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Contrary to what so many think, salads are not just for the Summer time. I personally like salad with my main meal which is dinner—I learned that from my Mom. I also learned that you don’t need too many ingredients to make a nice salad. I think that what really makes a good salad is it's dressing. Ingredients 1 cucumber 2 large tomatoes (seeded) 1 can of pineapple (in chunks) ¼
There are three (3) basic ingredients that a cook should not be without. These are: GARLIC, ONION, and SALT. The rest are flavor enhancers. With these three main ingredients your dishes should taste great. Garlic: Besides adding flavor to food, it has been used as medicine for treating different types of diseases. Onion: There are many types of onions. Personally, I prefer Spanish
Eggplant is a plant native to India. Its cultivation is quite old, for over 2,000 years. It was introduced to Africa by the Arabs and later to Europe and America by the Spanish. I learned to cook eggplant with my Mom. She made it so good! But as I learned to cook I altered the recipe a little and always look for ways to improve it. Eggplant is considered to be a fruit and
Potato skins are so good and easy to make. I’m stuffing these ones with, of course, potatoes. You can stuff them with cheese, bacon…whatever you’d like. Since this month I’m refraining from meats, I won’t be using any bacon, ham, etc.—this is completely vegetarian. If you would like a potato skins recipe with some bacon, Taylor from TaylorTaskeATaste.com has one. You can visit his site
Chai tea is originally from India. It is a century old drink but has become so popular throughout the world. People make them in many different ways. I first tried chai tea years ago, but had never made it myself. I just ordered some Cardamom and couldn’t wait to make my own chai tea. Here’s my recipe on chai tea. It is actually easier than you think. Ingredients 8 Cardamom
Looking for something different to serve on your next tailgating party? Well, look no more—here’s the recipe to a great vegetarian chili perfect for tailgating. This recipe is economical and healthy at the same time—it sure is a Winner! Ingredients 2 tablespoon olive oil ½ medium onions (chopped) 1 green bell pepper (chopped) 1 red bell pepper (chopped) 2 garlic cloves (minced)
Continuing with January as my month of “veggies only” recipe, I made another batch of veggie balls, but this time I used one of my favorite vegetables—eggplant. This is so good it should be called “meat balls.” I made a red sauce with additional vegetables and it tasted delicious. It’s amazing to know how vegetables could be made in so many different ways and still t
I find spaghetti squash to be so much fun to make and it has a great taste—it has a sweet taste to it. What a great way to trick your mind to think that you are eating spaghetti! There are many different ways of cooking spaghetti squash. Some people roast them whole; others cut them lengthwise with cut side placed down on a baking sheet with about ½” of water. Others make them in the
I've been craving for “meat balls” without the meat. I wanted to make my own original recipe and thought about using chick peas…how to make it into a ball that is firm and with rich taste. I don’t know if anyone out there has a recipe similar to this one. I know people make “veggie balls” with lentils—though I've never tried, I think that’s next on my “recipes to try nex
Veggies are good for you! Remember when your mom used to say, “Eat your vegetables--they are good for you.” Well, she happened to be right. A good portion of vegetables on daily basics does the body good. Side vegetables are great for accompanying any meal. Here’s a side vegetable with a “kick.” See, I always say that vegetables do not have to be boring. You can make
This recipe is especially dedicated to my countrymen here in the United States. A small token of our Quisqueya la Bella. I am making a plantain soup-economical and delicious! I usually give my digestive system a break from meat and poultry that we much consume during Christmas. In January I usually get on a strictly vegetable diet. For me I find it very beneficial.
Hummus is a Middle Eastern food that has made its way to other parts of the world such as, you guessed it!—America. Hummus is made with garbanzo beans or (chick peas), and with Tahini paste (paste made from sesame seeds.) It is commonly used for dipping; I like to cut pita bread in triangles and spread around the plate; you might like toast the pita bread also. This is a type of food
Mashed potatoes do not have to be boring or lacking flavor. I like to make mashed potatoes from time to time, but I like to add a little flavor, like lots of roasted garlic cloves. Garlic is a vegetable (bulb) that gives very good taste to any dish. There are different types of garlic--white, pink, purple, long, etc., (I prefer white garlic.) It has been said that garlic has medicinal p
On a cold day like today, I like a cup of warm soup to warm my soul. I love tomato soup but don’t make it from scratch very often, and I guess because this is a meal that you just don’t always plan to make. I always like to have a can of soup in my pantry for “just in case.” I like to accompany the soup with a grilled cheese. I use three slices of bread and put a slice of cheese betw
It is a tradition in my family to bring to the table ham as part of our new year’s dinner. And this year was no different. I'm cooking a delicious glazed ham! Ham is a cut of a leg of an animal, usually pork. In the United States, most of the ham is sold either smoked or cured, so the sodium content is a little high unless otherwise specified in the package. So never, ever add salt to ham. W
I made this cake at the request of the mother with the decorations of "monster trucks." She wanted the toy trucks for decorating the cake so that they kid could play with the toys after the cake was finished. To attach the trucks to the cake I forced a piece of Styrofoam below the frame, and then adjusted it with toothpicks. By putting the Styrofoam, this also prevents the whe
I was so excited to make my gingerbread houses. I got my gingerbread cookie cutters on eBay from R&M International. The cutters also come with gingerbread cookie dough. I didn't like this recipe at all. I used the recipe found on sweetoppia.net. I bought a few bags of candy to build my “house,” nothing fancy since I didn't want to spend too much mon
Showing some samples of some the cookies I baked for gift-giving. They were very beautiful and were rather easy to make. The red color is bright and festive. You can make this recipe for the cookies, and use this recipe for the royal icing for the decoration. Time for a little break and then I'll get to make gingerbread houses. Do not miss the next post in this blog t
And now, even more cookies! Here are more designs on sugar cookies or Christmas cookies or cookies for any occasions. Simplicity is the key to create these cookies. If you are baking a whole bunch of them, then you wouldn't want to spend too much time decorating, and since I am pressed for time I am taking the easier decorating way.
