Watermelon Sorbet

This cool and refreshing watermelon sorbet is the perfect summer time treat for the whole family! And the best part is…you don’t even need an ice cream maker! It’s super easy to make and only needs a few simple ingredients! Enjoy!

Lemon Sherbet

This light and tangy frozen treat is perfect for those hot summer days! You can serve this sweet and creamy dessert as a refreshing snack any time of day or night! This lemon sherbet is so easy to make and you don’t need an ice cream machine! You can use the “still freeze” method by partially freezing and stirring the mixture as it sets! Enjoy!

Moo Goo Gai Pan (Chicken)

Per Wikipedia – Moo goo gai pan is the Americanized version of a Cantonese dish, usually a simple stir-fried dish consisting of sliced or cubed chicken with white button mushrooms and other vegetables. Popular vegetable additions include bok choy, snow peas, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts and Chinese cabbage. This is my Nana’s version. Being Portuguese, it always struck me as odd that there was such a love of all things oriental from food to furnishings to decor. This is a really tasty dish. Please pardon that there are no mushrooms in the photographed version, the person I was cooking with …

Pepper Steak

Pepper steak was one of the dishes that I would often order at the local Chinese restaurants.  It was always one of my favorites as a child.  I can remember going out to eat and always ordering it.  I remember it coming with a side of brown rice, egg roll, and a fortune cookie.  I am so excited to be able to make this recipe.  Although the version I remember growing up as a child had carrots, onions, peppers, and mushrooms.  I believe that this dish should showcase the peppers.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Cups

This recipe is great because you can adjust it to any dietary need. You can replace the chicken with tofu or a good hearty mushroom. You can use liquid aminos instead of soy sauce to cut back on your sodium and it doesn’t contain gluten. The lettuce cups make for a fun hands on eating experience and aesthetically look great on a plate. If lettuce cups aren’t your thing, try chopping the lettuce up and make it into a salad. This recipe is a good balance of salt and savory with a touch of sweet and crunch.

Pistachio Cake

I have fun with this recipe and instead of using a whole cake I made a small bundt with the filling and sprinkled some pistachio nuts on top, I don’t like it myself but the texture on the cake is amazing. Notes: This recipe also makes about 24 cupcakes, bake them for 17 to 20 minutes or until golden brown

Tropical Caribbean Pork Chops

Kick back, put your sunglasses on and enjoy a taste of the islands!  This recipe is what we Floridians call Floribbean flavors.  It combines traditional fried pork chops with a strong island influence and hint of Asian flare. Tangy, sweet and salty with a hint of heat.  It’s all there!  Served here over a bed of coconut sticky rice and garnished with Thai basil and unsweetened shaved coconut.

Teriyaki Steak

This dish is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Easy to make, this recipe will have your family coming back for seconds (I know mine sure did). I kept it simple with the meat and rice but you could easily add some vegetables like carrots or broccoli to make this dish fit your family’s tastebuds! This is something that I will be making again, and often. Most of your prep is done the day before which makes for quick cooking and flavorful meat. I hope you all love this as much as my family did, enjoy!

Strawberry-Peach with Pineapple

A blast of the Tropics will envelop your mouth and wake up your taste buds, with this sweet, refreshing summer treat! The familiar flavors of strawberry and peach, coupled with the tang of one of my favorite tropical fruits, the pineapple! This will look beautiful, served in glass dishes, with a pineapple reduction sauce, drizzled over the top, and with a strawberry and peach slice, to garnish! You could also easily infuse one of the two elements of this cool dessert, with white rum, as a treat for adult gatherings!

Choppe Norma

I have found this recipe to be easy to make and a new family favorite.  I add orange bell peppers to mine to give it some color and it added a little sweetness and texture to it. Rice is a perfect accompaniment to it and gave it an Asian feel. I hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I did.     CandiAnne’s Note – Growing up my mother and cousin Jackie had friends from L.A. named Dave and Norma Abelar who would come up every so often to visit. I guess Norma was originally from our …

Chinese Vegetables

Do you want a recipe where you can expose your family to new things? This is your ticket! Super fresh tasting, a little crunchy, a little sauce, and a whole lot of flavor. If you want you can add this to any protein and you have everything. A little rice noodles (bean threads) a ton of veggies packed with even more flavor. Make it spicy for you that love the heat or calm it down for a great side or main dish. You have the power to take this and use it in any way you wish! The one thing …

Chicken and Zucchini Stir Fry

This is a great dish to make in the summer to use fresh zucchini from your garden or a farmers market. The light taste of the sauce mixed with the chicken and vegetables makes this an instant family favorite. I served mine over plain fried rice but I think this will also be good served with any type of flat bread.

Tuna Burger with Spicy Mayo

Here is a new twist to an old classic. My family loves tuna salad sandwiches and this gave a new and exciting change. It is perfect for lent or if you just want to avoid red meat and change things up just a bit, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family did.