After a long, difficult 3 day drive, we finally reached our home. I already miss the lake, the calm and peaceful surroundings. The leaves were changing quickly, so beautiful.
Day two of the trip we started to have car problems. After only an hour into the 8 hour trip, three lights came on. We pulled over, read about the issues and called the closest dealer. The service department of course was not open due to it being Sat. I tried the next closest which was an hour out of the way-they told us we could still drive with the issues but to try to take it easy. Well we made it albeit much later than planned. Day 3 started off ok but we hit rain about a third of the way. The issues were not ok. We had to pull off multiple times waiting for it too lighten up, but again we finally made it home to NY-much later and much more stressed out! A long, long and very stressful drive!
Leaves starting to change Leaves starting to changeLast drive up the Driveway Drive by FogDrive by FogDrive by Fog
This is the last week up at the lake for this summer. Summer is winding down. Up north, the nights have been cold and the leaves are starting to change. This weekend, we are back to some very warm temperatures but it comes with strong winds. Disappointing as I would like to kayak and float on the lake a few more times. I’m a calm water kayaker. The full Blue Moon was out the last few nights creating a peaceful evening and some nights with a lot of light to the sky. While it does hide some of the massive amounts of stars, I do love the glow of the light reflecting on the water. The loon’s call in the distance makes for a peaceful, yet eerie experience.
I made it to my lake house this summer. I had to miss it last year due to shoulder surgery and recovery. It gives me such peace and is a world away from life in the city. No traffic except for the squirrels’ frenzy to stow away food for the long winter. They are always busy eating, jumping from tree to tree. The sound of the loon’s call, the woodpecker feasting on the trees and the bird calls make up the summer sounds. Here are a few photos:
This is a mixed Asian-Polynesian fusion style dish. It’s quick to assemble in the slow cooker and comes out very tasty. Serve it over Ramen or Udon noodles or rice. I used Ramen noodles this time. Serve with some reduced sauce on the side. Add additional soy, teriyaki and/or hoisin on top when serving if desired. Enjoy!
1-2 tablespoons low salt soy sauce (my preference)
4 turns of the pepper grinder
2 turns of the salt grinder (optional)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 can pineapple chunks in juice
Ramen or Udon noodles or rice
Frozen stir fry vegetables (you can also use sliced fresh vegetables-broccoli, green beans, carrots, cauliflower, bean sprouts, pea pods, etc. -steam or stir fry before adding)
1 tablespoon Arrowroot powder (optional)
Vegetarian Options
Substitute extra firm tofu, fried tofu, white beans or vegetarian chicken product for the chicken. You can also use vegan soy, Teriyaki or hoisin sauce.
Instructions
Combine chicken, sauces, spices and pineapple into the slow cooker. Stir together. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
Steam or microwave the frozen vegetables. If using fresh vegetables-steam or stir fry first. Stir into the chicken and sauce after they finished cooking.
Reduce sauce in a saucepan to thicken if desired. You can also a tablespoon of arrowroot powder mixed in water to thicken. Add it before boiling or when the liquid is boiling while cooking.
Cook noodles or rice following the instructions on the package.
Serve over the noodles or rice with extra sauce on the side.
I always loved having a good baby back rib when we ate out. I had been very hesitant to try making them at home. I saw a tutorial a few years ago on how to make it in the Slow Cooker on PBS once and decided to give it a try. I was really impressed at how well it came out. I’ve done it a few times and they always work well.
This time I made a mix of beef short ribs and baby back ribs as my husband prefers the beef ribs. I’ve also used beef back ribs but they are often hard to find. I put a dry rub on them and placed it inside the slow cooker. It was easy to make, came out delicious with the meat falling off the bone. You can finish them on the grill or under the broiler to make the top a little crispy if you wish.
Ingredients
1-2 lb short ribs (I used 1lb which were two large short ribs)
2 lb baby back ribs (I didn’t remove the back skin but you can do that-sometimes it is tough)
Rub: (increase amounts if you need additional rub)
Take the rub and liberally apply it to each side of the ribs. After using the rub on the each side spray it with olive oil or sprinkle some on. Pat the spices into the meat.
Cut the baby back ribs into segments of 4-5 ribs.
Coat each side of the ribs with bbq sauce. In the slow cooker, place the short ribs in the center of the pot. Take each segment of the baby back ribs and place them standing upright around the edges of the slow cooker pot. Sprinkle additional bbq sauce to coat. Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. They are good right out of the slow cooker but you can also finish them on the grill or in the broiler for a few minutes to crisp the crust. I reheated them the next day in my indoor toaster grill and they came out great. Have extra sauce for dipping.
Serve with your favorite sides-coleslaw, corn bread, baked beans, fries, etc. You’ll need lots of napkins! Enjoy!
They were so good I forgot to take any pictures. I’ll add them next time I make them.
Every Spring I wait for the spring blooms. First flowers in my tiny garden are the hyacinths, then the daffodils. I used to get the tulips but now I only get their leaves. I have a few perennial plants that bloom early as well- sweet william, azaleas and the irises. The purple irises are first to bloom. The yellow irises bloom later. At the end of May, the fragrant lilacs fill the air. Daylillies come out mid June.
I have two types of roses in my back garden. A dark fuchsia climbing rose and my favorite perfect pink rose. They are mid June bloomers but oh so beautiful. I seem to get only one great bloom, even when I prune them.
This year I planted some hollyhocks and lavender to add to the blooms. I used to have hollyhocks in the front but they faded or were pulled out by the condo gardeners. Hopefully they will flourish in the back. I planted various flower seeds so we’ll see how they do. In addition, I planted the usual bedding plants-tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Here’s to a mini bounty of veggies! 🌶️🍅
This week I made an order for a grocery delivery. It had asked for 4 ears of corn. They were out of the individual ears so she asked if I wanted a pack of corn. She said they were 4-5 to a pack. I said 4 is fine. She misinterpreted it and gave me 5 packs of 5 corn! Since I wasn’t going to eat 25 corn this week I took the kernels off 10 of them. I decided to use them in my wild rice corn chowder recipe. I’ll have to figure out what to use the rest for or freeze them.
