Just mix your dry ingredients as the recipe reads then make the stove top part. Add it all together. Really quite simple. Now when it came to the frosting; that was...
Chicken Salad Lettuce Wrap
A chicken salad is perfect in a lettuce wrap! Doesn’t it look like it belongs there? Chicken salad has been a family favorite for years and years. Today we still love it, but my recipe has changed to so be so much lighter and more nutritional besides. Often I’ll serve it on a bed of greens for a satisfying dinner. The difference today? Far less mayonnaise and a couple of my favorite ingredients lately: spinach and...
Rhubarb Cobbler
Mom’s Rhubarb Recipe I learned about this cobbler recipe from my sister. She made it for a family outing while visiting. It turned out so good that there wasn’t any left over. She said it was a dessert Mom made. I don’t remember her making this rhubarb dessert. I have all my Mom’s recipe boxes so I got them out and starting hunting through them for the recipe. I found it! It said on the recipe in the corner my...
Chocolate Cornflake Clusters
Chocolate cornflake clusters recipe. I watch a foodie channel on my Roku called ifood.tv. It is a free foodie network station where they share food videos and recipes on it. One of the recipe they made was these Chocolate Cornflake Clusters. As I watched the video on how to make them I thought they looked easy to make. So thought I’d give it a try. I mixed up the ingredients to make the chocolatey mixture. Then added it to the...
Cauliflower and Bean Burritos, A Vegetarian Delight
A Lighter Burrito Want to lighten up a burrito? Try this vegetarian version with cauliflower and beans. It is delicious! It’s become a habit any more to find ways to cook any dish with lower calories. I also try to find ways to eat less meat and lots more vegetables. That it’s vegetarian is just a bonus. Lately I’ve been on a cauliflower kick. Since trying it as a rice substitute in my Fried Cauliflower Rice and then...
Awesome Potato Pancakes!
Potato pancakes recipe. Well last week was a bit of a challenge for us. We spent Tuesday in the hospital from early in the morning till about 3 in the afternoon. “Sweetling” was undergoing a procedure that required someone to be there before, during and after. So when we got home, there was nothing prepared for dinner and I was exhausted (even though I didn’t do much), I guess worrying will do that to you! Anyway,...
Coconut Oil and Oat Muffins; When You Don’t Feel Like Oatmeal
While searching for an alternative to oatmeal as a hot cereal, I ran across this recipe on “And Babies Don’t Keep.” Besides oats, it includes blueberries AND coconut oil. Oats are so good for us, both for our hearts and our brains. Still, sometimes I get tired of hot cereal. This particular recipe appealed for several reasons. First, the oats, then because it uses coconut oil, and lastly because it includes blueberries. Oh, and...
Dang Toasted Coconut Chips, A Review
What see here pictured here has to be one of the best tasting, healthiest snacks I’ve had the pleasure to meet. Always on a quest to find healthy snacks that also taste good, it often seems hard to combine the two unless I stick to fresh fruit and vegetables. So when I was given a sample of one of these toasted coconut chips, in caramel sea salt flavor, I confess I was a sceptic. One bite changed my mind. Without a doubt. Talk...
Sautéed Morel Mushrooms; The Finding and the Eating
Mushroom Hunting March through May is the usual time to go hunting for Morel Mushrooms. Do you have them in your area? They do here in Oregon, but the only time I’ve found them and eaten them was in Iowa. I’d always been concerned when I heard of people hunting mushrooms. How do you tell the difference between the safe and unsafe varieties? Last year on a trip to Iowa I learned how much fun it can be. Morel mushrooms are a lovely...
Tofu: The Healthy Protein
Tofu: The Healthy Protein The Humble Tofu Tofu is one of the most common food product here in Japan and it is served in various ways. I myself always have a block of tofu in the refrigerator and it usually gets used within days if I don’t eat it that day. I love tofu for it’s neutral flavor and versatility in cooking. Tofu has been eaten by the Japanese as a source of protein for centuries. It has its origins in China and...
Purple Pickled Eggs Recipe
Purple Pickled Eggs Recipe When I first tried purple pickled eggs was quite some time ago. I was hesitant at first since beets were not my favorite to eat but it was a new food adventure to try. The purple color was so inviting that I couldn’t resist so I cut one in half and took a bite. To my surprise the flavor was so good. It had a sweet and acidy flavor. The two flavors went mixed together well. From then on I really liked...
