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Sep 1, 2016

My Top Ten Favorite Recipes

Easy Orange Sesame Chicken RecipeI made one of my top ten favorite recipes today: Orange Sesame Chicken. It’s fast, healthy, and so much better than restaurant orange chicken, which is usually batter fried. My lean chicken is stir fried in 2 teaspoons of oil and made with freshly squeezed orange juice and toasted sesame oil. If you haven’t tasted (and smelled!) toasted sesame oil, it’s unbelievably fragrant. And bonus: this recipe takes 20 minutes. But that’s not even why I like it so much. It is deeeelicous!

If you’re wondering, here is the entire top ten list of my own personal favorite recipes, the ones I make the most:

  1. Granola Bars
  2. Tortillas
  3. Chicken Pot Pie
  4. Multigrain No Knead Bread
  5. Giant Breakfast Cookies
  6. Orange Sesame Chicken
  7. Spaghetti & Meatballs
  8. Cabbage Rolls
  9. Pork Loin Dinner
  10. Deviled Eggs

Happy Labor Day weekend to everyone and if you want to try my orange sesame chicken, click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

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Filed Under: General, Main Dishes, What I Cooked Today
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Aug 27, 2016

Lemon Brownie Update

Best Lemon Brownies RecipeI made lemon brownies today and decided to experiment with a larger pan, using a 9 x 9-inch square instead of the 8-inch square. Well, this recipe is indestructible. The brownies turned out great, even a little fudgier than the original. Even an amateur baker can’t mess this up. I’ve made these easy lemon brownies with all purpose flour, with whole wheat pastry flour, once when I was out of yogurt I used sour cream instead and no matter what, they always turn out. And it’s one bowl!

It’s one of my most popular recipes because they are so easy to make. There is no mixer, almost no cleanup, and they are so darn delicious. If you haven’t tried it yet, or even if you have, you can now make it in an 8 by 8 or 9 by 9 pan. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

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Filed Under: Sweets, What I Cooked Today
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Aug 23, 2016

Eat a Salad Every Day

How To Make The Healthiest SaladEvery meal I have starts with a salad. And this is a typical salad that I make every day, full of health-building antioxidants. It’s probably part of the reason I simply never get sick. I have not had a cold or flu in over half a century. Anyone can make a salad, I thought, but I’m sharing a photo of my typical salad to motivate more people to include salads with every meal. It doesn’t have to be this one but eat those vegetables if you want a long and healthy life.

People always ask me why I never get sick. How do I get such glowing skin? Am I really seventy years old? It’s because I cook every day and the meal always includes a salad and at least one cooked vegetable. Certain vegetables, like spinach or carrots, have more health benefits when cooked so have both raw and cooked veggies every day.

Romaine lettuce is considered the healthiest choice for salads with more nutrients than iceberg, but I sometimes use red leaf or butter lettuce. I always add some cabbage for its many health benefits and colored peppers. A mix of colors will provide the biggest variety of antioxidants so if I use red tomatoes, I use yellow or orange peppers. If I use yellow tomatoes, then red peppers. Red onions add a nice kick but that’s not why I add them. Onions and garlic a loaded with immune-boosting elements. Garbanzo beans add fiber and calcium but I sometimes use red kidney beans.

If I haven’t convinced you yet,  just look at why I make this particular salad the most – and these are only some of the health benefits since there are too many to mention:

Romaine Lettuce contains lutein for protect against vision loss, fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and folic acid.

Green Cabbage can protect against cancer & heart disease and boost your immune system.

Bell Peppers have more vitamin C than oranges and they support eye and lung health. Red peppers have more vitamins A and C than green.

Tomatoes can protect against heart disease as well as breast and prostate cancer.

Garbanzo beans are full of protein, fiber, magnesium, potassium, and iron.

Red onions help strengthen collagen, support bone health, prevents cell damage, and supports a strong immune system.

Oh… one more thing: No bottled dressing! Just look at the ingredients. Olive oil is the best and only choice for a healthy salad. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

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Filed Under: Soups/Salads/Side Dishes
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Aug 14, 2016

Remember Tapioca Pudding?

Recipe for Homemade Tapiolca Pudding

Light and fluffy tapioca pudding was my favorite dessert growing up. I still make it today and it’s so easy to make.  Classic old fashioned tapioca pudding is plain, flavored only with vanilla but I have also made a butterscotch version as well as chocolate and coconut. But plain old vanilla childhood tapioca is still the best. Thank goodness they still sell Minute Tapioca in the red box.

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It’s easy to forget but you should shake the box before measuring. I actually keep my tapioca in a jar so I just stir it before measuring. Tapioca is naturally fat free and sodium free. I make my pudding with low fat 1% milk and it’s a very light dessert. I hope this takes you back to your childhood too. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

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Filed Under: Sweets
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Aug 12, 2016

Weekend Snacks

How to Make Rolled Sandwiches

There’s always something to snack on over the weekend in this house. Sometimes it’s my skinless chicken drumsticks but today it’s my Italian sub pinwheel sandwiches. Today I skipped the cheese and made them with sliced roasted turkey breast, nitrate-free ham, and light salami. The salami is what give them an Italian sub flavor. So here’s what’s inside my lavash bread…. mayo, mustard, Italian seasoning, diced peperoncinis, turkey, ham, salami, and lots of lettuce.

