Black Bean and Quinoa Burger

Ingredients Burger: 1/3 cup quinoa (cook according to package instructions) 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed well) 1/2 cup bread crumbs Half bell pepper (any color) 1 large egg 1/4 onion (yellow or red) 1-2 large cloves garlic, minced 1 jalapeno (optional) 1.5 tsp cumin 1 tsp salt (or more to taste) 1 teaspoon cholula or hot sauce 3 tablespoons olive oil Toppings: Typical lettuce (or spinach), sliced tomatoes, thin sliced red onion, ketchup, mustard, sliced jalapenos (highly recommended), etc. Air fried onion rings are a nice touch and adds crunch Instructions Cook Quinoa according to package instructions Use food processor (or mince really well) bell pepper, jalapeno, and onion After steps 1 and 2, mix all burger ingredients together. Should holdl together in your hand and be moist. Only add minimal water if it feels too dry. Use a fork and smash all the beans to make them more paste like. Then, mix and mash everything together with your hands and make 4 burgers (aim to have the thickness even throughout, as they cook better). Prep skillet with olive oil and heat up. Reduce heat to medium or medium low and lay 4 patties. Cook on one side until patties are somewhat firmer together (~10 minutes or so). Be patient and if you flip too early you will have crumbles!!! If you wait long enough, use spatula carefully and flip on other side to cook another 10 minutes or so. After cooking both sides should be very brown/black and stay together reasonably well.

July 15, 2026

Corn Cheddar Chowder

Ingredients 2 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, diced well Most of a head of celery (1.5 cups or so), diced small, do this well 1 tsp salt One large carrot, diced small 1 bell pepper, diced 3 cups diced potatoes (4 small, 2 large), dice small 3 cups water (no more!, maybe a smidge less for a thicker chowder) 1 tsp dried thyme 1 lb frozen corn (one package usually) 1 cup milk (almond or oat works fine) 3-4 oz cream cheese, plain 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or similar) Black pepper and salt to taste Optional, 2 tsp chopped fresh dill Saltines (to crumble and add in) Instructions Heat oil and cook onions, celery, carrots, bell pepper, and salt until soft. Add potatoes, water and thyme. Bring to simmer and cook ~20 minutes. Add corn and thyme, simmer and cook another ~5 minutes until all veggies are tender Keep simmering. Meanwhile, add two cups of soup into a blender along with milk, cream cheese, shredded cheese. Whirl until smooth Pour puree back into pot and bring back to temperature gently Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add dill. Serve with saltines or crackers Notes Do not shortchange cooking times, more if anything Don’t add too much water Crackers are key to making it a 10. By itself maybe an 8 or 9

July 15, 2026

Country Potatoes and Bravas Sauce

Ingredients 2 pounds potatoes cut into 1 inch size chunks or smaller if you want it to cook quicker Olive oil Salt Black pepper Bravas sauce ingredients (approximate, see note 2) 1 cup raw cashews (see note 1) 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp yellow mustard 1 tsp maple syrup 2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp salt 6 tbsp water Instructions Season the potatoes and then bake, or air fry, or just plain fry until cooked through. and barely crispy. You can microwave them a little first to help speed this along, otherwise with cuts that large, it takes awhile. Don’t burn them. Mix all the bravas sauce ingredients together in food processor. Serve on plate with bravas sauce lines over the potatoes. Notes:\ ...

July 15, 2026

Creamy Corn Street Tacos

Ingredients 3 cups of corn (from corn on cob (in that case boil and cook and cut off) or from frozen or can 1/4 cup mayo 2 tbsp sour cream 1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese (or fresca if that is all that is available) 2 tbsp lime juice 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp everything but the elote seasoning 2 tbsp olive oil 3 large cloves garlic minced Package of sliced portobello mushrooms ...

