Nana’s Pepper Steak

This was a childhood favorite and is till this very day. I make it throughout the year but it’s an absolute MUST HAVE on my birthday every year. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Rigatoni

This was a concoction that Mom came up when she realized we were out of spaghetti sauce. It’s a little Italian Mexican fusion

Thai Red Chicken Curry

At the end of my culinary studies I did a brief externship with Melinda’s Heaven. The owner asked for an article on the curries of Asia and for an original recipe. I so loved the variances that I came up with 3. This is one of those recipes. The article can be found at https://goodeatsgreatmemories.com/2019/09/15/curry-of-the-asian-continent/

Chicken Noodle Casserole

This one was in the book but was never made. This was an interesting experience for me. The crunch of the nuts and the thin crispy chow mein noodles along with those that softened upon getting into the soup mixture was a bit of a mind game when they hit the tongue. It was really good even though it’s SUPER different. I hope that you enjoy.

Mexican Lasagna

This was something my Nana came up with. It’s different but really tasty. My Nana put Pace© Picante Sauce on almost everything. As a kid, I nicknamed her hot sauce Hazel 🙂

Jeanie’s Pasta Salad

This came from a cousin of mine. What’s funny is it’s written in my handwriting but I don’t recall doing it so it must’ve been when I was young 🙂 OOPS This is a favorite of mine. I make it often and have it as a meal, it’s filling and super tasty. I play with the ingredients a lot on this one. Make it your own, have fun with it. This is one you can definitely go hog wild with.

Chicken Marengo

Chicken Marengo is an updated version of chicken and gravy. It is an amazing dish to try. It’s excellent for leftovers or for lunch for your spouse or yourself as well. It heats up beautifully in the microwave.  I hope that you enjoy making this dish for you and your family.

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.

Shrimp Creole

This is a dish that hits home on so many levels.  I am from Louisiana and love all the different styles of food that our state has to offer.  Shrimp creole is a dish that my mom and aunt used to make quite often when I was a child growing up.  We grew up eating various dishes but this is for sure one of my favorite dishes.  You can make this dish as spicy as you want.  You can use crawfish if you want instead of shrimp or any other kind of seafood that you want to use, just be …

Maple Shrimp, Chicken, and Vegetables

Although I am familiar with stir fry, I have never been introduced to the addition of maple syrup.  I must admit there was a slight hesitation, but it turned out wonderful.  Definitely, a dish my family enjoyed and I will be sure to keep it in my book of recipes. I decided to serve this over yellow rice and that recipe is included here but you can serve this over white rice, basmati, brown rice, noodles, etc.   CandiAnne’s Note: We were stationed at Fort Drum, NY for 4 1/2 years and maple weekend is a huge thing there. You …

Sausage Stuffed Peppers

This recipe is a wonderful comfort food with a fun twist on classic sausage and peppers. Any ground meat or tofu can be used in place of the sausage meat which allows you to fit the recipe into your dietary needs. Traditional stuffed peppers use rice but for this I wanted to tie in the idea of a classic fair sausage and peppers on a roll by using the stuffing. This recipe can be adjusted to using mini peppers sliced vertically and filled to be used as an appetizer option or stick to full sized peppers for an entree.

Creole Chicken

Creole Chicken is a spicy supper waiting to make your tastebuds dance. It’s fairly quick and very easy to make.

Southern Chow Chow

Chow chow is a relish made from green tomatoes, onions, cabbage, and bell peppers. It was started as a way to utilize those unripened tomatoes after frost started. Chow chow is sometimes confused with piccalilli which is another style of relish but with more of a variety of vegetables. It is suggested chow-chow originates from the French word Chou for cabbage. This relish is great on anything savory such as burgers, hot dogs, mixed into fried rice for a southern twist, or topped onto a southern corn salad.    

Beef Brisket with Buttered Noodles

My son and my neighbor were the first people to taste this meal.  My son told me that it was delicious. I know it was a hearty meal for him because he is a very healthy growing young man.  My neighbor told me that it was ok. He cooks as well so he was a bit critical about the dish.  I do know that I cooked a successful dish.

Cordeiro assada

This is a Portuguese lamb dish, with a mouth-watering braised leg of lamb served on a bed of roasted potatoes and sauteed fresh vegetables. To finish off the dish, it is topped off with a rich velvety lamb reduction perfectly spiced.  

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 …

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.

Mary’s Cabbage and Rice

A completely different spin on rice, add cabbage to it for a whole new kind of side dish. The textures play on the tongue.   Along with this, there is Mary’s Risotto Mary’s Rice 2 Mary’s Creamy Rice Here are all 4 together

Mary’s Rice 2

I found this rice dish relatively easy to make, delicious, and can go with almost any meal. You can also make all four of Mary’s rice dishes for a family get-together, so everyone can try something new and exciting. Along with this, there is Mary’s Risotto Mary’s Cabbage & Rice Mary’s Creamy Rice Here are all 4 together

Tabouleh

This stuff makes me so happy. Simple, savory, healthy, and so yum. Bulgar wheat can be found raw or processed. Raw takes longer,  obviously, so plan for that if you decide to use it. Otherwise, there isn’t a whole lot to say about this one, other than have fun with it!!! Great as a side dish, like the picture, or as lunch, which is my choice!!!! C’mon, let’s eat.