Yorkshire Cooking: Fat Rascals
Yorkshire Fat Rascals. Yorkshire Fat Rascal cakes are a timeless favourite in the region, although they were only given this name in recent times. The recipe goes back to the 15th century and is based on a Yorkshire ‘turf bun’, so called because they were often baked on a griddle over a turf fire at the end of the cooking day. Left-over bits of dough and lard were squashed together with honey and fruit and baked into a...
Faux Salisbury Steak
Turkey Patties with Beef Gravy Did you grow up with favorite comfort meals that were traditions at your house? This recipe for ground meat patties is one of mine still today. Besides Sunday supper, when we would eat dinner at lunchtime, we had a few other traditions that we always loved. My favorite was eating dinner together while we watched good old Perry Mason, in black and white. A few years later we added Mission Impossible to...
Spinach, Spinach, and more Spinach!
Spinach, Spinach, and more Spinach! Since spinach is simply delicious any day of the year, it is a regular ingredient in my personal test kitchen. I’ve experimented with a bunch (no pun intended—really) of recipes only to find that it is excellent in most everything. Even those who aren’t fans of this super food will find it hard to resist most of the recipes. Here at Jaquo, we have so many spinach recipes they have their own...
Is Meat-Free Week a good idea?
Meat-Free Week Meat-Free Week is an initiative that started in Australia. On March 23rd, 2015, the UK began its own version. This is due to be an annual event. Even though I don’t eat meat, I’m not convinced that these initiatives are really such a great idea. Not eating meat has become a militant thing – something that seems to be getting a little holier-than-thou. Most of us who can read, see or hear are fully...
Spinach Pesto
Spinach Pesto recipe While exploring recipes using coconut oil I ran across a recipe similar to this on the Lucy Bee Coconut Oil site. Since it had apple cider vinegar as an ingredient too, I had to give it a try. Both coconut oil and apple cider vinegar are such healthy foods. Recently I read an article that showed it may have excellent results for Alzheimer’s disease. While it wasn’t an official study, it still...
Start your day with the easiest, healthiest breakfast
Start your day with the easiest, healthiest breakfast Who on earth has time to make a fresh, healthy and easy breakfast every morning? For many years, I’ve read about the importance of breakfast. They say that it’s the most important meals of the day and I can believe it. But it’s that old problem – time. Grabbing a bowl of cereal is so much easier. Skipping breakfast, which was my previous habit, is even...
Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif: Eggplant cook-off
Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif: Eggplant cook-off Actress Sophia Loren admits freely that she loves food. Indeed,she attributed her looks to the plentiful consumption of pasta. If only… It is true though that a Mediterranean style diet is highly recommended for health and Sophia Loren does seem to be the proof of the pudding. She has what you would call a healthy appetite. In her autobiography she tells a story of an event that...
Omar Sharif’s Lamb Fatta Recipe
Omar Sharif’s Lamb Fatta Recipe Omar Sharif was more than just heartthrob actor. He adored food. He grew up loving food from his own country, Egypt, and when he moved to the United States fell in love with Italian food. In 1968, he was quoted as saying: ‘Cooking is the preparation, the preliminary, to the great ceremony of eating. And eating is one of the highest pleasures person can experience.’ Probably mindful of...
Ready-to-eat boiled eggs
Ready to eat boiled eggs: The craziest convenience food? Coming soon to supermarket near you … the ready-to-eat soft-boiled egg. This must surely be the daftest convenience food ever. ‘All’ you have to do, to get a perfect soft-boiled egg, is open the plastic container in which the egg is packaged, pour in boiling water,leave for five minutes and, as they say, enjoy. Hang on a minute… If you’re making...
Menu-speak
Ten menu clichés Have you noticed how very flowery the language on restaurant menus has become? It seems that chefs (or possibly restaurant managers) are trying to outdo themselves and that there’s some secret competition to see who can develop the fanciest language. There was time (see the image above) when restaurants were content to describe their food plainly. You would be unlikely to see ‘stewed tomatoes’ on a...
Basil Pesto Recipe and Postcards
Basil Pesto Recipe and Postcards My family and I had already liked Pesto, especially made with basil. Then one year after I had gotten back into gardening, I decided to grow sweet basil and parsley in my garden. We were looking forward to having a fresh batch of homemade pesto with fresh ingredients. Wow, were we impressed. It certainly does make a big difference in flavor when you can use fresh ingredients from the garden. Sometimes...
