Peanut butter cookies with Nutella centers

Peanut butter, sugar and egg

My idea of any great peanut butter cookie is one without flour. There's something about flour and peanut butter together that doesn't sit well with me. Instead, I use three basic ingredients to make delicious peanut butter cookies.

My favorite addition to peanut butter cookies is some sort of chocolate. I often use Hershey's kisses, but I used Nutella for my last batch.

Peanut butter cookie ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar brown or white
• 1 egg
• Nutella

Homemade French fries with coarse sea salt

My entire family loves french fries, but I make them from fresh potatoes instead of buying frozen fries. Here is a simple French fries recipe to share with your family.


 Since I "eyeball" everything, and do not use measurements, here are the estimations.

Homemade French fries ingredients 

Homemade French fries with coarse sea salt

• Potatoes- two fist size potatoes per person
• Oil 
• Coarse sea salt
• Other seasonings optional

Kitchen tools needed

• High lipped pan, fry daddy or large pot
• Large serving dish
• Slotted spoon or long handled strainer
• Paper towels, napkins or white computer paper (if you're in a quick pinch)
• Sharp Knife

Homemade french fries preparation

Cut all the potatoes lengthwise into strips. If you plan to do a lot of potatoes place them into cool water to keep them from browning. I prefer a high-lipped pan for my potatoes. Set the temperature on medium to medium-high. Each stove is different so this may need adjusting. Add 2 inches of oil into the pan, and it should only take a few minutes to heat.

Put a sliver into the oil to test the temperature. If it begins to bubble its time to fry. Layer the potatoes in the oil. The fry time will be 25 to 35 minutes depending on the amount of fries, thickness and stove.

While the fries are cooking layer your serving dish with the paper. When the fries are brown scoop them out half the fries, and add coarse sea salt immediately after they come out of the fryer. Keep a close eye on the french fries once they begin to brown so they don't burn.

Turn Christmas dinner leftovers into breakfast recipes

Left over corn bread make great mush.

The holidays make me feel like our Christmas dinner should consist of 25 side dishes, two large meats and an array of buttered breads and desserts even when there are only four of us eating Christmas dinner. In my family's case, I still make a dinner large enough for 12. There are always leftovers, and although they are not wasted, it's overkill. This year I plan to downsize our Christmas dinner so I don't have to spend the entire time in the kitchen, and to use leftovers for a few tasty breakfast recipes. It also means we won't be eating the traditional turkey sandwiches for a month after Christmas.

Read full article:  Turn Christmas dinner leftovers into breakfast recipes

Secret ingredient corn bread muffins

My Jaden loves corn bread muffins. She loves them for breakfast, dinner and as a snack. I love corn bread too, but one of the biggest issues I have with corn bread is that it's dry even when it's not over cooked.

Wikimedia Commons

What's the secret ingredient?

One of the simplest ways have moist corn bread muffins, that stay moist, is to add one secret ingredient. Know what it is?  Cream corn. Yes, that's all it takes. 

Secret ingredient corn bread muffins

• 2 boxes Jiffy Corn Bread Mix (follow directions)
• 1 can cream corn, white or yellow

Add honey and butter

That's the big secret. One can of cream corn will make your corn bread muffins delectably moist and tasty. Add butter and drizzle it with honey for sweet corn bread muffins. This makes six to eight large muffins. You can cut the recipe in half if it is too much for you. 

Slow cooked pulled pork tacos

Taco toppings including cucumbers

This is not exactly a new recipe, but the way I used the slow cooked, pulled pork from Sunday. My kids love tacos so we made tacos out of the slow cooked pork.

You'll need:

• Slow cooked pork recipe
• Taco shells, soft or corn tortillas
• Tomatoes
• Spinach or lettuce
• Black Olives
• Cheese, your choice

Slow cooked pork roast in Coke-Cola

Seared pork roast

I recommend everyone purchase a slow cooker, also known as a crock pot. It's great to cook all types of foods from meat to side dishes to dessert, and all while you're doing something else besides cooking. I often use my slow cooker for meat and sauces and begin cooking them in the early, early morning, or before going to bed.

