Seared Ahi Tuna

My friend Candy gave me a recipe for seared ahi tuna. She messaged me a photo of it, as she keeps a 3-ring binder for her recipes. I looked online and googled and found the recipe:  https://www.chewoutloud.com/marinated-seared-ahi/

I made this a few days ago (21 June 2026). The tuna was .85 lbs, 13.6 ounces, 1” thick. 

I halved the recipe for the marinade and used less salt.

The tuna was refrigerated from 2pm to 7:15pm. I forgot to pat dry the tuna and it was also still frozen in the middle. 

For the Sriracha mayo (there is a link in the recipe),  I placed it in a small zip lock bag, cut the tip and piped it on the sliced tuna. 

I topped the slices with chopped green onions. 

This was delicious! I’ve ordered ahi tuna in restaurants. No more! 

 Ahi tuna in the marinade. 

  

 Seared for one minute on each side.

The directions states to let the tuna rest and cool for 10 minutes, but I cut into it after about a minute. It was perfect. 

Smoked Salmon Appetizer

 

Tony and I enjoy smoked salmon and bagels for our Christmas breakfast.  I bought a package from Costco, which is always too much; but the price is right.

I made this simple appetizer to take to a friend's house for dinner. 

Slice some cucumber about 1/2 inch thick.

Top with some cream cheese, then the salmon. The salmon slices were large, so I cut them in half and folded each one.

Top with a small dollop of plain yogurt and then a caper. 

Top with a splash of lemon juice. 

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

 

About two months ago, I purchased an air fryer from Costco. It was $50. Good deal! I've been using it 3-4 times weekly. 

I roast Brussels sprouts in the oven, but I decided to air fry them. There are lots of recipes on the internet. I found one that sounded good. I don't recall if I found it on Facebook or via google. Credit goes to the author. If I find the link, I'll add it here.

Ingredients

1 Lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
4 strips of bacon, cut into 1" or so strips
1 T olive oil
1 t garlic powder
1/2 t paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese or balsamic glaze (optional)
 
Directions

 
Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3-5 minutes.
 
Rinse and trim the Brussels sprouts, cut in half. I quarter the larger ones.
 
In a large bowl, toss the Brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the chopped bacon to the mix and combine well.
 
Place the seasoned Brussels sprouts and bacon in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
 
Cook for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
 
Check for doneness. The sprouts should be crispy on the outside and tender inside.

Roasted Root Vegetables

 I made this last night for dinner. The recipe is from: 
https://www.thekitchn.com/roasted-root-vegetables-22948817
 

Prep 10 min
Cook 40-45 min
Serves 6-8
 
Ingredients
 
3 pounds root vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, and beets
1 small red onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  

Directions:

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F.
 
Peel 3 pounds root vegetables, if desired, then cut them into rough 1-inch chunks. Cut 1 small red onion into 1-inch chunks. Place the root vegetables and red onion on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, and toss to evenly coat. Spread out in an even layer.
 
Roast for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, chop until you have 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped rosemary leaves.
 
Remove the baking sheet from the oven, sprinkle the vegetables with the rosemary, and toss to combine. Spread back out in an even layer. Continue to roast until the vegetables are tender and caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes more.
 
My Notes:
 

For the root vegetables, I used carrots, turnips, sweet potatoes, beets.

I added whole garlic cloves (peeled), which came out so tender and mild.

Overall, a very good vegetable dish.

Vinegar Coleslaw

I made this today for my book club. We always have a delicious spread of foods. Just coming out of the holidays, I wanted something healthy, as it does not contain any mayonnaise. 

This is the recipe I followed.
 
https://downshiftology.com/recipes/vinegar-coleslaw-no-mayo/
 
 
Prep Time 20 minutes 
Total Time 20 minutes 
 
Servings: 12 servings
 
Ingredients
 
1 head of green cabbage finely shredded
1 large carrot grated
1/2 yellow or red onion finely sliced
 
Dressing
 
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey (or more, depending on sweetness)
1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
 
Instructions
 
Add the shredded green cabbage, carrot and onion to a large bowl.
 
In a smaller bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, celery seed, salt and pepper to create the dressing. Taste the dressing and decide if you'd like to add more honey.
 
Add about half of the dressing to the cabbage, onions and carrots and gently toss. Slowly add more dressing until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

My Notes:

The first three ingredients I eye-balled. I had a very large head of cabbage, so I just used half.

I used half of a small red onion.

I used the entire dressing in the salad.

The recipe states this can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. 

Herb Lemon White Bean Salad

I made this delicious salad for the 4th of July today (2024).  I followed this recipe: 

https://www.fifteenspatulas.com/herb-lemon-white-bean-salad/

Serves 4

Ingredients

5 T extra virgin olive oil
2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic pressed
1/2 t kosher salt
1/8 t black pepper
2 15oz cans of cannellini beans rinsed and drained
1/4 c chopped parsley
1/4 c finely chopped red onion
1 T minced fresh rosemary
 

Instructions 

In a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and black pepper.
 
Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Try to let the salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour before serving, to let the flavors meld together.

My notes: 

This recipe definitely serves more than four people. I've made this for a large group and used three cans of beans and adjusted the other ingredients.

I added:
 
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, quartered
 
I finely minced the garlic instead of pressing it
 
About a tablespoon of lemon infused oil
 
One large celery stalk, chopped small
 
1 T each Red wine vinegar and Dijon for the dressing
 
I prepared the salad the day before serving to let the flavors meld.

Italian Shrimp Salad

My friend Jackie made this excellent, healthy shrimp salad for our book club evening (5 June 2024). I really loved it, so I made it for a BBQ.

The recipe is from Skinny Taste: https://www.skinnytaste.com/italian-shrimp-salad/

6 Servings (about 7 cups)
 
Ingredients
 
1 1/4 lbs cooked (peeled and deveined jumbo (16-20 count) shrimp, tails-off, halved (20 ounces total))
1 cup sliced celery
1 1/3 cups good quality mixed Italian pitted olives (such as Castelvetrano and Kalamata Olives, halved lengthwise)
1/4 cup chopped red onion
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
juice of 2 small lemons
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
black pepper (to taste)
 
Instructions
 
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix.
 
Refrigerate a few hours or overnight to let the flavors meld.

My Notes:

The only thing I did a little differently was to cut the shrimp into chunks. 

I added some lemon zest. 

I used 4 cloves of garlic. 

I let the salad marinade in a zip lock bag for 5 hours.

Lentil Salad

Donna made this delicious salad for our book club last night (6 March 2024). Everyone loved it!

Ingredients
 
1 can lentils
1 cup finely diced carrots
1/3 cup finely diced celery
1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/4 cup minced parsley
1 garlic clove, minced
5 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil
1 Tsp kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
 
Directions

Combine and serve chilled or at room temperature.

Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup with Sesame and Green Onions

My friend Candy followed this recipe for a soup dinner at our book club last night: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chinese-chicken-noodle-soup-with-sesame-and-green-onions-106192 

The chicken was tender and I loved the flavor of the broth with the fresh ginger and other ingredients. 

 
Ingredients:
 
1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut crosswise into thin strips
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dry Sherry
2 tablespoons oriental sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)*
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chili-garlic sauce**
4 cups chopped Napa cabbage (from 1 head)
6 green onions, thinly sliced
8 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
1 14-ounce package fresh yakisoba noodles or Chinese pan-fry noodles
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
 
Directions:
 
Stir chicken, soy sauce, Sherry, and 1 tablespoon sesame oil in medium bowl to blend. Let stand 20 minutes or refrigerate up to 2 hours.
 
Whisk garlic, tahini, ginger, sugar, vinegar, and chili sauce in small bowl.
 
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add cabbage and green onions and sauté until cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add broth and bring to boil. Add chicken with marinade and tahini-garlic mixture. Reduce heat to low and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly; cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.)
 
Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain. Add to soup in pot. Stir in half of cilantro. Season soup with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with remaining cilantro.
 

* Sold at Middle Eastern markets, natural foods stores and some supermarkets.
 
** Available at Asian markets, specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.

Lentil Salad

I purchased a box of steamed lentils from Trader Joes.  I made this salad for a recent pool party/book club.

Ingredients

1 lb bag of Trade Joes Lentils 
1 yellow bell pepper, diced 
1 small celery stick, diced
2 T diced onion
1 green onion, chopped
1 T chopped fresh parsley
Dash of hot sauce
Dash of Cumin and curry powder
Splash of red wine vinegar
3 T extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 oz or so of feta cheese

Directions:

In a large bowl, break up with lentils, as they are vacuum sealed and needs to be fluffed up. It's easy to do by hand, rather than by fork.

Add the remaining ingredients, except the feta cheese, and toss to mix.  Gently fold in the feta cheese. 

Place in a serving bowl and top with more feta cheese to finish. 

My Notes:

Adjust ingredients if needed. 

Next time I'll use a red bell pepper to add more color. And I may add some diced cherry tomatoes.

I may also make a lemon-dijon dressing the next time I make this.

Roasted Butternut Squash

My friend Megan made this for our 26 June 2023 Cookbook Club in Brunswick Forest. It was excellent, especially the roasted garlic. This recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics cookbook. Lots of great recipes!

Servings: Serves 6

 
Ingredients
 
1 large butternut squash
1 head garlic separated but not peeled
2 Tbsp. good olive oil
2-1/2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 ounces thinly sliced pancetta chopped
16 whole fresh sage leaves
French bread for serving
 
Directions
 
Preheat oven to 400°. Peel and seed butternut squash and then cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes. Place squash and whole unpeeled garlic cloves in a baking dish or sheet pan large enough to hold them all in one layer. Toss with olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper, and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until squash begins to brown, turning once during baking.

Sprinkle pancetta and sage leaves evenly over squash and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until squash and garlic are tender and caramelized. Season to taste and serve hot with French bread for guests to spread with the roasted garlic.
 

