I had never heard of Vietnamese meatballs, until I was hired to make a light lunch for several ladies. It was a birthday luncheon and the special lady being honored, hailed from Vietnam. The casual event, a brunch, would be served in the backroom of their salon. All the ladies were hairdressers, and when business…
Zucchini Patties
As gardeners and cooks know, zucchinis, especially in summer, present a cornucopia of this green goddess fruit. There are even cookbooks devoted to zucchinis, mixed with other ingredients. Plus with the internet, cooks are flooded with selections of zucchinis for steaming, frying, boiling, baking, roasting, just to mention some. Other dishes mix this vegetable, shredded…
Mashed Cauliflower – Zucchini Bowl
Even though cauliflower appears plain and simple, I’ve always liked it. In simplicity shines its appeal. As a side-dish it compliments more substantial foods, like steaks, chicken, pork. It doesn’t scream out for attention, but certainly adds to a meal with its mild flavor. Some people say it has a sweet nutty flavor, a bit…
Old Fashioned Stuffed Peppers, Twisted and Colorful
I love color in food, in my kitchen, on plates, throughout my house, on walls, carpets, bathrooms, especially the garden, (where I grow an abundance of flowers and vegetables), wherever I ramble, play or work, my eyes open wide for color. Color at the grocery store, such as fruits and vegetables call to me; I…
Streusel and Chocolate Chip-Stuffed Banana Bread
Even though my loving father died shortly past my tenth birthday, and that Dad was barely home – working tirelessly at his bakeries – in spite of this–his smiles and baking endeavors have resonate in me for decades. All aspects of baking flash before me, daily; they hound me to bake something, anything. I love…
Pork, Peppers, Pasta and Broccoli – A Skillet Dinner
For some reason, which feels a bit murky to me, our family didn’t eat many fresh vegetables, and that tradition stayed with me for decades and decades. Naturally we ate high quality Le Sueur canned peas, since our maid, directed from Mom, I suppose, bought only the best quality, at least with the peas. Deep…
Foil-steamed Salmon with Garlic, Lemon and Herbs
Salmon is refreshing and light, a big change from eating heavy meats with sauces and vegetables. I like its thin fatty skin, plus its tenderness and flavor as it easily flakes apart. And I like seeing its attractive ruby-pink color, For years I use to eat salmon simply sauteed with vegetables stove top in a…
Favorite Meatloaf
Like many people, my memories of meatloaf go back to childhood. My mother never cooked, instead, we were blessed with a housekeeper you tended to all our food desires. Meatloaf was a regular dish for dinner. I must have watched Ann occasionally, since, once married, I started my meatloaf recipes rather traditionally, as I…
Shrimp, Broccoli and Pasta Swirl
Leftover spaghetti is boring! It’s hard to make it tasty the next day; it’s so plain. I enjoy freshly cooked spaghetti, but leftovers are not for me!. I often end up tossing leftovers in the trash, saying darn that so much has gone to waste! However, it was fun using up leftover spaghetti recently, from…
Chicken Noodle Casserole with English Peas
I love chicken like mom did. I like it cooked just about any way, however, mom liked it simply boiled, very plain, her thin fingers picking meat off warm bones, which happens to be a method that is not a favorite of mine; there are so many savory recipes that top that. She was big…
