Asparagus Salad with Crispy Bacon
July 14, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Sometimes were hungry for just a light meal at dinner time, and this was one of those nights. I had been eyeing this recipe from my sunset magazine, but decided to change it up by adding crispy bacon! I have to say this “asparagus salad with crispy bacon” was delightfully fresh and completely satisfying for our light meal, that I served with crusty french bread. You’d be amazed at all the health benefit’s of asparagus; great for your heart, great Read the rest of this entry »
Coconut-Lime Bars with Macadamia Shortbread Crust
July 9, 2009 | No Comments »
We were invited to a 4th of July (celebration) barbeque, so I was on the look out for something different and really sweet for dessert. I found this recipe for coconut lime bars from bon appetit. The original recipe called for hazelnut’s, however I could not find them from my local grocer, and unfortuntely I did not have the time to hunt them out. So here I was looking at all the different types of nuts, the macadamias said “Pick Me”, “Pick Me”! So I did, and I achieved my goal, rich and sweet, Coconut Lime Bars with Macadamia Shortbread Crust. Now after doing my due diligence in researching the macadamia nut (because we immediatley assume FATTENING), I was pleasantly surprised to learn that macadamia nuts are highly nutritious; 9% protein, 2% carb’s AND that the oil in macadamia’s is Read the rest of this entry »
Orecchiette with Sauteed Chicken Breasts and Salsa di Parmigiano
June 17, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Recently I hosted a baby shower in my home for my friend Marnye, and made a large batch of “Salsa di Parmigiano”, a melt in your mouth italian salsa that is very addicting! Surprised that I even had any left, (but really glad), I decided a pasta with sauteed chicken breasts, then smothered with the italian salsa would be satisfying, and that it was! Read the rest of this entry »
Enchiladas Santa Maria
June 10, 2009 | 1 Comment »
These south western style enchiladas are a spin off from my chicken enchiladas. We were in the mood for enchiladas, but not chicken, so I decided to slow roast (2 hours) a tri-tip that was marinated in a rub of spices. My tri-tip, that was already marinated came from my local butcher that uses Pappy’s seasoning’s. They call it the Santa Maria tri-tip, so that’s where the south western style was born. My chicken enchiladas are sauceless, these are not. Read the rest of this entry »
Chicken Jaegerschnitzel
June 3, 2009 | No Comments »
Chicken Jeageraschnitzel, a recipe I have had for over a year that I finally made this week. This wonderful dish has been a traditional dinner in Germany, the night before the hunt, and is commonly known as the hunter’s schnitzel. The sauce features mushrooms that are cooked in red wine and finished with sour cream, scrumptious! I picked this recipe because of my love for mushrooms (funny growing up, I hated them). Did you know that mushrooms are one of the most under rated health food sources. Read the rest of this entry »
Joy’s Eggplant with Pasta and Marinara Sauce
May 27, 2009 | No Comments »
This recipe is compliments of my friend Joy. She and I enjoy sharing our cooking efforts and finds. I made it the night before so the flavors could bond, (casserole recipes always seem to be better the next day), and I have to say Joy’s eggplant with pasta and marinara sauce was really good! Eggplant’s are not only very tasty, they also have many health benefits. Just so you know, the eggplant is high in fiber, contain vitamins, proteins, minerals, and very important photonutrients, that are known to act as antioxidant’s. If your interested in learning more about the benefit’s of eggplant’s, Click here. The jar of marinara sauce that I used was really good, however next time I make this, I will probably make my own (with cremini mushrooms). Mostaccioli pasta was my choice for this casserole recipe and it was perfect. Mostaccioli, similar to penne pasta, is used often in casserole dishes. Please enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
Strawberry Mousse with Fresh Whipped Cream
May 16, 2009 | No Comments »
This time of year strawberries are juicy, ripe, and abundant, and I was looking for a light and cool dessert to serve, that was not too heavy. My strawberry mousse with fresh whipped cream was a breeze to make and very satisfying! The strawberry mousse is prepared (and spooned into tall dessert cups), a day ahead, so it can chill in the refrigerator. The next day prior to serving, I layered over my chilled mousse, fresh sliced strawberries, fresh whipped cream, and sliced almonds, 3 times!! The recipe for the mousse came from Cooks.com, however I used fresh whipped cream instead of the suggested whipped topping. The layering of fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and almonds was a result of my improvising to create a tall, cool, and creamy dessert! Please enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
Creamy Coleslaw
May 16, 2009 | No Comments »
This year for “Mother’s Day”, we hosted dinner at my house and because the weather was so warm, we decided to barbeque ribs, make chile, and then of course a nice creamy coleslaw seemed so appropriate! What could be simpler than coleslaw, it’s all about the fresh ingredients and pretty vibrant colors. Cabbage and bell peppers are so good for you. Cabbage is high in vitamins A, C, E, and B, and is known to reduce headache pain, according to this link here. Bell Peppers are packed with several nutrients and are promoted for individuals with high cholestrol levels, to learn more, click here.
I made the coleslaw the day before so all the fresh ingredients could marinate in the very creamy and tasty dressing. My source for this coleslaw is a result of researching many different recipes through the internet. Please enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
Sausage and Peppers with a Tomato Cream Sauce over Pappardelle
May 7, 2009 | 1 Comment »
I have been craving and wanting to prepare a pasta dish that has sausage, vibrant red and yellow bell peppers, with a light cream sauce. It just sounded so tasty!! Not quite sure about my sauce, I conferred with my friend Joy (from my Yoga class). Read the rest of this entry »
Garlic and Lemon Marinated Chicken Breasts With Gnocchi and Sage Butter Sauce
April 30, 2009 | No Comments »
I am always looking for different ways to prepare chicken breasts. This is my own version using ingredients that are fresh, quick, and super satisfying! The chicken is pounded lightly to Read the rest of this entry »