This recipe is Tofu at one of its best. An appetizer/wrap that can also be a main dish. I’ve had kids clean their plates and ask for more – even knowing that it’s tofu.

An all round taste pleaser – light, spicy, savory.

You’ll need:

2 Tablespoons Peanut Oil
2 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil
2 Garlic Cloves or to taste, finely minced
1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger, finely minced
1 Small Red Bell Pepper, finely chopped
1 Can Water Chestnuts, water discarded, finely chopped
6 Whole fresh Scallions sliced crosswise into small rounds
1 Pound brick Tofu, soft or firm, crumbled by hand
2 Tablespoons or to taste Organic Soy Sauce or to taste
2 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce or to taste
2 Tablespoons Mirin Cooking Wine or to taste (found in Japanese/Oriental markets
or section of supermarkets and natural food stores)
2 Tablespoons Cilantro, finely chopped
1 Fresh & crisp Head Lettuce, leaves gently taken off
(Can also use Napa cabbage, leaves cut to scoop size or celery cut
Into 2” long pieces or your choice of veggie scoop)

Large heavy skillet (not nonstick)
Takes about 20 minutes to put together then refrigerate to cool
Ground meat or poultry can be substituted for Tofu. Adjust seasonings to taste.

To prepare:

Heat skillet over medium flame. Add oils, garlic, and ginger and sauté till fragrant about 2-3 minutes. Add red bell pepper and water chestnuts for another minute. Add crumbled tofu and continue breaking up with spatula mixing continuously until consistency resembles ground beef, about 5 minutes. The tofu/veggie beads will separate as the water evaporates. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and Mirin and continue stirring till mixed through. It should be salty, spicy, slightly sweet. Adjust to your taste. Add scallions and cilantro and stir another minute to mix through. Place in a serving bowl and refrigerate till cool. You can serve by putting bowl of tofu mixture in the middle of a platter with lettuce leaves for people to wrap themselves and other raw veggies all around or fill the veggies yourself. Either way this is definitely a fun favorite finger food.

Be ready to hold people back on this one.

Tangy, spicy, gooey, crunchy, rich, terrific with beer or natural carbonated drink or even hot tea.

Very adaptable and delicious as an appetizer or light lunch.

You’ll need:

6 Large 8 inch soft Taco size Flour Tortillas: white, wheat, or your choice
5-1/2 Ounce container Goat Cheese, contents in bowl
3 Tablespoons Basil Pesto or your choice
2 Scallions, Green part only, minced
1 Large handful Spinach leaves only
2 Cloves Garlic minced
Salt & Pepper to taste
Salsa for dipping, your choice

NOTE: Can add minced jalapeno, chipotle, or other hot pepper for more heat. Suggest using latex gloves to handle them.

Large or 12” heavy skillet (not nonstick) very thinly oiled with light cooking oil

To prepare:

In a medium saucepan, steam spinach in about 1/2 inch of water till totally wilted. Drain and when cool, squeeze out removing as much water as possible. Chop and add to goat cheese with garlic and chopped scallions. Mix all together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread each of three tortillas with a thin/medium layer of goat cheese mix. On the other three tortillas spread a thin layer of pesto and place on top of goat cheese pesto side down. Heat skillet over medium heat. Wait until skillet heats through, about 3 minutes. Toast one quesadilla pressing down gently with a spatula until golden maybe 3 minutes. Turn over gently and press again. Mixture should be melting and soft. Toast second side till golden. Remove to cutting board and repeat with rest of quesadillas. Cut eat into quesadilla into 8 wedges and arrange on serving dish with salsa. Incredible!

Fast, easy, literally a 1,2,3 entrée.

This is one dish that you’ll want to savor and serve over and over.





You’ll need:

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Pounds Fresh Fish white fillets: tilapia, red snapper, sole…
1/2 Cup fresh chopped Parsley
1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper dried crushed or more for more spice!
4 Cups Cherry Tomatoes halved
1 Cup Kalamata Pitted Olives or other black brined, chopped roughly
6-8+ Garlic cloves chopped
Sea Salt to taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste

*Options & continued adventures: Add some White wine to sauce: Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio or something very slightly fruity. You can also dredge fish fillets in white flour till thinly coated and sauté till pale tan and slightly crunchy then follow rest of recipe. About 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger juice adds to but does not impose on the red pepper in the sauce. This fish should melt in your mouth!