Healthier, tastier pastry
Healthy pastry recipe using olive oil For the last twenty years or so, the average consumer has demanded healthier, ‘guilty-free’ menu items. We were delighted to find this pastry recipe. What’s more, it’s quick and easy. This recipe creates enough pastry for a ten inch quiche. Here’s how to make the pastry Stir together one and a quarter cups of flour and half a teaspoon of salt. I use a mixture of...
Noodles with Ground Turkey, a Stroganoff Substitute
Noodles with Ground Turkey, a Stroganoff Substitute Ever feel like a stroganoff dish without the rich sauce? That is why this dish was created. Calling it non-Stroganoff doesn’t quite cover it though. While I was having one of my marathon cooking days, I had a some ground turkey leftover. So I decided to saute it with veggies for an easy dinner. While stroganoff is always a hit, it’s often nice to have the pasta without a creamy,...
A quart of Ale is a dish for a King
Growing up in rural England knowing a good beer should be second nature. But I grew up in a period in England when there was a big push for this new lighter coloured stuff called lager. Most kids of my age had dads who had a love of those big Party Seven keg cans that were impossible to open. The stuff inside wasn’t easy on a pre-teen palette, but to dad a good home party needed Worthington E, Double Diamond, Youngs Tartan, and...
Yorkshire Cooking: Yorkshire Ale and Rye Bread
Some folk might say to use good Yorkshire ale to make bread is a mortal sin. But as you only use half a bottle in this recipe, you can pour out the rest and enjoy it with a slab of this full flavoured bread and a hunk of Wensleydale cheese. If you do that all will be forgiven, and you will be at peace with the world. Save Print Yorkshire Cooking: Yorkshire Ale and Rye Bread Rating 5 from 1 reviews Ingredients 300g rye flour 200g...
How to make your BigOven recipes public
How to make your BigOven recipes public Are you using the fabulous BigOven system to collect your JAQUO recipes? If so, then you’ll know how easy it is to create grocery shopping lists, develop weekly meal plans and quickly calculate the nutritional value of the meals you serve to your family and friends. When you have a BigOven account- which is free – you can use either your computer,your phone or your tablet to collect...
Asian Beef Stew
Quick Asian Beef Stew Recipe An Asian stew stirs my taste buds. Doesn’t that sound like an interesting twist to traditional beef stew? Thoughts of soy sauce, teriyaki, hoisin or ponzu sauce, always inspire cravings. They have a unique and wonderful flavor. Of course, I had to try one. Many of the recipes I found were for the slow cooker. Normally that would sound perfect—toss the ingredients in and let it be. This time I...
Use BigOven to save your recipes … and more
Use BigOven to save your recipes … and more We’ve partnered with BigOven to let you easily save recipes on JAQUO to your phone or tablet, to make grocery lists and menu plans. BigOven is a great free recipe organizer and grocery list used by millions of cooks. It’s available for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone and the web. When you visit a recipe on this site, we give you two handy options. You can print the recipe –...
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Today is National Peanut Butter Day. While many national days may seem unimportant or pointless, surely peanut butter deserves its day in the spotlight! What would be more appropriate than making cookies? Our favorite version of a peanut butter cookie is a delightful combination of oatmeal and peanut butter. That actually sounds healthy, doesn’t it? This recipe won’t claim that, since sugar, flour and...
Shrimp Burritos Anyone?
Shrimp Burritos Anyone? A shrimp burrito is one of the dishes I missed most when I moved from the San Diego area to southern Oregon. It was always a favorite to-go order from a local fish taco restaurant. Bite sized morsels of shrimp, combined with beans, cheese and spices… No wonder it was so popular! So I decided to make one myself. Turns out it wasn’t difficult to achieve. It isn’t an exact copy. The restaurant has its...
Cauliflower, Spinach and Turkey Meatballs
Cauliflower, Spinach and Turkey Meatballs One of my favorite ways to play in the kitchen is finding ways to include vegetables like spinach and cauliflower in recipes. It still surprises me how easy it is to do. These meatballs are one of the most popular options. Perhaps the easiest method is to include both in ground meat of any kind. Since I rarely use beef, my choice for this recipe was ground turkey. Whether a meat loaf,...
Friar’s omelet recipe
Try a Friar’s Omelet recipe from 1886 I have in possession a battered old leather-bound notebook. In the front page is lady’s name and the date – 1886. It is a collection of hand-written recipes from England. Many of these recipes were given to her. Some are marked ‘Mother’, others are from ‘Alice A’, ‘Sissie’ and ‘Florrie’ amongst other contributors. I’m...
