Stri-fried Rice with Vegetables and Beef

Making Stir-fried Rice is a great way to use up vegetables you have onhand. This time, I added some fish sauce, along with hoisin sauce and a few Asian seasonings. Yum!

After Christmas: The best time of year for many

The presents have been opened, some have been returned, and the cleanup begins for many after Christmas. But, for several people, after- Christmas shopping is "the most wonderful time of the year." With gift certificates (and cash) in hand, many people will hit some of their favorite stores after Christmas in search of good buys on items they wanted for Christmas. And, others (like me), will do a lot of browsing in hopes of finding something at a great mark-down prices. For those who love to shop and find bargins year-round, after-Christmas can be a wonderful time of the year.

How time flys!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is almost here? It seems like it was only yesterday I was enjoying a Thanksgiving feast with my family. Now, it's time to break out my favorite recipes and decide what to make. My homemade apple pie is always a hit with my family, and of course, so is Sweet Potato Pie! Yum, I can hardly wait.

Quick Stir-fry Cabbage

Some of my best-tasting dishes were made quickly and without measuring. The stir-fried cabbage I cooked tonight was one of them. I fried one slice of bacon (cut into five pieces) until crisp with two cloves of minced garlic and half a cup of chopped onions. Then, I sprinkled about 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, sage, and red pepper flakes and mixed together. I added the shredded cabbage (half of a medium-sized) and tossed with the onions, garlic, and seasonings until coated. Lastly, I poured in about 1/2 cup of chicken stock and simmered for about 10 minutes. It went well with the turkey meatballs and rice I served with it. And, it tastes great, too!

New Bobbi Brown colors

If you like Bobbi Brown makeup, you're probably aware of the new colors she's added to her makeup line. I tried on a new pot rouge color "raspberry" and liked it instantly! It gives your lips and cheeks a pretty pop of color for spring, summer, or fall. The new package is pretty, too, with a round glass mirror attached, making the $1.00 increase from $24 to $25 well worth it. I like the new cream eye shadow "copper", too. The color isn't as bold as "bronze", yet equally pretty and powerful - a perfect gold shade! Though this product increased to $24 (from $22), it's still a good deal. It lasts all day without creasing! Visit a Bobbi Brown counter at Macy's or Nordstrom to see what colors work for you.

Two great buys at Macy's!

Every once in a while, we all need to treat ourselves to something nice, especially when it's on sale! Today while browsing at Macy's, I purchased an elegant white and gold necklace at 60% off, plus an additional 15% off. My total price came to a little over $13.00. And, the dressy, stylish, and comfortable turquoise, black, and white blouse I found was a steal, too, for a little over $10.00 after tax and an additional 15% off. You can't beat Macy's for fashionable clothing and jewelry at bargain prices.

Smoked Sausage & Spaghetti Skillet Dinner

You know I love trying new recipes, especially ones I can throw together quickly with ingredients I have on hand. I knew I wanted a home-cooked meal today but wanted to prepare something quick. While grocery shopping today, I decided to try a package of Johnsonville Smoked Sausage (premium cooking sausage). I read the recipe on the back of the package, and it sounded good! Turns out, it was. Of course, I added a few extra ingredients for more flavor, and shook a little Parmesan cheese on top before serving. It was light, flavorful, and filling.

Smoked Sausage & Spaghetti Skillet Dinner

8 ounces spaghetti, cooked and drained
1 package (13.5 ounces) Johnsonville Smoked Sausage, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 package (8 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups grape tomatoes, cut in hald
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

In a skillet, brown sausage in oil for 3-4 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic and seasonings. Continue to cook until vegetables are tender. Stir in tomatoes, basil and prepared pasta. Toss lightly; heat through. Serve.
6-8 servings. Ready in 30 minutes.

Note: I added about two tablespoons of white wine, 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, and some diced onions and green bell pepper I had in the refrigerator.

