Just~One~Donna

Are you a fan of fresh pineapple or do you prefer your pineapple in a can?  I love pineapple and once I experienced the joy of eating fresh pineapple it became fresh pineapple at my house all the time.  Oh, occasionally I may buy a can of pineapple for a specific recipe, but quite honestly, I can't remember the last time I did. I purchased a fresh pineapple about a week ago, planning to make a special dinner, but plans changed and a week later that pineapple was still sitting on my kitchen counter.  I decided I needed to do something with that pineapple right away, not wanting to waste a beautiful pineapple.  An old-fashioned pineapple upside down cake was in my future.  This is a pineapple upside down cake recipe you make from scratch, but don't let that scare you. Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Fresh Pineapple (This post contains affiliate links.  I will receive a small payment when you purchase through these links) Pineapples can be a bit pricey.  In my grocery

This recipe for rosemary roasted red potatoes is a perfect grilling season recipe, but can just as easily be made in your oven.  If you love garlic and rosemary, this recipe is for you. Roasted Rosemary Potatoes on the Grill (This post contains affiliate links which will compensate me when you buy.) Rosemary Grilled Red Potatoes Roasting the potatoes on the grill results in a more smokey flavor, especially if you use one of these handy, dandy grilling pans. My Favorite Grill Pan I've owned this grilling pan for several years and have used it to cook vegetables, potatoes and fish on the grill.   It really makes it easy to grill anything that might be cut into smaller sized pieces that might otherwise fall between the slats of the grill.  I love this pan and use it nearly every time we grill. There's nothing fancy about these grilled potatoes.  The flavor comes from lots and lots of garlic and a smattering of freshly chopped rosemary.  Don't f

Have you wanted to make shrimp-fried rice at home? Truth be told, a favorite dinner treat at my house is the occasional Chinese takeout.  We've become particularly fond of fried rice and dumplings as our go-to takeout meal.  On days when I'm feeling particularly energetic, I will make the fried rice myself.  The dumplings I leave to professionals. How to Make Shrimp-Fried Rice (This post contains affiliate links.) Better Than Takeout Shrimp Fried Rice I actually prefer my homemade shrimp fried rice to the rice from the Chinese restaurant.  This recipe is very quick to make and I know exactly what ingredients I am using.  I like having that control.  The flavor is delicious.  Make this shrimp fried rice recipe and you'll want the skip the takeout, too. Fried rice is easy to make at home and is a good way to use up many of the odds and ends of meats and vegetables that you may have hanging out in your refrigerator.  There are a few things you should keep in mind

As the weather warms, I find I want to spend less time in the kitchen than during the colder months of the year.  For quick meals, I keep a stash of boneless chicken breasts on hand in my freezer.  That way I always feel ready to pull a tasty dinner together quickly.  This is one of those dinners.  Chicken with Mushrooms and Peas is a recipe that takes just a few simple ingredients to make a satisfying dinner you can have on the table in thirty minutes. Quick and Easy Chicken with Mushrooms and Peas Chicken with Mushrooms and Peas I love that this dish is a one pan recipe for those of us who aren't eating potatoes or rice.  I like to serve a salad on the side for a dinner that is sure to please the pickiest eaters in your family.  Add rice or mashed potatoes if that's your jam. There's plenty of yummy flavor in this chicken dish.  The bacon, onions, and mushrooms add flavor and texture.  The chicken stock makes a nice sauce and the vinegar adds brightness.

I've been planting my backyard vegetable garden these past few weeks and am looking forward to the all the fresh vegetables that will be ready for harvest in July and August.  This summer you'll see me post a few more vegetable recipes. That's because I love fresh vegetables and I believe it is possible to make vegetables a delicious complement to my meals.  I know many of you may not feel the same way, but I hope you'll take advantage of the bounty of locally grown fresh vegetables in your neighborhoods and try one or two of my vegetable recipes.  Perhaps you'll become a vegetable lover as well? Oven Baked Italian Squash Casserole Baked Italian Squash Casserole Today's recipe is one of my favorites to make with the produce from my garden.  Fresh zucchini and yellow squash, onions, tomatoes, and parsley are delicious cooked the day they are picked.  You don't need a backyard garden to make yummy vegetable dishes.  You can make this recipe any time o

This post contains affiliate links.  I thank you for making a purchase through one of these links.  The few pennies I will receive will help to maintain this blog Today I am taking a break from the kitchen to update a post I wrote four years ago about two magazine racks I purchased for my bathrooms.  Sometimes the fact that I am the only female living in a male dominated home reveals itself in mundane ways.  One of those ways is the stack of reading materials that grows and grows in the bathrooms. Do you know what I am talking about?  There are magazines on the back of the toilet.  There are magazines on the floor.  There are magazines on the vanity.  I'm forever picking up, stacking and culling magazines in the bathroom.  That was until I purchased wall-mounted magazine racks.  Finally, an answer to the disorganization caused by reading materials in the bathroom. . I wanted to provide an update to my original post because I realized it has been four years since my purchase

Molten lava cakes are one of my favorite desserts to make and to eat.  If you love everything chocolate the chocolaty goodness of these little cakes will not disappoint.  The gooey chocolate that runs from the center of the cakes is a yummy delight. You'll also love the portion control of these cakes.  I never feel guilty when I eat a chocolate lava cake. Did I mention how easy they are to make? Molten lava cakes are E-A-S-Y! They just look hard to make. You've got this! Decadent Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes (This post contains affiliate links that compensate me for your purchase.) A Decadent Chocolate Molten Lava Cake Baking time is the key to success when making these molten lava cakes.  First, a little practice is required.  If this is your first time making this recipe you may not get perfect results.  The reason for this is all in knowing the perfect baking time for your oven. We all know that ovens vary, right? Well, this recipe is very time and temperatu

Summer is for salads.  Between the multitude of fresh vegetable options and the summer heat, salads often become my top choice for lunch or dinner.  The only problem is salads can be boring.  If you are like me, too frequently you find yourself putting together the same old combinations of vegetables and topping the salad with your standby dressing. A Yummy Summer Salad with Blueberries, Blue Cheese and Sugared Pecans Blueberry Salad with Blue Cheese and Sugared Pecans Today's blueberry salad is anything but boring.  Not one little bit boring!  The first bite offers the surprise of sweet blueberries bursting in your mouth.  Then comes the wow from the sharp, blue cheese.  Finally, you are rewarded by the sweet crunch of the sugared pecans.  With each mouthful of this salad, you are treated to a celebration of flavors that will keep you coming back bite after bite. Summer Salad with Blueberries, Blue Cheese, and Sugared Pecans Print Recipe Lettuce mix, you