General

When I saw this photo from Terri in Oklahoma City, I wanted to reach through my screen and take a bite. Terri said she loves black and green olive pizza but hardly any pizza franchise makes them so she decided to make her own using my 20-minute pizza dough. She didn’t have a pizza pan but says her non-stick 8 inch cake pan worked perfectly. And I learned something too, that a cake pan works for pizza. Thank you, Terri, for this delicious photo and for the cake pan tip.

This birthday cake, which was made by Tina in Texas, touched me in many ways. Tina and her husband are both physicians. He is on the front lines daily in the hospital while she is seeing her patients via telemedicine. “I’ve been trying to juggle seeing my patients, oversee distance learning for my kids, and manage my household chores,” she wrote, “and my escape has been trying your recipes in my kitchen (which is my happy place).”

Tina surprised her newly pregnant baby sister on her 33rd birthday with a decorated version of my chocolate cake and 2 minute frosting. She says, “I just topped the cake with a few homemade chocolate covered strawberries and drizzled dark and white chocolate sculptures.” How she found the time and ability to make those beautiful decorations (and the cake) is beyond me! As busy as she is with kids, her own practice, and a husband working in a hospital, she put this wonderful birthday cake together. Tina, the kitchen is my happy place too. ❤️

Here is my choice for photo of the week. First of all, it’s pierogi! Anyone who’s Polish knows what a treat they are to eat and how much effort they take to make. I haven’t had them myself in months and this photo of the pierogi, browned in a pan with either bacon bits or fried onions, is exactly the way I had them growing up. Diane sent in these pictures along with her own photo and this touching note: “Just a Polish girl fighting cancer during a pandemic with people like you and the grace of God. ? Thank You.”

Diane, I hope my recipe brought you the same comfort it always brings me and I wish you the very best in your journey. ❤️?❤️

This  picture brought me so much joy last week. Mike here is from Virginia and just baked his first cake ever at 86 years old. His daughter, Carol, sent in the photo saying, ““My dad, first cake he’s EVER EVER made! I baked your single layer chocolate cake last week, then sent your site link to my mom (sharon). they watched the cake video, then my mom walked my 86-year-old dad (mike) through baking this cake. she said it turned out great ? he mixed the cake, baked it, and frosted it all by himself… they cut half and froze the other. we’re from coastal virginia. ? thanks jenny!!!”

This photo is sure to motivate other people who think they can’t bake, How about some of you “youngsters” in your seventies?? You can do this! ?

Being Polish did not sway my choice this week… well maybe just a little. This photo is from Claire in Ottawa, Canada. (Wait! I’m from Canada too! ??) This photo of my Polish Pączki made my mouth water and shows how light these jelly doughnuts are. Claire said, “Unbelievably delicious, they didn’t last long and the kids enjoyed licking the jam off their fingers!” Thank you, Claire.

I grew up in Ontario, Canada but that’s not the reason I chose this photo from Gail in Ancaster, Ontario. This picture made me realize, “I need to take  a better picture of my beef stew!” ? This stew is so tantalizing that I put the ingredients on my shopping list to make it again myself. Gail wrote, “Hi Jenny, Really enjoy your style of cooking. Simplicity married to nutritious makes perfectly delicious foods. Love it! Here is a photo of your Beef Stew recipe made in my cast iron pan with a heavy lid. It is great comfort food during the lockdown. Blessings to you and yours! ~ Gail Albanese. (Ancaster, Ontario Canada)” Thank you, Gail. ??

These photos are my favorite thing. I still can’t get over seeing my recipes all around the world! ???

If anything good could come out of our current worldwide quarantine it’s that people are learning how to cook. It’s given us a chance to either learn or to teach our children this important life skill. That’s why my pick this week is this photo of 9-year old Svea, whose mother sent it in, showing Svea taking pride in this chocolate cake she made all by herself for her family in Minnesota. I hope this inspires other young people to discover the joy (and value) of cooking. ❤️

I am thrilled every time someone sends a photo of one of my recipes. My favorite this week is from Valerie, who staged a beautiful table to show off her quick & easy chocolate cake. Actually she made two, one with sugar and one with splenda and she noted that they, “seemed the same in texture and flavor.” Good to know. Thank you, Valerie.

To see more photos sent by home cooks all over the world, click here.

Now more than ever we all need a strong immune system. I’m highlighting some important foods that can help keep us all strong and healthy. Although healthy when eaten fresh, red peppers, carrots, and spinach provide even more nutrients when cooked. Below you will find some specific easy recipes that each incorporate at least one of these immune boosting foods.

Almonds/Nuts: Granola Bars

Red Peppers: Chicken & Peppers, Sweet & Sour Chicken

Dark Chocolate: Chocolate Almond Clusters, Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Garlic: Spaghetti with Olive Oil & Garlic, (+Most of my Main Dishes)

Mushrooms: Easy Chicken & Mushrooms

Olive Oil: Greek Salad Dressing

Tomatoes: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Sauce, Quick & Easy Tomato Soup, Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes

Black Beans:  Fast Rice & Beans, Mexican Black Bean Casserole, Rainbow Bean Salad,

Sweet Potatoes: Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries, Roasted Vegetables, Sweet Potato Chocolate Cake

Spinach: 15-Minute Veggie Pasta, Greek Spinach Rice, Spinach-Walnut Pesto

Salmon: Salmon Patties, Easy Broiled Salmon

Carrots: Sweet Creamy Carrots, Chicken Veggie Rice, Beef Sew, Roasted Vegetables

Sardines: Sardine Cakes

❤️ Take care, everyone. Eat well ~ be well. ❤️

These are just some of the recipes that I have either improved or simplified since they were originally posted. I’m always learning and improving my skills so if anyone is using a recipe that was posted a while ago or if you printed it some time ago, please check the “Recipe Changes/Fixes” category in my blog.

So far I have made changes to about 100 recipes but many of the changes are minor, like increasing salt or reducing sugar but others, like my 15-Minute Veggie Pasta, now use an easier, faster, all-in-one-pan method. I’m always looking for ways to make something healthier or faster or to simplify the process so every time I cook, if I try a better way and it works, I adjust the recipe and share the exact changes I made in the blog.

I encourage all of my regular cooks to occasionally check the “Recipe Changes” category here in my blog to make sure you are using the newest and best version of each recipe. As I evolve as a better (& simpler) cook, I will continue to occasionally update my recipes. To see if any changes were made to your favorite recipes, click here.