Blog - Page 8 of 20 - Olga's Flavor Factory

Pumpernickel Bread - How to Make Homemade Black Bread

Homemade black bread, often called Pumpernickel, is so hearty and rich in flavor, with different notes and flavors coming through the crunchy crust. The texture is dense but not heavy, just perfect to enjoy with a bowl of soup or a smoked salmon sandwich.

As a Slavic girl, black bread, aka Pumpernickel bread, holds a special place in my heart. Some soups don't even taste right to me without a slice of flavorful black bread to go along with them, such as Borsch or Shchi. I've worked on this recipe, tweaking, making changes, and trying to make the perfect combination of flavors and texture and keeping it all as simple as possible too.

I wanted it to have a rich, hearty flavor, so I used unsweetened cocoa powder, coffee, molasses and ground caraway seeds to add both color and all sorts of great taste and smell throughout the loaf. The ingredients may sound a little strange, but they all marry so well together and give it the flavor that Pumpernickel bread is so well known for.

I really like the convenience of this recipe - mix up the dough, leave it overnight in the refrigerator, then shape and bake the next day. Making the dough is really easy, there is very little kneading involved - my little toddler boys help me make it. Even if you are new to bread making, I think this is a great recipe to start with. Get your butter out - I can never resist having a slice slathered with butter while the bread is still warm. Try this with a bowl of Borsch or top it with some salmon gravlax.

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Instant Pot Stuffed Peppers

Juicy and flavorful stuffed peppers, made with ground meat, rice and lots of vegetables are so quick to prepare from start to finish in the Instant Pot.

Stuffed Peppers are a favorite in our family. My boys absolutely love them. Since it's such a healthy and satisfying meal, I had to try to make it in the Instant Pot and I loved the results, especially since the peppers cook so quickly and I can cook everything in one appliance. Any time I can reduce the amount of dishes I have to wash, I am a happy girl.

My secret to really tender stuffed peppers that are also flavorful is to use A LOT of vegetables in the meat mixture. The vegetables really add so many dimensions of flavor and give make the filling really juicy. I also add a good amount of water for the rice to soak up so it doesn't take all the moisture out of the meat mixture, leaving very dense and dry stuffed peppers.

The accompanying tomato sauce also has some added veggies for an extra layer of flavor, as well as a splash of cream to mellow out the acidity and fresh herbs to make it all taste fresh and bright. [Read more...]

Reducing Food Waste - Tips To Storing Your Groceries So They Stay Fresh Longer

Over the years of being the CEO of my own home, I have done my best to learn how to reduce food waste as much as possible. I am seriously ashamed of how much food we used to throw out when we first got married because it would go bad before we were able to use it. It made me want to cry every time I cleaned out our refrigerator, pantry and freezer. I vowed to get better and learn how much to buy and how to store it better.

We all buy groceries every week, but statistically, the average American household throws out a scary amount of the groceries that they themselves chose in the store, paid money for and had the best intentions of using. When we stroll through the aisles of the grocery stores, looking at all the colorful produce, pretty packaging and place the items that call our name into our carts, we definitely don't expect that a big portion of this will end up in the trash, right? [Read more...]

Hash Brown and Bacon Egg Muffins

Hash Brown and Bacon Egg Muffins are such a cute breakfast option that are also easy to make, very filling and can even be prepared in advance. They are very versatile, so you can switch up the ingredients to make many different variations of egg muffins.

I make extremely boring breakfasts during the week, but the weekends are a different story. The weekends are my favorite because we are all home together, so I try to make our mornings a little bit special by having an epic breakfast for all of us to enjoy. Sometimes I make a potato hash with poached eggs and waffles, or buttermilk pancakes as well as a potato and onion frittata or a Quiche Lorraine. You guys, I LOVE breakfast. I really do, but sometimes, I want a nice breakfast and I also want to take a shower and make myself pretty without spending all day on just those two things. These Hash Brown and Bacon Egg Muffins make it possible for me to make a great breakfast for my family AND do my hair, and still have almost a complete Saturday to do something fun with my boys.

I've made so many different variations of these Egg Muffins and that's what's so great about them. Don't feel like bacon? Use sausage or ham. Not in the mood for meat? Sauté some onions, peppers and mushrooms instead. This version has hash browns, bacon and cheese, which is one of our favorites for sure. The tender, cheesy egg bites are so satisfying and are really cute too.

Here's the best part. You mix up the ingredients (you can even do this the night before, GASP) then you put it in the oven and go get yourself ready for the day. I make this breakfast for guests all the time so that I can get showered and dressed while breakfast is baking away in the oven. Then I come to the table with a cute outfit and makeup on and have this really impressive looking breakfast to serve my guests - especially if you serve them on a pretty plate.

Oh, and if you're heading out to the zoo or the beach with your entire side of the family and want to get there before the stifling Florida mid-day heat, these are the perfect breakfast to have on the go. Let me astound you even more. You can freeze these and just reheat when serving. [Read more...]

Tomato, Shallot and Tuna Pasta

A pasta dish with canned tuna, sautéed shallot and garlic and sweet and juicy cherry tomatoes is a great way to use simple pantry ingredients to create a delicious and fresh weeknight meal.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bella Portofino Tuna. Thank you so much for working with me!