A breakfast fit for an Olympian

No, I'm not in London participating in the 2012 Olympic games, but this breakfast would satisfy anyone before an event. A hearty meal of sauteed potatoes with onions, bell peppers, and garlic, with scrambled eggs and bacon, is a great way to start your day. This meal kept me going all day until dinner time. It's so easy to prepare, delicious, and satisfying. Use potatoes of your choice, but I love Red or Yukon Gold for breakfast potatoes. You can find my recipe for breakfast potatoes in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends", ($8.95) available at IUniverse.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Amazon.com.

Lasagna and salad: a winning combination

My brother recently came to visit in California and covered a lot of ground while he was here. One stop was to my home in San Jose where I served lasagna and a fresh garden salad. The weather was a little warm, so I wanted to prepare a hot, homemade meal quickly. I browned a mixture of ground beef and ground Italian pork sausage, then added a jar of marinara sauce. I combined the sauce mixture with some cooked rigatoni noodles and folded in some Ricotta cheese, then added Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top before baking it at 350 degrees for about50 minutes.
I love Roma tomatoes, so I added some along with sliced cucumbers and a mixture of Romaine and spinach lettuce. It was a delicious meal and easy to prepare.

Roma Tomatoes, a must in my salad!

The weather's been warm, and I've been preparing many quick dishes in the kitchen. Salad are great year-round, and a vegetable salad can be thrown together in minutes. I prepared a simple salad with Romaine lettuce and my favorite tomatoes, Roma. They're sweet, flavorful, and perfect in any salad. I enjoy them by themselves, too, sliced with no dressing or seasonings, as a snack or side dish. And, when they're on sale for $0.79 cent a pound or less, I stock up!

Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese is a great side dish with any meat. I served it with some baked chicken and green beans. I usually use a few cheeses whenever I make it, primarily with sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack. Sometimes, I'll spoon in a few tablespoons of sour cream, too. And, I always sprinkle in a little cayenne pepper, along with salt and pepper. You can find my macaroni and cheese recipe in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends", $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Amazon.com.

Sunday dinner: Chicken & Shrimp Fettuccini

After it cooled down this evening, I made one of my favorite dishes: chicken and shrimp fettuccini. It's a quick, flavorful dish that's perfect on a warm day, along with a glass of your favorite white wine. Look for this recipe in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends" $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, Barnew&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.

A hot & hearty breakfast

Yes, the weather's been warm lately, but a hot, hearty breakfast is a great way to start the weekend. So, after hours doing work on my computer, and two cups of coffee and a slice of toast, I fixed myself a real breakfast: grits, scrambled eggs, and turkey sausage. It's a simple, delicious breakfast that's suitable any day.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

This is a quick, delicious Chicken Parmesan recipe I found from Allrecipes.com. It uses just four ingredients and is ready in minutes. I wasn't sure if I should serve red or white wine, but I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc that went well with this dish.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients

1 (700 ml) jar pasta sauce
6 tablespoons KRAFT 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups KRAFT Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Pour sauce into 13x9-inch baking dish. Stir in 1/4 cup Parmesan. Add chicken; turn to envely coat both sides with sauce. Cover
3. Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is done.
4. Top with remaining cheeses; bake 5 minutes or until mozzarella is melted.

Serving Suggestion: Serve over hot cooked spaghetti.

Note: I used one of my favorite marinara sauces: Trader Giotto's Tomato Basil Marinara from Trader Joe's. I suggest letting the dish cool about 15 minutes after it's done to allow the sauce to thicken.

Fun, Fun, Fun at SJSU Alumni Event

I recently signed up on the email list for the San Jose State Alumni Association. It's a great organization to be a part of, and they host a variety of events. This evening, the Alumni association hosted a free event at San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose, with a variety of hors d' oeuvres. Alumni members, and guests were in attendance, as well as a career coach who offered one-on-one advice to individuals looking for career advice. I had my resume critiqued, and this was the highlight of my evening. I sold one of my cookbooks, too, to someone who loves good, down home, family recipes like me. It was definitely time well spent! And, I won a gold-colored San Jose State Alumni license frame in a raffle, something I've always wanted. I'll definitely be going to more alumni events in the future.

