tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25858103446949612542024-03-12T21:19:48.808-07:00joannalina cooksan amateur's kitchen adventuresJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-41948880525890412522010-07-03T19:49:00.001-07:002010-07-03T20:12:21.684-07:00homemade tzatziki!
yet again, the beautiful islands are calling my name. i just ordered the culinaria:greece cookbook which is absolutely magical. i spent all day reading it and couldn't resist whipping up a little greek magic in the kitchen!!
this tzatziki (say it with me: zaaaht-zee-kee) is perfect on toasted pita bread. and it's easy to make!
tzatziki
1/2 of a cucumber
1 serving (6 oz) of plain Greek yogurtJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-62032730895454226072010-07-01T18:38:00.000-07:002010-07-03T20:19:45.631-07:00rosemary ranch chicken kabobs
these kabobs produce tender, fragrant chicken. great with a light salad or with rice and steamed broccoli.
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary (or dried)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon white sugar
5 skinless, boneless Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-79570169392082329182010-06-29T15:06:00.000-07:002010-07-03T20:23:58.730-07:00oatmeal peanut butter cookie sandwiches
doesn't this little guy look delectable? i was craving peanut butter today and that reminded me of an oft-told story about my failed attempt at making peanut butter balls. sophomore year of college, when i first started trying to cook things, i was elated at the success of the first meal i cooked for a group, (fettuccine alfredo with broccoli and garlic bread) and thought, why not try my Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-62082468784721770292010-06-28T18:04:00.000-07:002010-07-03T20:15:55.141-07:00bbq chicken pizza
would you believe that you can get away with using NO tomato sauce at all on a pizza? ok, ok, some would call it a crime...but i call it delicious.
bbq chicken pizza2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or dicedpremade pizza crustbbq sauce3/4 red bell pepper2 green onionscheddar cheese
spread bbq sauce over the entire pizza. add bell pepper and chicken. top with cheddar cheese and green Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-64097077222218922642010-06-20T16:38:00.000-07:002010-06-20T21:15:07.520-07:00black bean & cheddar soup
so i bought this bag of dried black beans the other day hoping to kick start some healthier eating. i was trying to figure out what to do with them and decided to try making a soup. i've never used dried beans before, so a few things were new to me. first of all, you have to rinse them and take out any deformed or messed up beans. then, you have to spend at least 2 hours getting them to a Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-68640963614202067872010-06-19T14:00:00.000-07:002010-07-03T20:13:10.449-07:00chicken & bell pepper tostadas
sour cream sauce:
1 cup sour cream
1.5 tbsp onion, finely chopped2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely choppedjuice of 1/2 of a lime 1 garlic clove, minced
combine ingredients at least an hour ahead of time and refrigerate, covered.
guacamole:
2 avocados
1/8 cup tomato, diced
1 tbsp sour cream
juice of 1/2 of a lime
garlic salt
pepper
mash avocado in a medium bowl. mix in the rest of Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-3688012802339823132010-06-14T21:48:00.000-07:002010-06-20T12:16:32.983-07:00greek style kabobs
we were looking for a quick meal for a hot summer day, and decided to put together some basic greek ingredients together for an easy marinade.
greek style chicken kabobs4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1.5 inch pieces1 cup olive oil (depending on preference- put in enough to cover the chicken) juice of one lemon1 tbsp oregano2 garlic cloves, minced1/2 tbsp pepper1 tsp Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-37484588972151270702010-06-10T21:27:00.000-07:002010-07-03T20:19:02.150-07:00chicken rolls
these little babies include shredded chicken, matchstick carrots, celery, bell peppers, and soy sauce - seasoned with ginger and garlic. heat some vegetable oil in a pan and deep fry. after drying off on paper towels, serve them on a bed of rice with peanut or soy dipping sauce!Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-39668110860075618882010-06-05T21:28:00.000-07:002010-06-20T13:40:04.678-07:00lime paprika chicken kabobs
lime paprika chicken kabobs3 tablespoons olive oil
1.5 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 lime, juiced
1 clove garlic, minced
1.5 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4-5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1 white onion, cut into squares
1 green pepper, cut into squares
skewers
mix marinade ingredients Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-31491586193338236282010-05-30T18:46:00.000-07:002010-06-21T08:51:47.715-07:00fruit & curry chicken salad
chicken salad is one of my favorite sandwich types...it's easy to make, you can mix it up, and you can make it the night before. this chicken salad is great on croissants or with pita bread.
fruit & curry chicken salad
large can of chicken, shredded (about 1.5 cups worth)
1 stalk celery, chopped
2 tbsp white onion, chopped
1/2 small apple - peeled, cored and chopped
2 tablespoons Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-82833222610078407882010-05-25T13:09:00.000-07:002010-05-25T13:09:22.319-07:00meal planningi know, i know...long time no cook.
actually, i've been cooking. but, it's been pretty boring, as i'm getting ready to move and have basically been trying to use up everything.
in the meantime, i've been working on a little something called meal planning. not only is deciding what meals to make for the coming week efficient and money-saving: it's also a fun challenge! i've been printing out Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-43145196341692514932010-04-21T11:25:00.000-07:002010-04-21T11:25:40.520-07:00southwestern veggie tacos with cilantro lime rice
corn and black beans have always been a major food staple in my kitchen. they are both really versatile and distinctive and also healthy! when you add tomatoes and green onions, characteristic elements of southwestern food come together to make something flavorful and always colorful.
southwestern veggie tacos
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 c onion, diced
1/8 c corn
1/8 c blackJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-5626716672611736062010-04-19T16:19:00.000-07:002010-04-21T13:19:40.839-07:00easy romano rigatoni
just put this together as i try to use up what i actually have in my kitchen!! it's a jazzed up version of the roman dish, spaghetti cacio e pepe, which uses pasta, romano cheese and black pepper.
