Sides

  Mercy me! I thought I loved cabbage, but now I am “in love” with this easy, quick, and nutritious dish. You can whip up this dish in 15 minutes. It’s a great party side salad, whether it’s cold or hot. Try using leftovers warmed […]

  I love this quick, easy salad; it is the best side for any meal. It especially goes well with barbecues and picnic lunches. Salty, tangy, and crunchy is a great way to get your veggies for the day. Kids love this stuff. Switch up […]

  This dish is a combo of early childhood food memories and the love of coconut. Since moving to Wolfach, I’ve been struck by the similarity of foods once popular from my childhood. It seems that everything at the market lately has sent my food […]

  I’m trying to cut down on lectin, and potatoes have a ton, so my doctor shared how I could continue eating them. I clean them well, stab them once with a fork, and place them in my instant pot for 40 minutes. Then I […]

  As I have shared in other posts, I rarely eat cheese, but on rare occasions, I’ll eat those made with goat, sheep, or buffalo cheese ….this is one of them! It’s a bit higher in good fats and minerals such as selenium and has […]

  I love both red and white German sauerkraut. The white sauerkraut is so delicious compared to the American brand. It’s much milder and seasoned with various spices. At the market on Saturday, you can pick up a container from different vendors, and it’s usually […]

  Ugggg… quarantine and cold weather. Not a good combination unless you add Creamy Potato Leek & Bacon Soup, then the world looks, smells, and even tastes brighter. Is that even possible? This soup is so delicious and easy. Everyone has potatoes, right? Let’s do […]

  While on the boat, we typically eat the same food groups while traveling. Usually, a protein, some veggies, and some salad. I use my crockpot when it rains, but mostly we grill rain, snow, and sun! How do I keep things from getting boring? […]

  I love zucchini any way you make it but getting Lutz to eat it, well it’s like him making me try kidneys. So this cool trick worked and now they are on our seasonal menu. Easy and delicious. They are the bomb with my […]

  Yes, I do eat potatoes and yes, I do eat pretty much the same food groups each dinner. But the key to jazzing up your meals is the spice and sauce. I find that I can change the flavor of any dish just by […]

  Ok, I admit, while we are traveling on the boat we tend to eat the same type of meals over and over again. Dinner usually consists of, meat, some veggies, and maybe potatoes or sweet potatoes. Yes, it can get boring but I’ve found […]

  OOOh just so yummy. This was easy and tangy with a touch of sweetness and a whiff of the summer. Use it as a side to your Mexican or Indian dishes. Plus it’s a super side dish for all-round barbecues. We even ate the […]

  I love going to the farmer’s market in Germany. The produce is always fresh, and so many unique veggies. On this trip, I found the biggest purple carrots I’ve ever seen. I love that deep dark purple, and then when you slice them, bright […]

  This is the simplest mock cheese and is so tasty. I use it on everything from pizza to zucchini noodles. It’s amazing for dips as well. Top off your casserole with this Italian-flavored mock cheese, and no one will know but you! There’s one […]

  Ok no brainer…really. Just grab your favorite veggies from the fridge and add this out of the world sauce and your mouth will have a celebration! I can throw them in my little baking oven on the boat and my confectioner oven in the […]

  I was so excited to get home from Italy and make this yummy Bruschetta with those small fresh tomatoes still on the vine. They smell so delicious and taste so sweet. We were having guests for dinner so this was the perfect time to experiment. […]

  I made it to my favorite organic meat stand at the Market this Saturday in time to get the last whole chicken. I needed some warm bone broth in this cold weather. Plus, a nice fresh chicken for my Crockpot Italian Whole Chicken recipe. Really […]

  I made this with my Crockpot Chicken Bone Broth. It is so simple, and since I had the broth in the fridge, all I had to do was zip it out, add my favorite veggies and spices, and voila! Just as long as you […]

This was my side dish for our family Christmas dinner this year and since the invention of this amazing side dish, I have decided I’m not going to wait a year to enjoy it again. So easy to make and just the right tang! The […]

  I have just started using some grains in my diet and have discovered a new love for Quinoa. It is pretty versatile and can be seasoned to accompany any dish. I decided to serve this alongside my Mexican seasoned grilled flank steak. It is […]

