February 7, 2013
Around my house, I am known as the “Queen” of Sandwiches. I am not kidding. I can have some ingredients in the fridge that look like they might be sandwich material and my daughter might say something like “Were you planning on making a “sandwich?” Now I am not talking about two pieces of bread with a couple slices of deli meat and a little cheese sandwiches. Although I do make those well too ;-)! I mean a hearty,...
February 6, 2013
Silky, creamy potatoes are one of my favorite side dishes. They always take me back to my childhood. Sometimes, my mother would use a potato smasher but other times she would get out her handheld mixer and in a couple of minutes of clicking and whirring, she would produce the lightest fluffiest most delicious creamed potatoes. Of course, they were always served with something fantastic like meatloaf, fried cubed steak, fried chicken or salmon patties. I loved them...
February 5, 2013
Around our house, Mondays tend to be pretty hectic. Since we had already planned to go for a walk on the gorgeous Black Creek trail near my house with my sister and nephew, I knew I had better put something in the crock pot for dinner. Usually, I make the normal everyday ground beef tacos, but I was in the mood for something a little different today. The recipe I have for you is something I came up...
February 4, 2013
I bought some boneless chicken thighs from the grocery store yesterday and wasn’t really sure what I was going to make. I actually did not realize they were skinless until I started to open the package. I wanted to do something with lemon and garlic but I didn’t want it to be too lemony. Well, the recipe I came up with was fantastic. The sauce was so delicious that I literally wanted to drink it by itself. The garlic...
February 3, 2013
While there are over a hundred varieties of potatoes in America, there are thousands of ways they can be prepared. Potatoes are broken down into the following categories: yellow, white, russet, red, blue or purple, fingerling and petite. Potatoes can be sliced, chopped, diced, cubed or served whole. They can be boiled, fried, creamed, pureed, or baked. They can be used in soups and stews and casseroles. When we were small and my mother would be cooking dinner, we would even sneak...
February 1, 2013
Americans are crazy about Ranch Dip or Ranch Sauce with just about everything including Chicken Fingers, Baked Potatoes, Salads, Fries and raw veggies. I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of raw veggies on their own, but give me a little dip that tastes delicious and I really enjoy them. I like Ranch too, but not the stuff you get out of a bottle with all those preservatives. I started making this creamy feta sauce for my...
January 31, 2013
Choosing what to serve for dessert can sometimes seem overwhelming. If you serve a heavy meal you tend to go for a lighter dessert. Of course it only makes sense that if you have a light dinner you could indulge a little more and serve something really decadent. What if I told you you could have it all? Literally . . . the whole shebang! Well, the recipe I have for you today is healthy as well as delicious. Since...
January 30, 2013
One thing I love about meatballs is you can change the spices to come up with some amazing flavor combinations. Almost every country has their own version of meatballs, and some of the most well known are Chinese, Italian, Spanish or Mexican Albóndigas, Swedish, and Turkish Köfte. It is unclear who made the first meatball but most countries claim invention of this wonderful treat. It is documented that Romans were serving meatballs around 25 AD. Most meatballs start out with...
January 29, 2013
After a long day at work, what could be more satisfying than an ooey, gooey, creamy pasta dish right? When I was pregnant with my daughter, I could not even think about eating meat, so one of my go to dishes then was plain spaghetti noodles with butter and ketchup. I know some of you, the ones who have never had it, are thinking yuck, but believe me it is really quite tasty. Well, my pregnancy induced vegetarianism days...
January 28, 2013
Turkey is the leader in the production of Prunus armeniaca also known as Apricots or in Turkey Kayısı. Kayısı is a gorgeous fruit that can be used in pilavs, making pies, tarts, jams, and preserves. One of my favorites for using apricots is Kaymaklı Kayısı Tatlısı or Apricots Stuffed with Kaymak. If you are serving a heavy meal, this dessert could be served as a perfect ending to your meal. It is light, not too sweet and makes...
January 28, 2013
Wouldn’t you love to serve something as visually appealing as it is tasty at your next party? In a few simple steps, you can take store bought or homemade yogurt and turn it into labneh or yogurt cheese. Labneh can be used in place of ricotta or other soft cheeses. It has a mild yet tangy flavor and you can adjust the firmness yourself by straining it more or less. Labneh is eaten by many at breakfast with some mint...
January 28, 2013
I love yogurt…and apparently, so did Genghis Khan. In the 13th century, it was part of the diet of his troops. The Turks have been making and eating it since as early as the 8th century. We Americans were slow to catch up. Yogurt did not immigrate to the United States until 1929 and it still did not become very popular until the 60’s when people started eating healthier and getting into the fitness craze. We can all agree...