Since Christmas ornaments come in many colors, I decided to make the Christmas cookies also in many colors. With a simple recipe for cookies that you can see here, and also simple recipe for royal icing, and a golden color you can also create these nice cookies you see here. One of the tips I used was the #16 which is to make shells and flowers. You can use any tip to mak
Finally, I got to finish all my Christmas cookies. I’m packing them and putting them in tins that I bought at the Dollar Store in my town for a buck each. Instead of using the plastic bags, I thought that the tins can be used for a longer period of time. They come in all colors and with Christmas designs. One of our family’s Christmas traditions is to go to New York Cit
There is no right or wrong way of marbling cookies! I have been very busy baking cookies and really don’t have a whole lot of time to decorate them as pretty as I would like to. One simple way that I find that is fast and pretty is doing the marble effect in cookies decoration. The marble effect is done using multiple colors. To acquire the marble effect on a cookie
My kids know that I am fascinated with the Jewish culture and some of their traditions; sometimes they even tease me about it in a good and fun way, and I don’t mind at all. One of my dreams is to some day visit Israel, and visit the sites where Jesus walked. My daughter Grace sent me a pre-Christmas gift which I was allowed to open way before Christmas. To my surprise, it was a kit f
Well, you can already feel the Christmas spirit is in the air. Christmas, my favorite season! Possibly because it is the season when we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I like cooking more than usual during Christmas time because our family always gets together and share together. One of the things I enjoy doing are the Christmas sugar cookies. Look how e
I was planning my Thanksgiving meal, when these guys showed up. I said, If only they knew what’s coming! I first saw them at sweetopia.net when I received a post notification from Marian the blog owner and expert on cookies decorating. They are adorable and make nice gifts as well. I am making a whole bunch of them for the family on Thanksgiving. I know my family will love them! Also,
Serve this festive fall drink at Thanksgiving Dinner. It is light and refreshing, and not too sweet. Made with pomegranate juice, this one is a keeper. I found the recipe on the myrecipe.com site. Ingredients 1/2 cup peeled, chopped fresh ginger 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 cups water 4 cups pomegranate juice 4 cups pineapple juice 6 cups ginger ale Preparation Combine
Nothing beats the warmth of a hot butternut squash soup during winter time. Yummy! I’ve been wanting to make butternut squash soup for days; Went to the market the other day and there was only one left and it did not look good. Went back a few days after and got me a good looking one. Since I am no expert in the matter, I went to the experts and found the following a
Thanksgiving without gravy? Bite your tongue! Basic turkey gravy Ingredients About 2 cups of turkey drippings that has been skimmed (reserve 3 tablespoon of turkey fat) 3 tablespoons Turkey fat (that has been reserved) About ¼ cup all-purpose flour Salt and pepper to taste Preparation In a small saucepan, combine flour and fat. Mix until smooth. Stir in drippings 2 cups of dr
Preparing a turkey is not a hard thing to do. Just remember that turkey can get dry very quickly and to baste it is essential. Use a seasoning mixture to rub on the turkey cavity as well as the outside. Some people rub butter on the outside to keep the breast moist and not dry; I use olive oil. This turkey in this picture is for the soup kitchen that I volunteer. We are cookin
The green bean casserole is also one of Thanksgiving Day Meal favorite. This recipe is on the back of the box of French's Fried French Onions which is also an ingredient used in making the green beans casserole. Look how easy it is.! Thanksgiving Menu Turkey/Ham Gravy Green beans casserole Stuffing Candied Yams (make ahead of time Cranberry sauce (make ahead of time) Apple
How can we cut down in our grocery budget without compromising taste and quality? Be smart when grocery shopping. Make your own stuff if at all possible! There are many ways to save money and stay within our budget when grocery shopping. One way is to try to make your own food if at all possible. Here’s one food that you can make, save a whole lot, and it’s home-made. It is so simp
This morning I woke up wanting a bowl of oatmeal. I love oatmeal, and I always keep in our pantry a box of instant oatmeal as well as the old fashioned one. One of the most pleasant memories of my childhood is watching my mother as she cooked oatmeal the old fashion way. She prepared it with milk and lemon peel and cinnamon sticks which she would then remove after the oatmeal was done.