A well-stocked pantry is the secret to fantastic homemade dinners that you can whip up any night, even when things don't go as planned or you didn't have a menu plan. One of my staples that I keep in my pantry all the time is Bella Portofino Tuna. It's perfect to make a quick sandwich or salad and it's one of my staples as a stay at home Mom. In our family, we love taking tuna sandwiches on spontaneous picnics to the beach too. The seagulls love the tuna sandwiches too and try to steal them every time. [Read more...]

Lemon Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

A bright and zesty lemon vinaigrette is perfect to use as a salad dressing or as a marinade. The dijon mustard adds flavor and zippiness and there's a bit of sweetness from the honey.

Today I am sharing a staple Lemon Honey Mustard Vinaigrette recipe that you can use for so many things. It's our family's go-to vinaigrette for many different salads, such as the Arugula Salad that I am including in this recipe. It's very bright and fresh with the lemon juice and zest being the most important character and the honey gives it a bit of sweetness. The dijon mustard not only adds flavor and bit of a zippiness, but it also helps to emulsify the vinaigrette to create that perfect creamy texture, not the broken dressing that we sometimes see with the oil floating on top and the rest of the ingredients swimming below.

One of my secrets to success for the perfect salad dressing is to use a small or medium glass mason jar to mix it in. Not only is it a great storage solution if you don't use it up right away, (less dishes - always a plus), but mixing it in the jar does a really great job emulsifying the dressing. It's the perfect method to bring the oil and the rest of the ingredients into a homogenous mixture, so that you have a beautiful, creamy yellow dressing to drizzle on your salad. This dressing is also great to use as a marinade for poultry, fish or meat - which I use all the time. Use this vinaigrette as a base and get creative with other flavors, adding different combinations of fresh herbs, using other citrus (lime or orange) instead of lemon juice, adding some minced shallots, etc. [Read more...]

Orange Glazed Grilled Steelhead Trout or Salmon

A whole fillet of steelhead trout grilled with an orange glaze that is both sweet, salty and aromatic, with orange marmalade, soy sauce, lime juice, jalapeño, shallot and garlic.

A whole fillet of salmon or steelhead trout is such an impressive, healthy and also very easy dinners to make. We love making our Baked Steelhead Trout, both in the oven and on the grill and today I want to share another version of one of our family's most popular meal choices with this Orange Glazed Steelhead Trout.

The glaze is a combination of sweet and salty, from the orange marmalade and the soy sauce. It definitely has more of a savory flavor, with the aromatic onion, the poblano pepper and garlic. The bright citrusy flavors of the orange and lime really brighten up the juicy fish and they pair so well with the fresh cilantro. Citrus and acidity are absolutely spot on complements to any seafood, so you can be sure that this is a flavor profile that you and your family will really enjoy. [Read more...]

Swirled Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Homemade Cinnamon Raisin Bread is so tender and fluffy, with swirls of cinnamon, butter and raisins throughout the rich bread. It is perfect to enjoy right out of the oven and also makes excellent toast, French toast or bread pudding.

Swirled Cinnamon Raisin Bread is one of those classic favorites that is such a special treat when it's homemade. With pantry staple ingredients that you probably have on hand, you can make this bread and spoil yourself and your family. It's certainly a very upgraded toast to have with your coffee for breakfast or as a snack anytime of day.

The bread itself is so fluffy and rich from the butter and eggs. There's plenty of cinnamon flavor in both the bread and the sweet filling that swirls throughout the bread. My husband and both my boys love when I make this bread and it gets gobbled up in no time. Raisins are actually one of Nathaniel and Josh's favorite snacks, so they love this bread too. [Read more...]

Chicken and Mushroom Crepes

Savory crepes with a chicken and mushroom filling are such a treat. It's a great way to use leftover chicken, and adding mushrooms, caramelized onions and hard boiled eggs adds lots of delicious flavor to the crepes.

Savory crepes are so comforting for me and chicken crepes are my favorite. They bring me right back to my Mom's kitchen. She used to make them all the time when we were growing up and still makes them when we come for visits.

The combination of chicken and mushrooms is one of my favorites. I have THREE secrets to a really delicious filling. 1 - use LOTS of caramelized onions, 2 - brown the mushrooms and 3 - use chicken broth to add moisture and to keep the filling from falling apart.

Any time you caramelize anything, it makes the dish so much richer in flavor, so that's what I do to the onions and mushrooms. It adds a sweetness and that wonderful umami well roundedness. Even if your family members say they don't like onions, chances are they won't notice them, since they will be incorporated into the filling. They WILL notice how juicy and yummy the crepes are though. Hard boiled eggs are also a wonderful addition to the filling as well as cheese.

I often make these crepes after making a giant pot of chicken broth, which I keep in stock in my freezer at all times. You can also use a rotisserie chicken or leftovers from a roast chicken too; any cooked chicken will work. I make a big batch of the crepes because they freeze wonderfully too. Served with a side of sour cream and garnished with some fresh herbs, these crepes are so satisfying for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

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Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is so juicy, tender and just falling apart, cooked in a fraction of the time by using an Instant Pot. It's so flavorful because the meat is browned first and is then cooked with onion, garlic and orange juice as the secret ingredient. It's perfect to use in tacos, burritos, on top of baked potatoes, nachos, in crepes, quesadillas, pasta dishes and as a pulled pork sandwich.

