Just~One~Donna

What do you do with bananas that get overripe before they get eaten?  For far too long, I threw those overripe bananas in the trash. I'm one of those people who likes to eat bananas that are firm and barely ripe.  Any brown spots signal that the bananas are getting too ripe for me. A while ago, I learned that bananas could easily be frozen and used in a multitude of recipes.  Just remove the skin and wrap each banana individually in plastic wrap.  Freeze them together in a plastic zip top bag.  So now when bananas start to brown they go into the freezer and wait for me to use them.  No more wasted bananas and you'll always have bananas for the yummy muffins on hand. Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins-Yum! Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins This recipe for chocolate chip banana muffins is one yummy way to use those frozen bananas.  It starts with my family's favorite banana bread recipe, with the addition of chocolate chips and walnuts. Make them for a weeke

Beef tenderloin can make any dinner special.  This beef tenderloin with a pesto crust recipe is flavorful and easy to prepare. Do you have a special occasion on the horizon?  Are you planning a celebratory dinner, but don't want to spend all day in preparation?  This recipe for pesto-encrusted beef tenderloin may be a perfect solution.  We had this dinner for one of our recent family birthday dinners.  It was delicious and relatively easy to make. Beef Tenderloin for a Special Occasion Four Reasons to Love this Pesto Encrusted Beef Tenderloin Recipe Beef tenderloin is an excellent choice for a special dinner because it is elegant, tasty, and doesn't require constant supervision while cooking.   You can prepare the tenderloin ahead. You can brown the beef, get it prepared with the pesto coating, and set it aside until ready to cook.   The cook time for a beef tenderloin is relatively short as well.   It won't take you hours to have this lovely dinner ready. Beef te

Winter came through my neck of the woods with a blast this week, in spite of it being just a week until spring officially begins.  With frigid temperatures and snow piling up outside my window, I was happy to look around and see my orchids in bloom.  I love that orchids bring a bit of the tropics to my home during the height of the winter season.  That helps to chase the winter blues away. Seven Tips for How to Care for Orchids in Your Home A Reblooming Orchid In my opinion, orchids are one of the best values available in flowers and household plants.  You can buy a beautiful orchid full of buds and blooms for less than $20 at grocery stores and garden centers across the United States.  Those flowers will last for about three months of colorful beauty in your home and require minimal care. My Reblooming White Orchid When purchasing your orchid, choose a plant with just a couple of open blooms  and many closed buds. This orchid will give you many months of lovely

Do you love penne pasta tossed in a light Parmesan cream sauce, topped with grilled chicken?  I do. Today's recipe is just that.  It is inspired by the Penne Rustica we used to order at Romano's Macaroni Grill.   Hubby and I like to have afternoon movie and dinner dates, especially on winter weekends.   One of our local movie theaters used to be located near a Romano's Macaroni Grill.  I say, used to be near, because the Macaroni Grill closed. Now there are no Macaroni Grills in the state or in a reasonable proximity. Grilled Chicken with Penne Pasta and Parmesan Cream Sauce Grilled Chicken with Penne Pasta and Parmesan Cream Sauce Pin It For Later:  Cheesy Chicken Penne Pasta One of my favorite meals to order at the Macaroni Grill was the Penne Rustica.  As a result of the Macaroni Grille's closure, it has been a few years since I have been able to have my fix of Penne Rustica.  As a result, I made this Cheesy Penne Pasta and Grilled Chicken. This reci

We try to limit our bread consumption in the Just One Donna house but haven't eliminated it entirely. When we do eat bread, we want it to be good bread.   Occasionally, I like a hearty bread, with a crunchy crust that tastes yummy with a herb-infused dipping oil.  That's when No Knead Bread is my choice. Make No-Knead Bread with My Yummy Dipping Oil Pin It for Later My No Knead Bread No-Knead Bread  became all the rage several years ago.  In case there are still some out there who are unaware of no knead bread, Mark Bittman and Jim Leahy introduced the world to this no-knead technique in 2006.  Check the video below for their demonstration of the no-knead method.  You'll see just how easy making this bread really is. It looks easy enough, right?  Start the night before you want to bake the bread by mixing together three cups of bread flour, 1 1/4 teaspoons of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of rapid rising yeast with 1 1/2 cups of water.  Just use a wooden spoon to

If you enjoy corn chowder and a little spicy heat, you will love this kicked up chicken corn chowder recipe.  The addition of some cooked chicken turns this soup into a main dish that is perfect for a casual weekend or weeknight dinner. A Yummy, Spicy Corn Chowder with Chicken This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through these links I will receive a small compensation that supports this blog. Kicked Up Chicken Corn Chowder Pin It for Later This is a perfect recipe for rotisserie chicken.  If you are like me, you have a rotisserie chicken in your fridge right now.  I also have many packages of chopped jalapenos in my freezer from my abundantly producing jalapeno plants grown in my raised bed garden last summer.  I've been using the jalapenos in my salsa and guacamole recipes throughout the fall and winter, but I have many more waiting to be used.  They are perfect for a little extra heat in this soup.  I use one jalapeno, but you can use more

Roasting vegetables is one of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables.  It is absolutely my favorite way to prepare cauliflower. Roasting takes cauliflower from meh to yummy in no time at all!  The combination of cauliflower with sweet potatoes is the yummiest and I make it even better with some onion, garlic, and herbs. The Best Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Side Dish Savory Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes with Onion, Garlic, and Herbs I love this combination so much I can make a meal of it.  The edges of the cauliflower caramelize in the roasting process making the little florets sweet as can be. That caramelized sweetness blends beautifully with the natural sweetness of the sweet potato.  The olive oil mixed with garlic, onion, and herbs add a touch of savory flavor to the dish that will keep you wanting more. Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes Printer Friendly Recipe Serves Four Cauliflower and Sweet Potatoes Ready to Roast One he