Author: cathysmaha

I am a country girl, born and raised on a farm in Central Iowa. I am the youngest of three children by 9 and 14 years….I was the OOPS! Being younger had its advantages in that I was an Aunt at age 7 and grew up with my niece and nephews. My Father died from a farm injury when I was 12, which forever changed my life and strengthened my bond with my Mother. I tagged along with my Mother to visit older people in our community and learned about their lives in the early 1900s, enjoying the many wonderful traditional foods and family stories. I graduated from a class of 25, which gave me the advantage of being involved in sports and clubs that would not have been possible in a large High School. At that time, Home Ec was still an elective and I loved the cooking lessons (not so hot on the sewing classes). While at the University of Northern Iowa, I began to collect and read cookbooks. Perhaps it was the absence of Mom’s home cooking that drew me to dream about cooking (and eating) wonderful food. After college I moved to St. Joseph, MO and then to Scottsdale, AZ and began to experiment with traditional recipes and discovering those of my own. It was such an adventure to discover new dishes and restaurants in historic St. Joseph, Kansas City, then Scottsdale, Phoenix, San Diego…and the list goes on. In the early ‘80s, I moved to Denver, got married, started my telecommunications sales career and discovered the fabulous restaurants in Denver and Aspen. My career took me to cities never before experienced and the seafood in San Francisco, Cajun fare in New Orleans, Tex-Mex in Dallas, Italian in New Jersey, etc. are experiences I will cherish. In 1986 our first daughter, Megan, was born and then Sarah in 1988. Instead of indulging in dinners out, we were cooking more at home and seeking ways to have good meals with limited time. Dinners went from adult gourmet to more kid friendly meals. Megan’s tastes were more basic while Sarah adopted a gourmet palate at an early age. At age 6 her favorite meal was steamed artichokes and crab legs with drawn butter…still her favorite. Megan’s tastes expanded rapidly when she went to college and started cooking for her roommates and now loves to whip up gourmet dishes. I am blessed to have many gal pals that also share my passion for good food. I love to try new restaurants and look forward to the ‘pot luck’ feasts at our book club meetings and other gatherings. It isn’t just the good food that brings us to together, but the great love and admiration we all have for each other. We are addicted foodies…but we try to remember our 12-step foodie program is needed. God grant me the serenity to only eat the food that I LOVE, the courage to walk away from junk food, and the wisdom to recognize the difference. Oh YEAH!
Appetizers · Vegan · Vegetables

Pickled Red Onions

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Pickled red onions are delicious by themselves or try them on salads, tacos, potato salad, egg salad, fish and chips, a sandwich and more. This is such an easy recipe and does not use refined sugar.

Pickled Red Onions

INGREDIENTS:
  • 2 red onions, thinly sliced
  • 80 ml (1/3 cup) apple cider vinegar
  • 170 ml (.70 cup) hot water
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. black peppercorns
  • 1 garlic clove, sliced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • small sprig of fresh thyme (I used a pinch of dried thyme)
  • 1/2 tbsp. honey (or maple syrup)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Thinly slice the red onions and place them in a clean glass jar or container.
  2. Add in the black peppercorns, sliced garlic, bay leaves, thyme and salt.
  3. Combine vinegar, hot water, and honey and pour over the onions, ensuring they are fully submerged.
  4. Let it cool to room temperature. (Optional to add honey now but I wanted it to dissolve in the hot water)
  5. Seal the jar or container and place in the fridge. They will be ready to enjoy after 2 hours.
  6. Store in the refrigerator for up to 7-10 days.

Recipe from Instagram thyme_4_cooking

Casseroles · Poultry · Vegetables

Tuscan Chicken and Spaghetti Squash

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Tuscan Chicken and Spaghetti Squash was an easy dish to put together and used things I had on hand. I thought the flavor was very good but a little too rich for me. Next time, I would either use half and half or substitute half of the cream with chicken broth. My spaghetti squash have produced well and I’m always looking for new dishes to try!

