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/

Heavenly Hamburger

In the book, this particular recipe was in my Nana’s handwriting. I have no idea how she came up with it. I can only guess that she grabbed whatever she had on hand and threw it together. It’s actually super tasty and I always enjoy making it. It’s absolute comfort food.

Beef Fiesta

This is a super quick 15 min make. Grab some left over London broil, steak, roast, etc slice it thin and your 15 minutes from a delicious meal.

California Beef Salad

This is a great salad that’s a meal in itself. I enjoy serving it with a loaf of nice French bread or baguette lightly toasted. I often make this in the summer when the last thing I want to do is turn on the stove. I’ll grill up a London broil then slice it super thin for salads such as this one. The prep time on this doesn’t include the marinading time.

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 🙂

New Orleans Rice

This rice is sooo full of flavor and it all comes together in the oven. Can’t get much easier than that. I did try this in the Instant Pot and it just didn’t come out the same so I’m only putting the oven directions here.

Italian Sauce

This has so many uses and it’s got a nice little kick to spice things up. Here you’ll find two uses for it; Italian Style Country Pork Ribs Italian Style Chicken Gizzards and Italian Sausage. It can also be thickened with a cornstarch slurry to pour over spaghetti. What you do with this is all up to you and your imagination.

Stuffed Pork Roast

I love stuffing chicken breasts, roasts, most anything. Not only does it add a layer of flavor but it looks really pretty on a plate. Here spinach, onion, eggs, ricotta cheese and, Italian sausage come together to make simple pork roasts truly divine.

Coleslaw

LOL this is one of my Nana’s recipes and she didn’t write a single measurement down or nothing. It’s just a list of ingredients so I got to play 🙂 I’m completely NOT a coleslaw fan and there have been less than a handful I have found that I liked over the years, but this one is good and has turned around a few coleslaw haters such as myself.

Chili From Mexico

I haven’t a clue where this monstrosity came from. It’s typed out on what was obviously a typewriter so it’s definitely old. I will admit this is one of the ones in the books that I looked at with my head tilted and was scared to death to make but I am determined to add everything from the book to this website, scary or not so I made it. Thankfully it wasn’t as horrible as I feared it would be but gawd dog is it a hot mess to look at. If you have the gumption to make it, your …

Glumpkies

This is a dish similar to dolmas, but the difference is there is rice added to it. I have made dolmas before but never glumkies. This was an interesting dish to make. This is also a known polish dish. There are a variety of ways of making this dish but the concept is the same.

Spinach Soup

This recipe was inspired by an article from a newsletter from a local power company in the 1970’s. I aimed to lighten and brighten the recipe as it seemed very heavy and over shadowed the spinach. I love using fresh produce when possible and this vibrant green soup was well received by the pickiest of family members. There are several ways to make substitutions to any lifestyle whether vegetarian or vegan. This savory soup may be served warm or chilled. Here’s the original from that newsletter

Tuna Wild Rice Bake

The idea of having warm tuna wasn’t something I looked forward to, but…MY GOODNESS! I wanted to add some freshness to this recipe with the addition of herbs and some fresh lemon zest . This recipe is one that can help stretch a dollar, but is definitely not lacking in flavor. A must try!

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 …

Mexican Meatballs

I really enjoyed this recipe as it allowed me to explore other ingredients using meatballs.  Traditionally, I have only used them for a typical Italian dish, so this recipe definitely takes me a little out of my comfort zone.  Nevertheless, a wonderful surprise.

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.

Osso Buco

“Osso buco” is an Italian dish. It means “bone with a hole” in Milan’s dialect, which fits since this is cooked with a shank of meat (typically veal, but I am anti-veal)

Creole Chicken

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

Schnitzel Tacos

This recipe is a twist off of a Milanese veal steak. I switched to a more classic Schnitzel using pork chops but veal steak will also work making them Wiener Schnitzel Tacos.  Did you know Wiener Schnitzel has been dated all the way back to the 19th century and originates from Austria but was made famous in German cuisine. All of the best German flavors are here with the traditional roasted potatoes and lemon cream sauce with the well known red cabbage slaw to top it all off.

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.

BBQ Beef Pot Roast

For this recipe I added a lot of carrots and potatoes because my family eats a lot of them, feel free to add more or less to suit your family’s needs. This roast is an easy one-pot meal that will feed your whole family. Growing up I ate a lot of pot roast as it was something easy for my mother to toss in the crockpot or on the stove to cook while she helped me and my sisters finish any schoolwork we had for the day. I remember the delicious smell wafting through the house as we sat doing …

Chicken, Bacon, Mushroom Stew

This rich and satisfying soup hits all the comfort food notes. Hearty chicken and mushrooms help to satisfy hunger and leave your belly feeling warm and full. The addition of bacon and a splash of heavy cream add luxuriousness. This dish is a winner for the whole family.

