Almond Flour Banana Bread

This banana bread gets its amber color and caramelized taste from brown sugar and the taste is amplified by the almond flour. This is not gluten-free recipe, you need to add a little of all purpose flour too.

If you don’t have almond flour or brown sugar, you can try our famous Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread.

If you are looking for gluten-free recipe, try our Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins.

Almond Flour Banana Bread

Natalija
Although the chocolate chips and walnuts are not mandatory, they add a whole new level of taste and texture to this cake.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 very ripe bananas
  • 200 g brown sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 200 g almond flour
  • 100 g unsalted butter melted
  • 80 g all purpose flour
  • 2 pinches salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 100 g chopped walnuts
  • 60 g chocolate chips (60%)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180C). Grease a large bread pan and set aside.
  • Mash bananas with a fork and mix them with brown sugar.
  • Add eggs and mix well.
  • Add melted butter,
  • and almond flour.
  • Then add all purpose flour, salt and baking powder. Mix well.
  • Add walnuts
  • and chocolate chips.
  • Pour the batter into bread pan and bake for about 55 minutes.
  • Banana bread is ready when a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the bread in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely.
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Beef Rice Pilaf With Dry Barberry Berries

This is very delicious and flavorful rice. Perfect for special dinner with friends or just for your family. It may seem a little time consuming, but it’s worth it.

Beef Rice Pilaf With Dry Barberry Berries

Irina
It is very important to put the raw garlic on top of the rice before covering everything with water.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups rice Uncle Ben’s Long Grain White Rice
  • 2 lb beef boneless stew beef
  • 4 large carrots
  • 2 onion
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 5 Tbsp barberry dry berries
  • 1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 Tbsp salt
  • 4 cups water hot

Instructions
 

  • Soak and rinse the rice, at least 2-3 times, then drain.
  • Cut beef into 1 inch pieces.
  • Peel and cut the carrots into thick matchsticks.
  • Peel and dice onion.
  • Heat the olive oil in an enameled cast iron dutch oven over a medium heat, add beef.
  • Cook beef for one hour on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
  • When the beef is fully cooked add onion and soften, stirring regularly for about 3 minutes.
  • Add carrots, spices, salt, pepper, bay leaf and dry berries. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring regularly.
  • Layer the soaked rice over the top of the beef and vegetables. Peel some of the skin off the garlic head and slice the top off, exposing the garlic cloves. Put raw garlic head on top of the rice.
  • Carefully pour hot water over wooden spoon to ensure even distribution over rice. Do not stir.
  • Cover with lid. When it starts boiling, remove the lid to let the water almost evaporate.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the rest of the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
  • Mix the ingredients as you serve the pilaf on a platter. Garnish with garlic head.
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Creamy Mushroom Pate

With a few simple tricks, you really can make this Creamy Mushroom Pate at home. Skip the store bought spreads and pates. Making it yourself is so, so easy and will be way tastier than just about anything from the deli department.

Mushroom Pate

Irina
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 250 g mushrooms washed
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 7 Tbsp olive oil
  • green onion optional

Instructions
 

  • Slice the mushrooms.
  • Peel and cut onion into half moons.
  • Peel and mince garlic.
  • Place a large frying pan over a high medium heat. Add 5 Tbsp of olive oil and sauté mushrooms for 10 minutes. Constantly stirring. Remove from heat and let cool.
  • Meanwhile, place a small frying pan over medium heat, add 2 Tbsp of olive oil and onion, and cook until golden brown.
  • Add minced garlic and sauté for one minute. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool.
  • Put half of the mushrooms and onion with garlic into a food processor or blender and pulse several times to combine.
  • Add the remaining mushrooms and cream cheese and puree.
  • Add salt and pepper and mix it with wooden spoon.
  • Serve on crostini, with green onion or any fresh herbs.
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Chocolate Chip and Nut Cookies

Excellent Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies. I’ve tried a lot of different chocolate chip cookie recipes, and this one is the best one by far. They have the right balance of flavor and texture. My kids remove them from the oven as soon as the edges turn gold. They don’t look done when they are, so be carefully not to burn the bottoms.

Chocolate Chip and Nut Cookies

Natalija
Dough balls may be frozen, which is very convenient when you have someone coming over. Don’t forget to add some extra time to the baking.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 26 pieces

Ingredients
  

  • 225 g butter softened
  • 100 g brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla sugar (optional)
  • 100 g sugar
  • 330 g all purpose flour sifted
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 eggs
  • 350 g chocolate chips
  • 50 g walnuts
  • 50 g hazelnuts
  • 50 g almonds
  • 50 g pumpkin seeds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat together butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla sugar.
  • Add eggs.
  • Little by little add sifted flour ,mixed with salt and baking soda.
  • Add chocolate chips and mix well.
  • Spoon out the cookie dough using a cookie scoop(use your hand if you don’t have cookie spoon) and place on the parchment lined baking sheet. Divide the nuts and seeds on top of the each cookie and gently press down on the dough ball to flatten slightly.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are set but the middle is still soft.
  • Let cool cookies for few minutes then transfer them with a spatula to a rack to cool completely.
  • Enjoy it with glass of milk or your favorite tea.
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Homemade Egg Noodles

Absolutely love these Homemade Egg Noodles! My sisters and I used to make them together when we were growing up. They are fabulous with chicken stock, or homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.

