Tabouli (or Tabouleh)

A plate of rice and grapes on the table.

Ingredients 2 cups bulgur 2 cups boiling water 1 bunch chopped parsley (about ½ to ¾ cup) ¼ cup mint leaves chopped 1 bunch green onions sliced thin 4 plum tomatoes (or whatever tomato you have available) chopped 3 lemons juiced ¼ cup olive oil Salt to taste – start with a tsp Directions In…

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Taco Lasagna

A close up of some food on a plate

Ingredients 2 lb ground turkey (or beef) 1 tsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 2 packages Taco seasoning (low sodium) 2 cups picante sauce 14.5 oz can fire roasted tomatoes, undrained 4 oz can chopped green chilies 15 oz can black beans, drained 1 cup corn (fresh or frozen) 8…

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Taco Lasagna

Two women cooking in a kitchen studio.

It’s always a good night for Taco Lasagna. It’s comfort food on a rainy day, (we know a little bit about that!) celebration food for a party, fun food for casual potluck, and an easy meal for a hectic week and a harried cook. Plus – no one will ever say, “I don’t like Taco Lasagna”.…

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Taco Pizza

A pizza with cheese and pepperoni on top of it.

Ingredients 1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed (hint: Put it on wax paper sprayed with cooking spray and leave it alone for at least 4 hours.) 1 lb ground turkey or ground beef (you can substitute using black beans for a vegetarian option) 1 Tbsp olive or canola oil 1 package taco seasoning 12 to 16…

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Tailgate Hanky Pankies

A tray of jalapenos and meat on top of some bread.

Hanky Pankies were a new and fancy addition to the cocktail party scene in the early 1950s when canned Rotel first appeared on grocery shelves. Some recipes are fads, but others stay around because they are actually delicious. In this case these are not just delicious but let’s admit it – it’s really fun to say Hanky…

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The Accidental Salad

A bowl of green beans and other vegetables.

Ingredients 2  12 oz packages frozen green beans 1  10 -12 oz package  frozen asparagus 1 package frozen shelled edamame ¾ cup Sesame Dressing (I used the recipe in my cookbook, page 38 – it’s my favorite dressing! There are many others you can buy and keep on hand.) 1 cup toasted almonds ( I toast them in…

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The Best Granola

A bowl of cereal with berries and bananas

Ingredients 3 c old-fashioned oats 1 c chopped walnuts (or pecans, or almonds) 1 c unsweetened coconut flakes 3 Tbsp brown sugar ¾ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ginger ¾ tsp salt 1/3 c honey 2 Tbsp canola oil cooking spray 1 c dried fruit – anything you like Directions Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line…

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The California Dessert

Two glasses with fruit in them on a table.

Ingredients 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced 16 oz container whole milk ricotta cheese 4 Tbsp honey 4 Tbsp balsamic vinegar Fresh ground pepper 1 – 2 Tbsp fresh chopped tarragon (I guess you could use mint – but it would definitely change the taste) Directions For each serving – add 2 Tbsp ricotta cheese to…

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THE Casserole

A plate of food with meat and green onions.

Ingredients   3 c cooked chicken, chopped *see note1 pkg Uncle Ben’s wild rice mixture1 can cream of celery or mushroom soup 1/2 onion, chopped1 c mayonnaise2 cans (16 oz.) French style green beans, rinsed to get rid of the can taste1 can water chestnuts rinsed and choppedsalt & pepper to taste 2 tsp paprika, optional for…

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The Perfect Egg

Herbs and scissors on red cutting board.

Recently I came across a story about the perfect egg. It sounded pretty delicious but with way too much work involved. Breakfast should be yummy yet a peaceful start to the day. This is a recipe that guarantees both worlds. It is a perfect start to a nice weekend or maybe a Father’s Day treat…

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