Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip

There are many  versions of “Buffalo Chicken” dip… and if you’ve ever had it… it can be quite addicting!  This is my version of that dip… which I like to make with ranch dressing (because I’m not a huge fan of blue cheese). Because you can use pantry ingredients (including a can of Costco/Kirkland cooked [...]

Korean Seafood Pancake (Haemul Pajeon)

Haemul Pajeon (Korean Seafood Pancake)

Here’s a tasty Korean snack recipe… “Haemul Pajeon” or “Korean Seafood Pancake“.  This delicious savory pancake is prepared with a simple batter, mixed seafood, and chopped green onions – gently pan-fried until crispy and served with a sesame-soy dipping sauce.  It’s a great dish to eat when it’s cold and rainy out (so it’s perfect [...]

Homemade Refrigerator Pickles: Spicy Dill & Garlic Cucumber

Homemade pickles

I love pickles…. especially the salty and sour kind!  Kosher dill pickles, cornichons, giardineira, Japanese umeboshi… they’re all good.  If you like pickles too, they are quite easy to make – simple refrigerator pickles can be made to taste (you can make them with all kinds of flavors and spices… whatever you like), and are [...]

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Pecans: Healthy Fall Snacks

Pumpkin Pie Spiced Pecans

Now that Halloween is approaching, store shelves are filled with all kinds of sugary candies and chocolates. (There is a reason why this is my favorite time of year…)  I love chocolate… but right now I’m trying to be a little bit more healthy and not indulge in candy/chocolate ALL of the time.  (Moderation!)  I [...]

Jalapeño Nacho Cheese Sauce Dip

Jalapeno Nacho Cheese Sauce

Here’s my quick and easy Nacho Cheese Sauce dip recipe.  It’s made with simple ingredients that you probably already have at home… butter, flour, milk, and cheese… spiced up with a  jalapeño pepper.  (If you prefer less spicy, you can omit the jalapeño or substitute the  jalapeño with 2 T. diced mild green chiles or your favorite salsa.) [...]

Coca Cola Chicken

Coca Cola Chicken

Here’s an easy weeknight dinner idea – a one pot recipe for chicken drumsticks or thighs.  For appetizers, this recipe also works well with chicken wings or drumettes.  You could substitute with chicken breast for a leaner meal – but I like using dark meat for the best flavor (and because dark meat doesn’t dry [...]

Fresh Tomato and Roasted Garlic Salsa

Fresh Tomato and Roasted Garlic Salsa

I have a potted jalapeno plant out on the patio – despite my neglect, this plant has produced so many jalapenos that I don’t know what to do with them.  So this week, I decided to try to make recipes to use them up – and I was craving chips and salsa.  I had plenty [...]

Avocado Tomato & Basil Tartine

Avocado Tomato and Basil Tartine

There is a small restaurant chain here in San Diego called “Swami’s Cafe.”  We’ve been going there a lot lately, as I’ve become addicted to their “Forked Avocado & Herbs on Toast” and their “Acai Smoothie Bowl“.  Their food is so unique – fresh and healthy – but really tasty and flavorful.  If you ever [...]

Homemade Mini Quiche Appetizers (quick microwave recipe)

Mini Quiche Appetizers

With several holidays just around the corner… Halloween, Thanksgiving… and all the December holidays… many of us may need appetizer recipes that are easy to prep and serve.  Mini quiches are the answer!  You can make the tart shells for these mini quiches a few days ahead of time, then add whatever ingredients you have [...]

Homemade Mini Tart Shells (How to make tartlet shells)

Homemade Mini Tarts

This past weekend, I was browsing at the UTC Williams-Sonoma store, and saw a bunch of really cool baking pans and gadgets that I wanted to get.  What really caught my eye was a Tartlet Baking Set… it’s a non-stick tartlet pan (it looks like the tart version of a muffin pan) that comes with a [...]