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Despite what the calendar says, it doesn't quite feel like spring just yet. Just prior to the snow last week crocuses were coming up in my garden and my husband clipped a lone daffodil. However, yesterday it was still cool enough to enjoy a meatloaf for supper. 
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Last evening I was working the closing shift. It's always a challenge to plan a meal that can be done ahead, but yet reheated for my husband. So I rummaged through my file and came up with barbecue turkey burgers. It is  yet another item from my Gourmet Magazine collection (recipe by Lauren Holden Mead), vintage September 1996.
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With all the hype for the big storm yesterday, I prepared myself with a few cooking projects to keep me busy. As my husband was going to be home due to the weather forecast, I thought waffles for a weekday breakfast would be nice. The weather conditions called for  a big pot of split pea soup to take the chill off the day. Lastly, a little sweet snack wouldn't hurt, so a batch of red velvet scones seemed appropriate. 
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As it is the Lenten season, I am abstaining from eating meat on Fridays. I found in my files a recipe for Hawaiian Tuna Burgers with Maui Wowee Salsa. I believe my husband found this recipe somewhere years ago and I finally decided to make it. 
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I grill year round whether there's rain, snow, heat or cold weather, I'm out there. Last week Whole Foods had Bell and Evans bone in chicken breast on sale for $2.49 lb. It was a great price for chicken that consistently cooks up moist and tender. In my files I had a recipe for grilled chicken with lemon, garlic and oregano from the July 2002 issue of ​Gourmet Magazine.

​I have to admit, I didn't pick up fresh oregano at the food store, so I used dried. Instead of the 1/4 cup the recipe called for, I used approximately 1/8 cup or slightly less. The only other non-pantry item that is required is fresh lemons, I don't use or recommend reconstituted lemon juice. As I only prepared three bone in chicken breasts, it took about 45 minutes to make the sauce and cook the chicken. I rounded out the meal with a starch and veggie. My husband really enjoyed the chicken prepared this way.
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In my blog I have already spoken of Fontanarosa Gourmet Specialty Foods in Totowa, NJ. During my last visit there, I purchased a package of grilled pears and Gruyere cheese ravioli. Well, I finally made them last night. Oh my gosh, they were delicious! When I purchased the ravioli I asked what type of sauce I should make. The salesperson suggested a butter sauce with pears.
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It's been a while since I blogged about my cooking and eating adventures. Recently, my son and his fiancée found a new place for pizza in Asbury Park. It's called Medusa Stone Fired Kitchen. So one night on Instagram he's posting images of these gorgeous pizzas they're eating. He ordered a pizza with local mushrooms, herbs and mozzarella and his fiancée ordered a pie with bacon, eggs and potatoes. They looked scrumptious. 

Medusa also bakes breads and specialty rolls, that are available after 10 a.m. in the morning, Thursday through Sunday. While I didn't get any leftover pizza, he was thoughtful enough to bring his mother a loaf of bread, which was delicious. The bread had a nice chewy crust and a nice crumb. I lightly toasted a slice, or two, up and spread some butter on it....heaven!  
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The other day I was going to be out for quite awhile. We have a fifteen year old Brittney Spaniel that is beginning to require even more attention than we give her. I called on a neighbor to come over several times to let her out. How do you thank neighbors who are kind enough to do this task for you? I find sharing a home baked item is always appreciated.I was in the mood for double chocolate scones, however, I know that if I baked them, I would find myself eating more than just one.

​I found this recipe many years ago in Better  Homes and Garden Magazine. Sharing part of the scones is a perfect remedy to over indulging. So yesterday morning, still slightly warm from the oven, I made my way over to my neighbors' house. It was a perfect match for their morning tea. 
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About five years ago, my family in north Jersey discovered a ravioli maker in Totowa called Fontanarosa Gourmet Specialty Foods. Fontanarosa has been located on Lincoln Avenue in Totowa since 1982. I don't know how my family missed this one. However, whenever I'm in in the area, I like to pop and and purchase unusual, but extremely delicious ravioli. 

Several weeks ago my husband and I happened to be in north Jersey and we made a stop at Fontanarosa. I purchased butternut squash, apple and walnuts ravioli. Earlier this week we had the butternut squash ravioli. I dressed the ravioli with Williams-Sonoma's butternut squash pasta sauce. While the W-S sauce was delicious, I think the next time I'll try a simple butter sauce with a splash of Delicious Orchards Apple Cider to bring out the apple flavor in the ravioli. 
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Every now and then I enjoy a juicy, barbecue grilled burger topped just with ketchup on a potato bun. However, one must be conscious of the choices they make. 

Ben Carson wrote an article on the Berkeley Wellness website (part of the University of California) that not only should a healthy diet include exercise, but eating fatty fish, legumes, nuts, oats and barley (beta-glucan), olive oil and strawberries. Consuming fish and legumes helps reduce cardiovascular disease. Another benefit of consuming legumes is that they are high in fiber and have a lower glycaemic index, which means that it takes longer for the digestive system to break them down thereby making you feel fuller longer. 


​meet donna

A former teacher, shop-a-holic, empty-nester redefining quick, family approved dinners.

​If you have questions or comments, click on the envelope icon above to contact me directly. 

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