What a difference using fresh corn makes in the taste! It was still a little crunchy after cooking with such a fresh taste. One of the best pots of chowder I’ve made. Similar recipe to my other corn chowder but with a much fresher taste!
Ingredients
3-32 ounce containers chicken or vegetable stock (I was out of vegetable stock so I used organic chicken stock this time)
1 cup Wild Rice
9-10 ears of fresh corn kernels (use a knife to take them off the cob-I used 9 for this recipe and froze a baggie with the rest)
6 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
6 tablespoons garlic powder or 2-3 cloves minced
2 tablespoons Montreal seasoning
◦ (I use this frequently, it contains -Coarse Salt, Spices Including Black Pepper and Red Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavor and Extractives of Paprika so substitute more of these if you don’t have it)
12 turns of salt grinder or 2-3 tsp salt (to taste)
Water to fill pot
1-can Evaporated skim milk
◦ (you can use a cup of heavy cream or whole milk instead if desired)
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
Insta Pot Instructions:
Place all ingredients into the pot except the milk and cheese. Close the vent and use the Soup setting. (2:45). Allow it to come to pressure and release naturally. Before serving, warm the milk or cream in a saucepan and add the cheese to melt as it just comes to a boil. Add to soup. Turn to sauté for a few minutes to blend the cheese and milk.
Crockpot Instructions:
Place all ingredients into the pot except the milk and cheese. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours. Before serving, warm the milk or cream in a saucepan and add the cheese to melt as it just comes to a boil. Mix into the soup.
Stovetop Instructions:
Use a large stockpot or Dutch Oven pot. Place all ingredients into the pot except the milk. Bring to a boil and then turn it to a low simmer. Simmer on the stovetop for 2 hours or so, checking to make sure the water level is still high. Before serving, warm the milk or cream in a saucepan and add the cheese to melt as it just comes to a boil. Add to soup. Stir to blend.
After receiving two giant red peppers in my grocery order, I decided to make stuffed peppers. I went a little different from a usual stuffed peppers recipe and made it more like a taco style stuffed peppers. It can be made with lean ground beef or vegetarian with ground meat substitute or just beans. I’ve done it both ways with great results.
You can also use poblano peppers instead of bell peppers.
Serve it topped with some sour cream, cotijo cheese, fresh cilantro, hot sauce-your choice. Add a salad and some chips and salsa to complement the peppers.
Ingredients
1 lb extra lean ground beef or Impossible Burger meat (or Beyond Beef) or ground crumbles (Morningstar or Boca)
2 extra large red peppers
1 regular red or yellow pepper (optional)
1 package Spanish Rice (90 second rice-I used Target’s brand) or 1-1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice
1 can Black Beans
1 can Rotel Tomatoes
1 can diced tomatoes
1 -8 ounce package of frozen corn defrosted
4 ounces of hot pepper cheese grated (substitute a non-dairy shredded cheese if desired)
3 ounces of sharp cheddar grated (substitute a non-dairy shredded cheese if desired)
2 tablespoons cumin
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
6 turns of salt grinder (1/2 teaspoon)
2 teaspoons Tajin spice
1/2 lime squeezed
1 teaspoon dried cilantro or fresh
Cooking spray
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degree
Spray a “13 x 9” pan with cooking spray.
Brown ground beef or meat substitute. Once brown add in the corn, rice, beans, spices and can of Rotel tomatoes. Cook on medium heat for a few minutes (5-10) to blend the flavors. Add some of the grated hot pepper cheese into the filling and stir.
Slice tops off the peppers. Clean out seeds from the inside of the peppers. Slice the peppers lengthwise in half.
Place the diced tomatoes on the bottom of the pan. Arrange the peppers on top inside opening up. Use the smaller peppers to fill in the rest of the pan if desired. Take the filling and stuff each pepper with the filling. It can overflow a bit. I used the leftover stuffing around the sides. Top with the remaining cheese.
Bake for 30-45 minutes until peppers are soft and the cheese is melted and browned.
One of my Mother’s staples in her dinner rotation was Sloppy Joe’s. Sloppy Joe’s was a common dish in the Midwest. There are a couple of different ways of making it. A common denominator is ground meat (or plant based meat) with chopped onions and celery. What changed is what kind of soup is used as the base. My Mother used tomato soup. Some of my friend’s family’s used Chicken Gumbo soup. Looking up recipes show it varies by region, some use chopped peppers, make various types of sauces, Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes and brown sugar. I prefer the simple taste of tomato soup with it. It’s quick to make and will be a great addition to your dinner rotations.
Serve it on your favorite bun. It goes well with a tossed salad or coleslaw, some chips or fries or a side of veggies. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Options
I’ve made this many times using Morningstar or Boca crumbles, Impossible burger meat or other plant based meat. Tastes great!
Sometimes when I make a Taco Bar or Fajitas, I have a little left over. Usually, we get two nights of dinners for two or one for four if my kids are home. There will often be a bit left of the meat (or meat substitute) and vegetables. Making a baked enchilada type of taco or a tostada extends the meal. If you need additional meat or veggies. I’ll microwave chopped veggies (sprinkle with cumin, Tajin. Garlic powder, squeeze of lime) and sometimes add a can of refried or black beans.
Ingredients
Cooked leftover meat, meat substitute or chicken seasoned with the taco spices
Cooked leftover vegetables seasoned with the taco spices
Baby Spinach (1 cup or so)
6-8 Flour tortillas (fajitas or Street taco size)
Salsa red or green
Pico de Gallo if you have some left
Grated Cheddar Cheese (or vegan cheddar cheese)
Fresh Cilantro
Lime wedges
Optional: can of black beans or refried beans (I like Trader Joe’s black refried beans)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Spray a 9” x 9” baking sheet with cooking spray
Take the flour tortillas and fold them upright in the pan with the opening on top. Add additional tortillas if you have a lot of filling left. They should have a tight fit.
