My daughter had to work and didn’t have time or money to buy her father a gift for Father’s day.  So I suggested that she make one of his favorite treats and then let him eat it.  Usually she likes all the same things he does and then they both work on it.  That means that neither is thrilled when the other finishes it off.  She made him a big bowl of hummus, and some pita chips, and then let him have the whole thing as his father’s day gift.  He loved it and is still loving it, since my daughter let him have it all. Since the first time we tried making our own hummus, we’ve never gone back to store bought.  Hummus is so cheap and easy to make - once you get the tahini and delicious.

(more…)

OK…I can’t believe I haven’t posted this one yet.  This is my favorite snack/appetizer.  It’s spicy, but good spicy.  Serve it up and watch it go.  The preparation time is a matter of minutes and it’s a whole lot better than any store bought version.   Last year, I showed my friend’s teenaged son how to make it and he makes it all the time.

Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1 14.5 ounce can of petite diced tomatoes
• 1/2 Vidalia onion - chopped
• 4-5 stalks of fresh cilantro
• 1 jalapeño - chopped fine
• 1 TBLSP ground chipotle powder
• 1 tsp lime juice

Method:

1. Mix everything together.
2. Chill.
3. Serve with tortilla chips

Queso

Ingredients:

• Salsa above
• 1 pound of Velveeta Mexican cheese or Velveeta pepper jack cheese - cut into 1 inch cubes

Method:

1. In a microwavable dish, mix the salsa with the cheese.
2. Microwave for 3-4 minutes and stir.
3. Microwave for 3-4 more minutes and stir until smooth.
4. Serve with tortilla chips

I didn’t think I would be making soup this late in April but we’ve had a cold snap. I just got home from walking the dog and freezing like an icicle. Time to de-thaw with my favorite soup; I have a pot on the stove right now!

This healthy soup is made up of inexpensive, simple ingredients and relies on spices and herbs for flavor. It’s adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks and has been in my cooking repertoire for years. (more…)

This is one of my favorite recipes and it generally goes over pretty well, especially when the weather is not so great. Since it’s one of those foods that cooks all day, it permeates the house and makes you hungry for it all day — not IT — the food, you knucklehead. This is the food that forever converted my good friend, Renee, to eating spicy food. She loves it and that’s a great endorsement. I’m canning the bulk of this for her and for me sometime later!

If you want to serve this as a vegetarian meal, just don’t put in the sausage and remove a cup of the broth.

(more…)

Gung hay fat choy! Happy Chinese New Year. This is a big occasion for my family, bigger than Christmas even. Normally we spend the day feasting with family under a red and gold backdrop!

Vitasoy has some great ideas for Chinese New Year fare, infusing Chinese and Italian flavors with their “Red, White and Green Pasta Dishes” created by Chef Jim Coleman host of PBS’ “Healthy Flavors.”

“Make a Chinese New Year’s Resolution to explore exciting new flavors and adventurous new uses for your favorite ingredients,” said Chef Jim Coleman, host of the PBS-TV ‘Healthy Flavors’ cooking show. “There is no reason to relegate Chinese noodles and pastas to traditional Chinese dumplings and stir fries! Chinese New Year’s is the perfect time to think outside the wok!”

Indeed, when I received the Vitasoy promotional packet, I couldn’t wait to try the recipe for the Chinese New Year Ravioli. It’s a creative dish, one that never would have occurred to me (but then I’m not a chef!) and it’s very tasty. The spinach and mushrooms didn’t appeal to my five year old, but my husband and I enjoyed it. I think it also makes a great dish for Valentine’s Day!

Here’s the recipe for Chinese New Year Ravioli:

(more…)