Katy's Recipes

White ceramic bowl of pasta with red sauce, garnished with basil. ON the table are some tomatoes and herbs. Photo by Pratik Gupta on Unsplash

Garlic Mushroom Red Sauce

Updated on June 7, 2024June 7, 2024Leave a Comment

This sauce makes a large quantity, and it freezes well so you can always have some on hand.

A white bowl on a dark surface. The bowl has a patterned rim and contains tomato soup garnished with a sprig of basil. The table contains crumbs and toasted bread. Photo by Julia Kicova on Unsplash

Classic Tomato Soup

Updated on June 7, 2024June 7, 2024Leave a Comment

This recipe is really easy to make and requires almost no attention. Its flavors are deeper and it contains far less sugar than canned tomato soup. It also freezes beautifully if you make a larger batch.

White ceramic bowl n a wooden surface. The bowl contains bright green guacamole. Also on the table are tomatoes, limes, cilantro. Photo by Tessa Rampersad on Unsplash

Appetizers and Dips

Speedy Spicy Guacamole

June 6, 2024June 6, 2024Leave a Comment

If you have time, buy very firm, even hard, avocados a few days ahead of time and let them ripen on your kitchen counter. Ripe avocados are very dark green in color and slightly soft to the touch. If you buy one that is too soft, it’s often bruised and brown inside.

The citric acid is optional, but it provides an added tangy flavor and helps the guacamole keep its bright green color longer. You can vary the amounts of any of the ingredients to your taste — or use just avocado, garlic, lime juice, and salt for a quick basic version.

White bowl on a dark table. Inside the bowl is hummus garnished with chickpeas and herbs. Photo by Ludovic Avice on Unsplash

Appetizers and DipsSide Dishes

Creamy Hummus

Updated on June 6, 2024June 6, 2024Leave a Comment

Tahini is sesame seeds, ground into a fine paste much like peanut butter. It can be found in jars in the natural foods or peanut butter section of many supermarkets, or at organic food stores.

A white ceramic plate rests on a wooden table along with a napkin, knife, fork, to-go container, and a green can of La Croix sparkling water. On the plate is a salad composed of spinach leaves, pecan pieces, red onion slices, strawberry pieces, goat cheese, and a small plastic container of vinaigrette dressing. Photo by logan jeffrey on Unsplash.

Salads

Spinach Salad with Summer Fruit

Updated on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024Leave a Comment

This salad can be served as a complete meal by adding protein such as chicken, tofu, or shrimp. To cut perfect rounds from a log of goat cheese, use a piece of dental floss as a “knife.”

A white bowl contains spiral pasta, diced vegetables, and a vinaigrette dressing. Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash.

Main Dishes: VegetarianSaladsSide Dishes

Festival Pasta Salad

Updated on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024Leave a Comment

This salad is infinitely variable. You can use pretty much any chopped vegetables that you like, in any amount that you like. And the recipe doubles or triples very easily to feed a larger group.

A white ceramic pale on a wooden table. On the plate is a lemon meringue pie. Photo by Geraud pfeiffer.

Desserts and Sweets

Dad’s Lemon Meringue Pie

Updated on June 4, 2024June 3, 2024Leave a Comment

The peaks of the meringue turn a tantalizing golden brown in the oven — perfect for plucking off the pie by sneaky fingers. Beware of peak thieves!

A dark blue bowl contains a piece of baked or fried chicken, a grilled lemon slice, some capers, and some sprigs of cilantro. Photo by LikeMeat on Unsplash

Main Dishes: Chicken and Turkey

Oven-Fried Flat Chicken

Updated on June 4, 2024June 3, 2024Leave a Comment

If you don’t have a meat mallet, you can substitute a can from your pantry, a rolling pin, or even the bottom of a heavy glass. Try the variation for chicken nuggets!

A sliced piece of log (wood) serves as a plate. On the plate are grilled squash, bell pepper slides, carrots, green beans, grilled chicken breasts, and two slices of lemon with a sprig of rosemary. Photo by Mark DeYoung on Unsplash

Main Dishes: Chicken and Turkey

Baked Lemon Garlic Chicken

Updated on June 4, 2024June 3, 2024Leave a Comment

A simple baked chicken with delicious flavor. Brining (soaking the meat in a savory salt solution) ensures that it stays moist and flavorful during baking. For a quicker but still flavorful dinner, skip the brining step.

A white ceramic bowl on a dark table. The bowl contains yogurt, sliced strawberries, and chopped nuts. Photo by Fábio Alves on Unsplash

BreakfastDesserts and SweetsSide Dishes

Yogurt Fruit Breakfast Sundae

Updated on June 4, 2024May 31, 2024Leave a Comment

This is an extremely fast and healthy breakfast or dessert, and one I eat quite often. It is high in fiber and low in calories. For a special treat, I sometimes add a handful of Cranberry-Almond Granola on top.