It’s time to get serious, people. We are totally tapped out here in the Saba household, so I’ve started meal planning and instacarting (more on that below). Last week it worked like a charm! Here’s my plan for this week: Weekly Menu Sunday: Grilled chicken, caesar salad, broccoli, shells and cheese, fruit Monday: Oven-baked salmon, […]
Homemade Chicken Broth
There are a few things to know about homemade chicken broth. Actually, there are a lot of things to know, if you’re interested . . . just google “chicken bone broth” and you’ll find tons of books and websites with reams of information about cooking techniques and health benefits of broth. But, if you’re not […]
Seasoned Ground Beef for Tacos
Well hello! So happy you’re here! But I should warn you: this recipe is not for the Tex-Mex tacos you might be thinking of (the ones with a greasy yellow shell and heavily cumin-and-chili-powder seasoned ground beef). While those tacos are delicious, these are not those. Although I hesitate to generalize, you could say these have more of an interior Mexican flavor. […]
Fall Menu Inspiration: Easy Crock-Pot Recipes and More!
Happy September! I love fall and football and slow-cooked meals. It’s all so cozy I just want to curl up on the couch with Cookie and Muffin. Not “a” cookie and muffin, although those would be nice, too; I’m talking about Cookie and Muffin. This is Muffin: This is Cookie: They are both very soft and […]
Everything You Need to Know to Make Fluffy, Flavorful White Rice
Basic white rice is surprisingly difficult to make. It’s either burned on the bottom, crunchy on the inside and mushy on the outside, or mushy all the way through. Or, it tastes like cardboard. Mmmmm, cardboard. I had all of those problems until a few years ago when my dad taught me this recipe. I posted a video […]
Pistachio-Crusted Salmon
“Pistachio-crusted salmon.” Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? It’s not. But it is dee-licious. Very easy to make, too. All you need is fresh fish, melted butter and chopped nuts. You can use pistachios as I have below, or whatever you have on hand (mixed nuts, pecans, almonds). Whichever you choose, get the shelled, salted and roasted variety for […]
EVEN EASIER Easy Meat Sauce for Spaghetti or Lasagna
I love to find a difficult recipe and make it easier. Like mole. I took a challenging recipe that nobody in their right mind would ever make, and made it shorter, faster and easier. And now, with this paired-down recipe, you can make authentic homemade mole in just five simple steps! (Okay maybe you’ll never make it but […]
12 Easy Recipes to Make in Your Food Processor
I teach cooking classes several times a month in Austin at Patricia’s Table. (My next class is coming up on June 28, if you’re interested! Sign up with a friend and BYOB; great food and lots of fun guaranteed!) We use a food processor in nearly every class. And invariably, as I’m introducing my sous chef […]
Why I Always Buy Frozen Shrimp, PLUS a Recipe for Super-Fast Sautéed Garlic Shrimp
I made this Easy Summer Gazpacho the other day, and after the first bite I was totally craving seafood! There’s something about that cold tomato soup with cilantro, avocado and lime that makes me want a big pile of shrimp. (And crab cakes. And a cold glass of wine. And a sunset and an ocean breeze. And, okay […]
Easy Summer Gazpacho
Ahhh, summer. Three months of feeling like I need a shower. When we were kids, the heat never seemed as bad. We loved the summers, and especially the beach. In June or July or sometimes both, our family would pile into the Oldsmobile (emphasis on “old”), and head down to the Texas coast. Then for three […]
Easy Banana Bread (With Half the Sugar!)
I love to make banana bread. It reminds me of my Grandma, Jeannie. She was known for her banana cakes with cream cheese frosting. Her cakes, like her buttermilk biscuits, were always delicious. For the cake, Jeannie used a recipe from the Original Joy of Cooking, along with “White Icing II” from the same book. Both are […]
My Favorite Summer Soup!
When Jack was a toddler and he would try to say the word “using,” it always sounded like “losing.” So, for example, when someone would ask where the phone was, instead of saying “Mama’s using it,” Jack would shout: “MAMA’S LOSING IT. MAMA’S LOSING IT.” And because the truth is so funny, I would always burst into laughter. […]
4 Simple Sauces for Summer Grilling
Happy Memorial Day weekend! We are so ready for school to be over and summer to start. (But ask me in two weeks and I’ll probably be counting down to September, ha!) Are you planning to break out the grill over the long weekend? If so, here are for four simple sauces to serve with your meal. 1. Easy […]
Epic French Toast
My daughter loves French Toast. She asks for it every morning, often while EVERYONE IS STILL ASLEEP INCLUDING THE SUN. Which raises the question: why do children like to wake up before sunrise, especially on weekends? I’ve heard about parents who have trained their children to stay in bed until a certain time. We are so not those […]
5 Things I’m Loving at Trader Joe’s
The countdown to summer has officially begun! We are already thinking about all the things we want to do: go to the beach, get snow cones, swim at night, go fishing, picnic at the pool, make cherry limeade (pictured above) and lots more fun stuff! And with summer so close we can almost taste it, […]
3 Simple Steps to Perfectly-Ripe Avocados Every Day of the Week
I see this post on Instagram every so often and it always makes me laugh: Because it has totally happened to me. Like 8 million times. Which is probably why I make this blended avocado salsa so often; it’s a great way to use slightly over-the-hill avocados. (It’s also delicious!) But mushy avocados won’t work when […]
Easy Gluten-Free Egg Casserole
I love easy recipes. And I’m talkin’ “don’t even need to get out a knife” easy. That is this recipe. For a basic gluten-free egg casserole, all you need are: eggs, milk, shredded potatoes, cheese and a little S&P. Buy the cheese and potatoes already shredded. Do you know about pre-shredded potatoes? Like these by Cascadian Farms: Or these […]
All the Mexican Recipes You Need!
I’m posting these for Cinco de Mayo, but these recipes yummy Mexican recipes are also great for easy weeknight meals, or Mexican-themed dinner parties. Of course, for a truly perfect occasion, add margaritas! Easiest Crockpot Pork Verde (gluten free) Easiest Crockpot Chicken Tinga Tacos (gluten free) Crockpot Barbacoa (gluten free) Authentic Caldo de Res (gluten free) Ceviche (gluten free) Ceviche tostadas (gluten […]
Lebanese Baked Eggplant (Sheik ‘al Mishee)
Have you ever tried Lebanese baked eggplant? Also known as “Sheik ‘al Mishee” (or “Sheik ‘al Mehshe”), which translates to “Dish Fit for a King.” And it really is that good. You start with eggplant, which is broiled until brown and then baked until soft. The eggplant is layered with ground beef and a rich tomato […]
Tres Leches Coconut Macaroons
My mom loves coconut macaroons, and all coconut desserts, really. So growing up we ate a lot of coconut paletas (sort of an ice-creamy popsicle), coconut cakes, and cakes covered in coconut. If you like coconut, too, you will love these cookies! They are so simple to make (just five ingredients!), and everything a coconut macaroon should be […]
Follow Cocina Marie
