Meet the new porridge! Goldilocks is sure to eat all three bowls of this delicious "dressed up oatmeal"! Except it's not oatmeal!!! This gluten-free breakfast is sure to please the entire family, not just those who need to eat sans gluten. It's cooked quinoa with a little sweetness and cinnamon, then topped with walnuts and raisins. Move on over Wheaties...this is … [Read more...]
“Toast Bar” – An Easy Non-Cereal Breakfast
I always give cold cereal such a hard time. It doesn't really deserve, in some ways. But in other ways, it does. Because it does get old, and every now and again the morning routine needs a little CPR. But I have a suggestion that requires not one ounce of brain power. Not a single ounce! How's this for resuscitating breakfast and not having to think about it... A … [Read more...]
Lightened Up Chicken Parmesan
I never really liked chicken Parmesan. A thick dried out chicken breast smothered in a so-so sauce and topped with too much chewy mozzarella cheese. And loaded with calories to boot! Then I played with a freezer friendly recipe to cut down on excessive calories and boost the favor. Now I am in love. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do! I first cut those massive chicken … [Read more...]
Grilled Paninis
Oh my gosh? Dare I say it? Spring is right around the corner!! You know what this means, BBQ’s and camp fires! Flowers and swimming! Playing, playing, playing! (for the kids, of course) As long as we’re talking summer, we've got to talk grills.......that’s right, what a lead in...Have you ever thought about paninis on the grill? If you're looking for ideas other than … [Read more...]
Rigatoni with Grilled Chicken and Dried Tomatoes
Seriously I have had enough. Winter started way too early this past November. And it continues to drag on, with a tease of warm weather here and there. In a feeble attempt to pretend that it may in fact be spring, or summer, I pulled out the tomatoes and basil that I dried, after having picked them from my garden last year. And for a few glorious minutes, I got to taste … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and Cheese...a kid favorite for sure! But why can't it be an adult favorite?! With just a little sprucing up, it sure can be! I remember my mom making "the blue box" and mixing in peas and tuna. It was the "all-american meal" back in the 80s. That...and chicken cordon bleu's from the freezer. Two meals that I am both fond of, but somehow disgusted by. (I do … [Read more...]
Pulled Pork with Red Onion
This recipe is featured in the 21 Freezer Cooking Recipes from Costco Meal Plan #5. Several weeks ago I purchased a large pork tenderloin. I used part of it to make Spanish Stew, sliced off a few pork chops, and then left the remaining portion whole to cook in the slow cooker. This is quite simple...I placed the roast fat side up in the slow cooker, topped it … [Read more...]
Angel Food Cake with Lime Glaze and Pistachios
(No. I did not forget about my "dessert of the month" promise. Yes. I do realize that it's the last day of the month. I work best on a tight deadline! Translation: I am one giant procrastinator.) A match made in food heaven... Lime. and. Pistachios! I made this earlier this month when we had some friends from church over for dinner. I made the angel food cake the night … [Read more...]
Italian Wedding Soup
Here is my version of Italian Wedding Soup. Simple. Delicious. So yeah. There's going to be a wedding this year. My sister's!!! I'm honored to stand beside her as the matron of honor, and I'm thrilled that Charlie gets to be a ring bearer! And there's going to be an Italian at the wedding. My sister's fiance is Italian. Dark headed, dark eyed with a last name that's … [Read more...]
Storing Yeast in Your Freezer
If you bake bread regularly, or you are thinking about starting, here's a little tip for you... Store your yeast in the freezer! It is certainly cheaper to purchase a jar of yeast than to purchase the strips. If you are planning to make more than 3 loaves of bread or 3 batches of dough for rolls, pizza crust, cinnamon rolls or other yeast bread, then … [Read more...]