Start to fill each tortilla with the meat, (vegetarian meat sub), veggies and beans-if you are adding beans. Don’t fill too much, a couple of tablespoons-about 1/3 of the way up. Top with salsa, then add some cheese. Carefully roll the tortillas so the opening is on the bottom. After the all fit snuggly into the pan, add additional salsa or pico de gallo on top. Spread evenly. Sprinkle additional cheese on top. Bake for 35-45 minutes until the top is golden and crispy. Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top. You can reheat the rice and beans on the side of the pan if you still have room after turning the tortillas.
Serve with lime wedges, refried or black beans and Mexican flavored rice. (I often add the rice and beans to the extra area of the pan and bake it with the enchiladas)
This is one of our recipe favorites. It’s comfort food, hearty on a cold day. I make it vegetarian, but it could also be made with ground beef or lamb. You won’t miss the meat in my version.
I use vegetarian ground crumbles as the main protein mixed with chopped vegetables and cheese. You could also substitute cooked lentils, if you prefer. I often use frozen vegetables for convenience, but you can chop your favorite vegetables and add them. (I usually combine both fresh and frozen). It’s topped with mashed potatoes and a little more cheese. Use your favorite mashed potato recipe or go to dried potato flakes for a quick mash. Serve with a cup of soup or a tossed salad for a complete meal. Enjoy!
1-8 ounce package of frozen mixed vegetables (chopped carrots, peas, beans and corn-or use fresh and chop into small pieces)
1-sweet onion diced
3 ounces of diced baby carrots
3 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons Montreal seasoning
3 grinds salt from salt grinder (a pinch or two)
Worcestershire sauce (Annie’s, Savory Spice, The Wizard and Haddan make vegan versions if you prefer) shake it liberally over the whole pie
1 1/2-2 cups of grated cheddar (or vegan cheese substitute)
2-3 cups mashed potatoes
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 9 x 13 baking pan
Defrost the frozen crumbles and vegetables.
Combine the crumbles, chopped vegetables and spices. Spread evenly on the baking pan. Mix in 1/2-1 cup of the cheese. You can use more or less cheese-your preference. (If using uncooked Impossible or Beyond meat, or ground beef or lamb-you can sauté it to brown it slightly first)
Make the mash potatoes following your favorite recipe. I sometimes use the Potatoes Buds for a very quick mash. You don’t need much butter (or any) in your potatoes since we are adding the cheese. Spread the potatoes evenly over the top of the vegetables and crumbles. Top with the remaining cheese.
Bake for 45-55 minutes-checking to see if the top browns. It’s good slightly crispy so lean towards being over done. Even better the second day. Enjoy!
As I’ve said in other posts, we often travel to Mexico. I love the culture and the food. I try to make some easy dishes that I’ve eaten there and here. Every night can be taco night in my house.
I love a taco any way I make them. Sometimes I want a quick meal so I throw vegetables and chicken into the Slow Cooker. Other times I will make just vegetables with black beans. I’ll post those later. This recipe is a ground meat or vegetarian meat substitute with vegetables as the main ingredients. You can all add your favorite toppings and hot sauces to make that special taco.
Ingredients
1-2 lb 93% lean ground beef or vegetarian Impossible meat or Morningstar Crumbles. Other vegetarian brand ground options work as well.
(Increase amount of vegetables if you are making more meat/meat substitute)
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 yellow bell pepper sliced
1 chopped sweet onion
8 ounces Mushrooms sliced
1 cup baby spinach
Spilt spices for both the vegetable pan and meat pan. (Except taco seasoning-only for meat):
A bunch of Fresh Cilantro chopped or 2 tablespoons dried cilantro
1 jalapeños diced (remove the seeds if you want it less spicy)
4 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons ground Cumin
Juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoons Tajin spice
1-2 packets of Taco Seasoning (1 for each lb of meat)
Dash of salt
Flour or Corn Tortillas (soft or hard)
Instructions
Spray the fry pans. In one pan, Sauté the meat/vegetarian meat until nicely browned, breaking up the chunks into smaller pieces. Add all of the spices stir and add half to a whole lime (half for 1lb). Add chopped cilantro. Stir turn down heat to very low. Add a dash of salt.
In the other pan, sauté the peppers, mushrooms, spinach and onions. You can add a dash of olive oil. Cook the vegetables until soft and browned. Add spices except taco seasoning. Add half a lime.
While it is cooking, get out all your toppings—guacamole, sour cream or crème fresh, shredded cheese, ( or vegan cheese substitutes), pico de gallo, olives, salsa and any other toppings that you like.
Warm the tortillas on the stove top in a pan or griddle for a few seconds on each side. You can also wet a paper towel and warm them on top in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Serve with your favorite hot sauce, chips, refried beans and Mexican rice.
An easy comfort food dinner is Salisbury Steak. I made this version vegetarian. I used Impossible Burger patties which cut some of the prep time. It comes together quickly. Serve it with a tossed salad, mashed potatoes and a side of steamed veggies. It’s a warm stress free meal like a big hug.
1-14 oz can vegetarian French Onion soup or vegetable broth. Better than Boullion makes a no beef vegetable Broth and a sautéed onion broth as well.
I didn’t use it this time but if the gravy looks thin, use can use 1 teaspoons of Arrowroot Powder mixed with a bit of water to thicken (you can also use a cornstarch slurry) (I only add it if the gravy seems very thin).
Instructions
I brown the Pattie’s in a fry pan so they stay together when cooked. Coat the pan with cooking spray or a bit of olive oil. Brown on both sides. Add to crockpot. Add sliced onions and mushrooms, spices, Worcestershire sauce and broth. Stir. Add the Arrowroot slurry if the gravy is thin before cooking or the cornstarch slurry afterwards. Cook on high for 4 hours, low on 8 hours. Enjoy!
Meat Options
You can also make this with a lean or extra lean ground beef. You can also use beef broth. I like the onion flavor from the French Onion soup so I prefer it. Your choice. Follow the directions above.