romano rigatoni
water
2/3 cup rigatoni
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 cup onions, diced
pepper
1/3 cup diced tomatoes, seasoned with basil and oregano (i used some from a can of italian Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-38195415101672593512010-04-11T22:05:00.000-07:002010-04-21T11:26:21.591-07:00bbq chicken pizza
somehow, you can never go wrong with barbeque sauce. EVER!
bbq chicken pizza
2 boxes corn muffin mix (ex: jiffy, 8.5 oz each)
2 eggs
3.5 tbsp butter, melted
1.5 cups milk
1 cup corn (can be frozen)
spray on olive oil
2 tbsp olive oil
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
dash salt
dash pepper
1/2 Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-88569851976148407362010-04-06T19:25:00.000-07:002010-04-06T19:25:06.606-07:00pineapple stir fry
when my family made a trip to hawaii, we made sure to stop by the enormous pineapple plantations. maybe that's why i think "exotic" when i think of pineapples. they are one of my favorite fruits...sweet, juicy, and with a little tang. that must be why they go so well with just about anything, especially stir fry.
pineapple stir fry
1 serving brown rice
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup red bell Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-47452436996172278502010-03-21T14:07:00.000-07:002010-04-12T20:32:24.371-07:00honey ginger stir frywhat i love about stir fry is that the options are endless! you can basically pick your veggies, meat, and sauce and every time it will be different. one time i was just throwing random things in (like honey for example, which i think confused some people) and out came this tangy, crunchy, and sweet dish.
honey ginger stir fry
vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, diced
1/4th of a cabbage, cut (see Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-76777783991142109642010-03-16T20:26:00.000-07:002010-04-12T20:27:00.128-07:00everything tortilla soupi basically lived on this my sophomore year of college when we had a kitchen...it was the first recipe i made up on my own! it keeps really well, too!
everything tortilla soup
1 clove garlic, minced
vegetable oil
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 cup carrots, sliced or diced
1/2 onion, diced
2 medium sized potatoes, diced
1 can black beans, rinsed thoroughly (at least 3 times)
1 can corn (pour Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-12853279557546694422010-03-02T16:37:00.000-08:002010-03-22T09:05:30.249-07:00six layer tiramisu
the first tiramisu i tried was in cinque terre, italy, with my study abroad travel buddies. in such a rugged, open natural park, my remembrance of the food is, similarly, straightforward, classic, and for that reason simply stunning. tiramisu is just that: elegant without being pretentious.
for one of our reunion dinners, i decided to try and whip up a quality serving. most recipes are made Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-55553053030426004822010-02-21T20:48:00.000-08:002010-03-21T21:52:49.513-07:00fruit and nut salad with brie and citrus viniagrette
i love using fruit in salads! pears are especially versatile. they have a sweetness that can temper a nice vinaigrette dressing, but also a gentle tartness that keeps a salad from becoming a dessert.
add in some sunflower seeds, which are always a great addition to a salad, and you've got a healthy, yummy salad indeed.
fruit and nut salad
1 head of lettuce
1/4 cup almonds, slivered
1/3 cup Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-39274317060093579782010-02-21T20:21:00.000-08:002010-03-21T22:04:05.641-07:00lemon basil tortellini salad
this pasta was a merger of two food experts, italy and greece. tortellini, the great stuffed pasta, hails from italy and is often served with cream sauce or soup. i have always liked tortellini, even by itself, but my love forever deepened when i discovered its comforting properties brought out by a ham and cream sauce on a rainy day in venice. on the other hand, the marinade for the chicken is Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-64530350743118781722010-02-15T18:56:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:57:38.230-08:00chicken wrap adventures part 1
a tale of two chicken wraps!
chipotle chicken rolls
2 chicken breasts, shredded
5 green onions, sliced and chopped
1/5 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 garlic clove, minced
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, finely chopped (or use chipotle salsa if you don't want it to be too spicy)
dash salt
dash pepper
6 sheets phyllo dough
spray on olive oil or butter
mix everything together in a bowl. Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-78487423655700110182010-02-13T18:02:00.000-08:002010-02-21T18:03:42.652-08:00guacamole dipguacamole dip
1 avocado
1.5 tsp lime juice
dash salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 can Rotel diced tomatoes, drained
mash up the avocado, then mix all the other ingredients in. makes enough for about 3 to munch on as a snack!Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-28500165180571546412010-02-11T22:51:00.000-08:002010-02-17T15:19:22.559-08:00raspberry fudge brownies just in time for valentine's day! Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-62095495306496610752010-02-10T15:01:00.000-08:002010-02-17T15:18:53.513-08:00biscotti
i love biscotti. usually i really enjoy baking sweets but don't often eat a lot of them...i like to give them away. but biscotti to me are nice and toasty and go well with coffee or hot chocolate. and, they're not too sweet. so i don't always give them away. :) they can also have a great variety of ingredients like the following:
white chocolate chips
macademia nuts
almonds
--> Joannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2585810344694961254.post-80134438268324947062010-01-21T15:20:00.000-08:002010-01-31T12:37:22.320-08:00you fool night
there's something comforting about desserts made with fruit. add sugar to that and we have a winner! my friend uses the expression "you fool!" all the time. (in a jesting manner, don't worry.) in honor of her, and our 1 year anniversary since leaving to study abroad, i hosted a "you fool" anniversary dessert party, where we made an english dessert that goes back to the 1600s called fool. it onlyJoannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07056880614823708068noreply@blogger.com0