One of the best things about a pressure cooker is how quickly it cooks tough cuts of meats. If you're a regular visitor here, then you know how much I love my Instant Pot. I use it several times a week. This recipe is one of my favorites. Pulled Pork is so satisfying, especially when it's falling apart and so juicy and tender. It usually takes many hours to cook it through and then to get the collagen to break down and become tender. In the Instant Pot, it only takes an hour, depending on the size of your roast. If you cut the meat into smaller pieces, it takes even less than an hour. I browned the meat first (so convenient to have the Saute option on the Instant Pot) and the caramelization and seasonings give it so much more flavor, but I didn't stop there. To add even more flavor, I added an onion, garlic and a bay leaf and orange juice.

Once you cook the meat, reduce the liquid left in the pot until you have a syrupy and delicious "sauce". The cooked meat the gets returned to the pot and it all gets coated in this rich and savory magical flavor booster. You can use the pulled pork in so many different ways - tacos, burritos, Burrito Bowls, Loaded Nachos, on top of baked potatoes, in Savory Crepes, quesadillas, Russian Navy Style Pasta and much more. You can also add some barbecue sauce to the meat, which is also really tasty and make amazing Pulled Pork Sandwiches. [Read more...]

Taco Baked Potatoes

The fluffy baked potatoes in this recipes are topped with taco meat and all sorts of delicious toppings - sour cream, green onion, tomatoes and crunchy, cheesy tortilla chips. This would be a perfect dinner for a party.

Taco Baked Potatoes - it's a combination of two really great dinners in one extra delicious and fun meal. This would be perfect as a simple family weeknight meal but is perfect for a party where there are lots of people getting together. Since everyone can customize their baked potatoes with whatever toppings they like, it's a practical approach for a meal with lots of people and it's a form of entertainment too.

The fluffy potatoes are topped with taco seasoned ground beef. You can also use any other ground meat, such as ground turkey, chicken, pork, lamb, etc. If you have any leftover Chili, it would be even better, don't you think? You can get as creative as you want with the toppings - everything you love on tacos and backed potatoes works really well. My favorite toppings are grated cheese (OF COURSE), tomatoes, green onions, sour cream and crushed up cheese tortilla chips. You can also use avocados, shredded lettuce, sautéed mushrooms, bacon, cheese sauce, sliced olives, etc. [Read more...]

Homemade Tomato Vegetable Juice

Homemade Tomato Vegetable Juice is so rich, refreshing and has tons of flavor. You can customize the flavor by adding your vegetables of choice.

Of all the things you can do to preserve fresh, summer tomatoes, Homemade Tomato Vegetable Juice is one of my favorites. It's so easy to do and you can adjust the flavor of the juice in so many ways, by using a combination of different vegetables that you like.

I like to include a good variety and love the flavor that the tomato juice gets from the onion, garlic, celery and carrots. Of course, you can keep it very simple by just cooking the tomatoes alone and having a very clean tomato flavor. Sometimes, I also like to step it up a notch and add beets, herbs (such as thyme, parsley, dill, etc.), bell peppers and even add some heat to the juice by adding some hot peppers. Today, I am sharing the most simple version, but feel free to add more veggies and to customize the flavor by playing around with different options.

A cold glass of smooth tomato juice, rich in flavor, is a taste of summer sunshine and warmth. If you love Tomato Juice, this homemade version will knock your socks off.

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Cherry and Apple Galette

The tender and flaky golden brown galette filled with cherries and apples is gorgeous. It's absolutely divine served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to bring it over the top.

Your summer will not be complete without making this amazing Cherry and Apple Galette. While cherries are in season, run to the store and get some for this stunning but simple dessert. Using a homemade pie crust recipe really makes this galette extra delicious. You can also use other fruit instead of the cherries for the galette - peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, strawberries or blueberries.

The cherry and apple filling is so great for a galette, since they don't become too watery when baking. A dash of red wine really brings out the flavor of the cherries, adding a bit of acidity and richness. Red wine always reminds me of cinnamon with its oaky back notes, and of course, cinnamon and apples always pair so well together.

The tender, flaky crust bakes up so golden and crisp. I think I might even like galettes better than pies now! It's easier to make, the crust is so much crisper and it looks beautiful too. Serve the warm galette with some ice cream and you've got yourself a winner.

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Summer Succotash

This Summer Succotash is a vibrant combination of so many beautiful and delicious vegetables - zucchini, squash, tomatoes, green beans, edamame, corn onions and garlic. It's a beautiful side dish that is easy to prepare and bursting with flavor.

I absolutely love simple side dishes like this one that are amazing with almost no additional seasonings. This Summer Succotash is a vibrant combination of so many beautiful and delicious vegetables that are available everywhere this time of year. The veggies are so crisp and fresh, this succotash is almost like a salad. It cooks so fast, it probably takes longer to prep all the veggies than to actually cook it. You can do almost all the prep work in advance, so it will be come together in a flash during the hectic dinner hour.

