Umami.  Say it with me…Oo-mom-ee.  That’s right, the oh so desirable savory taste that needed it’s own Umami International Symposium in Hawaii to ensure it’s recognition as one of the basic tastes.  Once the subject of controversy, it’s now widely accepted and is available in so many natural forms.   This Asian burger recipe uses 3 different umami ingredients, and I’ve actually been told more than once that this is the BEST burger recipe ever!  It’s the perfect way to celebrate summer holidays in your backyard. Read more

Bibimbap, Bibimbap!  I just love saying it!  Go ahead, try it out.  Say it Bee Bim Bop.  Isn’t it fun?  But more than fun to say, bibimbap is fun to eat, and even good for you!  It’s a signature Korean dish consisting of rice, an egg and various vegetables, and often made with beef.  It’s so popular in Korea that it even has its own museum!  The great thing about this Korean recipe is that you probably have most of the ingredients already.  The only one that may be new to you is gochujang (or kochujang), a spicy chili paste. Read more

I was concerned that this year’s United Way Hunger Challenge was actually going to be a big challenge for me.  I’m not just cooking for Eric and I, we have two teenage boys that eat twice as much as Eric and I put together!  This has increased our budget from $12 a day to $22 a day.  The good news is, this actually gave me more money for buying basic staples for our  pantry (since with the Hunger Challenge you can’t use anything you already own).  Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sriracha, sugar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil and honey are going to be some of my secret weapons this week.  The first thing I made with the soy sauce, vinegar and sriracha?  Some tasty homemade beef and vegetable potstickers. Read more

They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  If that’s the case, then I think one of the easiest ways to show your man how much you love him is a perfect steak.  That’s why I often make Eric steak for Valentine’s Day!  For most of us, February is far too cold for grilling outside.  But don’t worry,  I’m going to give you some tips on cooking a perfect steak using your stove and oven, along with a Mediterranean steak marinade recipe. Read more

Everyone needs a few easy spaghetti recipes under their belts.  Spaghetti noodles are cheap and fast to cook.  If you have a few different sauce recipes memorized you can always easily whip something up.  This is a slightly spicy spaghetti recipe, a meaty red sauce packed with vegetables.  I make it in bulk and freeze it in portions so I can make a last minute dinner whenever the need arises. Read more