Kashmiri Rice

This dish was absolutely delicious. I am not a huge fan of many rice dishes, but this recipe is easy and definitely worth a try.

Musaka

This eggplant dish is hearty and comforting. It can easily be made as a vegan or vegetarian option. There are many variations of this dish, such as using potatoes in place of the eggplant.

Spinach Manicotti

My version of Spinach Manicotti. This dish is a quick, easy take on a classic, loved Italian dish. It’s flavourful, bright, and meant to fill after a long hard day of work. Hope you enjoy it!

Pierogi

I’ve never had the pleasure to have pierogi before. They are soft and tender dumpling-like envelopes filled with your choice of savory or sweet, pan-fried in butter to perfection. Here I’ve given you a few different fillings to think about, get creative and have fun making these. *This recipe is for a small batch*

Stuffed Zucchini

I think I have had zucchini just about any way possible I will have to say next to zucchini bread this is my next favorite, the flavors of this dish are off the chart umami or every flavor-packed in every bite.

Golbaki Cabbage Rolls

This recipe is a lot of fun to make. I changed up the filling to omit the rice, I used pork instead of beef and included many strong spices and herbs that paired well with the creamy and salty nature of the cheeses. It turned out amazing! The textures were fantastic together. Perhaps you would also like to try this as well: Take the remaining uneaten rolls that have cooled overnight and place them into a hot skillet and fry. It’s quite easy to create a sauce of parm, chicken stock, butter, and cream cheese. Pour over and allow it …

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.

Hamburger Cabbage Bake

Bisquick; the classic and easy baking mix with tons of versatile lunch, dinner, and baking recipes. I got this recipe from an old General Mills recipe and took it up a notch. I had such fun and nostalgic childhood memories that took me back to when I would create all these wacky baked goods for my sisters and me in our toaster oven. Forgive me, mom, for almost burning the whole building down that one time. Oops! Since the ONLY one at home that eats cabbage, especially coleslaw, I took the hamburger cabbage recipe to a whole other level by …

Mary’s Risotto

A very easy and tasty risotto dish for something a little bit different instead of plain white rice. Using the broth of your choice can easily make this a vegetarian dish and using vegan options for butter and cheese it can be vegan. Risotto really is a dish for everyone. Along with this, there is Mary’s Rice 2 Mary’s Cabbage & Rice Mary’s Creamy Rice Here are all 4 together

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

Chicken & Chickpeas

I must say that chickpeas and I are as well-suited as two peas in a pod. The idea of chickpeas in marinara sauce with chicken and mushrooms didn’t sound too appetizing. But oh gosh, was I proven wrong? It was one of the MOST comforting and fulfilling meals I have had in a while. It is one of those recipes packed with nutrients and protein and has a rich layer of flavor. It all starts with the sharp, acidic white onion, sautéed in creamy butter, along with the nutty flavor of the chickpeas, which pairs perfectively with the earthiness of …

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.

Oven-Baked Beef Ragout

This dish was very simple in it’s design, but it needed just a dash of sprucing! Some advise for parents flying solo: make this when the chaos is at its minimum, for the sauce gods demand your undivided attention. I say that because our home runs on Loki energy, so there was much fire manipulation to avoid disasters. Sauces are something that I absolutely adore, and the original recipe had an extremely user-friendly sauce that could become a stroganoff of sorts with the addition of sour cream. That sounded like an amazing idea, but on purpose sounded better, and a …

Brown Rice Pilaf

Most think wild rice. mixed grain, a bit saucy, when rice pilaf is mentioned. This pilaf is not that, but it’s definitely amazing!!! Rice is comfort food for me, and I’d never used tomato juice in it before, so this recipe thrilled me to recreate. Brown rice is a particular favorite because it’s much meatier than plain white rice. Brown rice also takes a bit longer to cook, which is why I was grateful for it being toasted. Well that, and it makes the house smell incredible!!! The original recipe used salt and pepper, but I think a bit of …

Bombastic Bean Dip

Yes, it’s that good. I’m also sharing a version of my guacamole recipe, for those that understand the addiction. (NOT sorry, just so you know.) This is a dip, yes…but no one is looking right now… Easiest thing in the world to make, and it takes no time at all. Blah-blah-blah, let’s do this!!!

Tamales

Being from California, Mexican food is a staple of our diet LOL. I learned how to make Tamales early on and every so often I get down on Christmas, gather everyone around, and have a Tamalada. I also make these from time to time during the year. While these may seem spicy by reading the ingredients, they’re not that bad after they cook down, the masa is added and they’re ready to eat. You can also remove the seeds from the dried peppers which will bring the spicy heat to near zero. The peppers used in this are all very …