It's like a beautiful rainbow with all the pretty pops of color. You can serve this as a side dish or on top of rice for a light dinner or lunch. I love to serve this along with grilled or roasted fish or chicken. It's healthy, gorgeous and has a ton of flavor from all the varieties of veggies. [Read more...]

Marinated Tomato and Cucumber Salad

This Marinated Tomato and Cucumber Salad has layers or tomatoes, cucumbers and onions in a perfectly sweet and salty brine. It's one of my favorite pickled salads.

For some reason, canning always makes me feel so domestic. I'm a huge fan of Little House on the Prairie, and any time I make jam, pickles, tomato sauce, freeze berries or do any sort of food preservation, I feel like I'm channeling my inner Caroline Ingalls, taking care of my family by preparing us all with lots of stocked up food in our pantry. There is something so satisfying about seeing colorful jars of canned food.

I also watched my Mom can our summer produce all summer long, from the many varieties of Marinated Tomatoes and Pickles, Marinated peppers, Adzhika, Tomato Juice, different assortments of Slavic salads and all kinds of jams. We enjoyed the contents of those jars all year long. This was my all time favorite recipe that my Mom made every summer.

The Marinated Tomato and Cucumber Salad is so simple, yet the taste is like none that I have tried anywhere else. First of all, it looks beautiful. The layers of onions, cucumbers and tomatoes are so colorful. The flavor isn't too "pickley" or "vinegary". Actually, there is such a small amount of vinegar, that you can't really taste it at all in the finished product. It's the perfect balance of sweet and salty. My husband, who is NOT the biggest fan of pickled food, loves this salad, for this very reason. Since the tomatoes and cucumbers are cut up into pieces, it's especially convenient, because you don't have to fit them into the jar a certain way. You don't have to choose the perfect small vegetables, because you can cut up the tomatoes and cucumbers that normally wouldn't fit. Also, since the tomatoes and cucumbers are canned together, they give a very unique flavor to each other. These pickles have an extra delicious flavor because of the tomato juice that is in the marinade.

It's a perfect quick side dish to any meal. Open up a jar, and you're all set. I hope you enjoy this recipe that has been loved in our family for many years. [Read more...]

Keeping Your Kitchen Cool This Summer

In the hot, summer months, it's a challenge to get up enough motivation to cook, especially since it's not very pleasant to stand in front of a hot stove or heat up your already warm house with a working oven or stove. On rainy days, having a soup simmering on the stove is cozy and inviting but on hot, sunny days... not so much.

With a little bit of planning, you can keep your cooking to a minimum and spend more time outside, cooling yourself off by the pool or in the ocean, or enjoying the full benefits of air conditioned buildings.

Here are 4 ways to feed your families delicious, wholesome dinners WITHOUT heating up the whole house in the process. [Read more...]

Cod Fish Tacos

These Cod Fish Tacos are made with flaky and juicy cod, avocado crema, tomatoes, cabbage mix and the most incredible easy pickled red onions all wrapped in a soft flour tortilla.

Fish tacos are always a crowd-pleaser, but when you use cod, you get the perfect combination of flaky fish and fresh toppings that bring loads of flavor and crunch. These cod fish tacos are perfect for a light yet satisfying meal. With juicy, seasoned cod paired with crunchy veggies, easy pickled red onions and a creamy avocado crema, they’re a simple yet gourmet dish the whole family will enjoy. Instead of fish, you can serve these tacos with shrimp, using Bang Bang Shrimp or Grilled Shrimp.

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Home Library Shelves in Our Living Room

Check out our home library shelves that we built in our living room. This is such a cozy spot in our home to showcase our books. Not only is it really practical, but it has become a statement area in the main living area too.

My husband made my dream come true by building beautiful shelves in our living room for our home library. I have been slowly growing my collection since Sergi and I got married in 2006. I hope that someday my library will be even bigger, but for now, this is a great start.

This was a project we had planned on ever since we bought this house in 2014. We finally worked our way up the "Home Projects" to do list to get this one checked off in 2018.

So many of you regularly ask me questions about these shelves when I shared them on my Instagram stories. I asked Sergi all your questions, since he did all the work, and put together this post. I hope it will be a useful for anyone of you who want to install similar shelves in your home.

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Napoleon Cake

Napoleon Cake is a classic Russian cakes, made of very thin and flaky puff pastry cake layers and a smooth, rich and luscious pastry cream in between the layers.

Napoleon Cake is one of my favorite classic Russian cakes. It has a multitude of very thin cake layers that are made from puff pastry dough and are so flaky, puffy and delicate. The smooth, rich and luscious pastry cream is such a magical combination with the cake layers. I make my frosting even better with a combination of pastry cream, buttercream and lighten it up with some whipped cream, which makes it so fluffy, luxurious and velvety in texture. It becomes so billowy and soft, almost cloud like.

The pastry cream frosting softens the thin, puffy cake layers and they become so tender and the whole cake simply melts in your mouth. The cake needs to stand in the refrigerator for a few hours to soften, as the frosting seeps into the cake. I like to let the cake stand at room temperature for just a bit before serving, and it becomes even softer and gentle in texture.

You can most certainly use store bought puff pastry instead of making it from scratch. In that case, roll out the dough to make it thinner before baking.

Even though this cake is time consuming, none of the steps are difficult. I break it up into several days, which makes it very doable and not as tedious. If you make the puff pastry dough and the pastry cream in advance, neither take too long to make and it will speed up the process considerably when you are baking the cake layers and assembling the cake. It's definitely worthy of a special occasion. [Read more...]

Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast With Peach Compote

French toast made with challah bread that is golden on the outside and fluffy and custard-like on the inside, stuffed with a sweet mascarpone filling and topped with a fresh peach compote.

This incredible breakfast is so beautiful and indulgent, it's just like having dessert. The French Toast is made extra special by using challah bread, which is already so eggy and rich. It gets golden and crisp on the outside but doesn't fall apart when cooked in the egg and milk mixture, becoming like a custard. Using only egg yolks keeps the flavor so clean, but if you want to use the entire egg, it will have that "eggy" flavor, which is great too:). I keep going back and forth between using whole eggs and only the yolks when making French Toast. Stuffed with a creamy and luscious mascarpone cheese filling, that melts a little bit into the bread and then oozes out when you break the French Toast open with your fork. The sweet and slightly tart peach compote is the perfect topping.

It's so delicious, you might be serving this as the dessert at your next dinner party. [Read more...]

All About Grilling

Now that summer is here, most of us are doing everything possible to keep the heat out of the kitchen. That's where the grill comes in really handy, since we can cook just about everything out there. My particular favorite part about grilling is that it keeps the kitchen clean, in addition to cool, ha ha.

Since we live in Florida, we are the lucky ones who get to grill all year long. We love grilling in our family and we do it A LOT. I always get a ton of questions related to grilling, so I decided it was about time for a blog post answering all the most popular questions, such as what grill we have, how we clean it, recipes, tips and favorite tools. [Read more...]

Chicken and Rice Pilaf (Plov)

Chicken and Rice Plov is a Russian rice pilaf recipe using chicken, carrots, onions and garlic to flavor the fluffy and tender rice.

Chicken and Rice Pilaf, or Plov, as we call it in Russian, is such a simple and satisfying, one-dish dinner. We love serving rice in our family and making it an entire meal makes so much sense, by adding the meat and vegetables to the pot too. I have a great recipe for Beef Plov, which is just as wonderful, but it takes much longer to cook.

Since the chicken is sautéed first, the rest of the ingredients get to soak up all the chicken fond and the amazing chicken flavor permeates the whole dish. You can keep it simple and traditional by using onion, carrots and garlic only, but you can also add so many other ingredients to keep it interesting, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, celery, frozen peas, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, to just name a few.

Another wonderful thing about this dish is that it is completely freezable, so if you have a smaller family, freeze part of it or cook an extra batch and you will thank yourself later. To reheat, I like using a skillet with a bit of butter or oil to sauté the pilaf until it's warmed through. [Read more...]

Stress Free Cooking With Kids - Tips To Make Time In the Kitchen a Good Experience For You and Your Child

Cooking with children may look cute and adorable, but in reality, it can sometimes end up being stressful for both you and your child. I love spending time with my children; it gives me so much pleasure to be with them, to watch them learn new things, to see them having fun. I genuinely think that they are the cutest, smartest and most bright little boys that were ever born on this earth; I am their Mama after all:). However, if you spend any time with children, you know that sometimes they can also push all your buttons, they try your patience and can drive you crazy too. Things can get tense and exasperating, especially when you are trying to get things done. The kitchen can quickly get hot - all due to your rising temper, not the oven or stove.

Here are a few things that I try to keep in mind to have a good experience when I am sharing time in the kitchen with my little guys. [Read more...]

Zucchini Potato Fritters

These golden and juicy Zucchini Potato Fritters are made from grated zucchini and potatoes, which is mixed into a batter, then pan fried. They are so tasty served as an easy lunch with a dollop of sour cream.

Zucchini and Potato Fritters stacked up on a plate with sour cream on the side.

Zucchini Fritters are a perfect easy meal that you can whip up any time for a satisfying breakfast, lunch or even a simple dinner in a pinch. I make Potato Pancakes quite often, and since I usually have zucchini on hand too, of course, I make these a lot too. Combining the two together seemed like the perfect thing to do. They are golden and crisp on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. Sometimes, I make the Zucchini Fritters without the potato, but I think the addition of the potato makes them much more hearty and delicious.

They are so quick to make and don't require any planning or prep work in advance. I often make these for my little boys for lunch and they gobble them right up. We love them served with sour cream. If you have zucchini, this is a great recipe to put them to good use.

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Mini Glazed Chicken Meatloaves

These tender and juicy mini meatloaves are a perfect family weeknight meal. They are made with ground chicken and aromatic vegetables to give them lots of flavor all the way through and are glazed with a delicious sweet and salty sauce.

Chicken is my protein of choice whenever I make meatballs, tefteli, kotleti or meatloaves. I like the flavor, that it's not too greasy and if you cook it correctly, the end result is so tender and juicy. The aromatic flavors of onion, celery, and garlic help to add flavor to the meatloaves and, along with the breadcrumbs, keep them really juicy. The sweet and salty glaze that tops these meatloaves gives them a nice flavor boost and the glistening saucy look makes them a little bit extra special.

