It has been a while

Ricotta mini donuts?Yes,Please!

Sweet surprize

I don't know about you, but I like to make special people in my life feel loved and cherished. And many times I do it through food. Nothing fancy and big. Just a thoughtful act of service to make them feel like they are cared about-- because they truly are.

It was my husbands birthday, so I made his favorite pancakes for breakfast. I used whipped cream and fresh fruits to decorate and create a mini cake. It turned out really delicious and it didn't take long to make at all.

Sweet and sour meatballs

Meatballs:
1 1/2 pounds lean ground meat (I used beef since that's what I had at home. 
1 cup bread crumbs
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 medium onion (grated) 
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Sauce:
2/4  cup brown sugar (regular sugar will work too)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce


Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to broil on high. 
2. For the meatballs, combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Form into  bite size  meatballs (right around 2-inches each). Place in a lightly greased cast iron skillet  and cook about 10 minute on each side. This can also be done on the stove top. I simply prefer using the broiler. Once cooked, take out and change oven temperature to 425F.  
3. For the sauce, whisk together the ingredients until well-combined. 
4. Pour the sauce over the meatballs  and bake for 30 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through and the sauce is slightly thickened.
5. Serve over hot over cooked rice or mashed potatoes

OPTIONAL: Sesame seeds and green onions for garnish. 

Rice Stuffed Peppers (meatless and delicious)

Hello, thank you for stopping by. I hope all is well over  there.

I visited a local farmer's market and  scored some awesome locally grown peppers. As I was staring at the $.99/lb sign, my brain quickly went into "brainstorming mode". I liked the price, but didn't want to buy them  without a plan. Seconds later the perfect  idea for tonight's dinner was born: ardei umpluti (Ardei Umpluti is  the Romanian  name for  stuffed peppers.) I was a happy shopper. :))

The recipe below is simple, and  really delicious. I hope you try it and love it as much as we do.

Ingredients for Peppers:

 8-10 bell peppers (color doesn't mater)
 2 cups white rice 
 4 tablespoons oil ( vegetable, sunflower, canola, or olive oil )
 3 medium carrots (shredded)
 2 medium onions (chopped)
 1 medium tomato (juiced)
 1/2 teaspoon  black pepper, ground
 1 teaspoon salt
 2 handfuls fresh dill, chopped(about 2/4 cup)


Ingredients for Sauce  (peppers will be cooked in the sauce):

 1 tablespoon oil
 3 cups water
 1 cup tomato juice (store bought or homemade)
 1 teaspoon salt


 Directions:

1. In a small bowl, wash rice in warm water until clean. Once clean, add warm water to cover and allow to sit aside.

2. Peel onions, wash, and chop. Peel carrots, wash, and shred. Chop or use the shredder to  juice the tomato. Set aside.


3. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 4 tablespoons of oil  and onions. Saute for about 1 minute. Next add carrots, salt, and pepper and  saute them together, mixing often, for about 5 minutes. Lastly add the juiced or chopped tomato and saute for another minute and turn off heat.

4. Drain rice and add to the pan with onions and carrots. Mix in chopped dill. Set mixture aside

5. While that sits for a few minutes, wash  the peppers and core them.

 

6. Fill the peppers with the rice filling and place them in a sauce pan, on their sides or face up.

 7. Mix sauce ingredients and pour the sauce in the sauce pan.  Bring to a boil, and turn the heat down to low and cook for about 30-40 minutes. If you have left over filling, no problem,  it freezes well and you can use it another time. 

8. Allow the peppers to cool just a couple of minutes and serve with sour cream.



 
Let me know if you have any questions. :)

Bon Apetit!
XOX Ana

Summer Radish Salad

Did you know that radish is packed with anti-oxidants, electrolytes, minerals,  and vitamins?


studies show that radish  contains isothiocyanate anti-oxidant compound called sulforaphane, which helps fight against prostate, breast, colon and ovarian cancers by virtue of its cancer-cell growth inhibition, and cyto-toxic effects on cancer cells  <----WOW!

Its fresh roots contain adequate levels of folates,  vitamin C, vitamin B-6, riboflavin, thiamin and minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper and calcium. Who knew? right? Anyway, I am super excited to share with your this delicious yet so simple recipe. I bet you could make this under 5 minutes. 

INGEDIENTS:

1 bunch of red radishes, about 1 1/2 cups finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions
1/3 cup of chopped dill.
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp vinegar (apple cider,  and or balsamic wine vinegar works too) 
 salt /pepper  to taste


DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash the radishes and remove the stems and any long roots. Finely cube the radishes into tiny pieces.
2. Wash the scallions and dill. Pat dry and  finely chop.
3. Place the cubed radishes and chopped scallions and dill in a small salad bowl.
4. Add oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss gently..
5. Taste the salad and make adjustments to your liking. (I sometimes add a little bit lemon juice).
   
   
   
   Bon-Apetit
   xoxo
   Ana

Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms

Hello there,

I hope you all are having a marvelous day! 

It has been awhile, but I am happy to be back (just for you) to share this master piece. Well, not exactly a masterpiece, but you get the point. :)

 

Ricotta Stuffed Mushrooms

Ingredients:

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 small tomato finely chopped

1 tablespoon chopped onion

2/4 cup mozzarella  cheese

1 egg

2 packs of  small white/button mushrooms caps, stems removed  and washed.

2 tablespoons grated  Parmesan

 salt and pepper for taste

handful of  croutons crushed /crumbled

also optional you can use dried herbs for garnish / more flavor

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix ricotta, chopped tomatoes, onions, mozzarella cheese, and the egg  in a small bowl. Add half of the croutons and salt and pepper according to your taste and mix well.

Spoon the filling into mushrooms  caps. Sprinkle with remaining croutons s and parmesan cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes,  or until golden.  Serve hot.

Let me know how it turns out. 

Enjoy!

All ready for the oven

All done! 

Apple Rings

Well, good morning to you!

It  feels wonderful to say that spring is here. It is by far my favorite season.
Its colors, and flowers, and cherry tree blossoms are magical in my eyes! I am seeing myself walking through a beautiful tree blossom alley as I am typing this. Don't mind me, I have a very dreamy imagination. : )

Anyway, today I want to share with you an easy, yet delicious recipe- Apple Rings. My dear husband and my son could not keep their hands away from the plate. Ah, so delicious!
I really hope you and your family will love them too : )

Let me know how it turns out! : )

What You Will Need
1 cup flour
1 and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 apples  peeled , cored and sliced into rings.
3/4 cup of vegetable oil for frying.

Directions:
Mix together flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar, and salt.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg and milk together. . Pour into dry ingredients and mix well.

Dip sliced apples into the batter.
Fry over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes on each side.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and the remaining sugar.

Thanks For Stopping By

~ Ana