Heath Bar Crunch Banana Bread

I realize that just a couple of weeks ago I posted a recipe for mini banana chocolate chip muffins.  Therefore, this recipe may seem redundant, but I promise it isn’t.  The fact is, if you have overripe bananas you have to make banana bread in some way, shape or form.  They are too mushy to eat, but just perfect for that baked confection that we thoroughly enjoy at breakfast or any time of day.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

OK - I know I just posted about enchiladas.  However, I wanted to share the recipe for the beautiful enchilada sauce pictured there and here.  You can easily substitute this sauce in for any canned version.  It's super easy to make and so much better than the grocery store version.  You will have extra, so just pop it in a jar and it should stay fresh for at least two weeks.

Easy Cheesy Enchiladas - Gluten Free

     Cheese enchiladas are one of my absolute favorite foods.  Growing up in Manhattan, my family's favorite Mexican restaurant, Cantina, was on the corner of 70th street and Columbus Ave.  Without fail most of us ordered the cheese enchiladas that came accompanied with a pile of yellow rice and absolutely perfect refried beans.  The entree was topped by shredded iceberg lettuce which lent a refreshing crunch to the rich combination.  The gooey cheddar cheese almost melted in your mouth while the spicy red sauce gave it a zesty kick.      On several occasions, I have tried to replicate this amazing experience.  It's never quite worked.  Usually the enchiladas come out kind of soggy, with cheese oozing everywhere.  They are messy, fall apart and are very disappointing.  However, I ran across a blog, Amy's Cooking Adventure, that had a secret technique to make simple, restaurant style, perfect enchiladas with three basic ingredients - cheese, tortillas, enchilada sauce. Here's the trick - don't bathe the stuffed tortillas in the sauce, simply dredge the tortilla.  Place it on a flat surface and add cheese down the middle.  Roll up, place seam side down and done.  You end up with crispy flavorful tortillas and a nice interior of melted cheese that stays in the tortilla!

Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites

All I can say is thank you San Diego!  The preliminary numbers suggest that "America's Finest City" is one of the top contenders for most revenue made this past Saturday at the Annual Food Bloggers Bake Sale.  As of Monday, we were only a couple hundred dollars behind Atlanta, the largest money maker last year.  Marie Tran-McCaslin of Meandering Eats, is our fearless leader and should be very proud of herself.

Money raised goes directly to Share Our Strength.  No child should grow up hungry in America, but one in five children struggles with hunger. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign is ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need, every day. 

Food Blogger Bake Sale for Share Our Strength

This Saturday Great News! kitchen store will be hosting the food bloggers national bake sale representing the San Diego chapter.

Virtually Homemade will be baking Dark Chocolate Cherry Brownie Bites.

If you are in the area come check it out!

Great News!

1788 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109

Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Everyone  loves a great muffin and what's better than popping a mini one in your mouth and devouring it in a single bite?  Not much.  Load it with bananas, chocolate chips, chocolate milk and brown sugar and you've got a winning recipe for anyone who wants a sweet kick to their morning breakfast.

Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes with Three Onions

I know that brown butter is the "it" ingredient and perhaps a bit over done.  However, I couldn’t help myself – mashed potatoes with brown butter and a trio of onions – heaven!

Since these spuds have more butter than I usually put in my regular recipe, I decided to lighten up on some other ingredients.  I’ve used low fat/low sodium chicken broth as part of the liquid and removed any extra high fat components such as sour cream, cream and mascarpone.

Black Bottom Parfait - NYT Cookbook

I am always searching for, and trying to create, original recipes.  As soon as an idea pops into my head, I Google it and am extremely disappointed when it pops up on my screen.  I mean really – who else would think of couscous with apples and bacon in a citrus vinaigrette?  Trust me, someone has.

Therefore, I was extremely happy when I Googled “Black Bottom Parfait” and found not a mention of it on the World Wide Web!  This recipe is from my trusted New York Times cookbook – another fantastic retro recipe from Mr. Craig Claiborne.  I have found so many classic gems in this book that are completely timeless.

Spring Couscous Salad with a Citrus Vinaigrette

My kids are on spring break!  I love these days off because as a family, we are usually very much in need of them.  Both of my children are teenagers now and they have very hectic schedules.  Their academic load is quite hefty and they both pursue passions for specific sports.  My son Jake focuses completely on high school basketball and my daughter Eva plays softball, soccer and field hockey.  It’s nice seeing them have basically nothing to do and to sleep in.

Grilled Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

I have been extremely busy with freelance recipe writing and developing for the past couple of weeks and feel as if my blog has been neglected.  Although it may be odd to miss a blog, I have really missed mine.  Developing a recipe on my own terms, photographing the result and sharing the creation with you and my family is truly gratifying.  I also enjoy the feeling of producing something I’m proud of and receiving your feedback, compliments and constructive criticism.