If you are looking for a satisfying snack, try these Sweet and Spicy Pecans. I also keep some on hand as an addition to salads and veggie dishes. My dear friend, Bonnie Hildebrandt, created this recipe decades ago. Every time I read her recipe, I laugh. The heading on my […]
Pecan Cranberry Brussels Sprouts is my attempt to recreate an appetizer I had at Wild Blue Yonder Brew Pub in Castle Rock, Colorado. Last summer I met six friends at Wild Blue Yonder for a socially distanced lunch on the patio. Three of us ordered the Fried Brussels Sprouts appetizer […]
Tomatillos are a key ingredient for this black bean salsa. When a friend recently gave me fresh tomatillos from her garden, I dug through my old recipes to find this favorite from the 90s. Back then, it was a staple at many gatherings. If you have leftovers, use the […]
For my first meal upon our return to Costa Rica, I ordered shrimp ceviche at Kukula, a restaurant in Quepos. The dish came with patacoñes, twice-fried green plantain chips that are golden brown and crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and lightly salted. They were so good I tried to […]
The sign claiming “Best Shrimp Ceviche in Quepos” enticed us into Kukula, a restaurant in a small town on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast on the first day of our 10-day vacation. We tried ceviche at several other places during our stay, but we all agreed that Kukula’s made the […]
Carnitas poppers pack a lot of flavor with five ingredients: carnitas, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, peppers (sweet minis, jalapeños or poblanos), and bacon. When I’m looking for a quick meal, Del Real Carnitas hit the spot. This slow-cooked Mexican pork can be purchased at most grocery stores, including Walmart, King […]
Bacon candy is sweet, salty, spicy and crispy. When I first heard of it, I wondered if it was an appetizer or a dessert. That just shows how limited my thinking was. It can also be crumpled in a salad, placed on a hamburger, or used to garnish a Bloody […]
What do you do with all that leftover turkey after Thanksgiving? Turkey Nachos with Cranberry Salsa, that’s what! I found this recipe in a Whole Foods flier years ago. I changed a few ingredients, then down-sized it for my one-butt kitchen. I’ve never attempted to cook a turkey in our […]
Oh, happy day! Pomegranates are in season. When I made this for the first time during the holidays, I called it Christmas Guacamole because of the colors. I like it enough that it’s not just for Christmas anymore. Peeled pomegranate arils (fancy name for the seeds) are available in the produce […]
Smoked salmon hummus canapés are easy to make with only four delicious ingredients. With store-bought hummus, these can be assembled in just a few minutes. Plan on 1 to 3 per person, depending on what else you are serving. Active time: 5 minutes […]
Hi! My name is Mary Zalmanek and I love to cook. My husband Jim and I also love to travel in our motorhome, which means I cook a lot of meals in the tiny one-butt kitchen in our motorhome. My recipes come from various sources: my family and friends, successful experiments, and inspiration from restaurant meals enjoyed during our travels, various cookbooks, and food blogs. All of my recipes are gluten-free.