About Anita

Orzo Stuffed Bell Peppers

Cozy kid friendly meal for the Fall!

With the greater availability of milder tasting bell peppers Stuffed Bell Peppers have found a place among the most popular home cooked meals. There are many recipe variations throughout the world. This recipe stays very close to the American cuisine with a few changes; including, orzo replacing the typical white rice and milder red and yellow bell peppers used along with the traditional stronger less sweet tasting green.

Amazing colors of Fall.

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Gingerbread Muffins & Rum Sauce

Excellent With No Frills Too!

Gingerbread Muffins

For a short time I lived in a Los Angeles apartment community. Every evening at dinner time I’d take little Stella for a walk. We both needed the exercise after being cooped up all day. Our favorite walk was the fifth level courtyard where floors of apartments faced with open windows. Then the real pleasure … the scent of spices, spices from all over the world, wafting through the air all at the same time.

Even with the pungent aroma of many dishes I make I can’t imagine having a kitchen separate from the rest of my house. These scents just play a pleasurable part in my life. Yes, more often than not my kitchen smells of garlic.

As seasons change so does my menu. Today I’ve made gingerbread muffins and I just love the way my house smells. I’ve added a rum sauce and a little ice cream to make it a dessert … But it could manage all alone.

Enjoy this recipe that mixes up in minutes by hand … And fill your house with the most amazing smells of Fall.

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Stromboli the Easy Way

Stromboli

Stromboli is a rolled up pizza! With a bread crust, a little sauce and veggies or meats or both. Prep time is about 20-30 minutes then into the oven for about the same. Nope! No jar sauce, nor pizza dough from the refrigerated section. I’m sure there’s some good sauces out there these days but for me as close to scratch as possible ensures a better taste and ingredients I recognize. Yep! I’ve taken some short cuts but I think you’ll approve.

Vegetarians can easily make this their own. Any pizza topping can go into this … So, the choices are in your hands. I’ve included a simple red sauce but give it a cream sauce or just olive oil. This is amazing.

In the next weeks I’ll be posting Portuguese Pizza. That’s right! And I’ll be making the pizza dough from scratch. If you’re into a scratch pizza dough and can’t wait for mine Mario Batali’s is super amazing … one variation even cooked on a griddle.

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Soup’s On!

Navy Bean and Ham, that is!

SoupsThe beans are soaking and later today I’ll be putting together a simple but hearty soup of Navy Beans and Ham. Here are some soups to tide you over until then:

TOP: Portuguese Green Soup, Chunky Root Soup, Basque Vegetable Soup

MIDDLE: Portuguese Bean Soup, Chicken Soup

BOTTOM: Clam Chowder, Vegetarian Black-eyed Pea Soup, Sausage and Navy Bean Soup


Viennese Cookies With Three Looks

Viennese Cookies

These can be eaten plain or as I have here … Dipped in chocolate, dusted with powdered sugar and dipped in chocolate, or sandwiched with your favorite jam and dipped in chocolate. Just anyway you try them they’re buttery delicious.

And as if these choices are not enough … I have two other posted recipes very similar to this one. I just like these ingredients in a buttery cookie dessert.

Almond Wedding Cake Cookies

Mexican Wedding Cakes

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Portuguese Salt Cod, Eggs, Potatoes, Onions

Portuguese Salt Cod

What does lox have to do with this recipe? My recipe for lox and eggs with a few changes has become this! By the way, if you haven’t tried your hand at my easy bagels recipe … It’s amazing!

As with lox and eggs holding the salt until the cooking is done is important. My first try at lox and eggs was inedible.

This recipe is amazing. Give it try.

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Country Beans and Cornbread

My children never understood just how lean those years were. A single mom making ends meet … And the most economical meal I made (and actually loved) was this one.

These recipes have few ingredients and are simple with little preparation time. I still love this meal not only because of the memories it evokes … It just tastes good!

When I say country I’m speaking about the hills of Arkansas where Granny and Grampa had a farm with just the right amount of livestock to keep the plates full. Granny wasn’t particularly a good cook but she could can and pickle like no one else.

These recipes were hers with this exception … Her cornbread had only five ingredients; cornmeal, buttermilk, eggs, baking soda and salt. The cornbread I taste in restaurants today is more of a cake texture and very sweet. With this in mind I put together a recipe I felt would give the texture of my granny’s without being too gritty and added just a bit of sugar. Bacon was a big thing in those hills … So, there is bacon in all of this. Yikes! But don’t fear … I’ve precooked the bacon and only 2 teaspoons of bacon grease are used in the beans.

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Quick Box Mix Spicy Pumpkin Cupcakes

Not what you think!

Spicy Pumpkin Cupcakes

Or maybe it is what you think.  This is one of those recipes you keep just in case. Just in case you need a quick dessert for company … Yes, it is that good … Or just in case you are selected to bring dessert for the workplace potluck. You might find after you try it … it’s a family favorite.

If you like pumpkin and spices you will like these Spicy Pumpkin Cupcakes.

Are you going to be disappointed if you find this is a cake mix makeover? Don’t be. Here is a scratch Spicy Pumpkin Cake Recipe as an alternative.

Spicy Pumpkin

Favorite Pumpkin Spice Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sauce Béarnaise …

Has always been a little intimidating but not this recipe. I moved past the perfectionist part and put it together like a country gravy, not exactly, but you get the idea.

Bearnaise Sauce

If you get caught up in the perfection of a sauce béarnaise you may never try your hand at it. Give this simple no fuss recipe a try, and see if it passes your family’s taste test. It adds an amazing touch to a delicious steak.

My father was known for his delicious barbecued steaks in the day of charcoal. Another family member had mastered pan-searing. Steak was a pretty common entree on our table. And we were pretty critical of the cooking.

Here are a few hints I was taught along the way that may be useful.
-Use a seasoned cast iron skillet or a heavy bottom skillet.
-The skillet must be hot.
-Use the fat you have trimmed off the steak to grease the bottom of the skillet. Use a fork to run the fat around the bottom of the heated pan and then remove it.
-I often use a skillet so well seasoned no grease or oil is needed to avoid sticking. If you try this be aware the meat will stick until it is seared. Wait a minute or two, then turn it over.
-You may need to turn the heat down slightly after you add the steak to avoid too much browning. Adjusting the heat as you go may be necessary.
-Turning the steak more than once or twice will not dry out the steak.
-I was taught to salt the heated skillet rather than oil to prevent sticking. This method may no longer be in vogue.

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Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins

Oatmeal Cinnamon Muffins

This is what you make when you’ve an unexpected guest for breakfast! Quick, easy and nutritious oatmeal muffins. Doug had to have more than one giant muffin … And I’d even over-baked them. Yikes!

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