Bananarama Smoothie by erin de martini

Green Beans with Basil and Tomato by John Spottiswood

This is an attractive and tasty side dish. The butter, basil and tomato adds a nice flavor boost to the green beans. I've made them with garlic salt and regular kosher salt, both are delicious. If you want to spice it up, add more black pepper or substitute crushed red pepper for the black pepper.

Budwig Diet Smoothie by John Spottiswood

Someone turned me on to Dr. Johanna Budwig recently. I read a bit about her research and her diet online. While there isn't a lot of hard evidence behind it, she was definitely ahead of her time in recognizing the importance of good fats, and the harmful effects of bad fats, in our modern diets. She strongly encouraged the…

Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) by Nancy Miyasaki

I love spanakopita, but it's too much work. This is a great way to make spanakopita for a crowd. And it's really yummy, too! Just remember the filo has to be defrosted overnight or for 5 hours before assembling.

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…

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.

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

Festive Pasta Salad by Kelsey Martin

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

Homemade Refried Beans by John Spottiswood

I'm ashamed to say that though I LOVE refried beans, this is the first time I've ever made them myself. It's just so easy to buy them in a can, or at a mexican restaurant, that I haven't bothered. But this recipe is simple and it is definitely worth the effort in my mind. I figure my kids are the true test, since they aren't that…

Potato and Sweet Potato au Gratin with Herbs by Nancy Miyasaki

This is not the lightest recipe I've made, but it's a real treat when you are having guests and want to splurge. I love the flavor and color combination of the sweet and gold potatoes. It's a wonderful twist on a classic French standby.

Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Sesame Sauce by John Spottiswood

This is a delicious healthy grilled side or main dish. In Korea, this is commonly served by street vendors, especially during the bitter winter. I enjoy it just as much during the summer. In Korea they dip the sweet potato into the sauce. I typically just split the sweet potato like a regular baked potato, and spoon the sauce over…

Creamy Lentil and Broccoli Soup by John Spottiswood

This is a creamy, flavorful, and incredibly healthy soup. The next time you're in the mood for split pea soup (also very healthy), try this instead. It has a wonderful body and a great hearty flavor. If you haven't had sumac before as a seasoning, this is a great dish to try it with. Sumac is commonly used in the middle east to…

Yellow Split Peas with Vegetables (Dal Takari) by John Spottiswood

Wow, this is such a wonderful dish and so easy to cook! The keys to this dish are the yellow lentils, fried potatoes, and cumin seed. You can change out the other vegetables (spinach is a nice addition as it adds to the creaminess of the dish). Make sure you fry the cumin seed and potatoes over sufficiently high heat that the cumin…

Cumin Rice by Joyce Leung

This rice is a delicious mix of cumin and cinnamon. It provides a nice, slightly sweet flavor, that is a perfect complement to any middle eastern dish. The only dishes I would avoid serving this with are sweet dishes with dates, figs, etc. I served it with my Braised Lamb with Beans. It was great!