Stuffing is one of our favorite side-dishes at our table on Thanksgiving. I make my stuffing with ground beef. One of the reasons that I use ground beef is that I think it adds texture and flavor. Also, since there are people who don’t like turkey, at least they could get some protein from the stuffing. There are so many varieties of stuffing recipes, and each cook adds his or her sp
Today’s recipe is a recipe for cranberry sauce that is very easy to do. Thanksgiving Menu Turkey/HamGravyGreen beans casseroleStuffingCandied Yams (make ahead of timeCranberry sauce (make ahead of time)Apple pie (make ahead of time)Fruit punch (make ahead of time) Although opening a can of cranberry jelly is easier than making it from scratch, it will never taste like a homemade sauce w
Continuing with the menu for a hassle-free Thanksgiving meal, our next recipe is Apple Pie, and it comes from a video-recipe found in the FoodNetwork site hosted by Bobby Flay at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/apple-pie-recipe/index.html. This series of posts will be dedicated to preparing a Thanksgiving meal. This menu will include: Turkey/Ham Gravy Green be
Hello, everyone . Hope all of my readers are okay. My town was affected by hurricane Sandy. No power, no Internet. Will be posting again next weekend.
Check out my friend Sandra's blog for Table Settings. Also, see the video to set up a nice Thanksgiving table. I have to warn you, you will be in Sandra's blog for a while, she is so talented in setting tables you will be amazed at how beautiful she makes things look. Quick Tips and Video for Table Settings
Can you believe it? Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays (my favorite being Christmas), but with all the preparation, planning, cooking, we may well forget why we celebrate it. Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks for all that we have—our family, loved ones, friends, possessions, etc. It is also a time to remember the less fortunate and
Preparing a Thanksgiving meal should not be a stressful one. If you are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this years, here are some tips that can help you prepare a hassle free dinner on Thanksgiving or any other day. 1. Do not get overwhelmed by the thought of cooking a “Thanksgiving meal". Instead, treat it as you would any other meal. 2. Keep it simple. Do not go overboard in the cooking
I was reading at my dinner table this evening, and couldn't help noticing how beautiful this centerpiece looks. It is the perfect centerpiece for autumn—it makes me feel cozy and warm inside. This centerpiece is very easy and inexpensive to make. I always move it from place to place depending on the mood I’m in. I sometimes place it over my dining table, other times
Zebra effect is a nice and easy technique that can be added to enhance and make a different look without having to put a lot of decorations on the cake. The stripes-like effect is all you need besides a nice border, for a fun and chic look. I like to do this effect because it’s a time-saver, and it looks different and not boring at all. You can do the stripes in different colors (not
Hi, everyone Just to let you know that my blog post "Vanilla Cake for Baby Shower with Animals Theme" was just featured on Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake. Thanks, Cakes We Bake
I decided to surprise our son Joel with a dark chocolate cake covered with peanut butter icing. He loves both chocolate and peanut butter. He also owns a motorcycle, so I decided to make a cake top as a motorcycle. Even though our children are grown and some are even married with kids, my husband and I always cut a cake for their birthdays. This is a tradition that started when our first ch
Next week is going to be my grandson Michael’s 1st year birthday. My daughter has been making all the preparation for Michael’s birthday party. I am making cookie-pops with the face of our favorite mouse, Mickey Mouse. I am making them in the colors of the party. Since I love this sugar cookies recipe so much, I am making it for these cookies as well. This is the same sugar cookies rec
My friend Jackie asked me to make a cake for her daughter’s baby shower, and of course, I was thrilled to do it. Her daughter is having a baby boy and he is going to be named Noah, as in Noah’s ark. The theme was, of course, animals—lots of them. I decided to make the cake to match the theme of the animals. I took one of the invitation cards, scanned all the cute animals, printed
My cake Enchanted Pumpkin Patch Castle has been featured in Cakes We Bake site. Thanks, Cake We Bake.
Have you ever visited a castle? If you answered no, then we both have something in common. I was presented with this challenge with less than a week to make it. The castle itself is not hard to make, it’s the waiting time that makes it a longer process to achieve the end result. I would suggest that you give yourself a good two weeks just to make sure that all parts are well “glued” t
My post Autumn Cookies was featured in today's Top 9 on 9-21-2012! This morning I got up to this great news from FoodBuzz "Congratulations! Your post is featured on today's DailyBuzz Food Top 9: Fall Baking Kickoff You may have heard that Foodbuzz is becoming DailyBuzz Food. We're showcasing the best food content from the independent web, and are th
Good News! For those of you who do not know, this blog Yolanda’s Cakes, Cookies & More is also written in Spanish under Yolanda’s Cakes, Galletitas y Mas. This morning I received an email, which I would like to share with my all my readers in both of my blogs. The email was from Natalia, of Paperblog, communicating to me that I have been selected as Author of the Day for 9-20-2012. Paperblo
Ahhhh, the colors of autumn! During the first weeks of autumn, I would get a blue about the changing of the season. It all began when my kids started attending school. I would get sad that my kids had to go back to school, after spending the summer time with them at home. But as the season went on, and with Thanksgiving just around the corner and so forth, I would start to get happy
