This meal right here speaks to me on so many levels… Because it reminds me of my childhood. In case you didn’t know from following me on Social Media and this blog, I am Hungarian born in Romania. I am very lucky to have grown up enjoying the wonderful cuisines of both of these neighboring countries. Many of the dishes are the same and some are completely different and special in their own ways. This Hungarian Stew recipe is inspired by all the variations of stew that I grew up with. What’s so special about this stew? It’s that Hungarian paprika and the memories it brings. Paprika is a staple…
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Cranberry Apple Muffins
Fall is upon us, my friends! It is my favorite season of them all. Why? Because I love the cooler temperatures, open windows, long sessions of stove top cooking, baking, and all the spices and aromas that come with the season. Give me all the cinnamon, apples, pumpkins and these seasonal Cranberry Apple Muffins. I’m a sucker for it all. This easy muffin recipe is perfect to awaken your fall senses. The apples, cinnamon and cranberries make a great satisfying mix and are great for on the go eating. These are ideal for a quick breakfast especially when warmed up a tad with a touch of butter. Yum! Because butter…
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Cauliflower Gnocchi with Sage Butter and Meatballs
If you haven’t tried Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi yet, it is time that you do. Trust me on this. They are $2.69 per package and just enough for my husband and I for a meal. Did I mention that they are delicious?? A piece of advice: I would pick up a couple of packages of Cauliflower Gnocchi when you are there because the stores tend to run out of them often. Thanks Trader Joe’s for yet another awesome meal. Cook them as per the stove-top directions on the packaging. But you have to be patient with these guys. If you rush it and remove them too quickly, they will be mushy and not…
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Pickled Onions and Avocados
It’s Taco Tuesday, you guys and it’s not a feast without Pickled Onions… This doesn’t mean too much to me, because I could eat tacos, nachos, enchiladas, tamales, burritos, etc., on any day of the week. And how lucky am I to live in the Detroit area where Mexican or Latin American inspired cuisine is so delicious and most importantly, it is so authentic.Are you looking for recommendations in Detroit? Message me and i’ll send you a list of places to check out. In the meantime, let’s focus on these delicious Pickled Onions and Avocados.. For today, my plan is to make tacos or nachos for dinner; maybe even enchiladas.…
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Zucchini Bread with Chia Seeds and Almonds
Happy Friday, friends!! What a perfect and rainy day to do some summer baking. I have been working on perfecting this Zucchini Bread recipe this spring. I made several versions of it, with different ingredients, and this Chia Almond version won. It is so delicious, seasonal and on the healthier side. I made it with only 1/2 cup of sugar and added coconut oil instead of generic oil. The addition of the Chia Seeds and raw almond slices, give it a nice texture. I sprinkled the top with Domino Honey Granules and more almonds to give it a nice sweet, crunchy crust. The zucchini keeps the inside nice and moist…
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Panna Cotta with Fruit Topping
Panna Cotta is such an easy dessert to make and it is so tasty. Trust me, when i say that your dinner, lunch, brunch or breakfast guests will be impressed with this one. Prep ahead of time and serve whenever you want. All you need is a few ingredients and a little time; by little, I mean 15-20 minutes of prep and about 2 hours of resting in the fridge. In a blink you for yourself a fancy dessert; Panna Cotta with Fruit Topping. There are many ways you could infuse this simple recipe with an array of flavors. I like it plain and I also like it with a…
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The Brunch Edition
This brunch came together due to the rainy, icy Sunday we had last week. Thank you, Spring! In a way I’m thankful but then I’m not. This ugly weather canceled our plans for the day and we were confined, yet again, to the house. What’s better than spending the day cooking and eating?? Especially when you’re in the house with all your loves and you have delicious mimosas and beermosas flowing… Not a whole lot, right?! In comes The Brunch Edition. Everyone loves brunch! I even got my husband to love brunch. When we first met he proclaimed that he didn’t eat breakfast, EVER. I was shocked as I love…
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Poppy Seed Pancakes with Lemon
Happy weekend, friends! When your kids ask for pancakes for breakfast you don’t deny them. You make them and then reward yourself with a couple, or five. These Poppy Seed Pancakes with Lemon are to die for. Of course my kids did not eat these as they prefer their pancakes plain with syrup. So scratch the poppy seeds in this recipe for a batch of plain delicious pancakes. I love anything with Poppy Seeds so much. My obsession started when I was growing up in Eastern Europe. It’s a very popular dessert filling especially around the holidays. So I found this Poppy Seed Pastry Filling at my local Kroger.…
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Red Lentil Soup
Hello, Spring? Where are you? I love winter, but definitely don’t love winters into April. I guess soup season is still in full swing, so warm up with this Red Lentil Soup. It’s a good way to end soup season; on a high note! The spices in this recipe will take over your kitchen, in a wonderful way, and they will warm you right up. Trust me! I used Turmeric, Coriander and Cumin Seed from Spice Islands, Chipotle Chili Pepper from McCormick, Fenugreek Seeds from Frontier Co-op, Bay leaves from Private Selection and Black Mustard Seeds from Amazon. I made this batch and my husband and I ate it fresh that evening, topped with crunchy…
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Harissa Chicken and Carrot Salad with Yogurt Sauce
I came home from work today without any dinner plans. I opened my fridge and had chicken thighs out that needed to be cooked. Here’s what I came up with: I was going for something easy, flavorful and light. I am a huge fan of chicken thighs and this marinade is perfect for them. The cast iron skillet gives them a nice flavorful crust too. Yum! The carrot salad is refreshing. The ACV, tarragon, garlic and the cayenne pepper make a great mix. Add the red onions and the carrots and you got yourself a nice crunchy bite. The garlicky yogurt sauce brings everything together very nicely. The addition of…