Cajun Spiced Pasta BakeCajun Spiced Pasta BakeCajun Spiced Pasta Bake
The weather turned very cold for a couple of days last week so I wanted to spice things up. An easy dinner to make is a baked penne dish. I decided to make a Cajun Spiced Baked Penne. It can be made with or without a sausage. Options are a chicken sausage, Andouille sausage, hot Italian sausage or a vegetarian sausage or just leave it out. Adding in additional vegetables will also up the nutritional value (it’s not low calorie after all). I used Barilla Protein Pasta to have a bit more protein. Banza Pasta is another great option. I would usually use Banza, since it has less carbohydrates and more protein, but I was out of it. Barilla Protein Pasta comes in a close second. It comes together quickly, bakes up to a bubbly, crispy dinner. It will warm you up 🌶️
Vegetarian Options
You can include the sausage or leave it out. Some vegetarian sausage options are Field Roast, Beyond Beef, Impossible or other brands. You can also add additional vegetables-zucchini, more spinach or other veggies of your choice. If you add zucchini or additional spinach-cook it first to remove the excess moisture.
Ingredients
1 package Barilla Protein Penne Pasta or Banza Penne Pasta (Ziti also works)
1 cup Baby Spinach
1 lb Mushrooms sliced (you can cook the mushrooms and spinach first to remove the excess moisture)
1 -14 ounce can diced tomatoes
1 jar Alfredo Sauce (I like Rao’s but any brand works)
8 ounces shredded part skim mozzarella cheese
6 ounces shredded Parmesan cheese
2 ounces grated cheddar
1 cup pasta water
4 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons dried basil
1 teaspoons salt (3-4 grinds of salt grinder)
1/2 teaspoon pepper (2 grinds of pepper grinder)
2 tablespoons Cajun spice (I use Slap Ya Mama) – more or less to taste (use less if you use Andouille sausage as it’s also spicy)
Regular or Vegetarian Sausage Option 2 links of chicken sausage (your choice-I use Aidell’s). Any flavor-Andouille, apple, Italian or regular hot Italian sausage, Vegetarian Sausage (Field Roast, Beyond Beef, Impossible or other brand)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 13” x 9” pan with cooking spray.
Cook the pasta according to the directions. Cook it (salt water slightly) for a minute less than the package. Reserve a cup of pasta water. Drain
If you prefer it a little dryer-cook the vegetables first and add less pasta water.
Slice the sausage into small pieces. Add to pasta, add mushrooms, spinach, spices and Alfredo sauce. Mix well, add some of the pasta water to make it a little thinner. Add half of the cheese and mix. Finish the top with the rest of the cheese.
Bake for 45-60 minutes until the top is brown and edges are crispy.
Sprinkle with extra Cajun spice when serving if you need to heat it up further.
Serve with a salad, extra steamed vegetables and some crusty Italian bread. Enjoy!
As I’ve mentioned, I grew up in Northern Minnesota on the Iron Range. This area is known for its open pit mines. One of the big local cuisines is a Pasty. A pasty is a meat and vegetable filled large hand/type pie. The miners would take it hot into their lunchboxes and it would be still warm by lunchtime.
It was introduced to the area by Cornish immigrants in the early 20th Century. The miners came to both Northern Michigan and Northern Minnesota because of the abundance of mines to work in. They made pasties to keep themselves fueled for a hard day of labor. The pasties consisted of meat, potatoes, onions, carrots and sometimes rutabagas. They would be wrapped in a pie-like crust and baked until golden brown. They packed them hot into their metal lunchbox and it would stay warm for lunch.
My version is a quick vegetarian pasty. It never comes out very pretty but it tastes very good. I’m not very good at making my own dough so I usually use a prepared pie crust. Pillsbury makes a crust you unroll that works pretty well.
Make sure the pie crust is at room temperature when you work with it. I take one of the crusts and cut them in half. Add the filling to one side and crimp it closed. As I said, mine are never very pretty. Making your own dough is much more flexible to work with but takes more time.
I use soy crumbles instead of ground beef or pork. (Morningstar, Boca, Beyond Beef, etc.). Mix it with diced potatoes, onions, carrots and mixed vegetables. (Slightly non-traditional). The Iron Range way is to serve it covered with ketchup or occasionally gravy. My family uses ketchup. Make sure you have a big bottle.
This time I had a lot of filling and only one box of pie crusts so I improvised and used pizza dough. It’s sort of a pasty/calzone. I’ll let you know how that one works. I never seem to have butter or shortening on hand to make the pie crust when I need it.
Ingredients
1 sweet onion diced
2 medium potatoes diced (peeled) or 1-14 ounce can diced potatoes
2 carrots diced
1 -12 ounce bag of frozen mixed vegetables (thawed)
1-14 ounce bag of Soy Crumbles (Morningstar, Boca, Beyond, Impossible or Gardein or other) thawed
2 boxes Pillsbury Pie Crusts
3 tablespoons garlic powder
5 grinds of pepper from pepper mill (1-2 teaspoons)
8 grinds from salt mill (approximately 2-2/12 teaspoons)
Pasty Ingredients
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees
Mix the vegetables, crumbles and spices together. Either use parchment paper or spray your cookie sheet with baking spray. Unroll the pie crust, cut in half. Fill one side of the crust with the vegetable mixture. Use a fair amount. Fold other side over and crimp the edges. Try to close it as much as possible. Continue to fill the crusts. You can make 4 larger ones or cut the dough smaller-in quarters for a small hand pie. Prick the top with a fork to vent. You can brush it with an egg wash or spray it with a butter baking spray to make it brown more.
Bake for about an hour or until browned. Serve with lots of ketchup. A taste of Up North! Enjoy!
This week’s soup is a hearty soup with a lot of spice to warm you up. I had an abundance of mushrooms as well as a larger cans of tomatoes in my last grocery order. I decided to try a lentil soup using these ingredients. I added more vegetables as well. Lentils are not my usual go to, but I’m very happy with the results. You can use the immersion blender if you want a smoother consistency. Soup’s On-Enjoy!