  OH, MY WORD is all I can say. We love potatoes and usually eat them like fries broiled in avocado oil. Well, I had the family over to the campground. I was serving up my Bacon & Zucchini Wrapped Chicken Kabobs when I decided that […]

  I need to preface this recipe with a story that happened over 30 years ago. I was the director of a church preschool and happened to meet the coolest lady when enrolling her son in the program, Lanaya Sarkis (sorry for the spelling but […]

  I love Asian food and my favorite is the fresh spring rolls stuffed with fresh veggies and shrimp.  I know the ones in restaurants are made of rice paper and wished I could find a substitute instead of lettuce. I happened to be at […]

  I just love going to the open market on Saturdays in Germany. It’s alive with smells, people, and color! The stands are decorated and the displays resemble fresh food sculptures. Such a fest for the eyes. I happened to pick up some fresh tomatoes […]

  Ok, so simple right? Yes, you’re right, but so yummy and steaming them gives you all the nutrition that the earth placed inside these bio beets. Plus, I got to drink the bright red water they were steamed in to follow up my 2 […]

My California family has a long-standing tradition that whenever I’m “home”, in the USA, we go to La Especial in Leucadia, California. This is where the family goes at least twice a month; what can I say? One of the most delicious cabbage salads in […]

Oh, the joys of being in San Diego in the winter! Fresh seafood every day of the week! These stuffed mushrooms accent the amazing variety of delicacies from the sea and are quick and easy to prepare. They make the most talked about appetizers at […]

  I could live off gluten-free appetizers and plan to do just that this Christmas! Our family tends to make holidays a marathon of eating, and I love to bring my gluten, soy, and dairy-free appetizers. So, when dinner rolls around, I have no problem […]

Way too easy. Who said good things take time and precision? Well, I’m here to say that’s not always true. I’ve so enjoyed spending time with my extended family from Mexico and have learned a lot about Mexican cooking. This trip to San Diego was […]

Fall is upon us and time is ticking. Between soccer, ballet, gym, and your personal tasks, cooking something super quick for dinner can be a challenge. But have no fear! This one is a weekly regular at our home and we LOVE IT. I’m presenting […]

  These meatballs were so easy to make, and I made them the day before. I fried them to seal them up, then put them in the fridge for the next evening’s barbecue (you can cook them on the grill immediately if you choose). The […]

  Yes, I’m on a roll. These pocket-grilled meals are amazing and so easy to prepare, plus the clean-up is “einfach,” which is easy in German! You’ll see many of these this summer, so I hope you try one of the recipes and enjoy it! […]

  Ok, you say “NO BRAINER,” but this is so cool. It’s so hot on the boat, and we’re using our grill for EVERYTHING! We love this way of cooking up our dinners, and it’s so easy. All you need is foil, your favorite veggies, […]

  Ok so I try to avoid eating processed foods but this little Italian shop opened next to us and I asked if they made gluten free…”Si señora, we make it all”. Ok, a few days later, I returned for my order and got the […]

My friend, Trudy, would bring me back a jar of this delicious chili spread when she would visit her second home in the boot of Italy. I always use it up right away and decided it couldn’t be that hard to make. So I set […]

  With Easter on its way, hard-boiled eggs are numerous and everywhere. In Germany and Europe in general, it’s so cool to see the various Meat Markets carrying decorated hard-boiled eggs ready to eat! Of course, I bought a few knowing they were the best protein […]

Hello folks! I just updated this recipe. I found a couple of alterations that helped with my new bread machine. I cut down on the yeast, which seemed to help it rise (I used Fleischmann’s Instant Yeast, RapidRise for Bread Machines). In addition, I sifted […]

Oh, am I ready for summer…we’re starting to grill in the chilly evenings anticipating the sun any day now. This weather doesn’t prevent me from planning easy, fast, yummy summer recipes. This is a must if you like Chipotle. I usually have a can of […]

  “Tis the season to eat field salad, fa-la-la-la-la la-la-la-la” Yes, really, it is hopping right now. Field salad is delicious; restaurants serve a yummy bacon dressing. I had to figure this out and master it. You can add your own touches and be creative, […]

