I made sweet potato fries and turkey burgers with mozzarella, red onions, and cucumbers. Inside the burger I put green onions and chop fresh parsley ..read more

Had a craving for my Mother’s peach cobbler! Although My Mom has passed, her desserts will always live on through me. My vivid memories of her, was watching her cook as a kid. And, peach cobbler was definitely one of the desserts I witnessed my mom make. And, probably participated in help making. I suppose I’m just reflecting my precious time that I had on this earth with her. However, my Momma’s food was always the one thing I needed to feel blessed! Especially, when life brought me down. I’m always yearning for that feeling of home, because my Mom made being home, a secure and loving place ..read more

So! If you’re like me, and live in a big city! Getting to a backyard for a barbecue is hardly not in your immediate plans. However! You can bring the backyard to your kitchen, with a simple grill pan, vegetables and a flank steak! The preparation for this tasty grub is so easy, and quite frankly not just for Summer, for the simple fact that it’s done right in your kitchen! This dish is so scrumptious, that you’ll want to make it all year round. Ingredients: ANY VEGETABLE YOU WANT TO GRILL ANY KIND OF STEAK YOU WANT TO GRILL Salt and pepper to taste Marinade for the Steak Garlic powder Onion p ..read more

I have to admit, I never liked banana pudding growing up as a kid. Even now being an adult, when I would go to parties, events etc., and if banana pudding was being served for desert, I’d always pass. However, going to culinary school, my pallet was developed to taste! Whether the foods looked appetizing or not. The lesson was to put all flavors in perspective. Basically, that means making a dish, and remembering flavors that I’ve come across to add to a dish, mixing or matching, combining with what taste great together, or not. During this pandemic, my nice neighbor (again) was kind enough to ..read more

View Near Boulders Beach Well! The travel is back on. I love exploring the world, and Africa was on my list. Yes! It took almost a day to get there, and yes that long flight wasn’t easy. However, I was not disappointed. Cape Town is full of beautiful people, food, culture, and mountains! I was always in awe of the sceneries, and landscapes. Capturing the beauty on pictures cannot compare to what the eye beholds. Me! I spent 10 days in Cape Town, which was not long enough. I felt so welcomed by the people, and for me, I needed to touch the “Motherland”. I experienced tastings of African food, m ..read more

Funny that this dish is the first real cooking I’ve done, since being home from South Africa two weeks ago. Maybe I am just an all American girl??? This dish is easy, yet it’s made in components. So it’s a little time consuming. The sauce, the sausages, grating the cheese. Cutting vegetables. And, the dough! (Which takes two hours to rise). Ingredients for the dough: 1 and 1/2 cups warm water 1 Tablespoon active dry or instant yeast 1 Tablespoon honey 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for pan and brushing dough 1 teaspoon salt 3 and 1/4 cups whole wheat flour (spoon & ..read more

I just love the simplicity of this dish! If you love one pot meals, than this delicious Italian “poor man’s food is for you. I’ll admit I was watching a cooking show, that explored some regions in Italy. It brought me back to my culinary school days. We had to study where and how foods were used in the different locations of Italy. Like cheeses, wine and certain animals. Spaghetti carbonara back in the the 1950’s were considered a poor man or working man’s dish. Hell! With the price of eggs nowadays, I’d have to contemplate that. These were simple ingredients that most people had on hand in t ..read more

Happy New Year! The above dish was made by my nephew Michael. And, this goes to show that tradition never fades. This dish was certainly a dish my Mom made every New Years Eve. It signifies lots of luck for the new year. Most families that I knew growing up, always prepared black eye peas and collards for luck all year long, in the next new year. It just really made me proud that my nephew continues my family’s southern tradition, with his family. And, I know my mom, his grandma would be proud! I love the beautiful plating of this dish, and I know it taste awesome! All the best to everyone in ..read more

A few years ago, before my retirement. I met a elderly Italian woman at work, who became a weekly customer. I really enjoyed seeing her every week, we’d exchange conversation about food, daily life, politics, and jokes. One day during her visit she casually asked, “what’s for dinner?” I told her, “thinking of making lasagna.” Her eyes widened, she told me she makes her “lasagna in a roasted pan.” Then my eyes widened. She said she added everything but the kitchen table in her lasagna. She said by the time the lasagna was ready to be put in the oven, she needed her son to carry it to the oven ..read more

I’m use to baking during the holidays! But, instead of my usual pumpkin, sweet potato, or tart pies. I decided to go with some cookies. Plus, I felt like giving something personal as gifts this year to family, friends, and neighbors, shows love. God knows this world needs a lot of love right now, more than ever. The pandemic really changed this world in a negative way. So much sadness, death, the world is a much different place, than we knew before. Ok! I’m gonna admit that this is my first time making butter cookies. However, the recipe that follows was tweeked a couple times, and will make a ..read more