Homemade Egg Noodles

Irina
If it’s anyone’s first time for making egg noodles, add the extra water or flour bits at a time until you get a dough that you can knee very easy and it will smooth out nice, when rolling on the floured surface.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp buttermilk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour (more flour for rolling)

Instructions
 

  • Use a fork to beat the eggs, until smooth. Add salt and buttermilk and whisk. Stir in flour, one spoon at a time, until the dough come together in a ball.
  • Flour a flat surface and roll the dough out.
  • Once the dough reaches 1/4 inches thickness, use a sharp knife or pizza cutting wheel to cut the dough. You can cut them as wide or narrow as you like, but cut them as evenly as possible ensure uniform cooking time.
  • Dust with a little flour and spread to dry.
  • Let the noodles dry for 2-3 hours.
  • Cook in 3 quarts boiling salted water for 5 minutes or until tender.
  • Drain and serve with butter.
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Meatballs Soup

This meatballs soup is one of the first soups I made right after I moved out from my parents house. I got this recipe from my mom over the phone. This meatball soup is very easy to make and will take no more than 30 minutes.

Meatballs Soup

Irina
I like to make meatballs and cut all the vegetables before boiling the water for soup.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 5 servings

Ingredients
  

Meatballs

  • 1/2 lbs ground turkey
  • 1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 1/2 onion finely diced
  • salt to taste

Soup

  • 10 cups water
  • 3 Tbsp chicken bouillon paste (optional)
  • 5 medium potatoes cubed
  • 1/2 medium onion finely diced
  • 3 Tbsp rice (any)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large carrot shredded
  • 1/2 cup fresh dill and parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place ground turkey and beef into a bowl. Add 1/2 chopped onion and salt. Mix well. Form a ball from the meat by rolling it in your hands.
  • Add 10 cups of water to a medium pot over high heat. Add chopped potatoes (and chicken bouillon paste) to the soup pot.
  • Bring to a boil. Toss the 1/2 onion and rice into the soup.
  • Add one by one meatballs into the pot. Cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are floating at the top.
  • Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add 2 Tbsp of olive oil and shredded carrot. Saute for about 2 minutes and add it to the pot.
  • Boil for 3 more minutes. Add fresh dill or parsley at the end.
  • Serve it with sour cream if desire.
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Pickled Cabbage

For my version of pickled cabbage, cabbage and carrots are marinated with vinegar. This is an easy recipe and ready to eat the next day!

Pickled Cabbage

Natalija
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 12 hours 3 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 lb cabbage
  • 3-4 carrots
  • 1 head of garlic
  • 4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp salt
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup 6% vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Cut, core and shred cabbage finely.
  • Peel the carrots and grate.
  • Peel the garlic and cut each clove into 4 pieces.
  • Place vegetables in a mason jar.
  • Meanwhile, in a large pot, boil water with salt, sugar and olive oil. Remove from the heat and add vinegar.
  • Pour hot marinade over the cabbage and let it cool completely.
  • Cover with tight lid and store it in the refrigerator. Cabbage will be ready in 12 hours.
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Oven Roasted Potatoes

The Oven Roasted Potatoes are crispy on the outside but soft and creamy on the inside! This simple side dish is everyone’s favorite.

Oven roasted potatoes

Irina
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 6 large Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 2 tbsp barbecue sauce
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • fresh herbs to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into 4 pieces.
  • In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with the barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.
  • Drizzle 4 tbsp of olive oil into baking pan.
  • Spread the potatoes evenly on the bottom of prepared baking pan.
  • Bake at 375°F for 65 minutes, or until potatoes are golden and tender.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.
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Mouth Watering Venison Roast

This mouth watering venison roast recipe has become our family favorite. We all trying to eat healthy, and this deer meat is naturally low in fat and has no harmful hormones. It is not easy to shop for a deer meat, unless you know a good butcher shop near you, or your husband is a hunter like mine is.

Mouth Watering Venison Roast

Irina
Marinade is optional, but I always like my meat to be marinated before cooking.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 1 day 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings 6 persons

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 lb venison cut into cubes
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 large onion diced
  • 2 lemons sliced in quarters
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 3 bay leaves
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Mix together 2 gallons of water and 6 Tbsp of salt in a large pot or any food container and place the deer meat in it, add some ice on top and cover with lid. Place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F.
  • Heat the oil in the roasting pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until nice and golden.
  • Add lemon and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
  • Place the venison into the roasting pan, add white wine and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side.
  • Remove from the heat. Add paprika, bay leaf, garlic, salt and pepper, and mix well with spatula.
  • Place the roasting pan into preheated oven and cook for 2 1/2 hours.
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Turkey Broccoli Lasagna with White Sauce

My family always looks forward to have Turkey Lasagna after Thanksgiving. If you don’t have leftover turkey, you can use chicken instead.

Turkey Broccoli Lasagna with White Sauce

Irina
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 9 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 9 lasagna noodles uncooked
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 cup cottage cheese divided
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 3 cups fully cooked turkey sliced extra thin

White sauce

  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • 1 shallot chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 Tbsp all purpose flour
  • 2 cup milk 2%
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 3 cup mozzarella cheese grated
  • 1/2 tsp pepper ground black
  • 1 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • Prepare pasta according to package direction. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan, add onion and garlic, cook until tender, stirring frequently.
  • Stir in the salt, pepper and flour, simmer until you see bubbles. Mix in the milk and cream and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for 1 minute.
  • Stir in mozzarella cheese, black pepper and white wine.
  • Remove saucepan from the heat and set aside.
  • Spread a generous 2 spoonful of cheese sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan and cover with 3 cooked lasagna noodles.
  • Follow with a layer of sliced turkey, broccoli, cottage cheese and more sauce and repeat to make another layer.
  • On top of the last noodle layer, cover with remaining of the sauce.
  • Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
  • Bake covered for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes.
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