There are many days where I actually feel too lazy to make something really special. I mean, this weekend, I made meatloaf and mash potatoes! It was simply, Americana food. My husband was actually quite excited that I made meatloaf and mash potatoes because it brings him back to his childhood. Unfortunately, its all gone (sorry no photo!) and I was left with half a container of mash potatoes! I try to be frugal and not waste food unless I think there is absolutely nothing I can do with it – but this time, I was lucky!

I took the left over mash potatoes and made some Japanese inspired, “potato croquettes.” These are sold in Japanese fast food joints where they have these fried and ready to snack on! If you want to make plain old mash potatoes and jazz them up the day after, this is the way to do it for sure! I chopped up some sausage and scallions and mixed in my left over mashed potatoes and had an awesome dinner. If you like knishes, then these croquettes will knock you out of the ball park!

I love being creative; especially with food

I hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s Day and a prosperous Chinese New Year! I decided to surprise my husband with a yummy steak salad lunch after his workout this past Saturday. It was definitely a protein pick-me-up! My favorite part of this meal is the lemon dijon dressing I made for the bed of greens…MMM! Salad can be a bit of a bore but there is never a dull moment when greens are served in my house. Protein on top of a salad is always a great meal; actually one of my favorites

Eat well my friends!

What’s more comforting when the weather forecast a stay-at-home snow day?! Chocolate chip banana bread Since I’m stuck in the house on this stormy day, I decided to wake up and make a fresh loaf of banana bread. Whenever I have left over bananas, this is my go-to recipe. For some reason, I always have 3 leftover bananas and the recipe always calls for 3 ripe bananas – coincidence?! Maybe. I made many banana bread recipes and this one seemed to work for me very well. Although, I alter the basic recipe from time to time with different ingredients, this is the basic fool-proof recipe that anyone can do:

Dry ingredients:
1 3/4 cups of flour
1 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Wet ingredients:
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 stick melted butter
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Optional:
-1/2 cup nuts
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
-a hungry family or a hungry cook

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan. Have 1 bowl for the dry ingredients, combine and set aside. Melt 1 stick of butter in microwave for 1 minute, mix and let cool. Mash 3 bananas in bowl. Combine bananas and all wet ingredients to a seperate bowl, mix. Mix the dry and wet ingredients until just combined. Do not over mix or it will get tough. Fold in optional nuts or chocolate chips. Add batter to the greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Check loaf after an hour and if the center is still wet, cook for another 5-10 minutes depending on your oven. Let it cool before slicing but if you’re like me, I had to have it warm!

I was thinking of going outside and making a huge snow man in the backyard….but do I really want to get all soggy and wet?!!!! Probably not.

It’s surely coming down hard and its not even noon, yet! Not looking good. In the meantime, stay dry my Northeast neighbors and kick back with some comfort food.

A view from my kitchen window: