Fried Potatoes and Carrots

- a light flavorful vegetable dish -

Slice 

yellow potatoes 

into 1/2" slices. Slice 

carrots 

into strips approximately 3" long. Place vegetables in frying pan over medium heat. Add 

salt and pepper 

to taste. Spray 

cooking oil

over vegetables. When browned, sprinkle 

1 T flour  

over vegetables and fry a bit more. Add 

water 

to cover and a 

sprig of basil 

for flavor. Cook till tender. You should have a light gravy covering all. Remove basil and serve.

Chicken Teriyaki with Vegetables

I saw a baked chicken/pineapple teriyaki recipe and wanted to try it.  But, I didn't have any canned pineapple and didn't want to bake.  However, I did have chicken plus some vegetables I wanted to get rid of.  I do not like garlic (and so garlic is not in the recipe).  And, I like molasses better than the brown sugar (which was called for in the baked teriyaki recipe).  It has much more taste than brown sugar. Here's the recipe:

In a large skillet, place 

1 c “baby” carrots 

½ c chopped broccoli 

1 c asparagus, cut into approximately 3” lengths

 Spray with 

cooking oil 

Saute. Then add 

1 diced chicken breast (about 2/3 lb) 

salt and pepper to taste 

Cook until chicken is browned and vegetables are soft. Sprinkle 

2 T flour 

over chicken mixture and let brown.  Add 

¼ c juice (I used Sunny-D.) 

2 T wine (I used what was open.) 

¼ t ground ginger 

1 T soy sauce 

1 T molasses 

½ c water, or more 

Cook until sauce is thickened and chicken is at 165F or above. Serve over cooked rice.

Chicken stuffed with Cottage Cheese and Vegetables 

3/19/2026 

 I often pull something out of the freezer without looking and try to figure out what to make with it. This time I pulled a chicken breast out of the freezer. I’m sharing this recipe since the chicken turned out so moist and tender and delicious. 

Preheat oven to 350F. 

Cut 1 chicken breast in half, separating top of breast from bottom of breast. To make cutting easier, place breast on a small plate and use the raised edge of the plate to cut the breast evenly. 

Combine: 

¼ c cottage cheese 

2 T chopped vegetables, for example: chopped raw carrots and broccoli 

½ t Italian seasoning 

½ t salt and a dash of pepper 

and place on top of lower part of breast. Place upper part of breast on top and secure with toothpicks. 

Cover with 

3 T French salad dressing 

2 T bread crumbs 

Place on parchment-lined sheet. Bake 30 min at 350F or until internal temperature reaches 165F.

Pork Rib Rub

 

Combine

4 parts coarse Kosher salt

2 parts cumin

2 parts garlic powder

2 parts Italian seasoning

1 part black pepper

and save till ready to use.

To make ribs

Lightly coat ribs in vegetable oil. Sprinkle rub on top. Let sit before baking ribs.

Banana Cake

Banana Cake

April 7, 2020

Grease and flour 9x13" pan. Preheat oven to 350F.

In large bowl, combine

  2 c flour - or 1 1/2 c flour plus 1/2 c almond meal

  1 c sugar

  2 t baking soda

  2 t cinnamon

  1/2 t salt.

Mix in

  2 beaten eggs

  1/2 c vegetable oil

Beat for 2 min. Add in:

  3 ripe bananas

  2 T orange juice (or other citrus juice)

  and up to 1/2 c milk (to make a thin batter).

Bake in 9x13" pan at 350F for 42-47 min.

Top with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting when cool:

Let soften

  5 oz cream cheese

  1 1/2 T butter.

Beat while gradually adding

  3 c powdered sugar.

If necessary, add milk to reach spreading consistency.

Stir in

  1/2 c shredded coconut.

"Philly Cheese Steak" Skillet

(based on Philly cheese steak recipes, but made with hamburger and in a skillet)

Cook

• 1 T olive oil
• 1 c chopped onion
• 1/2 c chopped green pepper

in a large skillet until tender.  Remove from skillet and place in small bowl.  Add

• 1 T vinegar
• 2 t Worchestershire sauce

to bowl.  In same skillet, brown

• 1 lb ground beef (or 1 lb beef cut in thin strips).
• 1/2 t salt and/or garlic salt
• 1/4 t black pepper

Drain off fat.  Add onion/pepper mixture to skillet.  When heated, mix in

• 1/2 c mayonnaise

and then top with

• 4 oz Mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 c Parmesan cheese.

Cover and let sit on low to no heat until cheese is melted.  Serve on a plate or on a bun.

Easy Tasty Pork

This recipe also works well for both left-over pork and pork chops.  Pork chops do not need to be cut up, but a pork roast does.
Place
  3/4 lb or more pork
  1/4 c olive oil
  1/2 c chopped onion
  1/4 c chopped celery
  1 t Italian seasoning
  1/4 t dry mustard
  1/4 t dried rosemary
in large skillet.  Brown. Sprinkle
  2 T flour
over the pork and brown.  Then add
  1 c water or more to cover.
Simmer for half an hour or more, adding water as needed to keep from drying.

Spicy Beef (based on a Mongolian beef recipe)

Fry vegetables (shredded carrots, green onions, and/or brocolli - as the mood strikes) and the following spices in 2 T oil:
1/2 t ginger
1 T garlic powder
1 T onion powder
1 t red pepper flakes.
Remove from pan.  Brown
1 lb beef, cut in strips,
in 2 T oil.  When brown, add 1/4 c flour (or cornstarch) to coat beef.  Fry just enough to brown flour.
Add back veg/spice mixture.  Add:
1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c water
1/4 c orange juice (or SunnyD).  (The juice is my secret ingredient.)
Simmer until sauce thickens.  Serve over rice.

carrot pineapple cake

(my husband's favorite cake - especially for his birthday)
Grease and flour 9x13" pan.  Preheat oven to 350F.
Blend (in blender) to desired consistency:
  1 lb carrots
  1 8-oz can crushed pineapple, including juice.
In large bowl, combine
  2 c flour - or 1 1/2 c flour plus 1/2 c almond meal
  1 c sugar
  2 t baking soda
  2 t cinnamon
  1/2 t salt.
Mix in
  4 beaten eggs
  1/2 c vegetable oil
Beat for 2 min.  Add in:
  carrots and pineapple
  and up to 1/2 c water (to make a thin batter).
Bake in 9x13" pan at 350F for 42-47 min.

Top with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting when cool:
Let soften
  5 oz cream cheese
  1 1/2 T butter.
Beat while gradually adding
  3 c powdered sugar.
If necessary, add milk to reach spreading consistency.
Stir in
  1/2 c shredded coconut.

Marble Cake

I make this every year for Jason's birthday.

This year (2023), I've changed how to marble the cake to make it more marbled.  Instead of putting batter into the pan in globs, I decided it might be better to put it in layers.

This recipe does not use baking powder - mainly because I don't like the taste of baking powder.  The light part of the cake rises because there is a base (baking soda) and an acid (orange juice) in it.  (Baking powder is more or less a base plus an acid plus a filler.)  The dark part of the cake rises because of the base (baking soda) and the acid (cocoa).  Sugar is added to the cocoa mixture for sweetness, and milk is added to keep both batters at the same consistency.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease and flour 9x13" pan.
In large bowl, cream
  1/2 c butter
  1 c sugar

  1 t vanilla sugar (or vanilla extract)

  1 t baking soda

  1/2 t salt
Beat in

  2 large eggs
Add, alternately,

  2 c flour
  1 c milk.
Batter should be on the thin side.
Place 1 c of batter in smaller bowl.  Stir in:
  1/4 c cocoa powder
  2 T sugar
  2 T milk
Add to leftover batter,
  3 T orange juice.
Using larger bowl, spread a thin layer of batter into pan. It doesn't need to cover it entirely. Using entire smaller bowl, spread a layer of cocoa batter on top. Then spread the rest of the larger bowl on top of that.  Swirl together gently.
Bake 350F for 42 - 47 min.

Marshmallow Treats

a quick way to make Rice Krispies Treats

1/4 c butter
4 c marshmallows (about 10 oz)
6 c Kellogg's Rice Krispies
In a large microwave-proof bowl, microwave butter on high 1/2 min or till soft.  Add marshmallows.  Microwave on high 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.  Stir until smooth.  (Microwave 1/2 minute longer if necessary to get a smooth paste.)  Add Rice Krispies.  Fold in until well coated.  Spread warm mixture into greased 9 x 13" pan.  Press flat with hands dipped under running water.  Cut into squares when cool.

Peanut Butter Cookies

I made these for a Nerdopolis challenge on Ravelry.com.  They turned out so well that here's the recipe:

(makes 30)
1/2 c butter
1/2 c peanut butter
1 c sugar
1 T molasses
1 egg
1 1/2 c flour
1/4 t salt
1 T milk
1/2 t baking soda
1 t cream of tartar
Mix all together.  Refrigerate overnight.
Form into 1" balls and roll in 1/4 c sugar.
Flatten with fork.
Bake 350F for 9 min.

