roasted corn & black bean salsa

this incredible salsa is so delicious and versatile – try it as is with warmed chips or change it up with black-eyed peas, pintos or other favorite legume, serve it along side grilled quesadilla! enjoy – v 2 cans black beans, rinsed 16 oz bag frozen sweet kernel corn 1/2-1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1…

Dirt ~

Happy 2016! May you have enough…be happy with enough. ..may the only excess be an excess of love, sharing and gratitude

a black-eyed pea, black bean and 3 pebbles…

I know, I know ~ it sounds like a really bad joke… but this is the list of the “alien” objects in my bag of pintos this morning!  Thank goodness my Momma taught me to separate and rinse! Have you checked what’s in your beans lately?  =} From baked beans (ok, so not the healthiest…

Puff Pastry, anyone?

While taking classes in Italy, I discovered just how versatile puff pastry was ~ and when you make your own?  WORTH every pounding moment! However, to enjoy the following recipe for “Strudel di Vegetali, Caprino e Basilico” (vegetable strudel with goat cheese and basil) a trip to your local grocer is all you’ll need.  …

Buon Compleano ~ Mexico

              Last night we celebrated my husband’s birthday (and Dad’s, though he was in New Mexico)… I know the date was 13 de Noviembre, but the festive feel and the menu made it seem like cinco de Mayo! The margaritas were made with fresh lime, simple syrup and the tequila…

Cooking with Val

This summer was full of change, challenges and more importantly, blessings in abundance.  Our daughter graduated from college, our son was an ROTC Field Training selectee, we drove through 4 states (love Arches Nat’l Park in Utah!) to our 11th assignment, we spent some amazing quality time together and with friends and family. We made…

Risotto ~ unravelled

It always amazes me how many lovers of risotto who won’t attempt making the delectable, versatile, creamy dish… I hope you’ll take 20 minutes to make it for your family ~ to make it for yourself! History of Risotto The history of risotto is naturally tied to the history of rice in Italy. While there…

A Mouthful of Summer

“Everything in moderation…including moderation.” ~ Julia Child The most requested recipe?  Fruit Pizza!!  Aside from my pizza dough, this tasty gem of a dessert has even the biggest skeptic (what? fruit pizza?) asking for more and eventually asking for the recipe.  For my “gluten-free” friends, using a combination of gluten-free and coconut flours and coconut…

No Soda Today!

My friends know I’m a hater of diet soda [bad aspartame! bad aspartame!]  I say, do natural (real sugar) or do nothing! Every day, I consume about 200 ounces or more of water.  I have been told I was going to drown myself (hyponatremia)… but, I feel parched with less!  Sometimes I’ll add wedges of…

Colors of the Rainbow ~ and my kitchen

The “canned food” section of my kitchen!  I have cans of Hatch Green Chile, Coconut Milk, Water Chestnuts and Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes in my pantry, but that is it.  For most meals, our plates look like a color bomb exploded!  Fresh this, fresh that ~ You can’t help feeling healthy with every bite!…

Go Nuts!!

        “I’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.” ― John Steinbeck I love pistachio ~ I go through about 48 oz every four days… by myself! Hey! When I was in the hospital last month,…

Ravioli di patate con ripieno di melanzane

  A dear friend and mentor, C. D’Bramo asked me to translate this incredible ravioli recipe… I now cannot wait to try it! Oh my! Potato Ravioli stuffed with Eggplant 1 lb potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 cups flour, plus additional if needed  2 eggplants, peeled and cubed 3.5 oz smoked cheese (scamorza, if you…