How to make proper English pancakes
How to make proper English pancakes I’ve seen many an English person try to hide their bafflement when, on visiting America, they have ordered pancakes and syrup for breakfast. Instead of what they expected, they were served with thick little cakes rather than the delightful plate-sized English pancakes they were expecting, slathered in lemon juice and Tate and Lyle Golden Syrup. I’ve never tried to make American pancakes...
Stuffed cabbage rolls: Recipe & ideas
Stuffed cabbage rolls. So versatile Once you have mastered the art of cooking stuffed cabbage rolls, you have a wealth of recipes to work with. The reason is that so many foods are suitable to use as a filling. Even better, this is a quick-to-make dish and very simple. It’s even planet-friendly. Let me explain more. What are the advantages of this delicious recipe? Depending on the filling used, it’s a remarkably...
Brown Windsor Soup
Brown Windsor Soup? No, not really Have you heard of that famous British dish, Brown Windsor Soup? You’ll see references to it on the internet. They’ll tell you that it was much beloved by Queen Victoria, hence the name. They say that it was popularly served in Victorian British households and in plush railway dining cars. Oh, it was so popular, evidently. It was also horrible, they say, but the English, being notorious...
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe One of my favorite new recipes using the versatile cauliflower is Fried Rice made with cauliflower. I was so pleased how well it turned out that it is now a regular in our household. I love fried rice of any type. With its variety of ingredients, I can eat it for a main course. Because of its high carb and calorie count, I wouldn’t order it often. Another reason I’m delighted with this recipe. The...
British custard tart recipe
British custard tart recipe In 2006, we watched a BBC series on television that was fascinating. A banquet had been planned to celebrate the eightieth birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The banquet, for three hundred people, was planned for June 16th. The theme of the banquet,naturally enough, was British foods. The television programme showed various well-known chefs as they competed to have their dishes chosen to be served at the...
How much do we know about the world’s cuisine?
Isn’t it amazing that we know so little about the world’s cuisine? We are more ‘global’ than ever before. We can pick up a telephone and speak to someone in any town or city in the world. We communicate every day with people in other countries via email. Using the internet, we can learn about other cultures from the source. So many households have a TV turned on during every waking hour that the house is...
Quick and easy pizza recipes
In our household, pizza is just one of those staples – something we have for dinner when there’s little in the fridge or when inspiration simply doesn’t strike. For many years that simply meant picking up the telephone – you know what it’s like – it’s just so easy, isn’t it? Well yes, but eventually I realised that it’s healthier, much cheaper and much, much quicker to make pizza...
Pasta Alfredo – a lighter, healthier version
Pasta Alfredo – a lighter, healthier version We try to eat as healthily as possible. And I prefer to cook food that takes little time – we’re all so busy these days. But sometimes we simply crave for some delicious, creamy pasta. Something like a Pasta Alfredo but oh, those calories. Have you ever looked it up and seen how many calories there are in the usual version? So in order to satisfy our cravings, and eat...
Fantastic Fruit Filled Green Salad
Fantastic Fruit Filled Green Salad Even in the midst of the winter chill I still often crave a crisp, cold salad. Fresh fruit all year long is a must. Between the soups and the hot comfort food, sometimes a super healthy combination of vegetables sounds so good. This time I decided to combine the two for a delicious, sweet taste. Many of us have had salads with strawberries tossed with spinach, or Mandarin oranges found in an Asian...
Yorkshire Cooking: Parkin
Yorkshire Parkin. Parkin is a delicious ginger flavoured sponge cake associated with the north of England, particularly Lancashire and Yorkshire. There are regional variations, particularly with the use of spices and sugars – but this recipe keeps it simple and confines the spice to just powdered ginger. Every Yorkshire family that’s worth its salt can make Parkin (sometimes called ‘Tharf cake’), and this is my mother-in-law’s recipe....
Yorkshire Cooking: Mint Pastry
Yorkshire Mint Pastry. A Hidden Yorkshire Recipe Gem. This is a recipe from Yorkshire that tends to get passed down through families, rather than written in cookery books. It is a combination of garden mint with currants (or raisins) in a plain pastry tart that offers a taste surprise. The blend works surprisingly well, and the smell of fresh mint and fruit hot from the oven is sublime. The main ingredients are stock items in most...
