Just~One~Donna

Yesterday I watched the bean seeds I planted in my garden on Memorial Day sprout.  These pictures were all taken yesterday.  While not exactly time lapse photography, they give you a sense as to how quickly these seeds grow.  These pictures were taken over a five hour period. It took five days for these little rascals to break through the soil.  I'm looking forward to the day I can pick fresh beans for dinner. How does your garden grow?

Let's all just admit it.  Every once in a while we want French fries.  We know they are not good for us.  We know they don't fit into our healthy eating plan.  We know that eating French fries will not help us lose the ten pounds we are trying desperately to shed.  Even knowing all these things, every once in a while we still want French fries. Well, thanks to the folks at America's Test Kitchen (ATK) there is a way for us to make French fries at home with very little fuss and mess.  On top of that, their recommended approach for making the fries produces fries that absorb 13%  of the fat as compared to the 20% of fat absorbed by the usual twice cooked approach widely used today.  Sounds good, right? Here's some more good news for you.  The fries are cooked in less oil than is usually recommended and you start with both the oil and the potatoes at room temperature.  No sputtering or splattering of oil when you add the potatoes...

All of a sudden I got the urge for potato salad today.  I was standing at the deli counter of my grocery store ordering sandwich meat when the potato salad called out to me.  It must be because Memorial Day is this weekend, but whatever the reason I dashed to the produce department to get some red potatoes and dill, two essential ingredients for my favorite potato salad.  A craving for potato salad can not be denied.  There are three things I really love about this potato salad. Red Potatoes   I love the texture of the red potatoes.  Some will tell you that a good potato salad can only be made with russet potatoes.  I disagree. Fresh Dill    Oh, there's just something special about the taste of fresh dill in potato salad. Sugar   The addition of a little bit of sugar nicely offsets the vinegar.  This potato salad in not sweet, but the hint sugar adds balance. Let's make some... Donna's Red Potato Salad Prin...

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies Do you love oatmeal cookies?  Somehow it seems when I eat an oatmeal cookie that I am having a more healthy treat.  Delusional, I know, but if you love a good oatmeal cookie you will enjoy these.  The tartness of the dried cranberries offsets the sweetness of a traditional oatmeal cookie.  Add the crunchy goodness of toasted walnuts and you have a winner of a cookie. Let's make them, shall we? Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookie Ingredients 14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 cups old fashioned oatmeal 1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Spread one cup of shelled walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven ...

I had some strawberries left over from a delicious spinach salad with strawberries and goat cheese that I made the other day.  When I went to the grocery store the strawberries were on sale, buy one package get one package free.  As a result, I had more strawberries than I needed for the salad recipe.  As strawberry season fast approaches I know many of you will find yourself in the same situation.  Not to worry.  This Strawberry Banana Muffin recipe will help you to use your fresh strawberries in a delicious way. Strawberry Banana Muffins   Makes 12 muffins 1/2 cup canola oil 3/4 cup light brown sugar 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup) 1 cup fresh strawberries (cut into bite sized pieces) 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt Turbinado sugar for topping, optional Directions Pre...