If you want to minimize trips to the grocery store during the pandemic, roasted winter vegetables contain longer-lasting veggies that can be stored for a week or two before they must be used. This tasty combination is my idea of comfort food on cold winter days. Active time: 20 minutes […]
When a friend served Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash, I immediately asked for her recipe. It was delicious. When I saw it took an hour and a half to make, I started thinking of short cuts to make it doable in my one-butt kitchen. I found two that cut the […]
Do you need a stiff drink to deal with election night? Whether you use the Maple Rob Roy to toast victory or lessen your sorrows, remember to “Live, Laugh and Love.” I found this recipe in the December 2018 issue of Costco Connection, courtesy of mixologist Keith Meicher of Sepia […]
Whether it’s made with a traditional crust or a potato crust to make it gluten-free, this green chili quiche makes a delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner. When I eliminated wheat from my diet in 2003, this was one of the first recipes I adapted to my new way of eating. […]
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 […]
Papaya chicken salad has several ingredients you’d expect plus one that might surprise you. Papaya seeds! Those peppery seeds I’d always thrown away have some unexpected health benefits. According to healthline.com, papaya seeds can help fight infections, may protect kidney functions, could have anti-cancer properties, and may improve digestive health. […]
Balsamic strawberries with lemon creme fraiche are one of my current favorite desserts for two reasons. First, it’s delicious. Second, it’s fast and easy to make with only four ingredients. Years ago I found a recipe for balsamic strawberries that used two pans and took an hour to prepare. […]
The best chili rellenos I ever tasted were stuffed with cheese, pecans, and pork. My friend Eduardo Cavazos spent all afternoon making them from his mother’s recipe. To enjoy similar flavors in a fraction of the prep time, I improvised this chili rellenos casserole. In Maria Eugenia Cavazos’s original […]
I married into a family of fine cooks (and wonderful people!). Jim’s dad used to grill salmon covered in Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and diced garlic. Everyone loved it. (It looks and sounds spicier than it is.) It’s easy, with just three simple ingredients. Most of the time I […]
For two wondrous months in 2001, Jim and I were inn-sitters the Villa Decary on Lake Arenal in Costa Rica. When we revisited in 2012, Elkin, a Tico (that’s what Costa Ricans call themselves) who works there now, led us on a tour of his family’s nearby farm. His […]
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.