Stuffed Mushroom recipes
Stuffed mushroom recipes Mushrooms are such a versatile ingredient for the cook. And the shape of these little beauties just lends itself to being stuffed.It’s a great idea to have a great stuffed mushroom recipe in your repertoire as they are a good way of using leftovers or oddments. Here’s the start of our growing collection: The Best Stuffed Mushroom Recipe Ever! The Best Stuffed Mushroom Recipe Ever! Are you looking...
Baked Grapefruit recipe from the Chalet Suzanne
Baked Grapefruit recipe from the Chalet Suzanne Bertha Hinshaw started her inn in 1930. It was situated just north of Lakes Wales in Florida. Mrs Hinshaw had a special recipe using Florida grapefruit that was on the menu to start every lunch and every dinner. The meals at the inn were described as unusual and ‘unbelievable copious’. Ingredients of only the finest quality were used. The inn was composed of six clusters of...
Baked Alaska: Recipe and history
Baked Alaska: Recipe and history In 1867, ownership of Alaska was transferred from Russia to the United States. Delmonico’s restaurants celebrated the fact with the invention of a special dessert created by chef Charles Ranhofer. You can imagine how these Victorian-era guests were delighted. The dish, named Baked Alaska, consisted of a beautifully light cake covered in delicious meringue. Inside the straight-from the oven-cake...
Raspberry and Blueberry Muffins
WARM MUFFINS FOR BREAKFAST When you can’t decide what sounds good in a muffin, why not try using several? That certainly made these muffins one of my new favorites. These little guys are so delicious! A luscious combination of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and melting white chocolate, just out of the oven. I love these! You can frost them with powdered sugar/milk frosting, you can sprinkle the with powdered sugar, or simply eat them...
Dutch Babies for Breakfast
Dutch Babies for Breakfast If you aren’t familiar with the name, that might sound a little alarming, but no worries, it’s the name for a wonderful and delicious pancake—sort of. A good comparison might be a cross between an omelet or crepe and a pancake. It is actually very similar to a German pancake. Whatever you call it, it is a wonderful hot breakfast that is fun and delicious. It’s pretty enough to serve company. Not long...
Ancient Harvest’s Quinoa Pasta
Ancient Harvest’s Quinoa Pasta My dietary needs have changed drastically, underscoring the need for focus on a more aggressive change. I recently discovered the superfood, quinoa. The most important package it brings to the nutrition table is a complete protein. This grain/seed is so impressive, I wrote about it in Jaquo article, Quinoa: Impressive. Though my dietary changes are built on the Mediterrean diet model, I couple it with...
The Marriage of Potatoes and Cauliflower
The Marriage of Potatoes and Cauliflower This time of year most of us are trying to shape up our eating habits. We want to stay on top of things, look at our diet with fresh focus and determination. It isn’t necessarily about dieting, but more about eating healthier food that is better for our bodies. There are countless books written on the subject, many of which are invaluable. But I’ve found if I can start small, find new ways to...
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars
Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars I’m in the mood for something rich, crunchy and chocolatey. Look what I picked. These delicious bars are one of my Mom’s recipes. Of course hers were always better, but mine came out quite tasty too. The recipe makes a 9×13 pan fun of delicious! There might be a lot of ingredients, but it is really an easy recipe to prepare. Once they are finished cooking, be sure to try one while they are still warm....
Chicken with Toasted Barley
Chicken with Toasted Barley Toasted barley has become a comfort food. Put it with chicken and you have double comfort in a satisfying, tasty dinner. I put this together one day recently trying to use up odds and ends I had. I had a little barley left, and two frozen chicken thighs, and the last of some veggies. Fortunately the ingredients were some of my favorites. It takes a bit of time for the cooking, but it’s really a simple and...
It is Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk Season!
It is Brussels Sprouts on the Stalk Season! I love Brussels sprouts. Once a year I walk into my local grocery store and there they are, Brussels sprouts on stalks. They look so cool. Don’t they! This happened to my delight 3 days ago, and last night I made a hearty dish perfect for colder months. I was thinking this Brussels sprouts side dish would compliment almost any special autumn or winter meal too, like Thanksgiving, Christmas,...
