Oatmeal Blueberry Pancakes

What did you make?

I made some half flour and half oatmeal pancakes with blueberries! I followed a standard recipe that said it was possible to substitute up to half the flour with oats or whole wheat flour.

How long did it take?

It took roughly 30-40min because I made the whole batch of pancakes. Mixing together the ingredients is not so bad and making pancakes can be fun if you aren't too hungry.

How did it taste?

It tasted pretty good. It had the right texture for pancakes. It was a bit less fluffy than I would hope though so I give it an 8.

Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Olive Oil Cake

What did you make?
I made a lemon and blueberry cake that uses cake batter with a yogurt and olive oil base. I zested some lemons and added frozen blueberries as the topping. I also added some powdered sugar into the lemon juice so that you can pour it on top of the cake while it is still hot.

How long did it take?
Roughly one hour. The kitchen clean up, zesting, and the numerous ingredients take up quite a bit of time.

How did it taste?
It tasted great! I would give it a 9. Olive oil and yogurt cake batter result in very moist cakes that are very rich tasting too. I liked the citrus of the lemon and the added taste of the blueberries too.

Cultural Exchange

Thanks to Sara and Ola from Sweden and Nina from Germany

What did you make?

I recently had friends visiting NYC. On their last night they made a few dishes for me. The first is a greek yogurt with garlic. Cucumbers and red onions can be added and we ate this with crackers.

The main course was stir-fried chicken with roasted potatoes and vegetables. We also used the yogurt base for the chicken and vegetables.

How long did it take?

I'm estimating 45 minutes. The potatoes take longer than the other components of the meal.

How did it taste?

This was very tasty and simple. I would give it a 9 because it was also eaten with good company :) Roasted potatoes with some spices are very satisfying and it is hard to go wrong with chicken.

Taboule Salad Part 2 aka Multipurpose Fusion Meals

What did you make?

The taboule salad (refer to post below) was good but the real meal was being created on the fly. I needed a more substantial and colorful dinner and something for lunch too!

For dinner I added some salad and mixed in a few spoonfuls of the taboule salad. I also had made a garlic vegetable stir-fry (mushrooms, frozen spinach, frozen green beans, and frozen mixed vegetables--- also a chicken tender was chopped in there after I microwaved it so that there was some meat) that I added to the taboule and salad mix.

For lunch the ingredients were largely the same but I added a bit of mozzarella cheese, blue cheese, and some chipotle hummus for extra color, texture, and taste.

How long did it take?

Both the lunch and dinner together took around 40 minutes. I kept adjusting the taboule salad so that took some time. Waiting for the stir-fry to finish also took awhile since my vegetables were mainly frozen.

How did it taste?

So far I've only had the dinner salad but it was a 8. I was too lazy to add more balsamic vinegar but it needed just a little more of a kick.

Sourdough Cherry Bread Pudding

What did you make?

This is my first attempt at bread pudding! I used sourdough bread from my recent trip to San Francisco, some dried cherries, and the egg and milk mixture. I used 3 eggs and 2.5 cups of milk along with 1.5 cups of a honey and sugar combo, cinnamon, and vanilla. I poured on some melted butter and sugar from the leftovers of my graham cracker goodness leftovers from Breakfast for Dinner as well.

Once roughly 6 cups of sourdough bread were added to the pan, you pour in the

How long did it take?

This took the 50 minutes to bake as well as 15 more to tear apart the bread and mix together the wet ingredients.

How did it taste?

This was initially very very good! It smells great too! I would rate it an 8. The one flaw is it is a little too sweet for me. I think I underestimated the extra honey and the extra sugar and butter. The crusts are my favorite part because it provided a nice chewiness.

Couscous Tomato Chicken Soup

What did you make?

I made a soup base from the rotisserie chicken carcass. Then I sauteed garlic, onions, corn, and kidney beans. After letting the chicken simmer, I added the sauteed vegetables along with the canned tomatoes. I also added couscous to thicken the soup. To turn this into a Mexican chicken soup, you can add crushed tortilla chips instead of couscous.

How long did it take?

This takes around 45 minutes because you want to let the soup simmer. The preparation can be simultaneous because the stock can be simmering as the rest of the ingredients are being prepared.

How did it taste?

I would rate this a 7.5. I usually use tortilla chips which help season this soup. This time something was a little off because of the seasoning.

Happy Belated St. Patty's Day!

What did you make?

A guest had a Bailey's craving and added Bailey's over crushed ice. Chocolate shavings topped off the drink.

How long did it take?

Less than 5 minutes

How did it taste?

It tasted good. The chocolate gave it extra texture.

Breakfast for Dinner!

What did you make?

We had a few menu items.

First there was the yogurt apple cake (look to the "Life is Sweet" post for the recipe). I added some lemon juice and lemon pieces on the apples before adding some honey and then the rest of the batter.

I also found an interesting graham cracker recipe aka graham cracker goodness (found it http://www.cookthink.com/) that called for equal parts melted butter and sugar to be put on the cracker. Then chocolate was added and finally it was baked along with the cake until the butter and sugar hardened and chocolate melted.

