When we were kids, my dad would take me and my sibs to the diner across the street from his job whenever we would visit him there. No doubt my love for simple American diner food began right there. Over the years, I’ve visited diners all over my local tri-state area and have become fairly particular… Continue reading Home Fries
Category: Easy (5 Steps or Less)
Spiced Banana Bread
My family likes bananas, but no matter how small a bunch we buy, we can never seem to get to the last one before it goes brown. One overripe banana is just perfect for tossing into a smoothie. But on the rare occasions when several have been neglected, I make banana bread. My recipe is… Continue reading Spiced Banana Bread
Picadillo
I don’t eat out very often but when I do, I often choose something completely unfamiliar to me. If I enjoy it, I have to figure out how to make it so I can have it whenever I like. Many years ago I had a big bowl of picadillo over rice in a local Cuban restaurant… Continue reading Picadillo
Italian Meatballs
Italian meatballs are often fried to develop a crispy exterior, but I find I can achieve the same effect — without adding oil — by roasting them instead. If you prefer soft meatballs, cook them in pasta sauce over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes. These are small enough to make a nice appetizer. Just… Continue reading Italian Meatballs
Turkey Meatloaf
Trust me, this is just as good as traditional meatloaf. I made this dish three times before my family realized it wasn’t beef! I still make beef meatloaf occasionally (using this recipe), but I prefer turkey now because the meatloaf comes out less greasy. I like to serve it with a side of roasted vegetables… Continue reading Turkey Meatloaf
Lemon Garlic Rice
I’ve always enjoyed flavored rice dishes but figured it was faster and easier to buy microwaveable rice rather than try to make it on my own. But co-author/daughter Hayley insisted that making my own flavored rice was just as easy and didn’t take long — and it wouldn’t include artificial colors and flavors. Finally, I… Continue reading Lemon Garlic Rice
Iced Tea
Bottled iced teas for me are very hit or miss – usually either too sweet or not sweet enough. So, when I want iced tea at home, I tend to make it myself. My first few attempts at a lightly sweetened homebrew always came out with a slightly bitter aftertaste. I didn’t want to add… Continue reading Iced Tea
Pan Fried Codfish
One of my favorite childhood memories is getting up at dawn and going to the renowned Fulton Fish Market with my mother to buy fish, fresh off the boats. We lived nearby so we would walk down the quiet, empty cobblestone streets near the market until we reached the bustle of fishmongers and shoppers. Mom… Continue reading Pan Fried Codfish
Taco Seasoning
I came up with this when I noticed halfway through my meal prep that I had bought a box of taco shells instead of the “taco dinner kit” I meant to get. I started with a quick web search for taco seasoning recipes and found that most contained chili powder blend (which I also did… Continue reading Taco Seasoning
Meatloaf
As classic recipes go, meatloaf is one of my faves. It’s tasty, practically foolproof and it’s one of those dishes that tastes just as good the second day, maybe even better. I don’t even have to shop for anything special; everything listed below is usually already in the pantry. Occasionally I change it up by… Continue reading Meatloaf