As a Mom of two little boys, it makes me so happy that they have very good appetites. One of my boys' favorite meals is meatballs, so I make it for them very often. One evening, I was cooking a really quick dinner on the fly and decided to make these Mini Chicken Meatloaves. I mixed up a glaze to go on top and the result was something that we all loved, both of my boys and my husband and I. Since I made them a few times and shared some pictures and videos on my Instagram, I've received many recipe requests, so, I took all the step by step pictures and am happy to share this simple and delicious recipe with all of you. [Read more...]

Boston Cream Cupcakes

Boston Cream Cupcakes are a dream combination - tender yellow cupcakes with a creamy pastry filling and topped with a chocolate glaze.

I wanted every component of this decadent dessert to be perfect, so it took me several weeks to test different recipes to come up with a winning combination.

The vanilla cupcakes are tender but also sturdy enough to hold a lot of filling. Of course, the pastry cream is velvety, smooth and the vanilla flavor is on point in this custard. I also wanted to use the chocolate glaze in two different ways - not only does the glaze cover the tops of the cupcakes, but you use the remaining half of the glaze to make a fluffy chocolate ganache that adds more chocolate flavor, more texture and makes the cupcakes more beautiful.

Each cupcake is loaded to the brim with the silky vanilla custard so that each bite is a luscious mouthful. If you're enjoying these Boston Cream Cupcakes with a hot cup of coffee, the chocolate just melts in your mouth. If you're looking for an impressive dessert to make, this is it! [Read more...]

Instant Pot Chuck Roast With Potatoes and Carrots

Cook an entire meal in one pot to get a juicy, tender chuck roast with a side pf potatoes, carrots and a creamy, smooth gravy. Cooking it in the Instant Pot makes it a simple meal to prepare and cooks much more quickly than using the stove or oven.

One of my favorite things about using the Instant Pot is how quickly it transforms really tough cuts of meat, such as the chuck roast or a pork shoulder into succulent and tender morsels of goodness that just fall apart.

A good pot roast meal takes a few hours to cook, but in this case, in just about an hour, not only will you have a completely cooked roast that is so tender it melts in your mouth, but you'll also have a side of potatoes, carrots and some luscious and creamy gravy to pour on top of this family-pleasing dinner. The gravy is so smooth, creamy and rich, but doesn't have an ounce of cream and isn't based on a flour and butter roux. Isn't that awesome? All of this is cooked in one pan too!

It's so simple to come together, but you'll be rewarded with a 5-star meal. With just a few steps of prep, you step away and let the machine do the work for you. I like putting this on my menu plan when I have a lot of other things going on that day and need something easy and not time-consuming. It's also especially perfect when you're craving something comforting.

Put this on your next menu plan; your family will appreciate it. [Read more...]

March Weekly Meal Prep With Video

It's the beginning of a new week, so let me help you get organized and do your weekly menu planning for you. I'm excited to share another menu plan with you, along with a weekly meal prep suggestion.

If you can find an hour to prep as much of your ingredients in advance as you can, it will really help the rest of your week go much more smoothly. The crazy time around will be just a little bit more manageable.

If you can't do all the prep, try to do at least some of it, because any little bit helps. Next time you're chopping one onion, chop up another one to store in your refrigerator for a future meal. Next time you're cooking up rice, cook an extra batch. I'd love to hear what you think of this menu, so please share in the comments below. [Read more...]

Potato and Cod Soup

Craving a comforting meal? Try Potato and Cod Soup. With its flavorful combination of vegetables and fish, it's the perfect choice for a cozy dinner.

Cod soup with potatoes, aromatic vegetables and fresh herbs.

Let’s talk about one of my favorite go-to recipes: Potato Cod Soup. Now, if you’re anything like me, you appreciate meals that check all the boxes—simple to make, quick to prepare, and bursting with flavor. This soup does just that! It’s an absolute lifesaver for those evenings when dinner feels like a last-minute scramble. The beauty of this dish is that you can use frozen cod and toss in whatever veggies you have on hand, making it as flexible as your schedule requires. Isn't that amazing?

At its core, this soup marries the classic pairing of potatoes and fish—a combination that’s both hearty and comforting. As you simmer onions, carrots, celery, and garlic together, the kitchen fills with aromatic goodness that’s simply irresistible. And for a bit of a kick, a jalapeño pepper adds just the right amount of heat, while tomatoes and tomato paste bring a delightful sweetness and acidity to the mix. To finish it off, a splash of cream creates a rich, velvety texture that keeps things light and fresh.

So, whether you’re looking for a cozy weeknight meal or a dish that feels like a warm hug in a bowl, this Potato Cod Soup is sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. This soup is similar to my Salmon and Potato Soup, which is another family favorite. I highly recommend you give it a try too.

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Using One Whole Chicken To Create Four Different Meals

I often buy whole chickens and create an entire menu plan around 1 chicken, using it in a variety of different ways to create 4-5 meals from one chicken. The meals are diverse enough that it doesn't feel like you're eating the same thing every day. In this case, I try to choose a bigger chicken, so I can get as much meat from one bird as possible.

This is definitely budget friendly since whole chickens are usually cheaper than buying chicken parts separately. If you'd rather not deal with cutting up the chicken into different parts, you can simply use this menu suggestion to buy the appropriate chicken parts and use chicken as your main protein for different weeks. This will also help your budget since chicken is usually less expensive than seafood or red meat.

