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.

Bertolli Pasta Sauce lacks flavor

I've tried several pasta sauces over the years and liked most of them, until now. I was very disappointed in the Bertolli Tomato and Basil sauce I tried for the first time. Though the sauce was thick, rich, and loaded with chunks of tomato and basil, the flavor was just average. I cooked a mixture of ground beef and ground turkey before adding a jar of the sauce and added some sliced mushrooms and some sliced turkey sausages. I let the sauce simmer about 20 minutes and served it over cooked spaghetti noodles. Homemade is always better, but when you're in a hurry, jar sauce will do. But, not this one!

Baked Chicken with 98% Fat Free cream soup

Deciding what to cook for dinner can be a challenge. But, after checking what's in your kitchen, the decision becomes easy. I was debating over a pasta or chicken dish. I decided on baked chicken with vegetables and 98% fat free cream of chicken soup. My mother said she uses 98% fat free soup all the time, so I thought I'd give it a try. I wasn't aware my mother had used 98% fat free cream soup after eating some of her delicious chicken she cooked in the crock pot. Though lighter and with less calories than regular cream soups, it doesn't lack flavor.
I still seasoned the chicken with about 1/4 tsp (each) of salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, chicken seasoning, and garlic salt, and about 1/4 cup of white wine. I let the chicken marinade overnight, then added about 1 cup of chopped celery and 1/2 cup of onions. Then, I spread a can of 98% fat free cream of chicken soup on top and baked in the oven for 1 hour at 350 degrees. It's a light, delicious meal your family will love.
You can find recipes like this in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends," $8.95) available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.
Everyone who's purchased my cookbook seems to have a favorite recipe (or two). A friend recently purchased a copy last weekend and loves the cookbook because she wants to try new recipes. Another person who purchased my cookbook liked the cover photo and the recipes, too. I hope everyone enjoys making the recipes as much as I do. Have fun in the kitchen.

Ground Beef with Okra, Corn and Tomatoes

This is another one of my favorite, one-pot dishes that's ready in minutes. It features some of my favorite vegetables: okra, corn, and tomatoes. Use ground beef, ground turkey, or a mixture of both. I like to add a half cup of tomato sauce with a can of diced tomatoes for more tomato flavor. And, be sure to add some cayenne pepper to give this dish an extra burst of flavor. You can find this recipe and others in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends", $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com. Enjoy!