Vegetarian Options:
Substitute a vegetarian or vegan sausage for the Chicken sausage. I use Field Roast Apple Sausage. You can also leave it out and add additional vegetables.
Ingredients:
1 sweet onion-diced
2 carrots diced
1-12 ounce package frozen corn
1-12 ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
1-28 ounce can of chopped tomatoes
1-2 32 ounce container vegetable stock
1-lb bag dried red lentils
1 cup fresh spinach
2 Chicken Sausages (I used Aidell’s Chicken Apple) diced
2 tbs dried oregano
2 tbs dried basil
4 tbs garlic powder
6 grinds of pepper (1/2 tsp)
10-12 grinds of salt (1/2-1tsp)
Water to fill
Instructions:
Slow Cooker
Place all ingredients in the Slow Cooker. Cook on High for 3-4 hours or Low for 7-8 hours. Taste it at 3 or 7 hours to see if it’s done.
Instant Pot
Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot. Add water being careful not to over fill. I use the soup button it’s 2:30. You can also set it manually for the time. Release pressure naturally.
Stove-top
Place all ingredients in the stockpot or Dutch oven. You may have to reduce the amount of the ingredients for the size of your pot. Bring to a boil, then turn it down to a low simmer. Cook for 2-3 hours, stirring frequently. Taste to see if it’s done at 2 hours.
It’s a hearty soup. If you prefer a smoother consistency, use the immersion blender. Serve it’s a first course or add a salad and some crusty bread as a main. Enjoy!
Chili is a hearty, spicy cross of stew and soup. It can be made many different ways-with or without beans, vegetarian or meat, (chili con carne) spicy or mild. It varies from region to region. Great for a Game Day or a winter meal.
Exploring the origins of chili unveiled a big controversy to its origins. It may be from Native Americans over 2000 years old. Other information suggests it came from the Canary Islands brought to the area around San Antonio in the 1700’s. Chili con carne (meat chili) most likely originated in Mexico. Most agree chili’s modern roots are from Texas. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/the-great-chili-debate
Beans in chili are very controversial. Texas chili is almost never made with beans. I always include beans in my version. In Cincinnati where I have relatives, they serve it over spaghetti 5 different ways. Chili can be 5 alarm spicy or mild depending on your preference. My version is spicy and vegetarian, with beans. As with most of my recipes, I add in extra veggies. It has so much flavor- even meat lovers won’t miss the meat.
Options:
Not a fan of beans-leave them out. Add extra veggies.
I use soy crumbles (Boca, Morningstar, Beyond) and soy chorizo sausage (El Burrito Soyrizo) you can leave them out and add extra veggies and/or extra beans.
I use canned beans and frozen vegetables for convenience- you can prepare fresh dried beans and add them and chop more vegetables if you prefer.
If you absolutely need meat-use a lb of extra lean ground beef (or other grades) sautéed.
Hints: Wear gloves when chopping the peppers. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands afterwards. Leave the seeds off if you want it less spicy. You’ll still have the flavor of the peppers.
Ingredients:
2 cans of kidney or black beans
1 sweet onion diced
1 bag 8 ounces frozen corn defrosted
1 bag 8 ounces frozen mixed vegetables defrosted
Boca or other brand Soy crumbles 10-13 ounces depending on the brand (you can leave them out if you wish) defrost if frozen
Soy chorizo sausage (again if you prefer to not use soy meat leave it out) defrost if frozen
1 jalapeño pepper chopped fine
1-2 habanero pepper diced (use more jalapeños if you like it less spicy). (Mine were very small so I used 1 jalapeños and 2 mini habaneros. Adjust the heat by using more or less of the jalapeños and habanero peppers)
1 -28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 cans Rotel tomatoes 10 ounce
1 can chopped tomatoes 14.1 ounces
Juice of 1/2 a lime
4 tablespoons garlic powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
5 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cilantro fresh or dried
1 tbs salt (10 grinds of grinder)
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons Tajin spice
Crockpot Instructions
Chop the onion and peppers (see hint above). Add all the ingredients into the Crockpot. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, high for 3-4 hours. Taste to see if it’s done. I usually do 4 hours on high.
Instant Pot Instructions
Chop the onion and peppers (see hint above). Add all the ingredients into the Instant Pot. Use Soup button or set pressure to 2:30 minutes. Some have a bean/chili button. Release pressure naturally.
Stovetop Instructions
Chop the onion and peppers (see hint above). Add all the ingredients into the stockpot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and then turn it to low simmer. Cook for 2-3 hours stirring frequently.
Add Toppings: you can make a chili bar so everyone can choose their favorite toppings: grated cheddar cheese, extra chopped peppers, lime slices, tortilla or Fritos chips, guacamole, sour cream, chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, chopped cilantro, hot sauce—the list can go on and on: be creative!
You can also serve it over brown rice (or white-or without rice-your preference). Or like Cincinnati chili-spaghetti. Make a chili dog, use it in tacos or quesadillas. All kinds of options.
It’s great with a tossed salad and a side of cornbread. However you top and serve it- it will be delicious!
We are on a winter escape in Cancun Mexico. After 6 months of recovering from rotator cuff, bicep and clavicle surgery, I needed a stress free escape. The last half of the year was very painful and difficult. One of the most trying times I’ve experienced. Fortunately I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve gotten most of my arm mobility back and have much less pain now. It was a good time for an escape before my semester started up. Exercising in the pool every day is my happy place. Watching the waves in the ocean, seeing palms swaying in the wind calm me and create a sense of peace. I wish it would last forever! I love the people and the culture, it’s always a great experience to come back here.
