Lemon Parmesan Shrimp Penne

An absurdly simple weeknight meal. Simple and delicious dish that can be made in under 30 minutes. It is one of my favorite things to make, and this delicious pasta never fails to make it into my meal rotations. I really love how simple but flavorful this pasta always turns out. It's among my go-to quick dinners on weeknights. This recipe is sure to please those who love to squeeze lemon over everything they eat. The flavor of garlic and basil permeates every bite of this pasta, which is savory from the Parmesan cheese and acidic from the generous amount of fresh lemon juice.

"Pasta does not make you fat. How much pasta you eat makes you fat." - Giada De Laurentiis

Creamy Lemony Chicken Sausage Orzo

This one-pot meal is a great addition to any recipe book. This recipe might be your go-to on nights when your fridge is nearly empty or you just don't have the energy to prepare a fancy dinner. Here, orzo gets toasted in olive oil that’s infused with the flavors of lemon, garlic, and butter before cooking in a flavorful chicken broth amped up with tomatoes and dried oregano. When they simmer, the starch they produce gives the sauce a creamy texture that is reminiscent of risotto. It's a quick and easy dinner to prepare because everything is prepared in a single pot in less than an hour. Topped with fresh Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.

“Eating is so intimate. It’s very sensual. When you invite someone to sit at your table and you want to cook for them, you’re inviting a person into your life.” — Maya Angelou

Mediterranean Beef Rice Bowl

In a dream: I transported myself someplace on the Mediterranean shore on a gorgeous Sunday. I can't help but stare out at the placid Mediterranean waters. I look around and see happy diners, both locals and visitors.

Inspired by my dream, I decided to make a simple dish—no need for a fussy marinade. A good cut of beef, flavored modestly with garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper, and finished with an easy red wine pan sauce. Enjoying this with some crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes, and creamy Greek vinaigrette dressing over some steaming white rice.

"Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate." — Alan D. Wolfelt

Beef Rendang

A delectable dish from the Minangkabau ethnic group in Indonesia, beef rendang is indigenous to the country. The dish was introduced to Malaysia during the Melaka Sultanate era, when Minangkabau settlers from Sumatra moved to the southern region of the Malay peninsula.

Rendang is a curry made using slow-simmered beef that lets the flavors seep into the flesh. A recipe that takes hours to prepare on the burner. Depending on the desired result, the dish must be cooked in coconut milk with all of the spices for a specified length of time. The original recipe needs to be cooked for two to three hours minimum until dry. To ensure you have leftovers, I suggest that you make a big portion. Over the next day, the flavors and aroma intensify. Perfect with a bowl of steam rice and your veggies of choice.

FYI: Rendang, creating it from scratch may seem difficult or time-consuming to someone who works. You can take a shortcut by using Rendang paste. This will shorten the preparation period.

"Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together." — Guy Fieri

My Birthday Cake

From Ferrara's website: Ferrara’s specialty tiramisu features homemade Savoiardi (Ladyfinger cookies) that they douse with espresso & coffee liqueur and layer with sweet mascarpone. Ferrara is one of New York's most iconic shops and its first Italian Bakery, founded in 1892 in Little Italy. As America's first Pasticceria and espresso bar, it was only natural that people came primarily for the coffee, cookies and cakes, and despite the many changes in the neighborhood over the decades, their offerings are still wowing everyone who walks through the door, instantly transporting them to Southern Italy.

They have been featured on the Food Network's "Best Things I Ever Ate," The New York Times, New York Magazine and just about every media outlet imaginable.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis

Beef and Broccoli

Broccoli and beef go well together, and this quick and simple stir-fry makes the most of it. There are several of recipes for broccoli beef, but my favorite is the one that calls for sesame oil. This is a basic stir-fried dish that is enhanced by the sweet taste of the nutty sesame oil. You can customize this stir-fry dish to use any protein or vegetables you have in your kitchen, and it still gives a fantastic mix of flavors and textures. This meal offers a flavor of traditional Chinese takeout. One of my mother's favorites.

“I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food” ― Erma Bombeck

Chili Raspberry Pork Chop

Layering flavors - The marinade is a simple concoction of sugar, soy sauce, and a small amount of five-spice powder. Chill the seasoned chops for an extended period of time if you can. A deep-fried pork chop with a crispy sweet potato starch coating. Finished with a delectable, smoky, sweet glaze of rich raspberry jam and smoky ancho chili powder.

FYI: You may skip the last step and still have a tasty dish to be pleased with.

"Food is such an important part of our lives, and sometimes we tend to diminish the importance of that, because we rely on conveniences or because our lives are so complicated. We forget about those moments that we can actually share around the table with our family, with our friends, with our loved ones." - Thomas Keller

Black Peppercorn Beef Stew

Think of this dish as a tribute to the undervalued but frequently used spice, black peppercorn. The beef is marinated in yogurt, ginger, garlic, and freshly ground pepper before being seared all over to create a deep, rich flavor for the stew. After that, the liquid is reduced to a thick, rich sauce and the vegetables are cooked until soft. This stew, which takes its cues from Indian cooking, is cooked with garam masala powder, which harnesses the potency of spices like cumin, bay leaves, cloves, and cinnamon to produce a flavorful, complex dish. Add the red bell peppers and zucchini last for a colorful finish. Accompany with warm rice.

