
I know what you’re thinking – lobster is way too expensive. I thought so too until I found four glorious tails at Costco for $25. A splurge? For sure, but every once in a while, it’s wonderful to surprise your … more
I know what you’re thinking – lobster is way too expensive. I thought so too until I found four glorious tails at Costco for $25. A splurge? For sure, but every once in a while, it’s wonderful to surprise your … more
When my kids were little, this recipe represented their first knowing bite of a mushroom, that is, a mushroom on purpose. Somehow, smothered in this lovely sauce made it palatable for a little kid. Now they love it. This is … more
Trying to find chicken breakfast sausage without nightshades (paprika) has proven to be impossible. I’m glad really, because making these myself is quite easy, thanks to my neighborhood butcher who grinds organic, boneless, skinless chicken thighs for me. The flavor … more
I wanted to develop a really complex recipe for frenched pork chops. I love the presentation of a frenched chop and the resulting moistness from any cut of meat with the bone left intact. (If you can’t find frenched chops, … more
It was their turn to host our book club dinner, so my mother-daughter friends Kathy and Jennifer, respectively, set a gorgeous table and served a beautiful and ingenious meal they made a day ahead of time. Featuring a Salad Nicoise, … more
Served warm or chilled, this tangy salad is perfect for summer. Don’t worry about how much lemon is in here – the quinoa really soaks it up. Flakes of tuna give it a wonderful piquant flavor that meld beautifully with … more
Half soup, half pasta – all hearty and filling. I love one pot meals especially when it’s cold, and believe it or not, it’s COLD in San Diego. Hail greeted me in the backyard when I came home from errands … more
This is a perfect lunch or dinner with leftover pot roast. In fact, I make a pot roast just for this purpose. Inspired from my favorite “fast” food restaurant, Chipotle, this was my once a week treat. Now that nightshades … more
When you give up gluten, you also give up convenience. The number of restaurants at which you can eat tends to shrink dramatically, and you are left having lengthy conversations with wait staff. If you live in San Diego or … more
A nice addition to their array of gluten-free products, Udi’s pizza crusts offer a quick dinner option for those nights you really don’t feel like cooking. They are two to a package at about $5.00, so $2.50 per unit. A family … more
Finding my nightshade intolerance forced me to give up meatballs…at least meatballs that way I’ve always prepared them. In an attempt to find a meatball I like, I suddenly thought…’Swedish.’ There is pork in here, which I rarely eat, but … more
My Hungarian husband is always asking me to make him a good “szaft-y” dish – that’s Hungarian for a dish in a good sauce. When I watched Ina Garten take a Napa, CA vacation where she showcased this wonderful recipe, … more
We’ve tried lots of brands of gluten-free pasta, but bionaturae’s line of organic, gluten-free pasta is the one most highly favored by the two gluten addicts in my home. Made in Italy, their gf pasta comes in four forms: spaghetti, elbow, … more
With Udi’s hamburger buns, I am able to give my kids a mouth-watering hamburger that they love! The buns freeze well, but I use them within a few days of purchasing. Go wild with toppings, or stay with the basics … more
The tuna industry will tell you that tuna salad is America’s favorite salad. I even found a coleslaw blog, also “America’s favorite salad”. The point is, we like our salads. Chef, 3-bean, jello (if you want to go way back), … more
I love to roast chicken. Whole or in pieces, but always with the bone in, which makes for much moister meat. I like to roast four breasts at a time so that I have it at my disposal for a … more
I can’t, for the life me, think why my dad called this dish “turkey shortcake.” It’s got to be a weird southern thing. Nevertheless, the Thanksgiving leftover I remember most fondly from my childhood is this oddly named dish consisting … more
It is my personal belief that if you heat up an oven or a crock pot, then you should try to get at least two meals out of it. Pork is a lean and fairly inexpensive way to feed a … more
Enjoy this with a simple green salad. If you want to make this sans dairy, I would replace the feta and parmesan with shredded Daiya mozzarella. Active time: 10 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Yield: 4-6 servings 1 lb. rice … more
Summer is just around the bend and for my family that means barbecuing. This is a quick recipe that requires few ingredients and a hot grill. Using ready made, gluten-free BBQ sauce makes it a snap and it tastes great … more
Using a small piece of meat (filet is my favorite for this dish), you can produce a protein packed salad that will keep you full most of the day. This is a wonderful lunch or dinner, depending on the quantity … more
This is one of my favorite times of year…the halibut are running! A firm, flaky, moist fish, it is my favorite lunch or light dinner over a plate of well seasoned greens. I bought mine (caught wild) at Costco. It’s … more
I love roasting chickens for a number of reasons – the smell for one will make your family ravenous, and when you do two at a time, you get great leftovers. Not to mention carcasses for stock. But I don’t … more
I don’t think you should have to give up pizza just because you can longer eat gluten or dairy. With Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Tortillas, I make these in my largest cast iron pan. If you can’t do dairy, try … more
Living in Southern California, I have an apparent fondness for Mexican and Mexican-inspired food that borders on obsessive. Cilantro, onions, limes, garlic and peppers are staples in my kitchen and the family knows that if they don’t like a particular … more
Who knew that a whole generation of children would best identify chicken as a strip or nugget? If they’re gonna eat ’em, best to make them homemade. When I do make these, I double the recipe because the kids love … more
When I want to use up leftover Pot Roast, this is a great, savory snack or dinner. I don’t like to serve fried food very often, but when the family craves it, I figure if they’re going to eat it, … more
