Author: keestevens

Authentic Canned Black Beans

Authentic Canned Black Beans

Click here and read how a can of store-bought black beans reminds me of the beans I was served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the highlands of Western Honduras. Just open, heat, and serve these beans with your favorite Central American recipe!

Tina’s Indian Fruit Salad

Tina’s Indian Fruit Salad

Tina’s Indian fruit salad showcases an array of unique flavors as an assortment of berries, mango, and apple is seasoned with Himalayan pink salt, toasted cumin, mandarin juice, basil, and black pepper. Try it and see how this recipe brings out the best of fruit! (more).

Thai Chicken with Basil

Thai Chicken with Basil

My Thai Chicken with Basil has a distinctive, unami like flavor, as it sautés onion, garlic, basil, jalapeños, and chicken in a savory fish, soy, and coconut sauce. Naturally low in carbs and packed with protein, this recipe is chock-full of flavor and will satisfy (more).

Oat Cream Coffee with a Vanilla Twist

Oat Cream Coffee with a Vanilla Twist

There is nothing like a cup of coffee to jumpstart your day.  Needless to say, I’ve had plenty of time to hone this recipe, and as luck had it, I stumbled across two secrets: turbinado sugar and a 3:1 ratio of oat milk to creamer. (more).

My Grandma Elsa’s Authentic Swedish Meatballs

My Grandma Elsa’s Authentic Swedish Meatballs

My grandma Elsa’s Swedish meatballs are a well-kept, secret family recipe that’s been handed down each generation. One of the keys to this recipe is using three types of ground meat, moistened by heavy cream and bound by egg, breadcrumbs, and a touch of onion. (more).

Hearty Black Bean Stew

Hearty Black Bean Stew

This hearty black bean stew was inspired by Feijoada, a stew made of bean, beef, and pork, the national dish of Brazil. But here I’ve added my own touch, like sautéing veggies in bacon drippings and seasoning beans with adobo, saffron, and red pepper flakes. (more).

Puchero, My Fall Mexican Casserole

Puchero, My Fall Mexican Casserole

My puchero is a fall casserole that I’ve adapted from my Mexican host mom’s signature recipe. My version calls for butternut squash, plantain bananas, carrots, yellow crookneck squash, and Yukon potatoes. It takes its name from squishing the veggies between your fingers, puch, puch, puchero. (more).

Bacon-Wrapped Cheese and Honey Dates

Bacon-Wrapped Cheese and Honey Dates

These savory dates, also known as Devils on Horseback, are far from frightening. In fact, they’re the opposite, ushering in a taste of heaven. Stuffed with honey goat cheese, dried apricots, glazed pecans, and drizzled with honey butter, they’ll be the hit of any party! (more).

Citrus, Bacon & Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Citrus, Bacon & Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

With my Citrus, Bacon & Pecan Salad, each bite is a burst of flavors, varying between the crisp crunch of honey-glazed pecans and hickory-smoked bacon, with the creamy accent of goat cheese, all topped off with tangy orange segments and a sweet maple vinaigrette, which (more).

Honey-Glazed, Toasted Pecans

Honey-Glazed, Toasted Pecans

These Honey-Glazed, Toasted Pecans are a prize topping for a salad or a treat in of themselves. With only three ingredients and 8 minutes to make, it will become a staple in your household as they are mine! Try them on my Citrus, Bacon & (more).

Honduran Baleadas (Soft Bean Tacos)

Honduran Baleadas (Soft Bean Tacos)

These Honduran baleadas or soft bean tacos are the ultimate comfort food with a generous filling of creamy refried beans sandwiched between a homemade flour tortilla. Made in just 7 minutes and with only 2 ingredients, this no-fuss meal is fast and easy but will (more).

Creamy and Dreamy Refried Beans

Creamy and Dreamy Refried Beans

These Creamy and Dreamy Refried Beans are enhanced by the flavorful drippings of hickory-smoked bacon and key spices like red pepper flakes and earthy cumin. Serve with my Naturally Sweet Banana Smoothies and my Honduran Baleadas or Bean Tacos for an authentic Central American dish! (more).

The Fluffiest Scrambled Eggs Ever

The Fluffiest Scrambled Eggs Ever

After years of making mediocre scrambled eggs, by a stroke of luck, I stumbled across this recipe for the Fluffiest Scrambled Eggs Ever. One fortuitous day, by sheer accident, I discovered the golden method revealed in my post and whipped up the airiest scrambled eggs! (more).

The Freshest Ever Greek Salad

The Freshest Ever Greek Salad

With my Freshest Ever Greek Salad, every bite is a burst of flavors—with either a crisp crunch of cucumbers, mixed with a nutty note of black olives and an earthy hint of oregano, or a salty touch of feta cheese, coupled by juicy, sweet tomatoes. (more).

Heavenly Caprese with Pesto Panini

Heavenly Caprese with Pesto Panini

This Heavenly Caprese with Pesto Panini is so blissful that it transports you out of this world. Truly, nothing can beat the perfect flavor equation of Genovese pesto, heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and sourdough bread. With only 4 ingredients and 10 minutes to make, (more).

Genovese Pesto with Bowtie Pasta

Genovese Pesto with Bowtie Pasta

My Genovese Pesto with Bowtie Pasta is the perfect marriage of homemade pesto, made with a mortar and pestle, served with bowtie (farfalle) pasta, pine nuts, olive oil, and topped off with a sprinkle of Pecorino Romano cheese. It’s truly a match made in heaven! (more).

Roasted Corn and Pepper Salad

Roasted Corn and Pepper Salad

My Roasted Corn and Pepper Salad features twice-cooked corn, once boiled, and once roasted, which gives this dish its rich, buttery flavor. This mouthwatering corn is then given a little kick with the complement of ground black pepper, my secret ingredient. And to round it (more).

Classic Chicken Caesar Salad

Classic Chicken Caesar Salad

My Classic Chicken Caesar Salad is a medley to savor on the palate as each ingredient contributes its own keynote but doesn’t distract from the overall symphony of flavors. On one hand, you have the mild trio of crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and breaded (more).

Parmesan-Breaded Chicken Tenders

Parmesan-Breaded Chicken Tenders

These Parmesan-Breaded Chicken Tenders are the perfect pairing with the luscious dressing, crunchy croutons, and shaved Parmesan featured in my Classic Chicken Caesar Salad. Although made with the intention of serving with Caesar salad, these tenders are delicious as a stand-alone dish. They’re like candy! (more).

Gourmet Caesar Salad Dressing

Gourmet Caesar Salad Dressing

This Gourmet Caesar Salad Dressing stands apart from all others, with its unique base of sour cream, buttermilk, cream cheese, and mayonnaise, a creamy foundation that’s enriched by hints of nutty Parmesan cheese, tangy Worcestershire sauce, and savory anchovy paste. Give it a try and (more).

Sun-dried Tomato, Hickory Linguine

Sun-dried Tomato, Hickory Linguine

This unconventional Bolognese ranks in my top ten favorite recipes with its infusion of hickory-smoked bacon that permeates the garlic, onion, tomatoes, and freshly shredded Parmesan cheese. Another key to this recipe rests in the sun-dried tomatoes, which are rehydrated, but not preserved in oil. (more).