Tag Archives: Easy Meals

Easy Penne Bake

Need to get dinner on the table but don’t want to spend two hours in the kitchen? I don’t blame you! Life is hectic enough these days. Here’s a simple penne bake that’ll feed your entire family. Best of all, it’s fast, it’s delicious, and it’s healthy. For this recipe you’ll need: 1-pound penne pasta 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes 1 package spaghetti seasoning (optional) 1 tsp. salt ¼ tsp. black pepper 1 TB Worcestershire 1-pound ground beef 1 small red onion, chopped 8 ounces mozzarella cheese Pinch of dried oregano (optional) … Continue reading →

Homemade Dressings-Thousand Island and Vinaigrette-Quick and Easy

Did you ever eat at Bob’s Big Boy growing up? I don’t know if they were everywhere, but in Arizona, where I grew up, there was a Bob’s Big Boy restaurant near my home. Let me tell you, they made the BEST Thousand Island Dressing I’ve ever had. It was delicious on top of an iceberg lettuce salad, and even better atop a juicy burger. Here’s my recipe for homemade Thousand Island Dressing. Let me know what you think. Do you make your own salad dressing? Thousand Island Dressing For this recipe you’ll need: 1-cup mayonnaise About ¼ cup ketchup … Continue reading →

Spaghetti For Your Lips But Not For Your Hips

The low carb craze may have died down, but many of us are still watching our carbohydrate intake. For me, the fewer “bad” carbs I eat (white flour, processed foods, sugar-laden bread, snacks, and pastas) the better I feel. My stomach feels and looks smaller, my energy levels increase, and I simply want to do more. One of the most difficult things to stop eating in this culture is pasta. It’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, and let’s face it—it’s delicious, with a variety of toppings. Kids love it and adults love it. Unfortunately, we often don’t stick to the correct … Continue reading →

Potato Corn Chowder with Cheeeeese

For some crazy reason, I’ve been craving soup. Yes, I know it’s summer. The weather is sizzling here in Southern California. But my family is sick right now with colds, and I’m craving winter. I combined the flavors of summer and winter and created this delicious soup, thick enough to be a meal. Pair it with a piece of crusty bread, and you’ve got dinner in no time, sure to cure even the nastiest of colds. For this recipe you’ll need: 5 TB Butter 4 Cups diced Yukon gold potatoes ½ large red onion, diced 1 tsp. kosher salt ½ … Continue reading →

Pasta Estiva

Some people are chocoholics—well, I’m a proclaimed pastaholic. I love pasta. At one of my favorite family-owned Italian restaurants, they serve a delicious pasta dish called “pasta estiva.” I’ve re-created it in my own kitchen and am delighted to share it with you. For this recipe (makes 4 servings) you’ll need: 1 package angel hair pasta (1lb) 7 Roma Tomatoes, diced 1 red onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, finely minced 1 (8oz) package feta cheese, crumbled (can crumble yourself) 3 TB butter ½ cup olive oil 1 TB kosher salt 1 tsp. black pepper ¼ cup fresh Italian Parsley, chopped … Continue reading →

Sauteed Broccoli With Lemon Zest And Pignoli Nuts

Do you like broccoli? It’s the one vegetable even my kids will eat willingly. They call it “trees.” I like broccoli alone as a side dish, in stir fry, or with pasta. If you like broccoli, but are looking for a new way to prepare it and “jazz it up,” give this recipe a try. For this recipe you’ll need: One head of broccoli 2 TB butter Zest of ½ a lemon Juice of ½ a lemon ¾ cup pine nuts (pignoli nuts) 1 tsp. kosher salt 1 tsp. garlic powder To Make this recipe: Cut up one head of … Continue reading →

Quick Breads 1

Quick breads are a delicious way to make something homemade for your friends and family, without spending a ton of time in the kitchen. I love quick breads, and after trying these recipes, hopefully you will, too. The first is savory and delicious with beans or salad. The second is delicious any time of day as an appetizer or dessert. Sour Cream Corn Bread For this recipe you’ll need: 2 TB butter, melted 1 egg ¼ cup yellow corn meal ¼ cup sugar ½ tsp. baking soda 1 cup sour cream ¼ cup milk 1 cup all purpose flour 2 … Continue reading →

Buttermilk Banana Bread

Do you love bananas? I do. Eaten in a sandwich, served with a spoon of peanut butter, or especially, in a creamy pie; bananas are delicious. I’ve loved banana bread since my childhood. It’s one of those things I remember everything about—the smell of it baking, my mom in the kitchen making it, the taste, the texture. It brings back a lot of warm memories for me. Now, I enjoy making it for my own family. Here’s my recipe. It’s derived from many other recipes, which I tweaked and made my own. If you don’t have all the ingredients, see … Continue reading →

Making Meatballs-Easy as 1,2,3

Meatballs—who doesn’t love them? They’re delicious in with pasta, in sandwiches, and even on their own. But recipes vary widely for these delectable treats. Some like them small, some like them big. Some like them with veal, beef, and pork, while others stick to only one meat. Some like them with breadcrumbs, while others stick to bread. Some people shy away from making meatballs, thinking they’re difficult. They’re really not. If you’re in doubt, here’s my recipe. Give it a try then adapt it to fit your own tastes. You’ll see–you don’t have to be an Italian mama to cook … Continue reading →

Macaroni With Beef and Tomatoes – Perfect for large families

Growing up, I was one of three children. My mother was a single mom and faced a lot of hardships. Yet she always made dinner for us. This was one of my favorites growing up, and now, I make it for my own family often. It’s super quick and delicious. If you’ve got a large family, if you’re expecting company and want to go casual, give this a try. Kids love it, and grown-ups eat it up. Best of all—it feeds a lot of people! For this recipe you’ll need: 1 lb. elbow macaroni 1lb. ground beef 1 tsp. allspice … Continue reading →