one dish meals | Apple Crumbles

Crock Pot Tomato Lentil Casserole

Still running and still enjoying the lack of snow. It’s cold outside in the early morning but the roads are clear and we can’t ask for more from the weather in upstate New York. My weekend runs have been fun. I’ve been getting used to a shorter run on Saturdays and a longer run on Sunday, double timing the Saturday run. Why? To get ready for the Goofy Challenge of course! Ted and I have been running together for part of the run on the weekend. He doesn’t put the miles in that I do, he doesn’t have to but [...]

By Joanne|2012-11-19T20:01:54-05:00November 19, 2012|Quick Meals|1 Comment

Election Day Facts and Great Grains Clams with Farro and Wine

From the UticaOD: 5 Things to Know about Election Day: (Original source: Gate House News Service) Nationwide Election Day was instituted by Congress in 1845. The day was set as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The earliest Election Day can be is Nov. 2, and the latest it can be is Nov. 8. The last polls (in Western states) will close at 8 p.m. PST. For a list of state opening and closing times, check out OPENING AND CLOSING TIMES 2012 Several states have declared Election Day a civic holiday, while others allow workers to take time [...]

By Joanne|2012-11-06T18:31:42-05:00November 6, 2012|soup|3 Comments

FOFF Potato, Leek and Olive Casserole

A warming casserole to cure a chill in the bones. This recipe from Carla Vavala’s book Fusion of Food and Friends fills your belly with all things good and yummy. *I added some butter beans to make it a complete meal. 2 TBS olive oil 2 leeks, finely sliced 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock 3 tsp. chopped fresh thyme 2 lbs. potatoes, unpeeled but sliced very thin (use a mandolin) 8 pitted olives, sliced 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated (*I ran out of parm. so I used 1/2 a cup feta) *Optional: 15 oz. can beans of choice (I used [...]

By Joanne|2012-10-31T13:02:07-04:00November 1, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|3 Comments

FOFF Portuguese Soup

This week’s Fusion of Food and Friends recipe almost didn’t happen. The only reason it did happen was because it was easy enough to customize for time and ingredients. To be honest, I was so tempted to leave the soup whole, no puree. The look of the chunky potatoes and other vegetables was too appealing. Just in case I failed to “launch”, Peggy decided to make this soup and put up a fabulous recap of her version. Check it out PANTRY REVISITED. A recipe by Auntie Mary Ferreira is found on page 24 of Carla Vavala’s book . Serves 6 [...]

By Joanne|2012-02-22T16:44:21-05:00February 23, 2012|Fusion Food & Friends|2 Comments

The Tortoise Knows Best and A RR Cioppino Recipe

This is cute but I’m doing all the stuff that’s going to make me fat and die young. Shucks! HEALTH MESSAGE As I was lying in bed pondering the problems of the world, I rapidly realized that I don't really give a rat's patoot. It's the tortoise life for me! 1. If walking/cycling is good for your health, the postman would be immortal. 2. A whale swims all day, only eats fish, drinks water, and is fat. 3. A rabbit runs and hops and only lives 15 years. 4. A tortoise doesn't run and does nothing, yet it lives for [...]

By Joanne|2012-01-22T20:13:52-05:00January 23, 2012|Fish|6 Comments

FOFF Thursday: Zucchini Pie

Fusion of Food & Friends: FOFF Thursday with Carla Vavala Introducing a collection of recipes to inspire and encourage expansion of your palate. The book Fusion of Food and Friends offers a range of recipes passed down from families and friends, coupled with ideas to make cooking fun and exciting. The book welcomes cooks of all levels to create new menus to share. The author, Carla Vavala - Carla Vavala is a self taught cook who utilizes her passion for food to become creative in the kitchen. She has written and self published two cookbooks, "Cut Costs with Creative Cooking" [...]

By Joanne|2011-09-07T18:23:47-04:00September 8, 2011|Fusion Food & Friends|10 Comments