When I first learned that Ryan did indeed have an allergy to dairy (after having suspected it for many months), I really started scouring labels. I knew for the most part what did and didn't have dairy or milk, but it can very sneaky and often finds it's way into a wide variety of processed foods. One of the items I quickly discovered that contained milk or cheese was jarred … [Read more...]
Beef Fajita Skillet Dinner
This recipe is from my 15-Minute Freezer Meals Cookbook! Tap below to get your book ordered! While we the thermometers hit the triple digit mark, no one wants to heat up their kitchen...but you also might not want to stand outside and sweat the afternoon away in front of the grill either. If that's the case for you, then a simple skillet dinner that only takes … [Read more...]
Marinated Vegetable Pasta
This is a great light summer recipe that is loaded with vegetables from the garden or farmer's market. We make a version of this dish at the Cooking Class that I teach for our hospital. It is always delicious and is a great way to highlight summer produce. I used Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta for this dish. It is also great with whole wheat pasta for added fiber … [Read more...]
Turkey, Mushroom, Onion & Swiss Grilled Paninis
Panini. Yes, please. Panini on the grill. Yes, yes, yes please. I don't have a panini maker. While I've thought a time or two about how it would be nice to have one, I've never been able to justify buying one for every now and then, especially when I've got a perfectly functioning grill and a brick covered with foil. Huh?! Yes, you read that right! You can use a … [Read more...]
Lemon Pasta with Ham and Peas
When I think of pasta and peas together, I think of blue box macaroni with a can of tuna and a can or bag of frozen peas. Well, that's what I thought about pasta and peas before I really learned how to cook. The fun of cooking comes with exploring with flavors, textures and tossing together new ingredients. I'm always on the hunt for new favorite recipes, especially for … [Read more...]
Ham and Broccoli Breakfast Casserole with Extra-Sharp Cheddar
I was at a church brunch recently and the ladies at my table started talking about egg casseroles. It was fun to hear everyone's take on them for both sides - the cooking them and the eating them. After listening contentedly for a few minutes, I chimed in with a few thoughts myself. I love to add some flare to my egg casseroles whether it be a particular spice, or a bold and … [Read more...]
Pizza Penne Bake
There comes a time in every home cooks life when you really, really, really have a hankering for pizza. Except dinner is in 30 minutes. And you have no store bought dough. And no time at all to put together a dough, let it rise, etc. Might I suggest this pizza bake as an alternative?! It's sure to cure that craving and it can be on the table in 30 minutes or less! Here's … [Read more...]
Do You Know How Much Salt and Pepper to Add?!
I wonder if you know how much salt and pepper to add when a recipe reads "season with salt and pepper to taste." Do you know how much to add?! Obviously you add enough so that your taste buds are happy and enjoy the flavor and bite from the salt and the pepper. But what if you are making a really large bowl of potato salad. Or a triple batch of soup in a big pot?! I'm … [Read more...]
Curried Quinoa with Chicken and Peas
So here we have it. The curried chicken quinoa with peas recipe that I will be making 3 times a week, just for Tyler. Well, maybe not that often...but it's certainly one I will be adding to our regular rotation! Tyler, Tyler, Tyler. I normally give him small portions, about 1-2 tablespoons in size, at a time. And if I were to give him more, he'd end up dumping it … [Read more...]
Spaghetti Frittata
Do you ever end up with just a couple handfuls of spaghetti noodles?! And you don't know what to do with them?! Several weeks ago the boys had MRIs. It happens every year. This year, they asked if I thought Ryan could do the MRI without sedation. He would have the chance to watch a movie through the "magic googles" and would get to wear heavy headphones to both hear the … [Read more...]