Ancient Grains for Modern Meals
Ancient Grains for Modern Meals Ancient Grains for Modern Meals by Maria Speck “Mediterranean Whole Grain Recipes for Barley, Farro, Kamut, Polenta, Wheat Berries and More” Ancient Grains for Modern Meals by Maria Speck is one of my favorite cookbooks. I purchased my copy nearly 4 years ago. I was so excited to get my copy. The reviews were fantastic and Maria had won so many awards for her best-of-the-best cookbooks. It was a...
Why Is My Table Salt Pink?
Why Is My Table Salt Pink? At a trendy restaurant which specializes in catering to the health conscious palate, you reach for the salt dish. What a surprise when you remove the lid. The salt is pink! What’s up with that? Sea salt is available in a number of colors including white, brown, pink, and gray. The different colors are caused by variations in mineral content. Sea salt can contain any combination of the following minerals:...
Fried cheese appetiser – a treat
Fried cheese appetiser – a treat I can’t remember – did people not worry about cholesterol and cooking methods such as deep-frying in 1984? That’s what I wondered when I found this recipe in an old issue of the Boca Raton News. It is an appetiser, so the portions are small though. On the occasions I make these,I serve them with lots of green salad. It’s nice to have a dip too. My favourites are: Sour...
Fettuccine Gorgonzola
Fettuccine Gorgonzola If you are looking for a distinctive dish featuring fettuccine, but don’t want the standard Alfredo sauce, you will be impressed with this recipe. Fresh gorgonzola cheese, is mixed with mascarpone for a rich delicious sauce. It is perfect over spinach or tricolor fettuccine. It’s special enough to serve your discerning guests yet easy enough to prepare for a family dinner. It goes together very fast considering...
What on earth is Kohlrabi?
What on earth is Kohlrabi? Are you a kohlrabi fan? Have you ever heard of it? I’ve been wondering about it for a few months now. It’s one I have never tried. It’s a strange looking vegetable. Some say it looks like a hot air balloon. The way it grows even seems unusual. It looks like a root vegetable that you would have to pull out of the ground, but no, it grown right up, with only the root at the bottom still under the soil. It’s...
Healthy Snacks: Vegetarian Spinach Balls
Healthy Snacks: Vegetarian Spinach Balls Instead of chips or sweets after school, why not have a dish of these ready for your children after school. Little bites of goodness, ready to dip in spicy mustard, as pictured here, or perhaps with ranch dip or salsa. Kids enjoy bite sized snacks, much more than they might like spinach on its own. I love to sneak in more vegetables in snacks like this. They won’t even taste the vegetables....
Vegetarian Soft Tacos – Spinach and White Beans
Vegetarian Soft Tacos – Spinach and White Beans These quick and easy vegetarian tacos are one of my most popular recipes. They are also very versatile. I love them with white beans, but any beans would work. While all beans are nutritious, good for brain and heart health, and a good source of protein, black beans are considered one of the best. It tastes great with either. I left the cheese off this batch so it is strictly...
3 Delicious Lettuce Wraps You’ll Want to Taste
3 Delicious Lettuce Wraps You’ll Want to Taste Some days it sounds good to have something quick and light for a meal. Whether lunch or dinner, these three recipes are sure to satisfy. Bacon, chicken, and shrimp are featured, each with a distinctive flavor. It’s easy to have the ingredients on hand, ready to mix up and spoon into a lettuce wrap. Next time you are cooking up some bacon, slice up a few pieces and cook up the bite...
Meat-free haggis recipe
A vegetarian haggis recipe I have to admit something to you. In the days when I used to eat meat, I used to like haggis. In those days, it was available in our local supermarket. Of course, the fact that it’s traditionally served with a glass of Scotch might have something to do with it and frankly, it’s not too good an idea to dwell on the ingredients if you’re a squeamish eater. As I don’t especially care for...
Hot & Spicy Food Day
Hot and spicy recipes As you know, at JAQUO we love writing about food! Our food section grows daily with so many great ideas and recipes. You’ll find such a huge variety here and this is our special section for those delicious hot and spicy recipes. Click the link below and you’ll find lots of ideas and full recipes for soups, stews, entrees, chilis, curries and more. All are tried and tested in our own kitchens –...
30 Minute Meals: Easy Ginger Beef Recipe
30 Minute Meals: Easy Ginger Beef Recipe Tired of relying on take-out food and processed frozen dinners on nights when you don’t have time to cook? Having a few quick and easy 30 minutes meals stashed in your collection of recipes helps make eating more home cooked meals a reality, especially for people and families who are scheduled to the max. Just because you are short on time, it doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on...
