All Recipes
January 8th, 2010
I’ve been on a black olive kick lately. I’ve been craving them so I figure there is something in them my body needs.
I’ve been adding black olives to various dishes and salads lately. Last night when I was trying to come up with something new for dinner, I decided to try a new twist to old fashion hamburgers – Greek Burgers!
To make the Greek Burgers I added feta cheese and chopped black olives to my normal hamburger recipe and grilled them up. They were a nice subtle twist to the usual burger. Here’s my recipe below.
1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey or ground buffalo – I personally use ground buffalo all the time now)
1 small can chopped black olives
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp dried oregano
Pepper
Salt
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg
splash of milk
Mix together and form into patties. I grilled mine on an indoor grill (it was in the teens outside last night).
I served mine on a whole wheat bun with fresh bibb letteuce, tomato, red onion and catsup. You could also use plain yogurt and garlic mixed as a spread on the bun.
Enjoy.
December 3rd, 2009
Roasted Fennel with Parmesan Cheese
Here’s a delicious and easy recipe that makes a great pairing with roasted turkey or pork tenderloin.
4 tablespoons olive oil
4 fennel bulbs, cut horizontally into 1/3-inch thick slices, fronds reserved
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Lightly oil the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange the fennel in the dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with the Parmesan. Drizzle with the oil. Bake until the fennel is fork-tender and the top is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Chop enough fennel fronds to equal 2 teaspoons, then sprinkle over the roasted fennel and serve.
November 17th, 2009
Grilled Salmon with Pasta and Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Are you looking for a colorful, nutrious main course? This recipe is a fantastic way to combine tomatoes and salmon into a healthy, heart-friendly meal your family will love.
Angel hair or thin spaghetti
Salmon filets
Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce
Can of black olives
The trick to this dish is timing: starting the items at the proper time to get it all together and have it ready and hot at the same time. Here is the sequence I use:
Start water for pasta to boil, preheat grill and oven before starting sauce preparation.
Prepare the tomatoes for roasting.
When the water is hot (but not yet boiling) start roasting the tomatoes.
After tomatoes have started roasting, start grilling the salmon.
When about 10 mins are left on the tomatoes, add the pasta to the boiling water (less if using fresh pasta or angel hair).
Remove the tomatoes and add black olives to finish the sauce. Drain the pasta.
Serve grilled salmon on angel hair or thin spaghetti and spoon roasted tomato sauce over top. Garnish with basil.
Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce Recipe
4 Cups Whole Cherry Tomatoes
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Chopped garlic
salt and pepper to taste
2 T fresh basil leaves, shredded
1 2.25 oz can sliced olives, drained
Additional basil leaves for garnish
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Combine first 5 ingredients (though basil) in bowl and toss to coat
Line cookie sheet with foil
Place tomato mixture on cookie sheet and roast in oven for 15-20 minutes or until tomatoes split open.
Gather up foil and transfer roasted tomatoes and liquid into bowl.
Add olives and toss to combine.
Makes 4 servings, about 1 cup each.
October 11th, 2009
Aunt Helen’s Easy Sweet Cornbread Recipe
Homemade sweet cornbread
Cooler weather meals like chili demand homemade cornbread.
My Aunt Helen introduced me to a super simple cornbread recipe that makes some of the tastiest cornbread around.
A side benefit of making homemade cornbread is that it costs less than a third of the price of the packages you buy in the store.
September 22nd, 2009
Freezing Pesto is easy!
Fall is pesto season in our house. My basil plants have reached their peak and its an endless battle of nipping off the tops so they won’t flower before I can make pesto. I usually dedicate part of a weekend for pesto making.
I have several pesto recipes that I adore. One of my favorite is my friend Larisa’s Easy Basil Walnut Pesto recipe.
April 21st, 2009
Wiener Dip: I Dare You to Make It
Some families are estranged by politics, while others are torn asunder by religion. But for my family, the dividing factor that has destroyed our unity and turned brother against brother is wiener dip.
Yes, that’s right. We are a house divided because of my grandfather’s wiener dip. Half of the family loves the stuff. They smear it on crackers and chips, and they praise its creamy texture and spicy flavor. I suspect they would bathe in it, given the chance.
As for the rest of us, well… not so much. To be honest, I’m not even sure what it tastes like. I just couldn’t ever get past its odd pink color or the fact that it’s made from wieners. I realize that makes me small-minded, but frankly, I’m okay with that. I’ve always believed it’s okay to be shallow just as long as you’re insightful about it.
April 15th, 2009
For most of my life, I’ve been convinced that the world is inhabited by two kinds of people… those who enjoy eating brussels sprouts and those with working taste buds.
