Stromboli with Salami and Cheese

Stromboli is a type of turnover filled with various meats, such as salami, prosciutto, coppa, vegetables, and cheese, typically mozzarella. You can use any variety of ingredients of your preference for the filling. This is great to serve on a picnic or a light brunch. Enjoy!

Quinoa Maki Rolls with Orange Ginger Sauce

Lately I've been using Quinoa as an alternative to rice in my meals. Quinoa are the seeds from a flowering plant that is grown primarily for it's edible seeds. When cooked it has a light fluffy texture with a mild nutty flavor. I've been using it on salad for a light and satisfying meal.

I found some seasoned seaweed in the pantry--and an idea came to mind! I could use some of my leftover quinoa instead of rice when I make sushi. I thought to myself, what a genius idea, until I Googled and found tons of sushi roll using quinoa as a substitue for rice. Oh well, I am not going to be disheartened by the fact that I wasn't the first to think of it, what is it they say, "great minds think alike." Most importantly is that this is my version and I love it.

Pistachios Wafers with Sesame Seed Crust

I have every other Friday off, and with the weather still a bit to cool to start serious gardening, I've devoted my time to trying some new recipes. The cold weather puts me in the mood for savory dishes, and I have found a wonderful cookbook that has may wonderful and inspiring recipes. I've come up with a variation of one of Mary Cech's wonderful recipes, a pistachio wafer. In asian cooking, sesame seeds are quite common and it struck me that this would make not only a good substitute, but give the recipe a bit of an asian influence. This recipe is not for the sweet-tooth, however it is great to serve plain or paired with other condiments, such as cheese or fruit chutney.

Savory Butternut Squash Soufflé

Winter still has its icy gripe on the weather around here, and I am in the mood for recipe that includes winter squash. As you might have noticed by now, I can't just boil a vegetable and call it a meal. Earlier this year I ran across a recipe that includes butternut squash, but with a twist. Imagine a souffle, but with the flavors of squash, cheese and savory herbs. I've adapted this recipe from Savory Baking with some minor changes. 

Remy's Ratatouille/Confit Byaldi

Bell peppers in vibrant colors of red, orange, and yellow were on sale at our local grocery store. They are just 99 cents a pound--such a deal! This is wonderful, as I wanted to make something light with vegetables for dinner tonight. These luscious and plump peppers inspired me to make a classic recipe made famous by Remy.

Grilled Tuna Steak with Mango Salsa and Sweet Potato Sticks

Today it's my day off and the car in the workshop. I have all the time to pick up on my knitting and prepare a nice lunch for John. I have some lemons that I picked from an abandoned office lot. The tree is no taller than me and it's abundant with fruits all year round--it puts my gardening skills to shame. Well, so much for the lemon story.

Grilled Sardines with Caramelized Onions

When one think of sardines, the canned version often comes to mind. They are the ones in oblong or round tin cans flavored in oil or tomato sauce. Sardine or Pilchards are small oily fish. They have high levels of Omega-3 and a good source of healthy nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium. When I was a teenager, we used to make sardine sandwiches for our school lunch. Today, I am going to grill them and serve on caramelized onions with a twist of lemon.