entrees

broiled lobster

Posted on Mar 15, 2017

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 →




gluten-free chicken marsala

Posted on Feb 3, 2016

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 →




chicken breakfast sausage

Posted on May 25, 2014

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 →




pan roasted frenched pork rib chops with chutney and cabernet demi-glace

Posted on Oct 31, 2013

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 →




salad in a jar

Posted on Sep 22, 2013

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 →




gluten-free tuna quinoa salad with lemon

Posted on Jun 26, 2013

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 →




gluten-free pasta primavera

Posted on Mar 8, 2013

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 →




mexican bowls

Posted on Mar 3, 2013

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 →




gluten-free at burger lounge!

Posted on Feb 23, 2013

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 →




udi’s pizza crusts

Posted on Feb 16, 2013

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 →




gluten-free swedish meatballs

Posted on Feb 10, 2013

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 →




chicken and mushrooms

Posted on Jan 28, 2013

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 →




new product – best gf pasta to date!

Posted on Sep 19, 2012

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 →




sloppy gluten-free burgers

Posted on Sep 1, 2012

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 →




chicken caesar salad

Posted on Mar 9, 2012

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 →




simply roasted chicken breasts

Posted on Mar 7, 2012

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 →




turkey shortcake

Posted on Nov 20, 2011

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 →




carnitas tacos

Posted on Nov 12, 2011

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 →




mediterranean pasta

Posted on Sep 10, 2011

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 →




bbq chicken

Posted on Jun 7, 2011

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 →




filet with horseradish on greens

Posted on Jun 5, 2011

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 →




halibut over greens

Posted on May 6, 2011

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 →




butterflied roast chicken

Posted on Apr 24, 2011

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 →




margherita pizza

Posted on Apr 17, 2011

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 →




fajitas

Posted on Apr 14, 2011

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 →




chicken strips

Posted on Mar 17, 2011

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 →




rolled tacos

Posted on Mar 16, 2011

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 →




quick pesto and pasta

Posted on Feb 28, 2011

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 →




stuffed bell peppers

Posted on Feb 16, 2011

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 →




chicken souvlaki

Posted on Feb 6, 2011

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 →




chinese fried rice

Posted on Jan 4, 2011

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 →




fish cakes

Posted on Dec 27, 2010

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 →




pork wienerschnitzel

Posted on Dec 13, 2010

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 →




pulled pork sandwiches

Posted on Dec 10, 2010

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 →




bbq chicken pizza

Posted on Nov 29, 2010

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 →




holiday roast turkey with gravy

Posted on Nov 28, 2010

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 →




roasted short ribs

Posted on Nov 12, 2010

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 →




easy risotto

Posted on Nov 4, 2010

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 →




chicken wrap

Posted on Nov 2, 2010

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 →




indian chicken pilaf

Posted on Nov 2, 2010

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 →




roasted turkey breast & gravy

Posted on Oct 10, 2010

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 →




garlic rosemary chicken

Posted on Oct 6, 2010

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 →




beef pot roast and gravy

Posted on Sep 26, 2010

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 →




turkey on the grill

Posted on Sep 22, 2010

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 →




hungarian goulash

Posted on Sep 20, 2010

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 →




no fail roasted chicken

Posted on Sep 20, 2010

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 →




mock enchilada

Posted on Sep 20, 2010

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 →




chinese chicken salad

Posted on Sep 20, 2010

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 →




enchilada casserole

Posted on Sep 17, 2010

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 →




meatballs

Posted on Sep 17, 2010

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 →




turkey wienerschnitzel

Posted on Sep 17, 2010

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 →




pasta and meat sauce

Posted on Sep 16, 2010

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 →




garlic mustard lemon chicken

Posted on Sep 15, 2010

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 →




fish sticks

Posted on Sep 15, 2010

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 →




fish tacos

Posted on Sep 15, 2010

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 →




jambalaya

Posted on Sep 14, 2010

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 →