July 15, 2026

Creamy Mushroom Quesadillas

Ingredients Olive oil 2 cups diced well onions 1 package sliced mushrooms (12 oz) Salt to taste Pepper to taste 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp chili powder 3 oz cream cheese 1 cup shredded cheese (mexican or cheddar) Package of huge flour tortillas (need 4 of them) Salsa at the table Instructions Warm oil in skillet on medium high heat and saute onions until soft and translucent (~5 min) Stir in mushrooms, seasonings, cover and cook for a few more minutes on medium heat Uncover and continue to cook until mushroom juices have evaporated Turn off heat and stir in cheeses. Move to bowl Make quesadillas by adding 1/4 of mixture to one side of tortillas. Then fold tortilla over to make one. Do this 4 times In same skillet with a little more oil, cook quesadillas on each side until brown Serve with salsa, fresh cut tomatoes, and avocado if you have it

July 15, 2026

Easy Alfredo Pasta with Veggies and Spicy Italian Sausage

Ingredients 1 lb spicy italian sausage (or leave out if vegetarian) 1 pound long pasta (dealers choice), cook according to package directions 1 jalapeno, diced 1 large onion, diced 2-3 cloves garlic, minced 1 poblano, diced 1 zucchini, diced (optional) 1 package sliced mushrooms 4-6 ripe, fresh tomatoes (if garden size 4-6, if roma size 8) Red pepper flakes Black pepper Garlic salt Ground basil and oregano 1 jar of off the shelf alfredo sauce ...

July 15, 2026

Fettuccine with Caramelized Onions and Yogurt

Ingredients 6 cups sliced onions Salt 1/4 cup olive oil 1 lb fettuccine 2 cups yogurt, plain 1 cup grated pecorino romano cheese Black pepper to taste Instructions Slice the onions and saute in large sauce pan. Carmelize. Sprinkle with salt during process to taste. This will take 30+ minutes or so. Can add a splash of water if things start to stick and this also speeds the process Cook fettuccine in water according to package directions In large serving bowl, add 1/4 cup of hot pasta water with yogurt, stir until smooth. Add drained pasta, grated cheese, onions, and black pepper Toss everything together well and add touch more water if necessary Serve immediately

July 15, 2026

Fondue (Cheese, Broth and Chocolate)

Ingredients Ingredients Cheese: ? lb gruyere (grated), ? lb fontina (grated), ? lb gouda (grated) 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup white sauvignon blanc wine 3 cloves garlic minced 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp brandy or whiskey or cooking sherry or whatever 1 tsp mustard (dijon or stone ground) ? tsp nutmeg Ingredients Broth: 4 full heads of garlic 3 tbsp olive oil 1 onion finely chopped 1/2 cup sherry wine (or red wine) 6 cups chicken broth Salt and pepper to taste (a decent amount) Ingredients Chocolate: ...

July 15, 2026

Fresh Tomato Fettuccine with Garlic

Ingredients 1 lb fettuccine, cooked according to package directions 6 large ripe tomatoes peeled, seeded and diced 1 large cup, packed, fresh basil, chopped 1/2 cup parsley chopped ¼ cup olive oil 6 cloves of garlic minced 1 jalapeno minced and seeded Instructions Peel the tomatoes by putting in boiling water for 15 seconds, remove and cut slit in skin, and it should peel right off. Combine tomatoes, basil and parsley in a bowl. Heat oil and saute garlic and pepper until soft. Add tomato mixture to hot pan for another minute to warm up. Mix with pasta well and serve (it is best to have pasta warm and just drained prior to mixing so things come out fully warm)

July 15, 2026

Fried Rice

Ingredients 3 tablespoons butter, divided 3 large eggs, whisked 2 large carrots, peeled and diced 1 large white onion, diced 1/2 cup frozen peas 4 cloves garlic, minced salt and black pepper to taste 4 cups cooked rice (I prefer short-grain white rice) 5 green onions, thinly sliced (or just one bunch) 4 tablespoons soy sauce, or more to taste 2 teaspoons oyster sauce (optional) 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (if you have it but not required) Instructions Heat 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until melted. Add egg, and cook until scrambled, stirring occasionally. Remove egg, and transfer to a separate plate Add an additional 1 tablespoon butter to the pan and heat until melted. Add carrots, onion, peas and garlic, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until the onion and carrots are soft Increase heat to high, add in the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter, and stir until melted. Immediately add the rice, green onions, soy sauce and oyster sauce (if using), and stir until combined Continue sautéing for an additional 3 minutes to fry the rice, stirring occasionally. (let the rice rest for a bit between stirs so that it can crisp up on the bottom.) This can take longer depending on heat used and make sure to get crispy to preference but not burned Then add in the eggs and stir to combine. Remove from heat, and stir in the sesame oil until combined. Taste and season with extra soy sauce, if needed Serve immediately

July 15, 2026