Tuscan Chicken and Spaghetti Squash

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 medium spaghetti squash
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken (cut into bite size pieces)
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 shallot (minced)
  • 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained, julienne cut)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
  • 3 ounces baby spinach
  • fresh parsley (optional, garnish)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Carefully pierce the spaghetti squash into the center with a knife several times. Place on a microwave-safe plate and cook on high for 8-12 minutes or until tender. Let cool while you prepare the chicken.
  2. Season the chicken with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.
  3. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it’s no longer pink in the center, about 7 minutes.
  4. Remove the chicken from the pan, place on a plate and tent with aluminum foil to keep warm.
  5. Add the remaining butter to the pan along with the garlic and shallot. Cook 1-2 minutes or until they just start to soften.
  6. Mix in the sun-dried tomatoes and cook an additional minute.2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes
  7. Pour in the heavy cream and cook until hot and bubbly, about 1-2 minutes.
  8. Turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and spinach. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices back to the pan.
  9. Once the squash is cool, cut it in half length-wise, remove the seeds and scrap out the strands with a fork.
  10. Stir the squash into the cream sauce until evenly coated.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.

Recipe from DeliciousLittleBites

Fish

Zesty Shrimp and Avocado Rice Bowls with Cilantro Lime Sauce

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Zesty Shrimp and Avocado Rice Bowls are so easy to make and absolutely delicious. After making it, I’ll experiment by adding other ingredients such as cucumber, shredded carrot and perhaps mango. This is a great

Zesty Shrimp and Avocado Rice Bowls with Cilantro Lime Sauce

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped Cilantro
  • optional: 1/2 cup shredded carrots, cucumber or mango
  • Cilantro Lime Sauce:
    • 1/2 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
    • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon water
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • Pinch of black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Prepare the shrimp: In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with olive oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  2. Start cooking the rice. 1 cup rice and 2 cups water.
  3. Cook the shrimp: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until pink and cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Make the cilantro lime sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream (or yogurt), cilantro, lime juice, water, salt and pepper until smooth.
  5. Assemble the four (3 for a bigger serving) bowls: Divide the cooked rice among the bowls. Top with the cooked shrimp, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion and chopped cilantro. (optional: shredded carrots, cucumber or mango).
  6. Drizzle with sauce: Drizzle each bowl generously with the cilantro lime sauce.
  7. Serve immediately: Enjoy your zesty and refreshing shrimp and avocado rice bowls.

Note: I ate the bowls leftover as well as fresh. They were good straight from the frig or microwaved for a few seconds to take the chill off.

Recipe from awesomefood

Salads

Sweet Corn Caprese Salad

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Sweet Corn Caprese Salad is an end of summer delight. The fresh sweet tomatoes from the garden, the fresh sweet corn from the market, fresh basil and yummy mozzarella. The salad is easy to make and such a delicious main dish or side.

Sweet Corn Caprese Salad

INGREDIENTS:
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese pearls, or an 8oz fresh mozzarella cheese ball cut into cubes
  • 2 cups raw sweet corn kernels, ~2 large ears
  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 2 large green onions, sliced
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh basil, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing, see notes
  • salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl then toss to combine.
  2. Let sit for 15-30 minutes then serve. Can be made several hours ahead of time.
  3. Notes
  4. I recommend using my Homemade Italian Vinaigrette for this recipe, or your favorite bottled Italian dressing. (I used Newman’s Own Vinaigrette dressing)

Attribution

Breakfast · Cakes · Desserts

Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

cathysmahaLeave a comment

This cake is so delicious. The cake texture and taste is out of this world, not to mention the delicious peaches and blueberries! I can imagine this cake with raspberries and peaches or any other fruit combination. It’s a delicious as a coffee cake or as a dessert. Add some iced cream or whipped cream and you are in heaven!

Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 4 oz butter softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • ½ cup Greek yogurt low-fat
  • 2 peaches sliced into wedges
  • 6 oz blueberries
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Use 9×3-inch springform pan.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Grease the side and the bottom of the pan with butter or cooking spray. Line the bottom of a 9×3-inch springform pan (or 9 inch round cake pan) with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper too.
  3. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, together into a medium bowl.
  4. In a separate bowl, beat butter, sugar, and 2 eggs until very light in color and fluffy, 2-3 minutes on high speed. Add vanilla and Greek yogurt and continue beating until very creamy and light in color, for about 1 more minute.
  5. Keeping the mixer speed low, mix in the flour mix until combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Transfer the cake batter to the springform pan. Top with sliced peaches, and scatter blueberries evenly on top in the spaces between the peach slices. Sprinkle the fruit with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
  7. Bake until cake turns golden, and the tester comes out clean in the center, about 1 hour, depending on your oven. Midway through baking, I like to put some extra peach slices and extra blueberries on top of the cake for prettiness, and return cake to baking.
  8. When the cake is done baking, let it cool (still in the baking pan) on a wire rack. After cake has cooled for about 40 minutes, release the cake from the springform pan. At this point, if the cake is cool enough, you can slide your hand under the cake, between the parchment paper and the bottom portion of the springform pan and move the cake with the parchment paper attached to its bottom onto a cake plate easily.
  9. If using a 9 inch round cake pan, cook in pan for about 40 minutes or more (up to 1 hour, depending on your oven), then invert onto a plate.

Recipe from Julia’sAlbum

Breakfast · Cakes · Desserts

Peach Cobbler Coffee Cake

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Oh glorious peaches! I look forward to peach season each year, and love to try new recipes. The Peach Cobbler Coffee Cake does not disappoint, although I would tweak a few things next time. The crumb topping is so good, you want a piece in each bite, with peaches. Next time I would bake the cake in a rectangle shallow pan, similar to brownie thickness and perhaps add a few more peaches with a splash of lemon juice or lemon zest (or both). I made extra glaze and it was delicious drizzled on the cut piece of cake.

Peach Cobbler Coffee Cake

INGREDIENTS:
  • Cake:
    • 2 cups all purpose flour
    • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1/4 cup milk
    • 3/4 cup brown sugar
    • 1/2 cup sour cream
    • 1/4 cup butter, softened
    • 1 egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 cup sliced peaches
  • Crumb Topping
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 2/3 cup flour
    • 6 Tablespoons softened butter
  • Glaze
    • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 1/2 teaspoons milk
    • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
  1. In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Set aside.
  2. Beat 1/4 cup milk, ¾ cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sour cream, ¼ cup butter, egg, and vanilla until creamy. Add dry ingredients and mix just until blended.
  3. Fold in peaches.
  4. Spoon batter into a 10 inch springform pan and sprinkle with crumble topping (see below).
  5. Crumble Topping: Combine 1 cup brown sugar, ⅔ cup flour in a bowl. Cut in 6 Tablespoons softened butter until mixture is crumbly.
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until center is set and top is golden brown.
  7. Combine ingredients for glaze and drizzle over baked, cooled coffee cake.

Recipe from LemonTreeDwelling

Appetizers · Mexican Dishes · Salads

Mexican Street Corn Salad

cathysmahaLeave a comment

What a delicious salad or dip! I’ve never had Mexican Street Corn but this is amazing! You can adjust the heat by adding more or less jalapeno. I enjoyed it as a dip as much as a salad. What a wonderful dish to share with friends and family!

Mexican Street Corn Salad

INGREDIENTS:

  • Dressing:
    • 3 tbps Greek yogurt
    • 3 tbps mayo
    • 1 large clove garlic, minced
    • 1 lime, half zested + fully juiced
    • 1/2 tsp chili powder (or Sriracha)
    • salt to taste
  • Salad:
    • 4 ears corn
    • 2 tbps butter
    • 1/2 large bell pepper, fine chop
    • 1 small jalapeño, fine chop
    • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
    • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Grill your buttered corn on your BBQ to get those lovely black grill marks and smokey flavor.  You can also use frozen corn (heated through in some boiling water), roast in the oven or boil the ears.  Allow to cool and then slice off the kernels and add to a large bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayo, garlic, lime juice, zest, chili powder + salt. Taste and adjust if needed. Sometimes I add 1/2 tsp sugar to compliment the spicy.
  3. Pour this mixture over the shaved corn and mix to combine.
  4. Note: You can substitute sour cream for Greek yogurt.

Recipe from HungryHappens

Appetizers · Breakfast

Peach Jalapeno Jam

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Peach Jalapeno Jam sounded so delicious and I love the Cranberry Pepper jelly I make for the holidays. I wanted a smoother jam so chose to process the peaches together with the jalapeno. Next time, I would process the peaches and sugar and add to the jalapenos before cooking. The jelly is not spicy or perhaps I had a very mild pepper. If you like it hot, add more peppers to your liking. I plan to serve this with Brie and crackers. I can also envision a delicious grilled cheese sandwich with this jelly. Go wild!