The other day I used my slow cooker for a sirloin tip pork roast. It was simple, tasty and great in other dishes. I bought the sirloin tip pork roast at Costco, but this cut isn't always available. If this pork roast isn't available buy a shoulder or some other pork roast.

Slow cooked pork in Coco-Cola ingredients

• Pork roast
• 1 whole red bell pepper coarsely chopped
• 1 whole onion coarsely chopped (I prefer Vidalias)
• 1 can Coca-Cola
• Salt 
• Pepper
• Garlic powder or fresh
• Grill Mates seasoning (optional & to taste)
• 1Tbsp olive oil

Slow cooked pork in Coco-Cola preparation

Seasoned, slow cooked pork roast

Heat a pan on medium to medium high with olive oil. Coat the pork roast in the salt, pepper, garlic and Grill Mates seasoning and sear it for a minute on each side for a good crust. Place the pork roast in the slow cooker.

Heat the chopped onions and red peppers in the pan for a minute to bring out the flavors. Take the peppers and onions out after a minute or two and set it aside. You won't need these again until the pork roast is nearly finished.

Pour the can of Coca-Cola in the pan to pick up the seasonings and flavors of the meat and pour it over the pork roast. The cooking time will depend on the size of the roast and the temperature setting.

Add the onions and peppers to the pork roast fifteen minutes before taking the roast out of the slow cooker.  They will finish cooking and soften in the slow cooker, and the pork roast will be very tender and fall apart. It tastes great served just as it is or can be used to create other dishes.

Heart healthy alternatives

Opt for a sirloin tip pork roast over a shoulder or butt if you prefer a leaner cut of meat. Exclude the coke to reduce the sugar content. The roast will still taste good without it.

Spending $50, Saving $200 on Christmas Dinner and Holiday Foods

Holiday Foods

Each year I go overboard with the food expenses for the holidays. I spend an enormous amount of money for our Christmas dinner and holiday foods, and decided this year I am breaking the habit. I still plan to create a scrumptious meal for my family, but I'm not cooking enough for a buffet, or standing in the kitchen all day. I've decided to stick to a respectable plan with three sides, a bread, one dessert and a main protein dish. This immediately cuts back on the amount of money compared to previous Christmas dinners and holiday foods.


Read full article Spending $50, Saving $200 on Christmas Dinner and Holiday Foods

Almond butter and orange marmalade gooey cookie crisps

Let me say when it comes to cookies I'm very monogamous. I like chocolate chip cookies and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, and I don't stray too far from that. On the other hand, I make the simplest peanut butter cookies that will knock your socks off, but today I tried a another version with almond butter and orange marmalade. Yes, orange marmalade!

1 Cup packed brown sugar

During the bodybuilding season I love the combination of oranges and almond butter, but I don't get to indulge in them. Not because of the calories, but because I know I can not stop at a couple of tablespoons of almond butter and one orange. However, I'm in the off season. Hooray for cookies!

Almond butter and orange marmalade gooey cookie crisp recipe

I honestly wasn't sure if I should call it a gooey cookie or a crisp since it's a combination of both. Perhaps it's more of a chew, but who cares!

• 1 cup almond butter
• 1 cup brown or white sugar
• 1/3 cup orange marmalade or more to taste
• 1 egg

Gooey cookie crisp preparation 

All the ingredients in a mixing bowl

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, and mix it well. It will be very gooey, and not like regular cookie batter since there is no flour. Spoon out a tablespoon dollop onto a greased cookie sheet/pan and place it in the oven at 375* for eight minutes. Bake the cookies for another minute or two if you want them to be crispy, but keep a close eye on them. The edges will burn in a flash. 

Once out of the oven use a thin metal spatula or an icing spatula to gently raise the almond butter and orange marmalade gooey cookie crisps off the pan. The centers will be slightly gooey and will break apart if you use a thicker, plastic spatula. Use plastic wrap between each layer on the dish, otherwise they will stick together.