However, if you'd rather not eat chicken day after day, you can cut a whole chicken into parts and freeze parts of it to be used later, either freezing raw chicken or cooked chicken. This way, you will have a plan on how to use the whole chicken, but at later dates. If you have a large family, use 2 whole chickens instead of one. [Read more...]

Chicken Drumsticks With Tomatoes and Peppers

Crisp and golden chicken drumsticks are baked in a delicious sauce made with fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic and bell peppers. The sauce is absolutely out of this word and just perfect to serve over pasta or rice.

There's something really iconic about a chicken dinner. Chicken is usually liked by everyone, even picky eaters, so it's perfect when you want to satisfy everyone's taste buds.

I created this chicken drumsticks with tomatoes and peppers meal because I'm always looking for new ways to use chicken drumsticks. I also love when you can cook the meat and vegetables all at once. All you need is to make a quick pot of pasta, rice or mashed potatoes and you're all set. Of course, this is also perfect if you're having guests in your home too. With some rolls and a salad, you've got yourself a restaurant-worthy meal.

The sauce that you get from the tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic is phenomenal. The fresh tomatoes make a sauce that is so much smoother and less acidic than canned tomatoes. Of course, you can also use canned tomatoes if you don't have fresh tomatoes available, and I explained how to make the adjustments in the recipe instructions. The sauce is fresh and bright and still has some texture from the peppers and onions. The chicken gets really soft and tender as it braises in the sauce and picks up all the flavors from the vegetables.

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Mushroom and Barley Soup Using Fresh, Frozen and Dry Mushrooms

One of the most comforting soups is a Mushroom and Barley Soup and this one is made with fresh, frozen and Dry mushrooms, so the mushroom flavor is supremely predominant. The creamy, luscious broth, the potatoes, bacon, onion, and mushrooms cook together to make a very cozy and satisfying meal.

Mushroom soup is probably one of the most hearty soups. It's so rich and flavorful. For this variety, I decided to REALLY oomph up the flavor by using three different types of mushrooms - fresh, frozen and dry. When I first discovered frozen porcini mushrooms at Trader Joe's, I was thrilled. Now I always have several packages in my freezer, adding the mushrooms to all sorts of delicious meals, such as Pan-Fried Potatoes (Zarenaya Kartoshka) and adding them to stews, braises, and gravies. Porcini mushrooms probably have one of the strongest mushroom flavors. This is why I also add another dimension of mushroom flavor by using dry mushrooms too, either porcini mushrooms or chanterelle mushrooms. (I order dry mushrooms from nuts. com.)

The creamy, luscious broth, the potatoes, bacon, onion, and mushrooms cook together to make a very cozy and satisfying meal. Served with some tangy sour cream and fresh herbs, all you need is a slice of bread and you'll have a complete meal. Leftovers are amazing, by the way. [Read more...]

Beef and Rice Stuffed Peppers

These Beef and Rice Stuffed Peppers are filled with so many aromatic vegetables in both the beef filling and the sauce that make the peppers really juicy and flavorful.

There is something about a good classic recipe that never loses its charm. These recipes are family favorites for a good reason, with so many different recipe variations. I make Stuffed Bell Peppers many different ways and I have several variations on my blog already posted.

These Beef and Rice Stuffed Peppers have simple ingredients that all come together to create a winning combination. I love adding lots of veggies to create extra dimensions of flavor. Both the beef filling and the sauce have onion, carrots, and celery. The beef is browned first, creating a filling that's not compact and firm, but very tender. Sauteeing the vegetables adds more flavor than if you would just add them to the filling raw. Adding cheese, tomatoes and fresh herbs give another dimension of flavor. Not only is this a very hearty entree, the presentation is so beautiful.

When I had my second son and finally came back home from the hospital, I asked my Mom to make this for us and it was the perfect dinner for such a happy occasion. I was certainly ready for some good home cooking! It's the perfect dinner to make your family and friends feel like they are getting an extra special meal.

I also love how practical this recipe is. You can do most of prep work in advance and you can also freeze the stuffed peppers for a completely finished dinner that you just have to reheat later. I often will prep the Beef and Rice stuffing ahead of time, on the weekend, in the evening when the boys are already sleeping, or during naptime, and that way most of the work is done and the rest comes together in no time. [Read more...]

Weekly Menu Plan With Ingredient List and Prep List

When I shared my Weekly Meal Prep blog post, I also promised to share some weekly meal plans to give you a better idea of how it all comes together and a give you a more detailed, intentional approach. Here's the first example of a meal plan, what I did to prep in advance and what I did on the day I served the meal. If I have a recipe for the meal, I will put a link to both the title and the photo of each meal. I also did a video of another weekly meal prep, so if you missed it, check it out here.

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Strawberry Tiramisu

This Strawberry Tiramisu is made with tender lady fingers and a velvety mascarpone filling, just like the classic recipe, but instead of coffee and chocolate, this stunning dessert is filled with fresh strawberries.

