Wrinkly Apple Upside Down Cake

I hate letting food go to waste, but sometimes, especially when you buy in bulk, things can start to look a little unappetizing before you've had a chance to finish them.  And then just try getting the family to eat them!  So, for items I buy in large quantities, especially fruits and vegetables, I like to be ready -- once things begin to look a little wizened -- with a good use-up strategy.

My family eats a lot of apples, and I buy them by the dozen.  About the time they start to go a little soft and wrinkly, I know just what to do:  I make a Wrinkly Apple Upside Down Cake.  (And if the main thing wrinkling up right now is your nose, please observe that I did not say Rotten Apple Upside Down Cake!  Who would want that?)

Another Reason to Love Breakfast: The Muffin McEgg

I love breakfast food.  I love eggs, especially, and I could (and often do) eat them every day of the week.  My love for eggs started my freshman year in college.  I used to schedule my classes as early in the morning as possible so I could get them over with and have all afternoon to study (or walk into town for some shopping.)  That meant I was usually able to make it to the cafeteria in time for breakfast, which always featured piles of perfectly-cooked eggs over easy.  They were so pretty and appetizing, I was never tempted by the sugary pastries.

Between eating sensible meals in the school cafeteria and walking to and from my classes, instead of gaining "the freshman 15," I actually lost a few pounds that year.  Here is a candid shot of me circa 1981, snapped by a photography student who was trying to capture, not just my image, but my phone number:

Did I give it to him?  I'll never tell.  (And stop laughing at my hairstyle.)

But anyway, that's when my love of breakfast began, and to this day I never skip it.  I also never eat anything sugary or carb-y first thing in the morning.  Usually it's just eggs over easy (still my favorite) with a slice of buttered, gluten-free toast or a veggie-stuffed omelet.  Once in a while, though, I whip up a special treat my svelte and beautiful (and breakfast-loving) daughter turned me onto:  We call it a Muffin McEgg.

Salmon Rösti

So, not long ago I was approached by a scout from a major food network, looking for undiscovered culinary talent.  I was asked to show my mettle by presenting an appealing recipe that makes use of only common ingredients found in the average household pantry...

I am sooooo lying!  What really happened was, I forgot to plan dinner (again,) and I was scrambling around at 5:00 trying to find anything whatsoever to cook.  Not so much as a thawed hamburger in the fridge.  Pasta?  No, we don't eat that any more.  Omelets?  We had that for breakfast.  Chinese takeout was starting to look like a dangerously good option, when suddenly I stumbled across a couple cans of wild Alaskan salmon.

Dinner is saved!

This is No Ordinary Butternut Squash Soup

Not long ago I discovered a really great chicken recipe that I highly recommend you try.  The chicken is coated in a sauce made of mustard and maple syrup and then baked.  Even if you don't like mustard, you should try this because the cooking process transforms the sharp, yellow mustard sauce into something mellow and tangy and just a little bit sweet.

So, why am I talking about chicken?  What's that got to do with butternut squash soup?  You'll see.

Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice with Garlic

Boy, do I love Costco!  One of my favorite things to buy there is the Seeds of Change organic quinoa and brown rice that comes in a microwavable pouch.  Healthy, delicious and ready in 90 seconds!

Lately I've given up processed foods, especially prepared side dishes that come in a box or a pouch.  (I explain why in this post.)  But this is a rare exception.

Check the label -- every ingredient is actual, recognizable food, except for a bit of soy emulsifier.  And though I try to avoid soy, I'm not going to flip out about the small amount in a product I enjoy in moderation.  Especially when it comes with quinoa and brown rice and garlic and onion and parsley.... yum!

(I am not in any way affiliated with this brand.  Nor was I compensated for this review.  I just think this stuff is good!)

Picnic, Potluck or Party Perfect

It's summertime!

Time for church picnics, weekend barbecue potlucks, lazy Sunday brunches, and nights when you just don't want to turn on your stove!  What we all need this time of year is a good recipe for a healthy and tasty dish you can   cook up fast,   take on the road,  and serve up without a care.
I've got just the thing:  a hearty, delicious and picnic-worthy salad.  

Garlic Herb Vinaigrette

I don't know why I bother making homemade salad dressing.  You can easily buy bottled salad dressing at any grocery store and probably some gas stations.  Sure, it's expensive.  And yes, a lot of dressings have terrible, unhealthy ingredients, but you can figure out which ones are healthy (ish) by reading all the nutrition labels.  And so what if everybody only wants Ranch all the time -- it's not my job to expand other people's palate preferences.

And making salad dressing at home is a complicated process of dumping 4 or 5 ingredients into a bowl and blending them......

Okay, I DO know why I make my own clean and healthy salad dressing at home.  If you've never tried it, a good place to start is with a simple (but delicious!) herb vinaigrette.  It's easy.

Chesapeake Baked Cod

I mostly love to cook, but sometimes it can be a drag.  There.  I said it.  I used to know what to do about that:   Don't feel like cooking?  Frozen lasagna it is.  Forgot to go shopping?  Grab a box of "Helper" from the pantry and make do.  REALLY don't feel like botheringing?  Let's get a pizza or a bucket of chicken.

Well, I don't have those options any more because I made the commitment over a year ago to eliminate processed foods from my family's diet.  That means no cans, no boxes, no jars, no pre-assembled anything.  If I don't know what's in it, we don't eat it.  And the only way to know what's in it is to make it yourself.

It has been an adjustment.  Early on, I felt like I spent 72% of my life either chopping, cooking or cleaning up after all that chopping and cooking!  But it's not so bad any more.  Partly I have gotten used to the new way of doing things.  Partly I have found new and better strategies for putting a healthy meal on the table when I'm more in the mood to hit the "good old" burger drive-through.