“There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Japanese Food Cravings

More people are becoming familiar with the unique culinary culture of Japan as the cuisine spreads throughout the country. People are lining up to get their hands on tempura, ramen, sushi rolls and other Japanese dishes. I'm taking a break and ordering takeout in the interim, but home cooks like myself are busily preparing their way through replicating some of their favorite Japanese dishes at home.

I ordered the following:

Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura Agedashi Tofu

Philladelphia Roll Salmon Skin Roll California Roll

"If I were trapped in one city and had to eat one nation's cuisine for the rest of my life, I would not mind eating Japanese. I adore Japanese food. I love it." - Anthony Bourdain

Mexican Chicken Stew

Mexican Chicken Stew

I credit Dave Lieberman of the Food Network with inspiring me to make this version of Mexican chicken stew. This tasty, filling, and quick Mexican chicken stew is so easy to prepare. It's a favorite for busy evenings and tastes great. I like to play around with different recipes that use rotisserie chicken, but you can cook and shred your own chicken if you'd rather. I prefer chunks over shredded. The tender, shredded rotisserie chicken adds to the stew's deep, flavorful flavors.

FYI. You will notice that i made some minor changes like I prefer chunks of meat over shredded.

"Hard work should be rewarded by good food." - Ken Follett

A Happy New Year To All

There is a lot of pressure to have the greatest year ever. Don't get me wrong. Though it certainly didn't go as well as I had hoped, it's still great in many respects. Even when my hopes for the outcome were not realized. Establishing intentions and expectations is beneficial, in my opinion, as they can be our compass. Nevertheless, clinging to them too firmly can prevent us from really experiencing life as it is. It's our unpredictable nature that sustains us when reality falls short of our expectations, which happens most of the time. I discovered that when we fully embrace the unexpected, we may experience the most treasured experiences and insightful teachings.

Here’s to an even brighter 2024 to all of us!

“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” ― Allen Saunders

"My mama always said, Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." -Forrest Gump

A Holiday Greeting

May the joy of the season envelop you and your loved ones with smiles and treasured memories as the holidays progress. I hope you have a joyous and festive Christmas.

Thank you for all your support this past year.

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.”—Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

Chestnuts

Chestnuts are among my favorite Christmas fare. Nat King Cole's song served as the catalyst for everything, and you've undoubtedly heard the opening line of "The Christmas Song"—"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." I was curious to give this nut a taste, so I did. Since then, I've become addicted. What say you, too? Would you mind sharing your preferred holiday snack?

Chestnuts are my favorite ingredient to use in the fall, especially for the holidays. I always find that they are meaty, hearty and have a mysterious refinement when cooked or roasted over sea salt.

Geoffrey Zakarian

Beef Stew with Gremolata 

Many people find cooking at home to be intimidating. But that's precisely why I enjoy searching for and utilizing all of these shortcut ideas to make amazing renditions of traditional recipes. A beautiful dinner that will wow your special dinner guest, made much better if it comes together quickly.

The green garnish on top of this meal is called Gremolata. Garlic, lemon zest, and chopped parsley are the ingredients of gremolata. This dish was transformed into an incredible, incredibly delicious stew with a simple addition.

“If you're afraid of butter, use cream.”― Julia Child

Chicken & Double-Smoked Bacon Ciabatta

There's perhaps no better or more reliable lunch option than the simple sandwich, which can be elevated to a whole new level by adding a few bacon pieces. A well-prepared sandwich, in my opinion. As the saying goes, "Everything tastes better with bacon."

“Even apocalypse looks less dire when viewed over a plate of bacon.” ― Stephanie Stamm, A Gift of Wings

Gratitude For You

Hello

I wanted to take a moment to sincerely offer you and the whole Tumblr community my deepest gratitude. I want you to know that your support has been a cornerstone of my journey. Reflecting on this journey and realizing how far we've all gone together is amazing. I am truly thankful as the holiday season draws near.

I'd want to send you and your family my best wishes as we soon get together to spend the holidays with loved ones. I hope you have a lot of laughs, lots of warmth, and lots of good meals to share with the people you care about during this special time.

I hope the holidays are serene and filled with delectable and flavorful food for you and your loved ones.

With gratitude and my deepest, most profound thanks to you,

LC

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ― Marcel Proust

Vegetable Frittata

Frittatas are a terrific way to prepare elegant brunches, hearty and quick breakfasts, and meals that help empty the fridge. Frittatas are delicious warm, cold, or room temperature. In comparison to certain other egg recipes, it is far less fussy. It has almost enough space for everything. Add whatever strange things or leftovers you have lingering in your refrigerator to your frittata. It is really adaptable. And it is really easy to make them. Once the basic formula has been mastered.

A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe. –Thomas Keller