Orange marmalade adds to the sweetness

Finished cookies

I never liked peanut butter or almond butter cookies with flour so this is my way of having tasty nut butter cookies. I love the sweetness of the brown sugar and orange marmalade, and enjoy the bites with the orange peel the most. It's a burst of flavor.

Almond butter and orange marmalade gooey cookie crisps are very rich, and great served with hot tea.

Substitute high-calorie foods with low-calorie foods that taste great

During the bodybuilding competition season, it's hard to find foods that taste great and fit within my nutrition plan. My nutrition plan is stringent, and in the past I gave up certain foods because they were too high in fat or calories. The monotony of the nutrition program made it easy for me to crave foods that were not listed as part of my program.

For this season I tried several food items that were low-calorie and tasted great. I normally don't eat items that are considered diet foods, but I found some items that made my bodybuilding nutrition program easier to follow.

Read full article

Sapporo Ichiban Ramen Noodles

I grew up on Sapporo Ichiban Ramen noodles, or rom-ee-on, as we pronounce it. This was my mom's version of chicken noodle soup for a cold. My mom would make us a pack of this when were were sick, and would add vegetables and eggs to it.

Since I've been sick for an entire week I felt the urge to have some hot soup. I'm not a fan of many soups, but I do love rom-ee-on. It's got a great broth, cheap and super easy to make. Plus, my kids love it and we can have this as an entire meal with the tasty additions.

Sapporo Ichiban Ramen Noodles with veggies and eggs

• 1 pack Sapporo Ichiban Ramen Noodles (I prefer original)
• 1 sm. zucchini
• onion slices to taste
• carrots
• 1 or 2 eggs

Ramen with eggs and veggies

Place the pan on the oven and set the temperature on med-high to high. Drop in the eggs and carrots since these take the longest to cook. Break the yolks if you want them to cook all the way through.

Add the onions. Once it hits a boil add the ramen noodles, seasoning packet and the zucchini. Cook until the noodles are tender. 

Eat it with Kimchi

I like my noodles slightly hard, and take them out a bit sooner. I also eat my ramen with kimchi if I have it on hand. If you like kimchi, but not sure how to make it, buy some from a local Asian store or an Hmart. You can buy the kimchi in a jar, or wait until Sundays when it's prepared fresh for you.

Maangchi makes kimchi

If you want to try a hand at kimchi here's a great video from Maangchi, the Korean cooking goddess.

Mama's iced coffee

I am very predictable. Every morning I begin my day the exact same way. I get out bed, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, pull my hair back and head to the laundry room. I fold any clothes that need to be folded and start a load in the wash. After, I make my way to the kitchen for my first breakfast snack. This is my light breakfast before I have a real breakfast.

Each morning I have an iced coffee with an apple and a tablespoon of almond butter. I really stink at making good, hot coffee so I use instant for my iced coffee.

My morning coffee at 4:48 a.m.

Iced coffee recipe

• Instant coffee (to your desired strength)
• 2 packs Splenda
• Milk
• Ice

Add the instant coffee and sweetener to your glass. Pour the milk over it, but leave enough space to add ice. Let the coffee and milk sit for a minute or two so the instant coffee can dissolve. Stir, add ice and stir once again. 

It's simple, fresh and crisp.

Heart healthy options

I prefer to use 2% milk even with my lactose intolerance, but when I'm training for a bodybuilding event I use unsweetened and lactose free alternatives, or fat free milk. You may also prefer these options:

• Almond milk
• Soy milk
• Rice milk
• Hemp drink
• Coconut drink 
• Unsweetened almond milk
• Unsweetened soy milk
• Unsweetened rice milk
• Unsweetened coconut drink
• Truvia
• Stevia

It's all a matter of taste, but I found that most of the alternatives make a good iced coffee. The milk alternatives are also good for for those who are lactose intolerant.

***I've used milk, almond milk, soy milk, and rice milk. The coconut drink is new, and I've never tried the hemp drink.