One large heavy skillet (NOT nonstick)
One large serving platter

To prepare:

Heat skillet over medium/high heat and add oil. Allow oil to heat for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Add half of the whole fish fillets to skillet and allow to cook until just opaque in center, a few minutes, turning gently on each side being very careful not to break fillet apart. Transfer fish to platter. Repeat with remaining fish. In the same skillet add more oil so skillet bottom is evenly coated. Add parsley (stand back a bit while the parsley gets annoyed and spits) and crushed red pepper. Sauté 1 minute. Add tomatoes, olives and garlic and if adding wine, use about 1/4 Cup now. Continue sautéing until tomatoes are soft and juicy, about 2-3 minutes. Season sauce with salt & pepper. Spoon over fish and serve. Bellissima!

Serves 6-8+

– you will want to double this one for seconds all around.

It hits the spot for a
chili night.

(yes, pun intended)

You’ll need:

4 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1-1/2-2 Pounds +/- cut into 3/4“ chunks Chicken (or Turkey)
1 Small Package Organic Frozen (your choice) — defrosted Mixed Veggies
1 Small Package Organic Frozen & unsweetened — defrosted Corn Niblets
1 Medium diced Onion
5 Cloves Garlic or to your taste, mashed ‘n minced
3 teaspoons dried Oregano
1+ Tablespoon dried Cumin or to taste
2-3 Jalapenos Ribs & seeds partially, all, or none removed
You decide the heat level: more ribs ‘n seeds, more heat
Use hotter chilies if you prefer even more heat
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
1 28-oz. can Crushed Tomatoes or 3-4 Cups fresh
3+ Cups Organic Chicken Broth depends on how thick you like it
1 Can – Black Beans 15-ounces drained
1 Can – Pinto Beans 15 ounces drained
1 Can Kidney Beans – 15 ounces drained
1 Cup Cilantro chopped or to your taste (I love it so I use a lot)
1-1/2 teaspoons Black Pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons Sea Salt

On-the-side: lime wedges, sour cream, avocado slices with one big crusty whole wheat or sourdough artisan bread or a pile of warm pan toasted tortillas

Large, heavy porcelain/cast iron or stainless steel pot & lid is best
About one hour cooking time

NOTE: I recommend using latex gloves when handling hot peppers

To prepare:

Heat oil in pot on low/medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic till they are aromatic, a few minutes. Add chicken chunks and continue sautéing for a few minutes. Mix in veggies and niblets and cook on medium heat for a few minutes. Add oregano, cumin, jalapenos and mix through. Add tomatoes with juice, chicken broth, lemon juice, all beans, salt & pepper. Bring heat down to simmer for 45 minutes. Add cilantro and adjust flavors to your taste. Simmer 15 minutes more. Serve with the sides. S-mokin’!

Serves 6-8

A salad side is all you might want to round off this easy-to-make delight for your family & kids.

Looks like a lot but it’s not. Not much time? Refrigerate and make later.

You’ll need:

1 Cup Wild Rice
2 Cups Water or Organic Chicken Broth
1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 Medium finely diced Onion
1 Stalk finely diced Celery
2 Cups shredded Zucchini, about 2 medium
1 Cup Corn Niblets (frozen or fresh unsweetened)
3+ Tablespoons Pure Olive Oil (light)
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
2 teaspoons Dried Basil
2 teaspoons Dried Marjoram
1 Tablespoon fresh Parsley, finely chopped
1/4 Cup grated Parmesan (sweet) OR Romano (tangy)
1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon Pure Honey
Salt & Pepper
Cayenne Pepper, Pinch
1 Rounded Tablespoon Organic Cane or Brown Sugar
Sweet Paprika or Spanish for more heat
Cinnamon
About 3/4 Cup Organic Chicken Broth or till thin layer in baking dish
8 Bone-in and skin-on whole chicken leg quarters, salt rubbed and washed

*NOTE: You can add golden raisins or dried cranberries for a more complex taste layer. Even some wine. Experiment with white or medium bodied red. I left out garlic from this one, but, of course put it in to your taste if you want. Make it and then make it yours.

400 degree oven
Baking time: About 1-1/2 hours or until juice is clear from leg/thigh joint
One medium saucepan w/ cover
One heavy skillet (NOT nonstick)
One large mixing bowl
Glass or heavy ceramic/cast iron baking dish oiled, sprinkled with salt, pepper, paprika.
Aluminum Foil

To prepare:

Preheat oven. Wash wild rice through a strainer and turn into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir/roast rice till dry and aromatic. Before adding water/broth run sides and bottom of saucepan under cold water tilting away from running water going around outside of pan only. This cools pan and prevents splattering when you add water/broth to rice. Add water/broth and salt. Cover. Bring to boil then turn down to simmer for about 45 minutes till rice is slightly al dente. When done turn out into large bowl to cool.