Comfort Food for Cinco de Mayo

I celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a nice Mexican meal of homemade tacos and Spanish rice! It was a delicious meal and simple to make.
I browned a mixture of ground beef and ground turkey (about a pound) in a skillet and drained the excess fat. I returned the meat to the skillet and added a package of taco seasoning and 3/4 cup of water and let it simmer til the sauce thickened.
While I was browning the meat, I fried some corn tortillas for a few seconds on each side in a pan of hot vegetable oil, then let then rest on paper towels.
I filled each tortilla with re-fried beans, meat, and a Mexican cheese blend.
For the Spanish rice, I sauteed 1 cup of white rice, 1/2 cup of onions, 1/2 cup of celery, and three teaspoons of garlic in two tablespoons of vegetable oil. Then, I added about 2 cups of water, 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon, 8 ounces of tomato sauce, (1) 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes, and (1) 15 1/4 ounce can of corn. I seasoned the rice with about 1/4 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes, and chili pepper, brought the mixture to a boil, then lowered it a simmer for about 20 minutes.
Delicious, yes! Difficult to make - not at all!
Look for all my comfort food recipes in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends," $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.

Two Seattle's Best Coffees no longer at Target

I love Seattle's Best Coffee and have tried most of the "Levels". If you're like me, you probably have a favorite (or two). For me, it's Level 1, Level 2, and Hazelnut. But on a recent visit to a Target store in San Jose, I noticed the Level 1 was on clearance for $3.02, so I purchased a bag. I'm not complaining about the price, but I'm disappointed it's no longer available. But, I know I can find my favorite "Levels" at another grocery store.

Fun Party at Bath & Body Works

I love a good party, and though this one didn't offer any food, it made up for it with free gifts. If you receive emails and fliers from Bath & Body Works, you know they've had quite a few "parties" lately where free gifts are given with purchase. I didn't attend the last few but decided to attend the one yesterday at Oak ridge Mall in San Jose. I didn't stay long, but I had fun while I was there. I matched all five of the popular scents correctly in a game and entered my name for a drawing. There's been so many wonderful new scents coming out lately at Bath & Body Works that it's been hard to not buy one (or more). I limited myself to one item and bought a Paris Amour body lotion (and received a shower gel free, plus a free mini body lotion in one of new scents: wild blueberry tulips. Oh, did I mention I got 20% off, too! What a deal.

Quick and Easy Stir-fry

Stir-Fry's a great way to use vegetables you may toss out. My stir-fry dishes are never the same because I like using different vegetables each time. Whatever's in the refrigerator goes in. This time, I had a variety of vegetables: celery, onions, red bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, and fresh ginger. Day-old rice is best, but I often cook the rice in chicken stock about 30 minutes before cooking the vegetables. The end result is always tasty and delicious! You can find this recipe in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends", $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.

A great day for comfort food

I knew I wanted to cook some beans and another side dish for dinner. I had some ham hocks in the freezer and lots of celery, onions, and garlic. So, it was settled. I cooked a pot of Great Northern beans with turkey sausage and ham hocks. To quote Rachael Ray; it was "delish!"
I soaked the beans overnight, drained them, put them back in the pot, then covered them with more water. I rinsed one ham hock then added it to the beans with sliced turkey sausages, diced celery, onions, and garlic, and a few seasonings.
And, to go with this dish, were some delicious Yams (a.k.a. sweet potatoes) a friend shared with me. I baked them about 40 minutes then let them cool before slicing them. Then, I lightly buttered a glass baking dish and added the potatoes. I made a simple syrup mixture I poured over the potatoes and baked them about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. These were also "delish!"
You can find my Great Northern beans and baked Sweet Potatoes (Candied Yams) recipe in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends" ($8.95) available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.