NorCal Happenings

Oh, how I love asparagus.  I have two and a half ways that I generally make it.  The prep is the same for all.  Cut off the bottom fibrous...

I know this one is super easy too, but it is delicious and I hate to risk forgetting about it, so here is what I do. Get a loaf of "...

So the kids and I visited Grandma and Aunt Kat in early June, and Grandma had a panini press that I fell in  love with.  Christopher and I...

This one is almost more of a chili than a soup.  It is sort of similar to the Chicken version but a nice change every once in a while.   ...

So my friend Nicole gave me the idea for this one, and she claims that she "doesn't cook," so they are super easy and yet su...

This is so easy that it almost isn't even worth writing a "recipe" for, but since I use this blog mostly for my own reference...

So my sister Kat made these for Christmas at least a year ago, and has ben telling me to try them ever since.  I don't know why I never...

I know this seems simple, but I don't boil eggs often enough to remember, so I always go back to the StartCooking video.  I just thou...

ABC Move and Match Game Jack Sprat - Healthy Food Game Jack Be Nimble - Candlestick Game Fisher-Price Preschool Games

Pork Carnitas 3-4 pounds pork shoulder roast 1 4-oz can diced green chilies 1 small can chipotle peppers in adobo if you like the heat-...

  This is super easy and very yummy.  It's nice to have a few offerings of pies- one banana cream, one chocolate, etc...  When that hap...

I struggled to find a pretty picture of goulash and I don't really even think I succeeded here- BUT it did taste pretty yummy.  I thin...

This can be used to make pizza or calzones, or probably breadsticks.  It has to sit in the fridge for 8-24 hours though, so you need to pl...

This is a perfect base for Pineapple Upside Down cake, or you can use it as a short cake and add fresh fruit and whipped cream.  Yellow ...

This seems like a good Christmas party cake- it feels very seasonal.  Of course, I ate it yesterday on a warm May day and it was fabulous.  ...

Chocolate Cake 1 C. water 1 C. butter 3/4 C. cocoa 2 C. flour 2 C. sugar 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2 eggs 1/2 C. milk 1 tsp. vanill...

Cinnamon Bread (or Regular Rolls or Cinnamon Rolls or Pockets) - 1/2 C. butter - 1/2 C. sugar - 1 Tbsp (packet) of Yeast in 1 C. luk...

Christopher loves these and asked that next time, I save a strawberry so that I can garnish it like this photo.  I have friends who say tha...

My lovely sister Kat told me that she was in a doctor's office waiting room and some magazine said that it had THE best brownie recipe e...

Grilled Tri-Tip with a Teriyaki Glaze Tri Tip roast, looks like a big triangular slab of meat when you buy it.  Montreal Grill Seasoning...

This was inspired by the Melting Pot's "Original" dessert fondue.  It is AMAZING. Peanut Butter Chocolate Fondue 1 C. (6 oz)...

This is my ALL TIME favorite dessert ever.  My mom makes them in double and quadruple batches, and they never make it to the 24 hour mark. ...

So I am now a dressing snob.  I like the Brianna's brand A LOT.  Lots of success so far with both the Blush Wine Vinegairette and now...

I found this recipe years ago and only this weekend finally got around to trying it.  Very easy and very good, and I think you could add to ...

This is from my teacher friend, when I asked her why some cookies are super flat.  Yummy, but flat. :-) Okay, so there could be a couple o...

These are an attempt at the thumbprints that they make at the SoCal chain, Bristol Farms .  They are definitely better from there, but these...

Ever wonder what it sounds like to get cussed out by a baby? Check this out! (For the record, I am a good mom and picked her up after the vi...

To convert: One 6 oz. can of tomato paste to tomato sauce, add one cup (8 oz.) of water, then use the amount you need and freeze the rest!...

Hereis a short list of wines that I like, that are also easy on the budget: Concannon Chardonnay, Grocery Store, Under $10 Barefoot Chard...

This is adapted from a Pampered Chef recipe.  I made it last week and it went over well, and it was super-easy to do with ground turkey that...

My wonderful neighbor made a batch of this granola, and I don't think I will buy pre-made granola ever again.  This is so easy and so de...

These are super easy to make and usually we have the ingredients on hand.  If you have an unexpected guest sleep over, you can whip these up...

In my former meat-eating days, I was NEVER a meat loaf person.  But I made this and it was REALLY really good, pretty easy and very satisfyi...

This is a cool little tool that my sister sent me.  It is called " Dinner in 15 Minutes Flat " and you choose your main meal compo...

OK, I am going to have a new baby in a couple of weeks and I need to have a list of things to make that require no thawing or planning ahead...

This morning Christopher and I went to the Silliman Swim Center in Newark. It was about half an hour from San Ramon, off of the same exit as...

This is another easy slow cooker recipe. Serves great with chips or a green salad or corn on the cob. It is also perfect for a party, becaus...

This is one of the very easiest recipes ever and still very tasty, sort of like a donut hole bite but better. And did I mention it is easy? ...

So my friend made me some "going away" cupcakes before my last day of student teaching, and she used Chocolate Fudge cake mix for...

This is a great recipe to use up leftover shredded chicken or beef. You can also fill the enchiladas with cheese or canned chicken if you re...

This is such a basic recipe, but SO good to have on a cold weekend night. The trick seems to be in two things: browning the meat first, and ...

We made these at school a few weeks ago and they were SO good, especially after cooling for a day or two. You can garnish with chocolate chi...

These are the ways that I know to cook tilapia . I buy the bag of frozen tilapia loins from Costco and thaw for a few hours (or overnight)...

OK, this bread was amazing. It is fairly involved, I had to get out the food processor and had three bowls going at the same time. I spilled...

So I made this today, for Superbowl Sunday, and I lost count of how many bowls I have had. It is very healthy and very tasty, so a good comb...