Easy microwave rice

This is my basic rice recipe. It works for any amount of rice - and doesn't leave the rice sticky.
Place
    1 T butter
in a 1 to 1 1/2-qt casserole. Microwave on high for 1 min. Add
    1 c uncooked rice.
Stir to coat rice. Microwave on high for about 1 min. Add
    water
to cover completely by about 1/2 inch. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes for the rice to absorb the liquid.

Fruit Pie Oatmeal Cookies

Cream:
  1/2 c butter
  1 c sugar
  1 T cinnamon
  1 t baking soda
  1 T Carnation chocolate malted milk mix (optional)
  1/4 t salt
Add and cream:
  2 eggs
Add in order, mixing after each addition.  The oats and fruit may need to be folded in by hand.
  1 T liquid - either plain water or from the fruit
  1 1/2 c flour
  2 c quick oats
  1 c diced peaches (or apples, etc) - drained, if necessary
Chill for at least 1 hour. Drop by tablespoonful onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350F for 10-12 minutes.

Spice Cake

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease and sugar (not flour) large bundt pan (or grease and flour a 13"x9" flat pan).   For a bundt pan with a sugar coating, there is no need for frosting.  For a flat cake, top with maple syrup frosting.
Mix together:

• 2 c flour
• 2 t baking soda
• 1 t cream of tartar
• 1 t nutmeg
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t allspice
• 1/2 t salt.

Set aside.  Cream together:

• 1/2 c butter
• 1 c sugar.

Add

• 3 eggs

one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.  Add flour mixture alternately with

• 1 c milk.

Then add

• 1 T orange juice.

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 42 minutes or until done.

Banana drop cookies

I had some overripe bananas and didn't feel like making banana bread. So, I looked up a banana cookie recipe. Here's the recipe with my modifications. (I think that next time I make it, I'll cook some apple slices till soft and substitute them for the bananas.)
Add in order (and mix in):
1/2 c butter
1 c sugar 
1 egg
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t cloves
1 c bananas (2 - 3 bananas)
1/2 c almond meal (or 1/2 c flour).
1 1/2 c flour (or more, for desired consistency)
Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 11 min. Makes about 60 cookies.

Pumpkin Raisin Cookies

1 c butter
1 c brown sugar
2 c sugar
2 T molasses
1 egg
2 c pumpkin
5 c flour
2 c oats
2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
2 t ground cinnamon
1 t ground nutmeg
1 t ground cloves
1 c raisins
1/2 c water
Microwave raisins in water for 1 min on high to soften raisins. (If using regular oats, add at this time.)   Set aside.
Cream butter, sugars, and molasses.  Add egg.  Beat well.  Add pumpkin and spices.
Add dry ingredients.  Add raisins with water.  Mix well.
Drop by 2-tablespoons-full onto greased baking sheet.  Bake 350F for 10 min  (for soft cookies)  Makes 7 dozen.

grilled corn on the cob

Corn is in season now and so I decided to see how difficult grilling corn on the cob would be.  It came out wonderfully!  And it was easy to do.

All one has to do is check the corn to see if it's good.  Soak it for about an hour (half hour minimum) with the husks on.  (Next time, I'll add some salt to the water.)  Put it on the platform over the grill and let it cook (It actually steams itself.) for 30 min (at 350F).  The silk comes off easily after it's cooked.

mock lasagna

This uses no lasagna -- just leftover pasta.
Cook:
1 can minced tomatoes with 1 t Italian seasoning and 1/2 t salt.  Add 1/2 c minced cooked meat and heat.
Cook:
8 oz pasta or noodles.
Drain.  Add 1/2 T butter.  Then add:
1/2 c cottage cheese
1 well-beaten egg.
1 t Italian seasoning
Place half of pasta mixture in 9"x6" casserole.
Place 1/3 of 8 oz mozzarella cheese on top, and then 1/2 of tomato mixture, the rest of the pasta mixture, 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese, and finally the rest of the tomato mixture.
Bake for about 1/2 hour at 350F.
Add rest of cheese just before serving.  Heat till cheese is melted.

Green Bean / Potato Casserole

Here's my variation on the green bean casserole:
In a greased, 3-qt casserole, place (in order)
2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 c milk
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 can green beans
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 t Italian seasoning
Bake for 1 hour at 350F.