Drunken Pasta

Drunken SpaghettiYou must love pasta and wine to enjoy this recipe! And someone who is visiting me does! (Secretly, I do too.) Years ago I was flipping through a magazine and came across a similar recipe by Rachael Ray. My first thought … how could that taste good! I wasn’t into wine and it just had so few ingredients. I gave it a try way back when. It was good … very good! This is totally a knock off with a touch of Rachael Ray. Enjoy!

Be sure and use your best ingredients! No cheap (value) dry red wine or extra virgin olive oil please.

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Peppers. Olives and Capers

Peppers, Olives and Capers

 

 

Layer this sautéed combination over rice or pasta or serve it all by itself. Add anchovies to the recipe if family and friends don’t object. Or give depth to the taste with anchovy paste instead like I do. Adding sliced sweet yellow onion to the sauté is great too, but we go for a lot of garlic. Try this 15 minute dish for a quick light tasty lunch or dinner.

Healthy and Happy New Year!

 

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Taco Soup

Taco Soup

Mostly Vegetarian or Totally if you use vegetable broth. Another easy quick soup to put together! Especially satisfying when the temps outside dip to freezing.

Tortilla SoupInstant Chicken Tortilla Soupo

Other Soups You May Enjoy

Tortilla Soup with Ground Beef

Instant Chicken Tortilla Soup

 

 

 

 

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Our Family Tradition

Estrada’s Spanish Kitchen in Visalia has long gone but the beautiful memories will last forever. We’re always in search of Estrada’s recipes or the taste-alike version. This enchilada sauce recipe is exact in taste ‘though we’ve been informed no chocolate was used in the original. We’ll never know for sure since all is secret. Whether you’re a part of this history or not you’ll love this enchilada sauce.

If you need help building your enchiladas after you make the sauce here is an easy step by step.

Continue reading for Estrada’s taste-alike recipes. You’ll love them as much as we do! A promise.

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Mushroom Burgers Or ‘Meatballs’

Mushroom burgers

I’m a bit of an on again off again Vegetarian. Call me a Flexitarian! There are certain meats I can’t resist. And well, dairy? … My family came from dairymen! My first try at Vegetarianism came in the 70’s. Recipes were few back then, or at least eatable ones, and usually had too many ingredients to be practical. I remember my first try at a Vegetarian meatloaf. I can guarantee that meatloaf recipe was the most uneatable dish I have ever cooked up. Why was I even trying to mimic meat in the first place? Here I’m again turning a meat recipe into a vegetable one, actually a fungus. Portobello mushrooms have a meaty taste and texture and are the perfect choice for this recipe. BTW, they’re just an older white or brown mushroom. It just depends on what you’re trying to achieve with a mushroom burger recipe. I just love the taste of mushrooms, any mushrooms young or old.

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Potato Soup Recipes

It’s that time of year!

Potato Soup Recipes

 

2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 Sweet yellow onion-diced
4 Medium white potatoes-cubed, the larger you make the cube the longer the cooking time
8 Ounces green beans-ends removed and broken into bite size pieces, frozen cut green beans in a pinch
Whole milk to cover over the top of the vegetables
Salt and Pepper to taste

 

 

 

Potato Soups

2-3 thin slices of bacon
1/2 yellow onion-diced, no big pieces please
2 Jalapeños-diced (optional)
1/4 Cup butter
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups of chicken broth (low sodium, low fat or not)
2 Russet Potatoes-peeled and cubed (thickens the soup)
4 Red potatoes-scrubbed and cubed (maintains texture even after cooking for long periods)
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 Cup Half and Half (or 4% or 2% milk)
3/4 Cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Amazingly simple and tasty. For complete recipes …

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Great Thanksgiving Sides & More

Thanksgiving Sides1. Apple Cranberry Chutney 2. Stuffed Mini Pumpkins 3. Beet & Arugula Salad 4. Country Green Beans

5. Portuguese Greens 6. Italian Mac-N-Cheese 7. Sautéed Green Beans 8. Macaroni & Cheese

9. Shredded Potatoes 10. Chopped Salad 11. Portuguese Peas 12. Dijon Potatoes with Green Beans

13. Roasted Red Potatoes 14. Cheese Potatoes 15. Standing Rib Roast 16. Au Gratin Potatoes

17. Tenderloin Roast 18. Turkey Alcatra

 


Chicken Scallopini

Chicken ScallopiniIt was a special someone’s birthday! And he loves Italian Food … and Italian wines! Well, maybe all wine. What’s wrong with that?! He’d say.

Here’s a recipe that not only is Italian but incorporates that precious juice. The alcohol burns off but the deglazing it creates makes this dish irresistible.

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Instant Tortilla Soup

Instant Chicken Tortilla SoupTraditional Chicken Soup is an all time favorite but the request is for something with a little more spice. Of course everyone is hungry now. Let’s see what I have in the pantry! And how can I extend 8 ounces of chicken breast to feed 4 hungry adults? This was so quick it was ready to eat in less than 15 minutes. If using 10 ounces of canned chicken it’s ready as soon as it heats through. And taste? My tasting critic, “it’s the best Chicken Tortilla Soup I’ve eaten.”

I’ll be providing a few substitution ideas too.

Here’s another Tortilla Soup Recipe for you to try!

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