When I was a kid, I hated the vile things. They smelled like sulphur and tasted even worse. I got all kinds of lectures from my parents about how brussels sprouts were high in vitamins and would keep me from getting cancer. I also heard about all the poor, underpriviledged children whose parents couldn’t afford to feed them brussels sprouts. I thought the solution to that problem was obvious, but my parents refused to send my sprouts to a more deserving family. Instead, they would make me sit at the table until my plate was clean or (as usually happened) they gave up and sent me to bed.
As I got older, I grew in my appreciation of most vegetables. I loved green beans, spinach, and asparagus. I even learned to tolerate broccoli and cauliflower. But not brussels sprouts. They remained the bane of my culinary existence.
Recently, my girlfriend told me she’d been experimenting with some different ways of cooking brussels sprouts, and she had one recipe she thought I might like. Naturally, I was skeptical, but she insisted that I try just one before turning up my nose. Since I’m a good boyfriend (and utterly whipped), I agreed.
What can I say? They were incredible! As soon as she took them out of the oven,
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February 19th, 2009
French fries.
Fresh.
Hot.
Crispy.
With just a touch of salt that sticks to your fingers.
The mere mention of these sinfully delicious little spuds is a sure diet-killer for some.
But here’s a way to enjoy the crunch of fries without the guilt – and fat. This recipe for oven fries is quick, easy, and even pleases our household’s 14-year-old French fry addict.
For a burst of unexpected flavor, add some garlic, Italian seasoning, or cayenne, or even cumin.
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January 29th, 2009
My favorite Vietnamese restaurant closed recently – the victim of a sagging economy. It was a terrible thing for the friendly owners (who were also the workers), but also for our family. This was the only Vietnamese place in town that made a vegetarian version of the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, Pho.
After much trial and error (and a number of Google searches), we came up with the respectable substitute pictured here. Loaded with tofu, fresh vegetables, and chopped herb garnishes, this soup fills the stomach and opens the sinuses.
January 19th, 2009
The Most Moist Apple Walnut Raisin Bread Recipe You’ll Find
Get your apple a day in this yummy moist quick bread. It is delicious warm from the oven as a healthy snack or smeared with cream cheese for breakfast. It is a favorite in our house.
1 1/2 cup of diced apples. I use organic and leave the skin intact
1 cup applesauce (adds moisture and more apple flavor)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts – chopped
Mix eggs, oil, applesauce, sugar, brown sugar, yogurt and vanilla in a large bowl.
Mix dry incredients in a separate bowl.
Pour the wet incredients into the dry ones and mix.
Fold in the apples, raisins, and walnuts.
Pour batter into a 9×5 greased loaf pan.
Cook at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or when toothpick comes out clean.
Enjoy. This makes a delightfully different bread that everyone will love.
If you like this recipe, you might also like to try our easy and healthy Banana Nut Bread recipe. It was my mom’s and is another favorite. I keep a loaf or two in the freezer so I can have it handy when unexpected guests drop by. Its also treat with ice cream.
January 13th, 2009
An Old Favorite Regains Popularity
After experimenting with Teflon, anodized aluminum, and stainless steel, many cooks are tossing the expensive, high-tech stuff in favor of an old standby: cast iron.
The cast iron skillet
is relatively inexpensive, healthy, and almost indestructible. Even better, well-seasoned cast iron has a slick, almost Teflon-like coating – but without the health concerns now swirling around Teflon.
If you’re wondering how to season cast iron, cook in it, or how to care for the skillets you inherited, read on. Cooking with and caring for cast iron is easier than you think.
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December 22nd, 2008
Here’s a healthy salad that can be a nice alternative. This salad is full of healthy yummy ingredients the whole family will love.
For one bowl of salad, mix the following in a salad bowl:
2 – 3 handfuls of Spring Mix lettuce
1 small handful dried cranberries
4-5 pieces of Tyson grilled chicken strips
1 medium handful of Shredded Monterrey and cheddar cheese
1 medium handful of Sunny Cranberry trail mix (from Archer Farms at Target) or a comparable trail mix that has nuts and berries
½ Apple, diced
Poppy Seed Dressing
Mix well and enjoy. You can also toss in croutons, dried blueberries, and other fruits as desired.
December 10th, 2008
Turkey Tetrazzini – a delicious turkey casserole
During the holidays we frequently have extra turkey on hand and one of my favorite dinners is to take the leftover turkey and make a yummy Turkey Tetrazzini.
There are a thousand different recipes and variations for Turkey Tetrazzini, but it is basically:
2 cups turkey,
Can or jar of cream sauce,
1-2 cups spaghetti noodles,
1 can mushrooms
1 cup mixed vegetables for color
Cheese (sprinkled on top)
To make the cream sauce I will often use either a can of cream of chicken soup (and ¼ cup water) or a jar of Ragu Alfredo sauce (my favorite is the low fat cheesy alfredo sauce). I mix the sauce with a can of mushrooms and vegetables. I then add the diced turkey and noodles and mix it up. I sprinkle cheese on the top.
Bake in often at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or until hot.
It is delicious and is a great way to use up the Turkey. Enjoy.
December 8th, 2008
Holiday Party Punch Recipe with Cranberry and Pineapple Juice
This is my all time favorite holiday party punch recipe. The mixture of red cranberry juice gives it a festive look and the pineapple juice lends a sweetness everyone enjoys. My mom used to make this and put it in a large bunch bowl. She would wrap a holiday garland around the base of the bowl for decoration. It was my job to add the cold ginger ale to the bowl right before the guests arrived.
Holiday Party Punch Recipe
Mix and stir the following ingredients until the sugar dissolves.
4 cups cranberry juice
4 cups pineapple juice
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon almond extract
Chill the mixture. Add 1 quart Ginger Ale right before serving. Enjoy.
Speaking of the holidays, do you need some holiday gift ideas? Read our Kitchen Gadgets as Holiday Gifts article for some gift giving inspiration.
December 2nd, 2008
Gravy Recipe Secrets: How You Can Make Fantastic Gravy in Only 5 Minutes!
Gravy. It is the finishing touch on homemade mashed potatoes or stuffing. You may not realize it, but making gravy is actually easy. How? In the next 5 minutes, you will learn the secret to making lump-free, delicious gravy!
I had the hardest time with making gravy. I would either have lumps or it would be so thick and jello-like that you could cut it with a knife! But then, I learned the secret to a good gravy recipe.
First, you have to understand what goes into gravy.
December 1st, 2008
Easy Pie Crust Recipe Guaranteed to be Flaky and Delicious
If You’re Looking For An Easy Pie Crust Recipe, Here It Is
Pie is a popular dessert during the holidays and there are a variety of pie types so you could have a different pie evey day of the week and still not run out of new recipes. While the fillings may change, the foundation for a great pie is a great pie crust.
Have you ever been served pie that has crust so tough you can’t get your fork through it? Sure, we all have. Well, here’s an easy pie crust recipe that makes crust that is always tender and flaky.
November 9th, 2008
If you are looking for a delicious meal for family or friends, corned beef brisket is a great choice. This is one of those recipes where everything goes into one pot and allows you to get other things done as it cooks away slowly. Since it includes meat and an arrangement of vegetables there is no need for side dishes or starters.
Read on to discover this simple meal for six people.
October 12th, 2008
Low fat, inexpensive, and delicious!
It’s October, and we’re starting to feel the crisp bite of fall. Unfortunately, many of us are also feeling a painful bite in our wallets as prices rise. The US Department of Agriculture reported in August that food prices this year will show the biggest annual increase since 1990. And there’s no end in sight.
Struggling to get your food budget under control? Remember the humble pot of soup. It’s a wonderful cold weather meal that’s easy to make, and relatively inexpensive if you start with basic raw ingredients like dried beans.
Here’s one of my favorites: Pinto Bean and Barley Soup. It’s a chewy blend of common kitchen staples that freezes well. Add a salad and warm bread and you have a delicious – yet inexpensive – meal.
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By: Alexine
Autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons. With the foliage turning and birds migrating there is plenty to see when your outdoors. One special activity in the fall is apple picking. This is a great way to get out with the family or your significant other and have some fun. Then if you feel inspired you can bake with those yummy apples. Who wouldn’t want some warm apple pie or apple crisp on a cool autumn night? I know I would and that’s why I’ve put two of my favorite recipes together to share with you all!
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October 5th, 2008
On a trip to Austin, TX this summer, we enjoyed a terrific lunch at the Iron Cactus, a contemporary Mexican restaurant that also sports the label of “one of the ten best tequila bars in the country.”
Nobody in our party tested that last part. It was lunch, after all. But we did savor the restaurant’s other specialty: fresh guacamole mixed table-side and served with tortilla chips. It’s quite a production. The waiter brings a beautifully appointed tray filled with fresh avocados, oranges, chopped jalapenos, onions, and other goodies. As we watched, he concocted the absolute best guacamole we’d ever had. The menu’s claim that “it doesn’t get fresher than this!” was right.
Naturally, this is something I craved after we arrived home. Our homemade Mexican food just wasn’t the same without it, and that store-bought stuff? Yuck. It was a pale imitation of the Iron Cactus guacamole. Since we aren’t moving to Austin anytime soon, the only solution was to create our own recipe.