The rich texture of walnuts replace pine nuts and parmesan cheese in this quick and simple recipe. I love to serve this over spaghetti or fusilli pasta. Any leftover pesto is great on crackers. For leftover pasta, simply refresh it … more
I think this dish was a staple in many homes in the 60’s and 70’s. It’s kind of a classic in the ranks of those huge Campbell soup-based casseroles my mom would make during the week. This has been updated … more
I love this Greek word for skewered meat. I like just about any Greek food, for that matter. This is a nutritious, yet fun meal for your kids, after all, who doesn’t like meat on a stick? For us with … more
I’ve learned to love and appreciate leftovers. In fact when I make any meal, I always consider how I can squeeze one more dinner out of it. So when you make any rice dish, add another cup of dry rice … more
Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Yield: 12-16 fish cakes This is a great dish for any leftover flaky white fish such as halibut or cod. I always make extra fish for Fish Sticks or Fish Tacos so … more
So you can probably tell by now that there are some European roots in our family. My Hungarian husband’s family tree extends to the former Czechoslovakia and Austria, which is where this dish hails from. Originally made from veal, pork … more
You can throw this into your crock pot before you leave for work and it will be ready 8-9 hours later. Or if you are away from the house longer than 9 hours, start this in the evening, (8-9 hours … more
A word about “pizza”. You know those things that your mom made you eat as a child that were just short of a scarring experience? In our house it was Montana Stew which was comprised of ground beef, kidney beans, … more
Thanksgiving is my favorite meal of the entire year – so much so that I replicate it for Christmas with a few changes. Maybe you can too. As for me, when the house smells like roasting turkey and bacon, I … more
This is a great weekend meal that you can put in the oven and forget about. I buy them whenever they’re on sale because they can be pricey. My kids love these with a gluten-free BBQ sauce. Prep time: 15 … more
I would never have thought that risotto could be this easy. I’ve stood patiently in front of the stove, stirring religiously, after each half cup addition of stock, but this recipe from Ina Garten’s new cookbook How Easy Is That? … more
This also works great with deli turkey. This is my kid’s second lunch after school. Total time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 wrap 1 brown rice tortilla (I buy Trader Joe’s brand) lots of mayonnaise (Best Foods is GFCF) or hummus … more
I personally like to spice my Indian food until my nose runs and I require three glasses of water just to get through the meal. But my kids are a different matter. This is a recipe I’ve adapted to their … more
Thanksgiving dinner is my favorite meal of the year. It’s not just that I love roast turkey or the smell of apple pie and the the long table my daughter and I set every year. I love Thanksgiving because is … more
One of the great things about living in southern California is that you have access to the outdoor grill pretty much all year around. If you don’t however, a grill pan (and a good overhead vent) will do the trick. … more
Your home will smell great when you come home from work and your dinner is ready. Save leftovers for the weekend for a big Machaca breakfast. Mix with your favorite BBQ sauce for BBQ Beef Sandwiches along with Coleslaw or … more
You can also use chicken breasts or thighs. Prep time: 5 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Yield: Serves 4 2 turkey tenders (about 1 lb. total) 1 recipe Cilantro Pesto Coat thighs with cilantro pesto and marinate for several hours or … more
My husband is 100% Hungarian and guylas leves, as they say in Hungary, is a hearty stew worthy of a long simmer to be eaten on a fall or winter day. I think every Hungarian family has their own recipe, … more
Nothing smells like home more than a roasting chicken. I usually roast two at a time. One for dinner and one for any number of other dishes, like Chinese Chicken Salad, Chicken Tortilla Soup, Chicken Wraps… This is from Ina … more
I honestly have no idea who named this, but my brothers and sisters and I grew up on it. Even though I can’t partake, I love making it because the smell brings me back to my mom’s kitchen. Great for … more
This is my most requested recipe. It’s changed lots over the years, but I’m pretty sure it came from the source of many great recipes – the church potluck. There is a ton of chicken in here and we eat … more
This takes some time, but is well worth it! Great for a crowd too and it’s even better the next day. This pairs well with Heather’s Salad and margaritas. Pour Kid Margaritas for your little ones. Prep time: 30 minutes … more
I make a boat load of these gluten-free, casein-free meatballs and freeze them for the days where cooking isn’t an option. And you never know when those days are going to happen, so having a stash of cooked meatballs in … more
My father-in-law ate this every day in boarding school in Vienna, but with veal. This is a splurge to eat once in a while, but it’s one of my favorite meals. Prep time: 20 minutes Total time: 40 minutes Yield: … more
Semi-homemade makes this tasty and quick. Fennel is the secret ingredient that makes it taste like it’s been simmering on the stove all day. Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients – they’re mostly herbs that you should … more
Super easy and quick! This is great on the BBQ, which tames the acidity of the mustard. My kids love this and it’s great on pork, too. Prep time: 10 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Yield: Serves 4 8-10 boneless, … more
This is my son’s favorite meal, with lots of catsup. Double the recipe and then you’ll have leftovers for Fish Cakes later in the week. Prep time: 15 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Yield: Serves 4 1/3 c. vegetable or … more
A creamy cilantro sauce is the key to these tacos. And a big margarita. If you have a bit more fish, cook it all up and use the leftovers for Fish Cakes. Prep time: 20 minutes Total time: 35 Yield: … more
This is one of my favorite things to make for a dinner party because it’s a one pot dish that needs only a green salad to complete the entire meal. Plus, it’s great the next day, too. Don’t be overwhelmed … more