We also made some crepes. I found the recipe online. I used 2 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of flour, and 3 tablespoons of butter.

Multigrain banana chocolate pancakes were also made.

We also had scrambled eggs and salad to balance out all the sugar.

How long did it take?

This took around an hour but it is hard to say since we ate as each dish was made. There was (somewhat) organized chaos in the kitchen.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

It tasted great! It was truly a team effort to make these dishes. Sometimes it felt more like dessert than breakfast for dinner :) The graham cracker goodness was particularly different and the multigrain pancake mix from Trader Joes was also very delicious.

The Meal Before...Grocery Shopping

What did you make today?

Today I had to whip something up quickly for lunch but some of the usual staples were missing. I boiled some packaged pork and leek dumplings. I also boiled the broccoli before stir-frying it in garlic and scallions. I also drizzled a bit of sesame oil on it for the smell. The most creative dish was the uncooked tofu, shredded carrots, and three-cheese tomato sauce combination.

How long did it take?

It actually took around 30 minutes because I did it different stages and it was not preplanned.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

There was a lot of variety in this lunch so that made the meal a 7.5. The brocolli was a little saltier than I intended and the dumplings were good though not exceptional. The tofu absorbs any flavor so it was a true fusion dish. Cold tofu is great for the summer months so I'm starting a little early.

2 great ways to start off the day!

Crispy Salmon Melt
What did you make?
Some mornings I just want something with more protein so I had some leftover canned salmon from a can that I had mixed with mayo. I made myself a salmon melt with cheese and some salad and tomato sauce grilled in a pita. I also had some fruit to go with it.

How long did it take?
Around 10 minutes.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?
I really enjoyed this and I would rate it a 9. I like melted cheese with the crispy pita. The salmon was tasted too.

Brown Butter Honey Lemon Toast

What did you make?

I've had toast with honey and brown butter a few times but yesterday I was inspired to squeeze on some lemon and the results were amazing! Lemon is the perfect note for this toast. Brown butter is also more flavorful than regular butter. To make brown butter you just need to melt regular butter until the color turns brown.

How long did it take?

5 minutes. Let the toast heat and add some butter, honey , and a squeeze of lemon.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

I would give this a 9. It was delicious and satisfying breakfast.

Sweet Savory Sour Salad

What did you make?

This is my new favorite salad for when I want a light dinner. I use prepackaged salad mix from Trader Joes (just $1.99 a bag--a very recession friendly price) and I added shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken I bought, grapes, feta cheese, walnuts, and my signature shredded carrots. I use balsamic vinegar for dressing. A tip from the Food Channel: When you add any dressing, pour it on the sides of the bowl so that it gets mixed in more evenly and thoroughly.

How long did it take?

Around 10 minutes. You have to wash the grapes, grate the carrots, shred the chicken, and crumble the feta but it is worth the extra effort.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

I would give this dish a 9. I would definitely make it again. I love the extra texture of the shredded carrots and the sweetness it adds. I like the combination of sweet, savory, and sour in this salad.

Broccoli and Rice to the Rescue!

What did you make?

This dish uses brocolli, garlic, rice, and yogurt. My roommate had made some rice and orzo using chicken broth and butter and I was too lazy to make anything complicated to eat with this dish. I had no easy-to-cook protein with the brocolli so this is a rather vegetarian dish but there is additional protein from the European style plain yogurt that I added to my rice. The tang of the yogurt offsets the flavored rice nicely.

I usually boil water and drop in the brocolli for a few minutes so that it is mostly cooked before I stir-fry it in oil and garlic.

If you look carefully, there is one stray piece of baby bok choy in the dish because I wanted to taste test it. I bought a lot of fresh produce in Chinatown this morning so I wanted to make sure the pound of bok choy I bought tasted good---luckily, it did!

How long did it take?

The brocolli part of the dish took around 15 minutes. I just had to wait for the brocolli to be mostly cooked in the boiling water.

How did it taste?

It was very tasty. I liked to add extra garlic so that it permeates the brocolli. The only thing is that I miss having maybe chicken with this dish so I rate it a 7.8.

Grilled, Microwaved, and Breaded

What did you make?

I made this sandwich in the morning before work for my lunch. I microwaved 2 pieces of breaded chicken tenders and placed them on a slice of whole wheat bread. The other slice of bread had slices of Monterey Jack Cheese, 3 cheese tomato sauce, and some lettuce from a salad mix. Then I used my George Foreman grill as a sandwich press to create my own version of a panini.

How long did it take?

This took around 10 minutes because it took 3 minutes for the chicken tenders in the microwave and another 4 -5 minutes for the ingredients to be added before being put on the grill.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

It was very good! As you can see I mainly steer away from sandwiches for lunch but I needed something quick and I enjoy sandwiches that have been toasted. I would rate this an 8 and I would make this again if I decide to buy more breaded chicken tenders.

