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Corn avocado salad

1 lb corn kernels (e.g., thawed from frozen)
1/4 red onion, diced
1 avocado, cubed
1/4 tsp cumin
cilantro, chopped
1 lime

  1. In a large skillet, sauté corn in a couple tablespoons of oil.
  2. Move to large bowl and toss with salt, pepper, and cumin. Let cool.
  3. Add onion, avocado, cilantro, and lime juice. Stir.

Arugula salad

Arugula, washed
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Parmesan cheese, shaved

  1. In a large bowl, toss arugula with olive oil and lemon juice until well-mixed. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Top with shaved Parmesan.

White bean and spinach quesadillas

15 oz cannellini beans, drained
3/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups spinach, chopped
4 oz pepper jack, shredded
1/2 cup sour cream
4 flour tortillas

  1. Stir beans and spices in a large bowl until mixed well.
  2. Add spinach, cheese, and sour cream and stir to combine.
  3. Put roughly 1/4 of the bean mixture into each tortilla, and cook in a skillet over medium heat.

Mrs. Orr’s chocolate crinkles

1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 oz (squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 cups flour

  1. Mix oil, chocolate, and granulated sugar. Blend in one egg at a time until well mixed. Add vanilla.
  2. Measure flour by sifting. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt into oil mixture. Chill several hours or overnight.
  3. Heat oven to 350 F. Drop teaspoonfuls of dough into confectioners’ sugar. Roll in sugar; shape into balls. Place about 2″ apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Do not overbake! (Makes 6 dozen cookies.)

Suzanne’s creamy chocolate frosting

4 Tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
3 oz (squares) unsweetened chocolate, melted
dash salt
about 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup half and half
1 tsp vanilla extract

  1. Cream butter and cream cheese together. Mix in chocolate.
  2. Add salt and sugar alternately with cream, beating until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Frost cooled cake.

Smoked salmon dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp onion, grated
2 tsp horseradish
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups smoked salmon, flaked or chopped

1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

  1. Combine cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, onion, horseradish, and salt. Stir in salmon and mix thoroughly.
  2. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with chopped pecans and parsley.
  3. Serve with crackers. Can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and chilled. Take it out of the refrigerator an hour or so before serving; it is best served at room temperature.

Pumpkin bread

15 oz can pumpkin puree
1 stick butter, melted
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
1/4 tsp ginger, ground
1/8 tsp cloves, ground
2 1/4 cups flour

1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a 6-cup loaf pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs and sugar until smooth. Sprinkle baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinanmon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves over batter and whisk until well-combined. Add flour and stir until mixed. Scrape into prepared pan and smooth the top.
  3. Mix sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle over top of batter.
  4. Bake 65-75 minutes until a tester poked into all parts come out batter-free, turning the cake once during the baking time for even coloring. Let cool. (Keeps at room temperature.)

Pasta e ceci

4 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp tomato paste
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
1/2 cup small pasta (e.g., ditalini, macaroni)

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot. Add the garlic and cook, stirring until fragrant. Stir in the tomato paste and salt, and fry for 30 seconds.
  2. Add chickpeas, pasta, and 2 cups water. Scrape up bottom of pot, lower heat, and simmer until pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Serve topped with olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes.

Pecan praline sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
6 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp heavy cream
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

  1. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine brown sugar, butter, cream, and salt. Simmer 3-5 minutes until thick and bubbling.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and pecans. Serve over pumpkin pie.

Three-bean chili mac

1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp chili powder
15 oz diced tomatoes
15 oz tomato sauce
15 oz kidney beans, drained
15 oz black beans, drained
15 oz. can pinto beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups macaroni noodles
1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded

  1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Add flour and chili powder, and stir for 2 minutes.
  3. Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, corn, vegetable broth, and macaroni. Cover the pot and turn up the heat to reach a boil, while stirring frequently.
  4. Turn heat to low and let simmer 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender, stirring frequently.
  5. Turn off heat, stir in shredded cheddar, and serve.