Cloves and cinnamon-- ground and whole...(cloves)I enjoy different types of cinnamon-- sometimes I combine two, leave some separate -- in jelly jars, marked, so I don't forget which ones are which.Something simplistic but just right.  And, yes, it's clean...Third slot is where I keep my star anise-- gorgeous.I pour my pure vanilla extract into a jelly jar, already … [Read more...]

Eggplant Parm Lasagna ~~ adapted from Easy Italian ~For the marinara sauce, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil to cook until tender-- 2 small chopped onions.  After 10 to 12 minutes, stir in 4 crushed garlic cloves and 4 tablespoons tomato paste.  Cook for 1 minute.  Stir in 2 28-ounce cans whole Italian plum tomatoes, juice included.  Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 … [Read more...]

General Tso's Chicken ~~ adapted from Appetite for China ~"General Tso's Chicken became popular in America via some enterprisingly Taiwanese chefs who opened Hunan restaurants in New York in the 1970s.  Hunan cuisine is traditionally very spicy, full of smoky chilis and pickled vegetables.  But to appeal to American diners, the chefs started deep-frying, and … [Read more...]

Pablano  Macaroni & Cheese ~~ adapted from Homesick Texan ~I was out of pablano peppers so I substituted-- blackened in a broiler 1 large red bell pepper, 1 banana pepper, and 1 jalapeno-- It doesn't take long to blacken, especially the jalapeno pepper-- be careful not to get it too done on the outside that it cooks all the way through, eliminating the interior … [Read more...]