There are all kinds of dairy-free cheese recipes floating around on the internet and as usual, I had to twist it up! This is awesome with lasagna using zucchini slices as the pasta and my Bold Bolognese to create a fantastic gluten, soy, and dairy […]

I laughed to myself when I decide to post this recipe. As a retired teacher this was one of the funnest class cooking activities we used to do in the fall. Actually I don’t know one early childhood teacher who hasn’t tried this once in their […]

Ok so I don’t eat a lot of grains but when you’re in California and pay $1.50 an ear for no GMO organic white corn you just have to  indulge, just once. My Granddaughters helped me prepare the meal one evening and Ruby will demonstrate […]

  Ok, ok…so I love sweet potatoes, and I try all kinds of ways to use them in recipes: puddings, bread, shakes, fries, and whipped with organic butter and salt–but this is one of my favorites. These are great as a snack or a side […]

Ok, so color is the thing that makes food look inviting. I tend to agree. So, count this one colorful! I served this along side my Easy Peasy BBQ Pork Belly and Grilled Roasted Garlic Walnut Sweet Potatoes. This was so delicious, colorful and just […]

I never thought about it until I was asked by a colleague one day, “How do you cook white asparagus?” Then  it dawned on me: maybe there are others who wonder how to cook these tasty treats. So here you go my friends!

  I’m pretty sure I got this idea from my trips to Spain. Regardless of where the inspiration came from, it’s very delicious and easy to prepare. These little gems are so tasty smothered with my Cilantro Chimichurri sauce. Check it out on my site!  

Summer is the time for savory cold salads that keep you going all day. I like to make a huge batch of this Pico de Gallo and use it all week on my eggs, chicken salads, and to top off my Carne Asada tacos or […]

Woohooh! This was truly an experiment and one that I will repeat. Such flavor, sweet and spicy and bits of fresh jalapeños throughout! Perfect for a side dish with dinner or lunch, or top with a fried or scrambled egg for breakfast and serve with a […]

Quick and easy…that’s what it’s all about on a boat or living in our RV. Plus in the summer who wants the heat in the kitchen. These are so fast to make and you can serve them for lunch, snacks or anytime of the day. […]

  I think summer is starting to realize it is late. Last week, the sun chose to shine for a couple of days. We took advantage of this and snuck out to do some grilling! I am addicted to these Grilled Veggies with my B&B […]

This was inspired by Sonia Lacasse and her great cookbook Paleo Home Cooking. I love the chapter on nut butter and did a spin on one of them. Remember you must soak your raw cashews for 10-24 hours. I hope you like it. This butter […]

  Ole! My home is in San Diego, and I guess this is why I love spicy food so much. Going to Mexico with my daughter, Jericho, and her family this summer was so much fun. My daughter and I stayed overnight at a winery […]

I love this rice. Really it is so versatile and can be adapted to any cuisine. When making African food I add raisins and pistachios. So it can be dressed up to meet your cooking desires and creativity!

This dish went over really well at our Taj Cooking Event! I made them to accompany some of the exotic dips we had and they were all gone before the first course. I had no idea they would be that successful. My photographer wasn’t home […]

This is the best, really! If you are avoiding grains or carbohydrates then give this a try. It is really yummy and can be flavored according to your cuisine. Simple and quick!

  This is one of my annual event recipes. If you love hot, spicy, and salty––this is worth the wait…and I mean, wait! This takes about a month of patience, but it is so yummy and so tasty, especially on Carla’s Gluten-Free Recipe Box Naan […]

This is the most flavorful chutney in the world…ok, well in my world. My mother taught me how to make this as a child, and of course, I have had to experiment with every batch. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Thanks, […]

  This is the best salad. I went to my husband’s son’s house to visit in Munich, and his wife made this for us. It is one of the vegetables I get each week from our Bio home delivery company, and it just sits there […]

This recipe is dedicated to my sister Melissa. Every year my husband and I travel to my home town near San Diego. The area is known for surfing, meditation, and good food. Although I lived in Del Mar, my stomping grounds stretched all the way […]