While rice is cooking heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in heavy skillet on medium heat. Add onion and celery and sauté till onions are translucent about 5 minutes. Add zucchini and nibblets and sauté additional few minutes with pinch of salt adding more oil if necessary. Remove from heat and turn mixture into bowl. Add next nine ingredients adjusting to your taste, and mix thoroughly. When rice is cooled, add to veggie mix and allow to cool until you can handle it. Carefully insert fingers between skin and meat of each leg gently opening up a pocket as far down the leg as you can go. Fill each pocket with rice mixture pushing it back gently under the skin being careful not to tear it. As each leg is filled place in baking dish. When dish is filled, brush each leg with olive oil, top with salt, pepper, paprika, a very light sprinkling of sugar and cinnamon. Add chicken broth and cover. Bake 45 minutes. Uncover and bake additional 15-20+ minutes. Skins should be browned and crunchy. Leg/thigh joint juice should be clear. Serve with salad for a scrumptious one plate meal!

Serves 6-8

Amaze your friends

& enemies with ground turkey sooo succulent and satisfying!

No beef equivalent comes near it.



You’ll need:

3 pounds Ground Turkey (preferably all dark meat or 1/2 ‘n 1/2)
30-35 crumbled Ritz Crackers™ in 1/2 glass water (Can use natural alternative cracker)
9+ medium cloves Garlic minced (I love garlic so I tend to use more so use to your taste)
3-4 good splashes of Worcestershire Sauce
More splashes for you Catsup (your choice), maybe 4-5 good ones
More to splash, Organic Shoyu Soy sauce — maybe 2-3
1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper or to your taste
3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Two small cans organic Tomato Sauce
1 Cup Organic Chicken Broth
6-8 Peeled Yellow Gold Potatoes cut into 2” chunks
Salt
Pepper
Paprika

Large baking dish, larger than 9”x13” if you have but no smaller than
Aluminum foil
350 degree oven
Baking time about 1-1/2 hours covered with rack in middle of oven

*NOTE: You can add golden raisins or dried cranberries for a more complex taste layer. Make it and then make it yours.

To prepare:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil baking dish and add a thin layer of some of the tomato sauce on the bottom. In one large mixing bowl combine thoroughly with your hands, ground turkey with next 8 ingredients. Be bold and add some more of any ingredient that you like. Make this your own.

Form into three loaves and place each into baking dish. Pour remainder of the tomato sauce over and around loaves. Place the cut potatoes all around and sprinkle them with salt, pepper, & paprika. Add chicken broth to the dish, cover with aluminum foil, and bake. Check softness of potatoes after one hour. Return to oven for another 20 – 30 minutes until potatoes are very soft but not falling apart and loaves are deliciously steaming. Remove from oven and allow to rest 5-10 minutes. It is ready to be devoured. Don’t expect leftovers, but IF there are, it’s just as delicious reheated, frozen with gravy & potatoes or on a sandwich hot or cold. YUM!

Marinate and broil.

That’s all.

The sake and ginger are unbelievable together.

It’s wild!

You’ll need:

1 Pound Wild Salmon Fillet
1 Tablespoon minced Fresh ginger
1 Medium Clove Garlic finely minced
1 Tablespoon finely chopped Scallions
3 Tablespoons Organic Shoyu Soy Sauce or to your taste
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons Medium to dry Japanese Sake OR Mirin
(Japanese cooking Sake found in Oriental Section of markets)
Unflavored bread crumbs or panko with a little salt
Rinsed off Capers add a delightful dimension of taste sprinkled on top of finished fish.(optional)

Oven on broil with oven rack on 2nd level
Medium glass or ceramic baking dish oiled

To prepare:

To marinate the salmon, place ginger, garlic, scallions, shoyu, salt, pepper, and sake in baking dish, mixing all together. Add fish skin side down to coat. Puncture top of fish with fork prongs and turn over flesh side down. Fork holes allow marinade to become infused in the flesh. Let stand for about 15 minutes at room temperature. Can marinate longer if desired.

Turn on broiler and allow oven to heat. Turn over fish so flesh side is up. Lightly sprinkle bread crumbs or panko over fish and broil till just done, for about 5-6 minutes or until flesh is flaky and opaque. You can even take it out a minute before as it continues to cook from residual heat. You want the salmon to be succulent and moist.

Enjoy it with a bright green salad with fruity vinaigrette dressing and/or a light fresh tomato/garlic pasta dish or light grain. If sprinkling top of salmon with capers, sprinkle lightly just before serving. This preparation is so fast that if an unexpected guest arrives (and you have enuf salmon or even another meaty fish – I always buy a little more. You never know… and the leftover is terrific flaked into a lunch salad the next day) you’ll have it ready with maybe a shorter marinade time, just a few minutes later to even more accolades!