Lasagna is an Italian layered casserole full of cheesy goodness. Surprisingly, when I looked up it’s history, I discovered it derived from Ancient Greece. where according to Mi’Talia, a dish called laganon was popular. Laganon, as it happens, was the first pasta, made from sheets of dough cut into thin strips. https://www.tastingtable.com/820872/the-origin-of-lasagna-isnt-what-you-think/
It made its way to Italy in the Middle Ages. Early lasagna did not contain tomatoes, only noodles with a béchamel sauce. Eventually a ragu sauce was added with Spinach in the dough. This originated in Bologna. It eventually became popular in Naples in the 1880’s where tomatoes were introduced into the recipe. https://www.italymagazine.com/dual-language/short-history-lasagna
I make a vegetarian version loaded with lots of vegetables. I make it all different ways-usually baked in the oven. This time I wanted to make a very quick version of it in the crockpot. You can use a quick homemade marinara sauce or in a pinch, use a commercial spaghetti sauce. I don’t boil the noodles first. Adding in additional sauce will “cook” the noodles in the pot or pan. I threw this together with some leftover noodles I had in the cupboard so I only made 2 layers. Generally I would use a third layer of noodles. You can layer it up as high as your pan will allow if you have enough ingredients. I’ll give you both the oven and crockpot versions. The oven version is much crispier. You can take out the serving portions out of the crockpot and broil them for a few minutes to crisp. I was pleasantly surprised that the cheese and top browned and was somewhat crisped in the crockpot. You can use all kinds of vegetables, I load it up.
Quick Hint: Cook the veggies first either sautéing or microwaving them to remove the excess moisture. Use a slotted spoon to drain them.
It’s a quick and tasty lasagna. Enjoy!
Other options:
A low carb version can be made with thin zucchini strips (heavily salt first on a cookie sheet and paper towels for a minimum of 30 minutes to draw out the moisture, the longer the better). Replace the noodles with the zucchini strips. You need 2-3 medium zucchini sliced very thin. Some markets sell sliced zucchini.
I usually make this vegetarian. I have sometimes added soy crumbles. You can add in lots of different vegetables (fresh tomatoes, zucchini slices, onions, mushrooms, spinach, etc. ).
If you prefer a meat version-add in cooked lean ground beef, Italian sausage or Italian chicken sausage or pepperoni.
Ingredients:
Make a batch of homemade marinara sauce if desired. I use lots of fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, oregano. There are tons of recipes online. I make a large pot and freeze it for future use. Otherwise use a commercial spaghetti sauce. This time I used a jar of sauce to save time as I was out of homemade marinara.
I -24 ounces jar of sauce. or homemade marinara sauce.
2 cups fresh spinach (microwave to cook and wring out moisture)
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms (additional veggies if desired-sauté or microwave to reduce the amount of liquid in them)
8 ounces of part skim ricotta cheese (cottage cheese can be substituted in a pinch)
2 beaten eggs (I sometimes leave them out, not too much difference in the result)
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
4 ounces shredded part skim mozzarella
4 ounces fresh mozzarella (you can use more shredded if you don’t have fresh available)
2 tablespoons ground basil
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped (if you have it)
2 tablespoons ground oregano
4-6 tablespoons garlic powder
1/2-1 tablespoons ground pepper
Shake of red pepper flakes
No boil or regular lasagna noodles (minimum of 5-6 for 2 layers -more for additional layers)
Crockpot Instructions:
Place a layer of the sauce on the bottom of the pot. Be generous as the noodles absorb the sauce. Add a layer of noodles. Break them to fit all the space. Next layer the mushrooms and other veggies. Sprinkle some of the spices on top. Mix the cooked spinach with the ricotta cheese, remaining basil, garlic and oregano. Add in the eggs to the spinach ricotta mixture (if you’re using the eggs). It will make it creamier. Spread a layer of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle a layer of Parmesan and shredded mozzarella. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Next add more noodles. Add a layer of sauce, than mushrooms, cheese (additional ricotta if adding more layers of noodles), or if top layer, more Parmesan and the fresh Mozzarella. (Or additional shredded mozzarella if no fresh). Sprinkle with fresh basil.
Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
Take out your serving portion and Broil for a few minutes to brown further if desired.
Oven Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray a 13” x 9” baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Follow layering instructions above. Make sure each layer covers the whole pan. Place pan on a large cookie sheet or piece of foil in case it boils over. Cook it for 45-60 minutes until the top is brown and crispy. Let rest a few minutes before slicing.
Serve it with a salad, Italian bread and a nice glass of wine or sparkling water. Enjoy!
Traditional Gumbo gets its roots from West Africa and Louisiana. It dates back over 300 years. It’s a hearty Creole stew which can be made with many different ingredients. A traditional Gumbo is made with a deep roux and okra. It can include chicken, sausage and seafood, game or be strictly vegetarian. It molds to your taste, level of spice and what you have on hand.
This version is a gumbo style soup, rather than a thicker gumbo stew. I’m rather unusual in that I don’t use okra which is traditionally used in the Gumbo. I’ve never been a big fan of okra so I left it out. Feel free to include fresh or frozen okra. I also just use the Andouille Sausage along with the traditional trinity of vegetables. (Carrots, celery and onions and peppers), along with tomatoes and lots of spices. I replaced the roux with Arrowroot to thicken it up. It’s less fat and tradition, but the results are still really good. Go easy on the Cajun spice, it’s strong, add more after cooking if you want it spicier. Substitute chicken apple sausage for the Andouille sausage for a less spicy version.
Serve it with a crusty baguette and a salad for an easy meal. It can also be a first course to a Cajun meal or any main course. It will warm you up this winter.
Vegetarian options:
Replace the Andouille Sausage with a soy or meat replacement sausage. I often use Field Roast as the sausage. You can also add some white beans as well.
Other Options:
If you want more protein, add chicken breast or thighs in the beginning of the cooking as well as some shrimp. (Add the shrimp at the end). You can also add fresh or frozen okra, use a brown roux instead of arrowroot for a thicker soup/stew.
Enjoy!