Italian Wedding Soup

 For a recent Cookbook Club dinner, 26 June 2023, one person made this soup. This recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics cookbook.

Ingredients
 
For the meatballs:

3/4 pound ground chicken
1/2 pound chicken sausage, casings removed
2/3 cup fresh white bread crumbs
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
3 tablespoons milk
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
 
For the soup:

2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 cup minced yellow onion
1 cup diced carrots (3 carrots), cut into 1/4 inch pieces
3/4 cup diced celery (2 stalks), cut into 1/4 inch pieces
10 cups homemade chicken stock
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup small pasta such as tubetini or stars
1/4 cup minced fresh dill
12 ounces baby spinach, washed and trimmed
 
Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the meatballs, place the ground chicken, sausage, bread crumbs, garlic, parsley, Pecorino, Parmesan, milk, egg, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a bowl and combine gently with a fork. With a teaspoon, drop 1 to 1 1/4-inch meatballs onto a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. (You should have about 40 meatballs. They don't have to be perfectly round.) Bake for 30 minutes, until cooked through and lightly browned. Set aside.
 
In the meantime, for the soup, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large heavy-bottomed soup pot. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and saute until softened, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken stock and wine and bring to a boil. Add the pasta to the simmering broth and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until the pasta is tender. Add the fresh dill and then the meatballs to the soup and simmer for 1 minute. Taste for salt and pepper. Stir in the fresh spinach and cook for 1 minute, until the spinach is just wilted. Ladle into soup bowls and sprinkle each serving with extra grated Parmesan.
 

Sicilian Chickpea and Escarole Soup

In the area where I live, there’s a health coach that hosts a monthly cookbook dinner club. About 15-17 people attend. Everyone gets the chance to look through the cookbook and select a recipe to make. Last night (6 Feb 2023) it was recipes from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen. One person made this delicious soup.
 
Sicilian Chickpea and Escarole Soup

Servings: 6-8.
 
Ingredients
 
Salt and pepper
1 pound (2¾ cups) dried chickpeas, picked over and rinsed
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving
2 fennel bulbs, stalks discarded, bulbs halved, cored, & chopped fine
1 small onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or ½ teaspoon dried
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 Parmesan cheese rind (or 2-inch chunk of cheese), plus grated Parmesan for serving
2 bay leaves
1 (3-inch) strip orange zest
1 head escarole (1 pound), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large tomato, cored and chopped
 
Directions
 
Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in 4 quarts cold water in large container. Add chickpeas and soak at room temperature for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. Drain and rinse well.
 
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add fennel, onion, and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until vegetables are softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
 
Stir in 7 cups water, broth, drained chickpeas, Parmesan rind, bay leaves, and orange zest and bring to boil. Reduce to gentle simmer and cook until chickpeas are tender, 1¼ to 1¾ hours.
 
Stir in escarole and tomato and cook until escarole is wilted, 5 to 10 minutes.
 
Off heat, discard bay leaves and Parmesan rind (scraping off any cheese that has melted and adding it back to pot). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, drizzling individual portions with extra oil and sprinkling with grated Parmesan.
 
Nutrition information per serving: 455 calories; 120 calories from fat; 13 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 11 mg cholesterol; 435 mg sodium; 65 g carbohydrate; 16 g fiber; 15 g sugar; 23 g protein.
 

Healthy Eggplant Parmesan

This is my version of a healthy and tasty dish. Instead of deep frying, I baked the eggplant before assembling the dish.

Serves: 4

1 large eggplant, sliced thin into rounds
Salt
1 large egg, beaten
Black pepper
1/2 cup of Italian Breadcrumbs
Olive Oil
1 cup Rao’s Tomato Sauce
Parmesan cheese, grated
Fresh basil leaves, chopped (plus some for a garnish)
4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced (or a little more if needed)
 
Place the eggplant slices on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with some salt, cover with paper towels and set aside for 30 minutes to drain the liquid.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Rub some olive oil onto a baking sheet.

Place the breadcrumbs onto a large plate; and the beaten egg in a bowl.

Dip each eggplant slice in the egg and then into the breadcrumb, turn to coat both sides. Place onto the oiled baking sheet. More breadcrumbs may be needed.

Bake the eggplants for about 18 to 20 (half way through, turn the slices over) until they are browned. Remove from oven, and let cool for 10 minutes.
 
Reduce the oven to 325°F.

In a 9 x 12 glass baking dish, spread some tomato sauce on the bottom and add a layer of the eggplant. Top with the grated parmesan cheese, basil and mozzarella. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper to taste. Repeat this layer until all eggplant has been used. The final top should be a layer of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. This should yield two layers of eggplant. If you want three layers, use a 8 x 8 pan.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. 

Remove from oven and set aside for 5 minutes before serving. Top with the fresh basil.

Serve with your favorite pasta. 

 

22 June 2022:

I'm still enjoying this recipe. I made it last night and layered it (3 layers).  I diced the cheese.