Oatmeal- Version 1, 2, and 3

What did you make?
This is oatmeal with raisins. I used 1 cup oats and 2 cups water and as many raisins as I wanted. This is the plainest oatmeal I eat and as you will see, I later added yogurt and apples and honey.

How long did it take?
I usually mix the ingredients in overnight and just turn on the heat in the morning. It takes around 5 minutes to cook.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?
I would give it a 7 for being satisfying and filling. I think yogurt actually doesn't really belong in the yogurt but I do like the sweetness of the apples. I would definitely make it again.

BlueberryLemonLimeade

What is this?

Sorry about the unrotated photos but I'm eager to just post my super post-workout drink. I add frozen blueberries, a slice of lime, a slice of lemon, and then water and juice. You can choose what proportions you enjoy but I love the color of this drink and you could also you sparkling water. I have added a little honey to this as well and I am considering adding a little bit of cinnamon next time. Let me know if you try it.

How long does it take?

It takes 2 minutes or less depending on how fast you slice the lemon and lime.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

I would give it an 8. I could have added more juice to make it a just a bit sweeter but I make this maybe once a week as a treat after a workout.

13 minutes!

What did you make?

This was my lunch. I started by sauteeing some green onions and then throwing in some frozen corn, peas, spinach, edaname, and string beans. Meanwhile I also microwaved some chicken tenders. When the vegetables warmed up I tossed in an egg and then finally rice and soy sauce and black pepper. I cut up the chicken tenders and added this to my completed dish. I let it cool on a plate before packing it up for lunch. I was pressed for time so I saw that I started at 8:03am and was done by 8:16am.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

I would give it an 8. I like how there are a lot of vegetables but the egg and chicken add some oomph to the combination. I would make it again. I enjoy adding eggs to vegetables.

All Purpose Tofu

What did you make?




This was the first version of my lunch. There is a Chinese dish that is usually eaten during summer months that uses black preserved egg , tofu, scallions, soy sauce, and sesame oil. I modified it with hot sauce and some leftover canned tuna. Sadly, no preserved eggs this time.




I added the salad below ! Yes, an apple was part of my lunch too.

How long did it take?

I made it before work so it was a very very quick dish. I think it took 5 minutes. I sliced the tofu, added tuna , hot sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil and pepper.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

I would give this a 8. It was a very lovely flavor combination for me and it was satisfying to eat something that was soft and still tasty when chilled. I will probably use this as a backup lunch recipe.

Cooking dinner isn't eggactly a science

What did you make?

I was starving and made myself a speedy dinner using eggs! My friend Erin would be surprised by my scrambled egg on salad combination for brunch but it tastes really good and it is a convenient dinner. I sauteed some spinach and mushrooms before adding eggs , hot sauce, pepper, and some cheese. I used tomato sauce for a bit of dressing on the salad.

How long did it take?

The mushrooms were presliced. The sauce was from a can. The salad was from a bag. The spinach was from a bag. All I had to do was combine, stir fry and put all the ingredients back into the fridge. Probably 15 minutes.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

It tasted great because I was hungry. I would give it an 8. Simple but very satisfying. I admit it is a bit tricky to eat this without using some napkins :) I have made this again and just skipped the salad by adding more vegetables into the egg scramble.

Tofu Supreme

What did you make?

Lately, I've been searching for the quickest meals possible and tofu is a great protein without having to cook meat and it absorbs any flavor. This dish is my usual one dish meal for lunch. I still enjoy using frozen spinach and grated carrots for color and taste. Tuna in oil tastes much better than tuna packed in water and some of the oil can be used for the stir fry. I also added some hot sauce to this dish.

How long did it take?

Not more than 30 minutes.

How did it taste? Would you make it again?

I would rate it a 7.5. This meal was filling but not the most memorable. I like how if you use tuna, you dont need to add salt to your dish. At least I dont :) Grated carrots are easy to eat and you can taste the sweetness better. I admit if you look closely at the photo I didn't grate all the carrots.

Not your ordinary spaghetti!

What did you make?

I am a bit low on meat products and low on time so it is tomato sauce from Trader Joes and canned kidney beans, onions, garlic, peas, and corn all sauteed together in butter. Yes, I should have used olive oil but I wanted to try something a bit different. I also added some feta cheese and hot sauce for some creaminess and spiciness. What makes the dish different and I learned this from my Turkish roommate is adding some yogurt to your spaghetti. It is a refreshing tang and then you can even eat the spaghetti cold.

How long did it take?

The pasta is pretty quick to make especially if you use the angel hair pasta. I think it took 10 minutes and then the prep work for chopping the onions and garlic took 5 minutes and sauteeing it all before combining the ingredients took probably another 20 minutes. 30-35 minutes total.

How does it taste? Would you make it again?

I would give this a 7.5. It is satisfying and the kidney beans in particular make this dish more hearty. There is a goop that the kidney beans come in and it is quite thick and tasty and blends in well with the tomato sauce. The one issue I have with this dish is the tomato sauce I used. I dont really love it and I think it is because I'm not used to the basil. It is a bit strong for my taste