Ingredients:
2-32 ounces of vegetable stock
8 tablespoons garlic powder
2-15.5 cans of diced tomatoes or 3 fresh tomatoes chopped
4 carrots diced
1 onion diced
3 stalks of celery diced
1 bell peppers diced
1/2-1 tablespoons Cajun spice (I use “Slap Ya Mama”, it’s spicy so use sparingly-start small and add additional to taste)
15 grinds of salt grinder (approximately 1 1/2 tbs)
4 grinds of pepper mill (1/2-1 tbs)
4 Andouille sausage (I use “Aidell’s”) diced; (substitute Field Roast sausage or other brand of vegetable sausage for a vegetarian version)
1 tablespoons oregano
4 shakes of thyme (1/2-1 teaspoon- more to taste, I’m not a big fan of thyme)
1 tablespoons of Arrowroot powder
1 cup brown rice (or white rice if you prefer)
Water to fill line on pot
Instant Pot Instructions:
Add all the ingredients into the pot. Stir in the Arrowroot to thicken it as it cooks slightly. Set the pot to the Soup button. Add additional time (More) to 3:15. Allow to vent naturally.
Slow Cooker Instructions:
Add all the ingredients into the crockpot. Stir in the Arrowroot to thicken it as it cooks slightly. It will also thicken up when you reheat it to boil.
Stovetop Instructions
Add all the ingredients into the Dutch Oven of Stockpot. Stir in the Arrowroot to thicken it as it cooks slightly. Bring to boil, then turn it to a low simmer. Stir frequently. Cook for 2-3 hours.
Serve it with a crusty baguette and a salad for an easy meal. It can also be a first course to a Cajun meal or any main course. It will warm you up this winter.
Gyros are an interesting Mediterranean sandwich. They are full of flavor and spice, tangy and tender. Usually a gyro is made with a combination of beef and lamb cooked on a spit. It is sliced thin and placed in a pita or flatbread pita. Top it with tzatziki sauce (a garlic, cucumber, yogurt sauce), cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. Wrap it in a piece of foil to not lose as any of the goodness. This version is made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It has much of the same flavor and taste in a healthier version. Options to marinate it for 30 minutes or more before cooking. I made it in a crockpot but you can grill it, sauté it or instant pot it as well.
Vegetarian Options:
Replace the chicken with strips of grilled or sautéd bell peppers, portobello mushrooms, spinach, onions and/other root vegetables. They can be marinated with the spices below and either Greek yogurt or olive oil. You can also cook them in the Crockpot or Instant Pot (3-4 minutes- release naturally) as well.
Another option is to toss the pepper and mushroom strips with oil and seasoning. Spread the sliced mushrooms on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees
You can also add extra hummus and chunks of feta cheese is you wish. Assemble the gyro as below. Delicious!
8 tablespoons garlic powder or 3-4 cloves crushed fresh garlic
4 tablespoons oregano
3 tablespoons cumin
a few dashes of marjoram
1 tablespoon dill
2 fresh rosemary stems
Juice of 2 lemons
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic or red wine vinegar
4 turns of the salt grinder (1/2 tsp or so)
4 turns of the pepper grinder (1/2 tsp or so)
Optional: Hummus, Hot Sauce
Crockpot Instructions:
Place all the ingredients into the crockpot. Cook on high for 4 hours (check temperature at 3 hours-165 degrees). Slice into small pieces or shred with two forks.
Place under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp up the top if desired. (Recommended)
Instant Pot Instructions:
Place all the ingredients into the Instant Pot. Cook on the Poultry setting (15 minutes, I often add more time depending on the size of the breast-up to 30 minutes)Allow it to naturally release. When finished, check the temperature of the breasts -165 degrees. Slice into small pieces or shred with two forks.
Place under the broiler for a couple of minutes to crisp up the top if desired. (Recommended)
Marinate and Grill:
Place all ingredients into a ziplock bag or covered container. You can also add plain Greek yogurt (8oz) into the marinade or extra lemon. Marinate for 30 minutes to overnight. Oil your grill and grill until finished (165 degrees).
Sandwich Ingredients and Assembly:
Pita bread or flatbread (I prefer pocketless pita flatbread)
Cucumbers slices
Tomato slices
Onion slices
Tzatziki sauce (store bought -I prefer Cedars or homemade, there are tons of easy recipes you can find online).
Hot sauce
Chicken Breast (slice it thick, chunks or shredded-your choice) or Vegetarian Options
Foil or wax paper
Lay the bread on a piece of foil or wax paper. Add some tzatziki, hummus and layer the rest of the ingredients on top along with additional tzatziki and a few dashes of hot sauce – if desired. Fold and close the foil. Eat from the top and enjoy!
It’s always taco/fajita night in our house. Often I make lean ground beef or vegetarian chorizo or vegetarian crumbles and make a taco bar. Sometimes I want a quicker meal ready. This recipe uses steak for the fajitas. I prefer a good cut if I’m using steak. I use a rib eye, t-bone or strip steak. It comes out tender and juicy. You could use a different cut, such as flank or skirt steak, it will also get tender in the crockpot. You can also make this in the Instant Pot or sauté it on the stove top.
Chicken and Vegetarian Alternative:
Use boneless, skinless chicken breast. Shred with two forks after cooking, add back to the crockpot and stir. Use a slotted spoon to serve.
Vegetarian options:
A Vegetarian alternative would be to just use the all the vegetables. Adding some root vegetables will also take this to a new level. You can also add cooked black beans or soy chorizos with the vegetables if you wish. Great results for any of these choices.
A quick, flavorful meal with any of the choices.
Ingredients:
1-2 lb steak -I use a ribeye, t-bone or similar steak.
2 red bell peppers-thinly sliced
2 sweet onions-thinly sliced
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
3 tomatoes sliced or 1 -14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
1/4-1/2 cup fresh cilantro
3 tbs cumin
3 tbs garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1-2 tbs Tajin spice
1 -2 small jalapeño or 1/2 habanero peppers depending on your heat tolerance-chopped
1 can Rotel tomatoes
Juice of 1 lime
Crockpot Instructions:
Freeze the steak slightly so it can be sliced easily. Trim off all the fat and then slice against the grain into small slices. (I have also put it in whole and sliced it after but this is easier to slice)
Add all the ingredients to the crockpot and stir. Cover and cook on high 4 hours or 8 hours on low.