The Best Stuffed Mushroom Recipe Ever!
The Best Stuffed Mushroom Recipe Ever! Are you looking for a delicious stuffed mushroom recipe that will wow you and your guests? These spicy Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Mushrooms made with roasted garlic and bacon have officially been declared the best stuffed mushroom recipe ever by our friends and family! Bite into one of these scrumptious mushrooms stuffed with a blend of three cheeses, spicy jalapenos, crispy bacon and roasted garlic...
The Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Gets Hot And Spicy
The Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Gets Hot And Spicy The chocolate chip cookie, made from a dough of butter, sugar, flour and chocolate chips, is one of America’s most loved comfort snacks. Things heat up in the kitchen as the classic chocolate chip cookie gets a spicy makeover that will set off an explosion of fireworks in your mouth. Got milk, anyone? Stirring a cup of diced jalapeno peppers and dash of cayenne pepper into chocolate...
What’s Pie Without Cream Cheese?
What’s Pie Without Cream Cheese? If you are a fan of cream cheese as I am, chances are excellent that you will enjoy either of the two pies featured here. It just happens that these are two of my favorites. When we were growing up, our mom made strawberry pie for us every so often. Her homemade crusts were perfect, of course. A knack I have still not yet mastered. What I loved was the cream cheese layer. It tastes delicious with the...
The Queen Mother: Her favourite food
Queen Elizabeth,the Queen Mother. Her diet and her favourite recipe The Queen Mother lived to be one hundred and one years old. She was born in 1900 and even though she was born into an aristocratic family, we have to admit that she didn’t receive the benefits of modern medical science. The royal family are known for enjoying healthy foods. Despite the impression that we might get – that they feast on rich an luxurious...
A Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe That Kids Love
A Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe That Kids Love I’m sure lots of children have trouble eating vegetables because they are cooked badly. Imagine being faced with soggy boiled green things that taste horrible! My solution is to prepare fresh crunchy vegetable stir-fry. I think there’s more to this aversion to veggies than meets the eye. Did you know that babies are frightened of plants? They have an innate reluctance to touch plants...
Taco? Soft or Crispy?
Taco? Soft or Crispy? Did you know that the word taco derives in from a word which typically means a plug or wad used to fill a hole? That’s one of many things about the beloved Mexican dish I bet you didn’t know. Wikipedia also informs us that the taco predates the arrival of Europeans in Mexico, in the article, Taco. Needless to say there’s a lot more to this popular nosh than appears on the plate. It probably will...
The Benefits of Grinding Coffee
The Benefits of Grinding Coffee For many people, the office sludge suffices for the morning cuppa. For others, the drive-through cafe is their source of choice for that jolly jo. Writers and students, take up space daily in the most popular of national coffee service chains, in legions it would seem, to partake of their preferred caffeinated beverage. For the coffee cognoscente, such as myself, nothing but the best will do. Well,...
Louis tea recipe: From Phil Collins
Louis tea recipe: From Phil Collins Genesis drummer and lead vocalist Phil Collins had a recipe featured in the Spokane Chronicle in 1988. What sort of recipe would you expect from this star? Well, he is one of only three recording artists who have sold over ten million records world (the other two are Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson) so would you expect a luxurious recipe full of sumptuous ingredients? And of course, the rock...
The Exotic Travels of Tabbouleh
The Exotic Travels of Tabbouleh Tabbouleh, also known as Tambouli, Kisir, Tabouli and Eetch, is common fare in the Middle East. I wouldn’t doubt it if this dish had a passport or two more for other countries. This is a traditional salad served in a variety of ways. Its history goes back at least 4,000 years. Bulgur wheat is a primary ingredient in Tabbouleh, along with mint, tomatoes, cucumber, spices and olive oil. This is a very...
Rock Bottom Brewery Asiago Cheese Dip
Rock Bottom Brewery Asiago Cheese Dip This recipe was supplied to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1998 by the chef of the Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, Chip Fergert. Save Print Rock Bottom Brewery Asiago Cheese Dip Rating 5 from 1 reviews Ingredients 4 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, reconstituted in hot water 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup sour cream ½ cup shredded Asiago plus extra for garnish ¼ cup green...
Edamame In Ponzu Sauce Wins!
Edamame In Ponzu Sauce Wins! Always a popular dish in a sushi restaurant, edamame has become more and more popular in the last few years. It can be added to so many dishes from salads to rice. It’s yummy roasted with seasoning for a nibble you can snack on. One of my favorite ways to eat edamame is cooked in the shell in a tasty marinade or sauce. While I was experimenting to see which sauce would work best, I make notes. Once I...
