This wonderful simple dish can be served over rice as a complete meal or as a side dish to compliment any main menu.   It is full of flavor and left overs are even better.    It also pairs nicely with South Africa Curry Chicken and Basmati Rice            Savory Veggie Casserole 1 whole garlic bulb - peeled and  chopped 1/2 large red onion - peeled and chopped 2 medium eggplant - peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes 1 - 15oz can diced tomatoes 1 … [Read more...]

Happy Tummies...... This is how I feel after having a large bowl of my favorite Banana Pudding....happy! Teresa and I hit the hammock after Easter lunch....horizontal positioning was the best way to savor the festivities. Thanks for the pic, MK!   Happy Tummy - Banana Pudding From the 1987 Southern Living Cookbook...one Linda made me buy at a yard sale.  I'm glad she did. For many years, my friend, Linda, makes this wonderful pudding at Easter. This year was no … [Read more...]

Ricotta Cheese Pound Cake By Leann Albrecht Spring is here so I thought I would bake something special to celebrate. My windows are open, birds are singing, fresh cut grass is in the air .....and there’s no sign of coats anywhere!! Thank God for spring!     INGREDIENTS: With mixer, cream together on medium speed until smooth: 6 oz salted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar Then add eggs and beat well: 3 large … [Read more...]

One of the things I like to do, when we travel to different countries, is collect Christmas ornaments, wall crosses.....and of course, cookbooks. Here is a picture of just a few of them. When I experience exciting international  flavors, textures and spices, I like to recreate that taste sensation again in my own kitchen. One of my favorite is Indian food....especially curries. I can thank Don and Laura Moen for introducing Carl and me to South African curry when we were there on … [Read more...]

Banana Nut Muffins By Leann Albrecht   At our house, usually the last banana in the bunch gets too ripe before we can eat it so I put it in the freezer. It keeps perfectly fine in the skin until I am ready to use it. When it's time to make banana bread or a smoothie, I take it out of the freezer and lay it on the counter for about 5 minutes. Then the skin peels off easily and the banana inside  is in perfect form. If I don't have any in the freezer, I try to use bananas that have a few … [Read more...]

Chewy Ginger Cookies (an adaptation from Bon Appetit - Dec.2012) I enjoy cookies that stay chewy long after they are taken out of the oven. Recently, I discovered this recipe looking for a new flavor to add to my holiday baking. This cookie has substantial character and flavor....one I enjoy with every bite... accompanied with a tall glass of ice-cold milk.           With electric mixer, cream together until fluffy: 3/4 cup brown sugar 1 … [Read more...]

This corn dish is a great addition to any meal. My friend, Rachel, introduced this recipe to me over 30 years ago. In fact, her soiled hand written recipe card is proof that I make it often for our family meals. It's also a wonderful substitution for potatoes or rice.         Glorified Escalloped Corn 1 egg  - beaten well Then add: 1/3 cup oil 8 ounces sour cream 1 can cream style corn (14-15oz) 1 can regular whole kernel corn - drained 1 … [Read more...]

CONVERSION CHART I’ve posted this conversion chart for your convenience. Please feel free to print it out for your own use. Be Careful….always remember to double check your recipe. There is a big difference between Fluid Ounces and Dry Ounces. Fluid Ounces = Volume Measurement Dry Ounces = Weight Measurement Liquid (Fluid or Volume) Measurements (approximate): 1 teaspoon 1/3 tablespoon = 5 ml 1 tablespoon 1/2 fluid ounce 3 teaspoons  = 15 ml, 15 cc 2 tablespoons 1 fluid ounce … [Read more...]

This is the recipe I wrote about in the song “What Christmas Means To Me”  from my jazz Christmas CD called "The Greatest Gift". Go to my store now. The lyric in the first verse is, "Making angel cookies from my best friend's recipe. Listening to Nat King Cole sings Christmas songs to me." Hear the song. Last Saturday, my friend Linda and I made these cookies in the shape of angels and other Christmas shapes, while listening to one of our favorite Nat King Cole CDs. These cookies … [Read more...]

When Carl and I lived in St Louis, we enjoyed going to the symphony from time to time.  This recipe came from the St. Louis Symphony of Cooking cookbook first printed in 1964.  It has a selection of recipes chosen from friends of the St Louis symphony; music lovers, orchestra members, and celebrities from all over the world who came to help St. Louis celebrate her 200th birthday. For years, this particular recipe has been Carl's and my mother's favorite carrot cake. In fact, page 57 is … [Read more...]