Yesterday, I had the bright idea to multitask by making spaghetti sauce with some garden vegetables that needed to be used up while I was cooking something else for dinner. In between dinner tasks, I would chop vegetables and throw them in the pot. I let it simmer through dinner, and after the dishes wereRead More
How to Make Applesauce in a Pressure Cooker
Use these directions for making applesauce in a pressure cooker, to make a large batch of applesauce without added sugar. We have 2 apple trees so I have a lot of apples to process each fall and not a lot of time to do it. To speed up the process of making homemade applesauce, IRead More
Redefining Convenience Food
Every time I bit into a piece of fruit this summer, I was amazed at how sweet and delicious it was. At first I thought it was because I had become better at picking out fruit, but if you have read my food waste posts, you know this is not the case. What was differentRead More
Brown Bagging It
I Really Pack My Husband’s Lunch Although it is old-0fashioned, my husband takes a sack lunch and a thermos of tea or coffee with him to work with each morning. Why do I pack his lunch? Mostly because I love him and want him to subsist on something other than Diet Coke and Doritos, whichRead More
Scalloped Potatoes Recipe with Ham and Peas
My favorite scalloped potatoes recipe was inspired by holiday leftovers. My mom usually made ham, scalloped potatoes, and peas for Easter dinner. The day after Easter I would take a little of each of the leftover dishes and stir them together and make my improved scalloped potatoes. With its origins in my early childhood, thisRead More
Menu Plan – Late August
We are still dealing with surplus veggies at our house. This menu will include a couple of premeditated leftovers, but will primarily consist of dishes that will use a lot of vegetables. Monday – Broil chicken to use in Pasta Salad Tuesday – Homemade Spaghetti Sauce over gluten-free pasta, and Swiss Chard Garden Salad WednesdayRead More
Menu Plan – Week of August 24th
I usually try to make a meal and then roll the leftovers into another meal or two. This week my menu is a little different because I have a surplus of vegetables from my garden. I will be preparing meals that either call for fresh vegetables or can be adapted to include them. Monday- ARead More
Berries Supreme
Berries Supreme is a delicious, easy dessert topping using fresh berries. I needed to make a dessert this weekend, but I was working under time constraints and had limited energy. Just thinking of cooking made me tired! While trying to decide what to make, I discovered angel food cakes on sale at the local market.Read More
Garden Fresh Spaghetti Sauce
Here’s how you make spaghetti sauce with fresh tomatoes! Most of the ingredients for this spaghetti sauce come from my garden, but you can use fresh produce, whether it came from your backyard, the farmers’ market, or the grocery store. I have been very busy in the garden lately. This is one day’s worth ofRead More
Menu Plan – Week of August 10th
The lettuces in my garden are going to seed, so we will be eating a lot of salads this week. I am also continuing with my plan to create menus using what I have readily available, so I am somewhat constrained in what I am able to plan. Once I can see the backRead More
Black Bean and Cauliflower Chili
Here’s an easy slow-cooker recipe for preparing a turkey-based Black Bean and Cauliflower Chili that is good for using up leftovers. I know some of you are just driving by real slow to check out the accident. I realize this recipe sounds weird. Let me reassure you that it does taste better than it sounds.Read More
Kitchen Tip: Make-Do Food Processor
We lived in Southern California during the Northridge Earthquake. We were very fortunate and only had one item break! The glass blender attachment for my food processor was our only loss. (Disaster Tip: Instead of earthquake proofing your house, toddler proof it! My in-laws who were even closer to the epicenter than we were sustainedRead More
Dinner Menu Plan – Week of August 3rd
Monday – Grilled Chicken, Beef Rice with Peas, and Italian Squash Salad Tuesday – Use 1/2 pound of leftover chicken to make Pasta Salad and TBD Wednesday – Use 1/2 pound of leftover chicken and leftover rice to make Chicken and Rice Soup, and Roasted Broccoli Thursday– Jalapeno Popper Turkey Chili*, GFRead More
Squash Julienne
Do you have an abundant squash harvest or just want to take advantage of the broad availability of this late summer and fall staple? Try this delicious squash skillet recipe that uses delicate julienne strips. Have you noticed how simple my recipes are? This one is no exception. The hardest part is cutting the squashRead More
Italian Squash Salad
This Italian Squash Salad side dish is very easy and does not involve any cooking. Italian Squash Salad Recipe Ingredients: 1 yellow squash 1 zucchini 1 small onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup Italian dressing, add more as needed. Directions: Use a vegetable peeler and cut lengthwise across the summer squash and zucchini to make veryRead More
Easy Homemade Fudge
This quick and easy fudge recipe uses chocolate chips and marshmallow cream to simplify the process of making fudge, creating a smooth, sweet chocolate treat with minimal effort. Ideal for homemade holiday candy, Christmas gifts, or simple family desserts, this easy chocolate fudge is perfect for beginners and experienced cooks alike. One of my earliestRead More
Kitchen Tips for Cooking in the Summer
I keep forgetting to prep the corn on the cob, so that my husband can grill it when he is grilling the meat. I determined to remember this Saturday. But in case I forget again, this is how I cook it using a minimum amount of heat: Just Boil the Water, Then… Put the cleanedRead More
Super Easy Sautéed Summer Squash
If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, and flavorful side dish, this super easy sautéed summer squash recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, garden-fresh vegetables, or simple family meals. My mother-in-law shared this fast and easy recipe with me. I have made it with different summer squash and it always delicious in its simplicity. ItRead More
Menu Plan – Week of July 20th
We have been eating from the pantry, freezer, and garden for the last couple of weeks. I realized that I had meat in the freezer that was approaching the four month mark and pantry staples that were approaching the six month mark. So it was time to use those items or risk having to tossRead More
Garlic Pasta with Vegetables
Here’s a delicious recipe for pasta with vegetables that’s pretty easy to put together. Garlic Pasta with Vegetables Recipe Ingredients: Pasta and Vegetables: 1 pound of pasta 2 cups of uncooked peas 1 cup of uncooked carrots Sauce: 2 Tablespoons butter 2-4 garlic cloves, minced 2 Tablespoons flour 3/4 cup vegetable broth 3/4 cup milkRead More
