Just~One~Donna

The trouble with a snowy winter afternoon is that I sit around thinking about what would make the cold and dreariness go away.  More often than not the answer is a baked good of some kind.  Are you getting the mid-winter blahs when you look out your window?  Almond biscotti may be your antidote. Sometimes a tasty cookie is the best medicine. Almond Biscotti-A Perfect Cookie Treat  Almond Biscotti Fresh from the Oven Are you a biscotti fan?  Some people are not, but I think it must be because they have never had a really tasty biscotti.  When a biscotti is just right, it is crisp, with just the right amount of crumble in your mouth.  It should hold up when dunked in a steaming cup of coffee or tea, but be flavorful enough not to need to be dunked. The light almond scent of these biscotti adds to the pleasure of eating these delicious treats.  The aroma, taste, and texture all make almond biscotti perfect for your mid-afternoon pick me up, or after dinner dessert. You

I'm having such fun with the lemons from my lemon tree this year.  There's nothing fresher than picking a lemon from a tree and using it immediately.  I've been using many of my lemons in my water for a refreshing zing throughout the day. Occasionally, I enjoy an adult beverage like this Lemon Drop Martini which is the perfect cocktail to make with fresh, juicy lemons.  With fresh lemons available in markets most any time of year, a Lemon Drop Martini can be made anytime and you don't need your own lemon tree. How to Make a Perfect Lemon Drop Martini This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  When you make a purchase through one of these links you help to sustain this blog.  Thank You! A Refreshing Lemon Drop Martini I tried a number of different Lemon Drop Martini recipes until I settled on this one as my favorite.  I know we all have different flavor preferences, but to me, this Lemon Drop Martini has just the right balance of lemony tartn

Breakfast has never been one of my favorite meals.  I remember arguing with my mom, as a teenager, about eating breakfast before going to school.   I hated breakfast.  Then, as a working mom, I never had time for breakfast.  That is a very dangerous habit because when you get hungry you'll grab and eat the fastest and easiest thing you can find.  Too often, those grab-and-go foods are packed with calories and aren't healthy in your diet.  Bad habits are hard to break but if you are like me, this Mixed Berry and Chia Overnight Oats recipe will rock your world. Mixed Berry and Chia Seed Overnight Oats Delicious Overnight Oats with Mixed Berries and Chia Seeds ( This post contains affiliate links.  I will receive compensation when you make a purchase using these links. ) I'm loving overnight oats.  This Mixed Berry and Chia Overnight Oats recipe is a make ahead recipe that you can keep in your refrigerator for the whole week.  I like to make my overnight oats in a

I have a lemon tree...and lemons.  That may not sound like a big deal for some of you but for a Rhode Islander, a lemon tree is a special thing.  I bought this lemon tree as a lark about six years ago from my local Home Depot. It didn't cost much and I thought I'd see what my green thumb could do.  I babied it for a couple of years, taking it out on my deck during the warm months and bringing it inside in the cold weather.  It wasn't doing much of anything, so about four years ago it moved to my home in Florida where it has flourished. Last year I got my first lemons, two beauties. Lemon Glazed Lemon Bread Delicious Glazed Lemon Bread This year my lemon crop is much more bountiful.  I have twenty lovely lemons ready for harvest. One of the first ways I am using my lemons is in this lemon bread recipe. This recipe is from my friend, Robin, and is for the lemon bread her mother always made for her family. It's a very easy to make recipe, with no special ing

Hubby was telling me about a yummy tomato soup he had recently. When I replied by saying how much I loved tomato soup, he just laughed because he knows I love every kind of soup.  So, I must be more specific when I talk about the soups I like.  For example, when I think about all the soups I like with beef as the base flavor, this beef barley soup is my favorite. Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup  Beef  Barley Soup I always make this soup when I have some leftover roast beef in my refrigerator.  Soup is a great choice when you are scratching your head about what to do with perfectly good leftovers. A little bit of this and a bunch of that, combined with a tasty broth, will make a satisfying and filling dinner for your family. This beef barley soup was made in my six-quart slow cooker, but it can just as easily be made in a pot on your stove. Just adjust your cooking times to the method you choose. One of the benefits of the slow cooker method is the extended length of ti

Excitement is growing in our house for the big game.  It's always more fun when your football team is playing for the championship, isn't it?  You can bet New Englanders will be glued to their TVs and eating lots and lots of game day food.  These Cheeseburger Stuffed Mushrooms are tasty bites, a perfect appetizer for game watching. They'd also be a great appetizer for a BBQ, but there aren't many BBQs happening in New England in January and February! Cheeseburger Stuffed Mushrooms-A Game Day Appetizer Game Day Cheeseburger Stuffed Mushroom Appetizers These Cheeseburger Stuffed Mushrooms taste just like mini cheeseburgers, without the buns.  The filling has all the good things I like in a cheeseburger.  I added onions, garlic, and the chopped mushroom stems with a shake or two of Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper to taste to the ground beef. The key with these mushrooms is not to precook the filling.  You want the burger filling to brown in the oven

It has been a while since I have shared a soup recipe with you.  If you are a regular reader, you know that soup is a favorite on the dinner menu in the Just One Donna house.  We really enjoy a bowl of steaming, hot soup and a slice of crusty bread when the winter temperatures drop and the wind is howling outside.  This Chorizo Sausage and Kale Soup is comfort food at its best.  It is flavorful and filling.  As an added benefit, your bowl will be chock full of good-for-you vegetables. Chorizo Sausage and Kale Soup-Perfect for Winter Chorizo Sausage and Kale Soup I made this yummy soup with the odds and ends of vegetables I had in my refrigerator and freezer, and I hope you will do the same.  As I was making the soup, I couldn't help thinking about the story, Stone Soup .  It was a favorite of mine when I was a kid.  The stars of this soup are the kale and the chorizo sausage, but feel free to add whatever vegetables your family likes best.  The more vegetables you add th