Random Recipes

Besides inheriting my dad’s wispy hair, I also picked up his habit of grocery shopping on Sunday. My mom and dad split cooking duties, but he did the bulk shopping each Sunday. As a result, Saturdays were dubbed “Smorgasbord Saturdays” in our home as my dad purged leftovers from the refrigerator and served them that night for dinner. The following recipes remind me of “Smorgasbord Saturday” as they can be made from leftovers (beef, bacon and shrimp) or from scratch. Either way you are left with mouthwatering dishes that don’t require a ton of time or skill to prepare. BEEF … Continue reading →

Fruit for Dinner

Like many kids her age my preschooler would much rather crunch on apples than carrots and celery. My daughter loves fruit. Vegetables… not so much. So imagine her surprise when we visited Hawaii a couple months ago and my fruit loving daughter was offered the following dishes. They were a hit with my little one and I have since integrated these recipes into our menu mix. (Note: I would make them more often; however, I am allergic to some of the ingredients.) COCONUT CHICKEN WITH FRUIT SALSA Ingredients: 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts Salt and pepper 1/2 cup flour 1 … Continue reading →

Comfort Foods: Meat and Potatoes

Continuing with our “Comfort Foods” theme, today I am focusing on the classic combination of meat and potatoes. There are some people who don’t go a single day without ingesting at least one meal that features a hearty helping of meat and potatoes. For these individuals the combo screams comfort. While I make a concerted effort not to serve meat and potatoes for dinner every night, I do admit that the combo brings back fond memories of my childhood. The following recipes were some of my favorites: CLASSIC MEATLOAF Ingredients: 2 pounds ground chuck 1 envelope dry onion soup mix … Continue reading →

Shrimp-tastic Entrees

While the price of milk and bread has skyrocketed in the past six months, the cost of shrimp has gone down in most places. Experts say it’s simply a matter of supply and demand. I’m allergic to shrimp, though I wish that wasn’t the case, given that my local grocer has reduced the price of the popular seafood so dramatically, it’s hard not to be tempted to buy. I may not be able to gorge on shrimp like others, but growing up in Hawaii I’ve had multiple opportunities to cook them up at family gatherings. The following are some of … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable Chicken Recipes Your Family Will Love

Thank goodness for chicken. It’s affordable, accessible, versatile, and most importantly, my 4-year-old will eat it without a single complaint. My daughter is not a saucy kind of gal, so I leave her meat alone when serving the first recipe for Chicken with Sour Cream Sauce. If you have a picky eater at your home, I would suggest doing the same. The second chicken recipe could not be simpler. It is a fantastic way to liven up plain chicken breasts and can be made in less than 30 minutes. I like to serve it with an easy green salad, which … Continue reading →

Spring Break Menu—New Orleans

The Big Easy is a big draw for many spring breakers. Not only is it home to waterfront attractions and legendary landmarks, but it also boasts some of the most incredible cuisine in the country. If you can’t make it to New Orleans this spring, then consider cooking up some of the region’s most iconic dishes in your own kitchen. CLASSIC SHRIMP PO’ BOY Ingredients: 10-inch crusty French bread 10 lightly breaded, fried shrimp Cajun tartar sauce Marinated salad mix Cajun Tarter Sauce Ingredients: Mayonnaise Relish Cajun seasoning (available in your grocer’s spice aisle) Directions: Combine ingredients to taste. Marinated … Continue reading →

Dinner on a Stick

Make dinner fun tonight by adding a stick. If you’ve ever been to a state fair, then you know kids will eat just about anything off of a skewer (my 4-year-old tried fried alligator once because it was hanging off a wooden stick). The following recipes are not only kid-friendly, but they also make fantastic finger foods for a family potluck or small dinner party: SPICY CHICKEN SKEWERS Ingredients: 1-pound chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and cut in 2-inch wide strips 4 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated 4 cups chicken stock 4 tablespoons soy sauce 1/2 cup peanut butter 1/2 each … Continue reading →

Winning Recipes for Pork and Chicken

My young daughter loathes sauce. If her meat, potatoes, rice, bread, or vegetables get anywhere near gravy or any other type of sauce, you’ll know about it instantaneously (so will the neighbors across the street). Still, I’m not giving up. I refuse to allow her idiosyncrasies compromise my saucy pork and chicken recipes. The following recipes are some of my favorites, and they just so happen to be enhanced by wonderful fruit-flavored sauces. If you have picky eaters like I do, then you might opt to serve the sauce on the side. Otherwise, these dishes are excellent options for diners … Continue reading →

More Meatless Meal Options

Now that Lent is here, many home cooks are looking for meatless options to serve on Fridays. If you aren’t in the mood to fry fish or dine on other seafood options, then consider adding these delicious meatless dishes to the mix. PASTA WITH ROASTED MUSHROOMS AND ROSEMARY CREAM SAUCE Ingredients: For the Pasta: 6 cups cooked farfalle pasta 3 cups crimini mushrooms roasted with olive oil For the Rosemary Gorgonzola Cream Sauce: 1/4 cup butter 2 tablespoons minced onion 1/4 cup flour 4 cups milk Salt, pepper, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes to taste Creamy Gorgonzola cheese 3 rosemary … Continue reading →

Add New Life to Chicken

If you cook for a large family, then you are well acquainted with the challenges of pleasing a plethora of palettes. Even something as simple as pizza can yield a dozen different requests. The same can be said for chicken. Growing up my grandfather would often make a few different chicken dishes to feed the eight of us. The following recipes are family favorites, and prove that you don’t have to spend the entire day in the kitchen to make a multi-entree meal. DIJON MUSTARD CHICKEN Ingredients: 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1/2 cup flour, seasoned with salt and … Continue reading →