Serve with tortillas, pico de gallo, salsa, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, hot sauce. Rice and beans/refried beans go well with it.
Instant Pot Instructions:
Freeze the steak slightly so it can be sliced easily. Trim off all the fat and then slice against the grain into small slices. (I have also put it in whole and sliced it after but this is easier to slice). Optional-you can brown the meat using the sauté feature with a little olive oil.
Add all the ingredients to the Instant Pot. Cover and set the pressure on high for 4 minutes. Let the pressure vent naturally.
Serve with tortillas, pico de gallo, salsa, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, hot sauce. Rice and beans/refried beans go well with it.
Tortilla Soup is a favorite soup in our house. It’s light and full of flavor. It can be made vegetarian or with chicken. I’ll give you both options below. The flavors come out light and refreshing either way. It’s a great first course for taco night or with any main course. Serve it with a squeeze of lime, some shredded cheese and crumpled tortilla chips. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Tortilla Soup Ingredients:
2-32 ounces of vegetable stock
1- 2 15.5 ounce can black beans (add the second one to add additional protein)
8 ounces frozen corn
Juice of 1 lime
1 – 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes
Water to fill pot
8 tbs garlic powder
6 tbs cumin
4 tbs dried cilantro or 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbs Tajin Spice (a zesty lime spice with a kick) (a few shakes)
15- 20 turns of salt grinder (1-2 tbs or to taste)
8-10 turns of pepper grinder (1 tbs)
Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Tortilla chips
Slices of lime
Chicken Tortilla Soup Ingredients:
2-3 boneless chicken breasts
2-32 ounce containers of chicken stock
1 can 15.5 ounce can black beans
8 ounces frozen corn
Juice of 1 lime
1 – 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes
Water to fill pot
8 tbs garlic powder
6 tbs cumin
4 tbs dried cilantro or 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbs Tajin Spice (a zesty lime spice with a kick) (a few shakes)
15- 20 turns of salt grinder (2 tbs or to taste)
8 turns of pepper grinder (1 tbs)
Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Tortilla chips
Slices of lime
Shred chicken when cooked with two forks. Add back to soup. You can also use some of the chicken for another recipe.
Crockpot Instructions:
Place all ingredients into the pot. Cook on high for 4 hours, low for 8 hours.
Instant Pot Instructions:
Place all the ingredients into the pot. Turn the steam button to close. Close top, use the soup button adding time to 3:00. Allow to vent naturally.
Stovetop Instructions:
Place all the ingredients into a stockpot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and then turn down to simmer in low. Cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Forsythia BloomsLilacsPurple Irises Purple Irises Yellow Irises Early RosesEarly Roses
I love gardening but have a very small yard. I know Spring is coming as soon as the forsythia bloom. Next to bloom are the irises. My former neighbor gave me the purple plants many years ago and they always bloom. They give great hope to the Spring. I planted the yellow irises They always bloom later than the purple ones, I’ve never figured that out. The lilacs bloom in late May. They are short lived but so fragrant. My roses are vine roses. They are late Spring blooms.
I’ve always loved experimenting with vegetables and herbs. Most years are not so successful but I still love to do it. My garden is in pots. We tried garden beds but even with amendments to the soil, it never thrived. We switched to planting in pots and it has been somewhat more successful. I always start off enthusiastically, start seeds as well as plant from small plants and end up with very little harvest. It’s still fun to see it grow though. Part of the problem is that usually I am gone for much of the summer so I have to rely on nature for watering the plants. Nevertheless, my herbs do well-I have perennial mint and Greek oregano. Rosemary did well this year. Basil is much more finicky. Some times we get a fair amount. This past Summer it didn’t thrive. We love to grow hot peppers-jalapeños, habaneros, Serrano and other types. They tend to do well and we have an abundance of salsa and hot food. Tomato plants give us a fair amount of cherry tomatoes. They seem to do better in the pots than larger breeds. Nothing like a fresh picked tomato. We take some of the pots in over the winter before the frost. The peppers can do well indoors and the rosemary is doing quite well. These photos are some of my last harvests before the frost. Although very meager results, it’s always fun.
Pepper plant-end of season. Last of the harvest before the first frost. The morning glories come back every summer.
After two years of more or less isolation from Covid, we were starting to finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. Since I don’t have any problems being home a lot, it didn’t bother me to self isolate as much as it bothered some people. Now after two years, masks, vaccines and boosters, I was starting to feel better about going places. Even though I am still hesitant to see people, be in a crowd or crowded environment; I was starting to feel better about going out, even traveling. I am still masked and hesitant but felt that I finally could start to do things again. Well, the best laid plans…
The past 5 months were particularly difficult as I had rotator cuff shoulder surgery in July. It put an end to my summer travel plans. It was a long, painful recovery but finally I am starting to feel stronger and closer to normal, so we were traveling a bit and planning ahead. We were away for Thanksgiving at my daughter’s house, did go to a museum and ate out. I was a bit nervous about it all, but it was nice to be out, see family and see artworks. Things have a way of not going quite as planned….
Well, this past week, my husband tested positive! We were shocked! He was not as careful about it all as I am, but was fully boosted and wore masks at least most of the time. He was going into the office a couple of days a week, but mostly driving, not using mass transit. Wednesday night after Thanksgiving, he was coughing up a storm so I told him to take a test before going in to the office on Thursday. Still, I was shocked when he was actually positive and to have to go through the full home isolation, all the cleaning, sanitation again just like in the beginning of Covid. Fearful for him and fearful that I would get it too. Fortunately, my husband had a very mild case, but it is all very unnerving. We kept waiting for it to get worse. Luckily the vaccines and Paxlovid seem to keep it mild. I keep cleaning, masking and testing to make sure I haven’t contracted it. So far so good. The question seems to be not if but when are you going to get it. I try to stay positive and hopefully I will get the nerve up to venture out into society again! Even this introverted homebody gets cabin fever at times. What are your experiences?
