Gold Medal Best Ever Banana Bread by Nancy Miyasaki

I make a lot of banana bread because my kids and husband both love it. I've tried a lot of different recipes, but have found none better that this slight adaptation of the one on the back of the General Mills Gold Medal flour bag. I think they must have tested a lot of different versions before settling on this one, because it is…

Slow-cooker Beef Stew from Argentina by John Spottiswood

I slightly adapted thie famous Argentine beef stew to be slightly more flavorful...and thus to my liking. The extra cumin seeds, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper don't take away from the flavor of the meat and vegetables, but they give an added kick that makes this classic family stew extraordinary. We had it at our family reunion,…

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnaps and Walnuts by John Spottiswood

We were treated to this wonderful cheesecake when visiting our good friends in Pasadena. It was beautiful and truly delicious. Marci adapted it from a recipe in Bon Appetit back in 2003. This makes a wonderful dessert for after a Holiday party.

Grilled Asian Pork Loin by John Spottiswood

We had a BBQ party today and served pork loin with two different types of marinade. This one was universally loved. It has a wonderful sweet and salty flavor. The kids definitely preferred this one, though the adults were more evenly split. Easy to make and perfect for a large BBQ party! The picture didn't turn out very well, but…

Cauliflower & Potatoes ~ Indian style by Amos Miller

I have never been a really big fan of cauliflower, but I love potatoes and spices. This dish, known as 'Alu Ghobi', has long been a favorite vegetable side dish in my kitchen. It is simple, easy to make and very healthy for you. One seldom finds a cauliflower dish on the average restaurant menu. But you need not be a…

Rice with bell pepper and peanuts by Mary Shaldibina

Very tasty and fast cooking

Brownies by Kristen Russell

So good...WAY better than boxed brownies! Easy to make.

Awesome Split Pea Soup by John Spottiswood

We made this soup by combining the best of two recipes...one from America's Test Kitchen and one from Cook's Illustrated's the Best New Recipe. I think this is a split pea soup that can't be beat!

World Champion Oatmeal Bars by Nancy Miyasaki

I make a lot of tasty brownies and bars, but few have gotten more raves than these. Of course, I served them to a bunch of SF Giants fans after the Giants won game 2 of the 2010 World Series...so the taste of victory may have mixed in with the chocolate, caramel, and oatmeal crunch of these yummy bars. Even without savoring the…

Creole Rice Pudding by Amos Miller

NEVER throw day-old rice away! Next time you have that extra-large Chinese take out and you have some of that white rice left over, you have the base of a fabulous rice pudding, New Orleans-style! This is NOT the junk you have to choose from for dessert ("jello, rice pudding, sherbet") after the regrettable meal at the greasy spoon…

Avacado Dressing to replace Ranch shared from Be More Fitness by ChaCha Can Cook

Delicious!

Festive Pasta Salad by Kelsey Martin

This pasta salad is colorful and zesty! Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steak Tacos by Jeremy Cheng

Butter Chicken - Chicken Makhani by John Spottiswood

My kids love Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken) and Chicken Tikka Masala whenever we go to an Indian buffet. So we tried replicating it at home. It's not a difficult dish to make once you have all the ingredients, and the results are delicious! It also gains flavor in your refrigerator over the next few days, so it's great for…

Gado-gado sauce by Mihir Shah

This is a sauce my grandmother used to make. Meant to be served over mixed greens or can even be used as a cocktail dip. I like it over a mixture of steamed rice, egg, and steamed vegetables. Awesome!