You don’t need a wok to throw together a quick stir fry for dinner. And, if you’ve avoided stir fries because you don’t want to chop all those veggies, prep time can be minimized by purchasing packaged coleslaw or broccoli mixes. Always, looking out for you 😉 – cooking a homemade meal does not have […]
Main Dish
Eggplant Parmesan “My Way”
Eggplant parmesan and I have had a long love-hate relationship. I rarely order it in restaurants any more because it’s usually the heavily-breaded, deep-fried eggplant smothered in cheese that I detest. Over the years, I’ve experimented at home to arrive at a version that is lower calorie, lower in fat, and less cheesy to please […]
Sassy Sausage & Peppers
Sausage and peppers is a classic comfort food and it’s so easy to make. Sometimes I add chopped tomatoes to have more juice that soaks into the roll, mmmm. This time I added tiny portabella mushrooms because I had them in the fridge and they add a “meatier” taste – you know, cuz I’m trying […]
Guilt-Free Chicken Pot Pie
Winter as we know it here in SoCal is nothing compared to what the rest of the nation experiences, still, with temperatures dipping into the frigid 50’s, we shiver in our coats and crave homey, comfort food. Today, I’m sharing a personal family favorite (and ssshhh low-calorie version) of an always popular homestyle dish: Chicken […]
Kung Pao Tofu
Join me on my culinary journey into the world of meatless, vegetarian and vegan cuisine. Cooking honest food – by honest I mean unfussy dishes with an emphasis on fresh, seasonal produce where the essence of the ingredients shine – has always been my focus, as has enjoying and learning about regional and international cuisines. […]
Bon Appétit Challenge
It’s been quite awhile since I posted a Bon Appétit challenge recipe – I’ve been so caught up with the new blog design, joining OC Family magazine, blogger events, social networking at tweetups, and then the Holidays – it’s been a whirlwind! In case you’re a new reader, the Bon Appétit challenge began after I saw […]
How I got my kids to love vegetables
My daughter’s love of vegetables can be directly traced to the fried rice I used to make for her when she was a toddler. I can see the kitchen of the house we lived in at the time and remember whipping up fried rice from leftover rice and adding lots of bite-sized broccoli, carrots, and […]
Bon Appétit Challenge: Mario Batali’s Chicken Parmesan
A mouthwatering, cheesy Chicken Parmesan recipe from Mario Batali’s restaurant, Otto, in New York City satisfies the Italian food lover in us all. Using fresh tomatoes instead of canned and cutting the amount of cheese by a third for a lower sodium version, Mario Batali’s recipe for Chicken Parmesan is a family favorite. Jump to […]