About Anita

Olallieberry Bars

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Two Cookies in One Recipe

Olallieberry Bars or Shortbread-style Cookies

Olallieberry BarJust back from Cambria some days ago. If you’ve visited this quaint town on the western central coastline you’ve likely become familiar with the olallieberry. This sweet tart juicy berry is popular in Cambria … made into pies, jellies & jams, syrups and even candies. You might even find olallieberry port.

Olallieberries have been around for awhile … Some 60+ years. They are a cross between a loganberry and a variety of blackberry from another cross. If you taste a bit of tart raspberry in an olallieberry don’t be surprised. It’s genetically about 1/3 raspberry. For this recipe I used Linn’s Olallieberry Preserves, delicious on its own. I noticed the Linn’s jams and preserves are a bit more tart than I remember. This is their fruit forward movement … so I was informed. I’m assuming this to mean less sugar but there may be other changes. Whatever! It’s about the best I’ve ever tasted!

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Greens and Beans Soup

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Greens and White Bean Soup

With Croutons

Greens and Beans SoupAny time is a great time for soup! Hot or Cold weather makes no difference. I reach for soup just about anytime. Even more when I’m under the weather … tired, sad or have overdone with rich foods for days. It just perks me up, mood and all! This is one of my go to soups because I have the ingredients at hand & I love greens … And it’s a bit Italian and Portuguese, two of my favorite cuisines.

About the greens, I love escarole (a variety of endive) but kale and spinach are great substitutes and are readily available. I prefer using fresh greens in this soup but frozen will do in a pinch. Let’s get on with the recipe.

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Fig Topping

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Figs Are In Season

Fig Topping and Filling

Fig Topping

Beautiful figs … eat them quickly! Have you noticed you seldom see figs at your grocer’s even when in season. They’re a delicate fruit that spoils quickly. Several years ago I solved this problem by planting a fig tree in my yard … just plucking the fruit as needed once it ripens. It’s a pretty skinny tree but never fails to provide. I love using the leaves too when making a cheese tray for company.

Figs are a great fruit to have with wine and cheese. Eating the skin and all. For this dish I chose to peel the fruit but this recipe could equally be enjoyed with the skins if you appreciate the texture. Use this topping for ice cream, brie, or traditional pancakes as I’ve done here. Or, perhaps better yet fill crepes and top with whipping cream. If you have an abundance of figs and are into them as much as I use this as a filling on a simple white cake. For the rest of the year dried figs are a better option. Dried figs can be substituted for other dried fruit in recipes. Try my Prune Cake Recipe by adding dried figs instead.

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Whole Wheat and Honey Banana Bread

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Whole Wheat & Honey Banana Bread

And Oatmeal Too!

Whole Wheat and Honey Banana BreadPacked? Yes! Heavy? No! A whole wheat take on Banana Bread. (See my earlier recipe, Hint of Orange Banana Nut Bread, a different approach but equally delicious.) Many old healthy recipes are beginning to fall away with the new thoughts about gluten. I’m still hanging onto this one until a little more data is in. This bread is a great breakfast bread. I just don’t get hungry right after eating. Or experience that crash! No extensive ingredient list and most ingredients are already in your pantry. Yes, this will remain in my recipe box. Hope you enjoy it too!

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Vegetarian Beans

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Vegetarian Beans

A Recipe Makeover

Vegetarian BeansAre you looking for the beans to serve with your Deep Pit Barbecue? Or maybe just looking for a good Vegetarian Beans Recipe to serve over rice. Either way this is a good choice. If you’re a “beans connoisseur” you might believe you’ve seen this recipe before. Yes, it’s a very close relative to Arizona Bean Pot. It isn’t that I need to reinvent a recipe, but rather it’s convenience … For my ever changing schedule and time availability. I bet  you can relate! Spend a few minutes putting this together. Simple!

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Chicken and Rice Salad

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Warm Chicken Salad

Chicken and Rice SaladDelicious option for that leftover chicken and rice you had last night. A side dish but can be your main dish especially for that week-end brunch. I love it hot or cold (refrigerated after baking). Was this the rice dish that made such a hit the fall of ’69? Just seems like yesterday the family was gathering for the first born. Thankfully for me <smile> he looks a lot younger than he is. If you need a make ahead dish this is perfect! If you just love the combination of chicken and rice you can’t pass this up!

 

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Port Wine Blackberry Cobbler

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Blackberry Cobbler With Port

Summer Evening Dessert-Petite Sirah Drenched

Port Wine Blackberry Cobbler

Perfect summer date-night dessert! Not much prep time ’cause who wants to be in the kitchen on a date-night? And by the way, this is not a dessert for the youngsters. Pick your favorite Port and if you just don’t have a clue the Portuguese Ports easily available are good. Our family travels to Paso Robles frequently and many of the vineyards have wonderful port. Someone I knew liked Petite Sirah, who was that? hmm

Port Wine Blackberry Cobbler

 

 

 

 

 

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Custard Bread Pudding

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Simple Custard Bread Pudding

Custard Bread PuddingWhen I first came across this recipe I knew it was Portuguese in origin. Or at least from my grandmother’s recipe collection. Now that I’ve made this wonderful pudding I’m clueless who to thank. Here is an old fashioned custard bread pudding that isn’t only simple but requires no sauce or additional adornment. Serve this as a dessert or as part of your buffet brunch. It works as a side or lite main dish.

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General Tso’s Pork Chops

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General Tso’s Pork Chops

From Cold Cucumber Soup to General Tso’s Pork Chops. It may seem my recipes are random but each has a special meaning for me. Almost all have been cooked or shared by family or friends. I might tweak the recipe a bit to bring it up to date or just provide an easier approach with the same delicious results. My mother has a delightful friend/cook who can create these wonderfully Asian inspired dishes, Adobo Chicken Wings, Tinolang Manok. Yes, even the Japanese Eggplant Appetizer but without the marinara, of course. That was my idea. But what does this dish have to do with all that! Well, I fell upon this history of General Tso’s Chicken. The dish sounded so good! I knew I had just about all the ingredients to prepare this dish especially now with this new friend of mother’s and mine … But no chicken. I had these pork chops and thought, this will work. Oh yes, how clever. Not really … It’s been done already but not with my recipe anyway. Enjoy this meat dish over rice for just an amazing meal.

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Cold Cucumber Soup

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Easy Cucumber Soup

Cold Cucumber Soup

Really refreshing! The perfect summer soup. Serve in your fine china with your table draped in linen for an elegant presentation because this soup deserves it. Give yourself time for this soup for the best flavor. It’s not the prep but rather the hours needed for the flavors to blend while refrigerated. And yes, it does become soupier. My photos just didn’t give this what I’d hoped. And of course, I was tasting this all along until I didn’t have enough soup to photograph. It’s that light, delicious and so low calorie. Add a sprinkle of paprika too if you like. Aubree and Austin, my grandchildren, love cucumbers sprinkled with paprika. So, I added a bit as a garnish … the red shadows seen on the far dish. Don’t forget to refrigerate those sterling soup spoons. Enjoy!

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