What is tempura?
What is tempura? Tempura is a Japanese dish that is composed of battered and fried vegetables and /or fish. Does fried battered food strike you as something we should be avoiding in our diets? That’s a good question. If you’re thinking about the more ‘traditional’ battered foods, then you’ll be delighted to know that tempura is made using a special, milk-free batter which is a lighter version of those we...
Hearty Beef Barley Soup Made With Leftover Beef Dip And Au Jus
Hearty Beef Barley Soup Made With Leftover Beef Dip And Au Jus There is nothing more comforting on a cold, winter day than sitting down to enjoy a hot bowl of soup. One of my favorite soups to make is this hearty beef barley soup made from leftover beef dip and au jus using this easy, two-in-one slow cooker recipe. Cook once, eat twice! I start this recipe early in the morning by tossing a beef roast into the slow cooker on low for 8...
Chili Stew Spices Up the Winter Appetite
Chili Stew Spices Up the Winter Appetite There’s nothing like the sassy, spicy taste of Chili Stew to perk up the winter dinner. For me, a pot of chili goes a long way. Chili dogs are a favorite as well as chili burritos. One of the key ingredients in my version of this delicious red elixir is pineapple juice. I like a slightly sweet stew. Beans are an integral part of a successful recipe in my book, so I try to use two or three...
Fifteen Beans in a Soup
Fifteen Beans in a Soup Did you know that bean soup is a standard on the menu in the House restaurant in Washington, DC? It has been since 1904. Speaker Joe Cannon of Illinois directed that it be served every day. He was displeased by it’s absence from the menu on the one day bean soup was not served. Too bad his pleasure wasn’t Tiramisu cake. This disgruntlement over bean soup has made it a tradition at the Capitol. Read more about...
White Bean Chili, Vegetarian with Soy Crumbles
White Bean Chili, Vegetarian with Soy Crumbles My favorite chili used to be one served with ground beef crumbled throughout. I loved the texture and taste with the beans. Since I try not to eat beef often anymore, our family needed a recipe that did not have meat. That is how this yummy recipe came about. It’s totally vegetarian, yet filled with the same taste of ground meat. Soy crumbles make it possible, and make it delicious. The...
Kitchen Sink Soups On! Come and get it!
Kitchen Sink Soups On! Come and get it! There is nothing better than a hot bowl of soup when the temperatures outside start dipping into the minus categories……..Be brave, go outside and enjoy the cold air, it’s good for you. When you are done enjoying that part of the day, come inside, put the mits, hats, coats and all that other winter paraphanalia away or set them on the heat registers for the next trip outdoors,...
Bean Burritos with Cauliflower: You won’t know it’s there
Bean Burritos with Cauliflower: You won’t know it’s there If you are trying to lighten up the meal you serve now that the holidays are over, here is a recipe you will enjoy. These delicious, rich burritos are much lower in calorie and fat than you would expect. Yet they taste even better. Burritos are a favorite of mine. I like that are easily made at home, any size you want, and that you know exactly what ingredients are going...
Spaghetti With Bacon: You Call That Soup?
Spaghetti and Bacon: You Call that Soup? Warning! This recipe may be frowned upon by Italians. In my family with my Italian husband, a snicker could be heard anytime I had the nerve to call this dish spaghetti. Nevertheless, what you will find here will be a Norwegian version of the pasta dish. We’ve always called it Bacon Spaghetti. My cousins call it Spaghetti Soup. Both are fitting titles for this delicious—if not Italian—spaghetti...
Gluten Free, More than a Trend
Gluten Free, More than a Trend Recently in an article I read, it was reported that one third of all adults here in the US want to eliminate gluten from their diet. Yet only one percent of the population has an actual diagnosis of celiac disease. If the trend holds—and it is expected to– it will be interesting to see the impact on our shopping experience in the near future. At the moment, nearly one third of the products in our...
Quinoa: Impressive!
Quinoa: Impressive! When I first heard of Quinoa, I read of it actually, I wasn’t impressed. I also hadn’t a clue how to pronounce it either. I’m sorry to say that when I went into the local store to inquire, the sales persons I encountered didn’t know what it was – whether I spelled it, tried to pronounce it or described it. If I hadn’t read about it while surfing the internet, I would have thought myself to...