If you're looking for a showstopping dessert that is also easy to make, you have found the recipe right here. This Strawberry Tiramisu is bursting with strawberries - there are THREE whole pounds of strawberries to give it plenty of sweet berry flavor. The velvety, luscious mascarpone filling is out of this world - in both flavor and texture. I absolutely love my recipe for traditional Tiramisu, with coffee and chocolate, and that's what made me want to try it in other flavors too. I was totally right - berries in Tiramisu are perfect. Now I have lots of other flavor ideas - Raspberry and White Chocolate Tiramisu, Peach Tiramisu, Mandarin Tiramisu, etc.

I also love how easy this is to assemble. There's no baking involved since we're using the Italian cookies, ladyfingers. Once they soften, they rival the fluffiest spongecake. The thin strawberry gelatin layer on the bottom really enhances the fresh strawberry flavor and the fresh sliced berries on top not only adds texture but beauty too. I think it's a wonderful coincidence that Valentine's Day is at the time of year when fresh strawberries are in season. What could be more romantic than indulging in this stunning, delicious Strawberry Tiramisu with your sweetheart? You can halve the recipe if you're having a special one on one date, or invite all your friends and family for a Valentine's Day party. [Read more...]

Poppy Seed Roulette/Roll

This tender yeast bread is filled with generous swirls of sweet poppy seed filling. These roulettes are a popular Russian dessert.

My favorite recipes are the ones that are passed down through the generations. I have so many memories of my Mom making this Poppy Seed Roll/Roulette, both for holidays and just regular weeknights. Since I grew up in a family of 8, we would demolish an entire Poppy Seed Roll in one sitting while it was still warm with tall glasses of milk or tea. The memories of the whole family sitting around our round kitchen table eating this Roulette gives me all the feels:). I can almost hear the laughter and loud conversations. Too bad we didn't have cell phones with cameras so we could capture random life moments like we do now. That would have been totally Instagram worthy.

The sweet, creamy poppy seed filling goes so well with the fluffy and tender yeast bread. This is a vastly popular Slavic dessert for sure. It's no wonder that it's often made for special holidays like Christmas and Easter.

I have a recipe posted on my blog how you can make homemade poppy seed filling yourself. It's actually not hard at all and I use it for Rugelach cookies too. Of course, you can use store-bought poppy seed filling too. You can also use other fillings, such as jams/preserves, cream cheese, farmer's cheese, etc. The dough is incredible - it's perfectly light and fluffy, and it's very easy to work with too. I use a pastry mat when I am rolling it out and I don't even have to sprinkle any flour on the work surface, and it rolls out beautifully. I use the same dough to make Baked Bulochki too. [Read more...]

Weekly Meal Prep Video December 2017

I am so excited to finally share a meal prepping video with you!

When I wrote my blog post about how I meal prep for the week, I knew I wanted to make it more practical by actually sharing a menu and what I did to meal prep. I hope filming this video will be very helpful for you and make this meal prepping idea more clear for you. I tried to share lots of tips in it for you, not just the chopping and storing of ingredients.

I had so much fun filming it. It felt like I was hanging out in my kitchen with all of you while I got some work done and got our family prepared with lots of meals for the coming week. A big shout out to my husband who filmed the video, to my amazing 2 (almost 3 year old), who was such a trooper and did such a good job playing quietly in the background and my 1-year-old who took a really nice long nap while all of that was going on. [Read more...]

Cloverleaf Rolls

Learn how to make Cloverleaf Rolls - tender and buttery yeast bread rolls that will be a beautiful centerpiece at your table. Serve with butter and they just melt in your mouth.

Beautiful, tender and buttery, these rolls will be a star at your dinner table. Of course, you can enjoy them with your meal, but you can also slather them with some butter and jam and they become dessert.

I love how simple they are to make and they look so pretty with that cloverleaf shape. All you have to do is put three small balls of dough in your muffin pan and they rise up and bake up into such a statement piece.

You can even make them in advance if you're making them for a special meal and then reheat them in the oven for about 10 minutes and they are just as fresh as the day you made them. Both my husband and toddler loved these rolls. I had to make several batches to make sure the recipe was PERFECT and they sure didn't mind eating them. [Read more...]

Thanksgiving Desserts

Everyone looks forward to dessert, especially during holiday meals. A party wouldn't feel complete without a sweet treat to make it perfect. I've rounded up a lot of wonderful options for your Thanksgiving meal. Two of my favorite things about making desserts for the holidays is that they can make a big statement and almost always can be made in advance. That way, I can make the most extravagant dessert, but get it out of the way a day or two before the actual meal and not have to worry about it when I am making all the finishing touches come together.

I would only choose one or two of the desserts on this list, of course! [Read more...]

25 + Vegetarian and Vegan Options For Thanksgiving

If you're looking for some vegetarian and/or vegan options for Thanksgiving, I've rounded up some great options for you. I am definitely not an expert on vegan cooking, but I do have some great recipes that don't include meat or animal by-products. I think all of these recipes are really delicious and would be enjoyed by everybody, no matter what their diet preference is. In fact, when I was creating these recipes, I was not creating them with the intention of being vegetarian or vegan, they just happened to be this way. Some of these are not vegan, but can easily be adjusted to be. I will include the adjustments in the description. You may not be vegetarian or vegan, but chances are that you will host some guests in your home that are and it's very thoughtful to have plenty of options for them that you can all enjoy. [Read more...]

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