Peach Jalapeño Jam

INGREDIENTS:
  • 3 1/2 lb. ripe yellow peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced
  • 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 small jalapeno chile, diced (I found that the jam was not at all hot so you may want to add more jalapenos)
  • 5 strips of lemon peel (I chose to grate one lemon peel and add to mixture)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. salt (I reduced to 1/2 tsp. salt)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Toss peaches and sugar until well mixed. Let stand for 30 minutes. (At this point you can cook as instructed below or blend the peaches to make for a smoother jam).
  2. In a large saucepan, bring peaches, jalapeno, lemon peel, lemon juice and salt to a boil. Adjust heat to simmer and cook for 30 minutes.
  3. If you did not blend the peaches in step 1, use a potato masher to lightly mash the fruit. Ladle mixture into sterilized canning jars and jar properly or refrigerate for up to 3 months.

Recipe Adapted from Good Housekeeping Carla’s Peach Jalapeno Jam

Appetizers · Pies and Pastries

Peach & Prosciutto Flatbread with Balsamic Reduction

cathysmahaLeave a comment

Each peach season I look forward to a sweet and savory flatbread or pizza with peach and prosciutto. This time I took the easy way out with store-bought flat bread. The original recipe called for ricotta, but I’m just not a fan. The mozzarella and parmesan were perfect for me. And, don’t forget the balsamic reduction! A yummy easy dinner for hot summer nights!

Peach & Prosciutto Flatbread with Balsamic Reduction

INGREDIENTS:
  • Stonefire Artisan Flatbread (I used one for this recipe)
  • 2 slices fresh mozzarella, diced into small cubes
  • 1 oz. parmesan cheese, shredded (1/4 cup)
  • 1 medium fresh peaches
  • balsamic reduction
  • 1/8 cup slightly packed fresh basil leaves, chopped (or to taste)
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Layer prosciutto over crust into an even layer, aligning pieces side by side (if they overlap slightly that’s fine). Sprinkle with mozzarella cubes and parmesan cheese.
  3. Cut peaches in half and core. Laying peaches with sliced side down, cut peaches into slices (I thinly sliced). Layer peaches evenly over pizza.
  4. Bake 10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden.
  5. Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh basil, and drizzle with balsamic reduction. Cut into slices and serve warm.
  6. Notes
    • There’s no need to peel the peaches before adding them to the pizza! 

Recipes inspired from CookingClassy

Sandwiches

Bacon Caprese Open Faced Sandwiches

cathysmahaLeave a comment

What is better than fresh heirloom tomatoes paired with bacon…wowza! I had a baguette on hand and toasted the bread and served as an open faced sandwich. It was delicious and so easy. I purchase the balsamic reduction/glaze at the grocery store but you can also make your own as shown in the original recipe.

Bacon Caprese Open Faced Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS:
  • 6 slices – bacon, cooked 
  • ½ cup – mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp – pesto
  • 4 slices – bread (i.e. sourdough, focaccia, ciabatta) (I used a baguette)
  • 6 slices – fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • 4 slices – Roma tomatoes, sliced (I used heirloom tomatoes)
  • 1 cup – fresh arugula or spinach
  • 8 each – fresh basil leaves
  • To Taste – kosher salt
  • To Taste – ground black pepper
  • Balsamic Reduction
DIRECTIONS:
  1. In a large skillet or frying pan, cook the bacon slices on medium to medium-high heat until crispy (about 5 – 7 minutes). Drain off the excess fat. 
  2. While the bacon is cooking, in a small saucepot combine the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Reduced the mixture by 1/2 over medium heat. Do not boil, turn to medium-low if needed. Set aside to cool.
  3. Combine the mayo and pesto in a small bowl. Season to taste with ground black pepper. 
  4. Toast the slices of bread in a toaster or toaster oven. Spread the pesto mayo on each slice of bread. Assemble the sandwiches in the following order: arugula, mozzarella, bacon, and tomatoes. 
  5. Sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper. Top with basil and drizzle a little balsamic reduction. Top with another slice of bread and slice! (I served open faced). Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe from BeGreedyEats