I rolled them up, wrapped them tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerated them for about 3-4 hours. Then I sliced them, covered the plate tightly with plastic wrap, and now they are in the fridge, ready for the weekend.  Some people add cream cheese or other different meats so you can make them your own. It’s the perfect TV snack if you’re watching the Olympics this weekend. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Filed Under: Snacks/Misc, What I Cooked Today
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Aug 5, 2016

Blueberries are on Sale – Make a Cake

Fresh Blueberry Coffee Cake

Blueberries are on sale so it’s the perfect time to make my blueberry coffee cake. I have simplified my recipe so it’s pretty easy and if you like baking without butter, I’m your girl. This lovely and delicious cake has no butter, not even in the streusel topping. It’s an easy buttermilk cake and I use a heaping cup of blueberries. The streusel is crispy from the toasted pecans. You can use walnuts but I think pecans, especially when they are toasted first, are much more fragrant.

My streusel can be made with softened butter or a trans fat-free spread, but it’s perfect the way I make it, just using oil. I used to make this easy cake in a 9-inch pan but I like using the 8-inch round pan because the cake is taller. Inspect your blueberries and remove any bad ones and make sure they are not wet when adding to the batter. I toss the berries with a little flour before adding so they don’t sink to the bottom.

This blueberry coffee cake, like all coffee cakes, is best served warm. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Filed Under: Baking Without Butter, Sweets
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Aug 3, 2016

Easy Granola Bars

Homemade Granola Bars RecipeIf you’ve ever wondered which one of my recipes I make the most, it’s granola bars. I make them almost every week. Granola bars were never my favorite thing to eat but I would occasionally buy one when I was away from home and getting hungry because it’s a healthy choice but the ones from the store never left me wanting more. These days I crave granola bars because homemade bars are infinitely better… and easy to make.

I make sure we always have these delicious bars at home and as soon as we run out, I make more. They are full of protein and fiber and they are incredibly easy to make. Everything mixes in one bowl and you bake it.

How To Line a Pan for Granola Bars (with Parchment Paper).

The hardest part is lining the pan with parchment paper because it won’t always stay in place, but I found an easier way to do it… with binder clips. You can get them at a stationery store and since they’re metal, they can go right in the oven.

Cut two parchment paper pieces a little bit wider than your 9-inch pan and lay them in, criss-crossing each other, clipping the ends down as you go. It will keep the paper in place, like this…

Parchment1000_1685Now that you know how  easy it is to make your own granola bars, try them and see if you don’t wind up like me, making them every week.  Every time I go out the door, I take one with me. You will too. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

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Filed Under: Helpful Hints, Snacks/Misc
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Jul 30, 2016

Making a Difference

I am rewarded in many ways for sharing my recipes, from seeing photos people send me to reading personal stories from all over the world of how my recipes have motivated people to cook. But the best feeling I ever get is when someone is able to use one of my recipes to help support their family or business. That’s when I know I am making a difference. Here are some of those stories…

“I am using some of your videos in my bakery education Centre.” ~ Heinz

“Hi Jenny, just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! I made your granola and today I’m selling it, and I’m earning money. I am from México city and I hope you understand my english. I haven’t practiced for so many years. It’s delicious. I already have my bags and my brand printed on them. Again, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!” ~ Maria

“Thank you Jenny, I am from myanmar and I am trying to bake my own bread. Your video is very useful for me. Before watching yours, my own making bread is just only for my dog. Now, I am quite ok and will try to open my own bread shop. 🙂 😉 ” ~ thaw maw soe aung

“Jenny, Thank you for the (granola bars) recipe, I’ll try to make it and maybe I’ll ask my son to sell it in his school, hope it can be his extra money. once again, thank you Jenny, God Bless you.” ~ Surya

“Jenny, i will be trying these ribs this weekend, they look fabulous and it will be a simple way to serve them from my foodtruck. Will you marry me? Lol” ~ Michael

“Hi Jenny, i own a Pub in Brazil and i am offering your pan pizza and it is a success. Keep cooking and wish you the best.” ~ Marcio Stewers, São Paulo, Brazil

“I have a confession to make..I follow your recipe “whole wheat bread” and I have a lot of orders and it add income…thank you from Thailand but I’m a Filipino.” ~ Chin Chin

“I absolutely loved the Pan Pizza video you did, I have been searching for some time on how to make the perfect homemade Pizza Dough. I have been looking for resourceful mean of the perfect dough for my small and upcoming business and i found it entirely helpfull.” ~ Tousaint

“Just had to let you know how great this bread (simple whole wheat bread) is. My 11 yr old daughter made this (using a friends organic whole wheat flour) and entered it in the county fair and she got a purple ribbon. Everyone who tasted it, loved it. Thanks for this recipe!” ~ Dana

“Love this recipe. I have a Bed and Breakfast in Naples, Fl. Now whenever new guests are due to check in I have a loaf of this (no knead bread) in the oven. The scent of baking bread warms them immediately and the bread itself is a picture. They love having it with their morning breakfast. Haven’t tried the rolls as yet but plan to soon. Thanks so very much.” ~ Franco

“Hello Miss Jenny, I’m from the Philippines, I tried some recipe the best recipe I got is yours, I find it more easier. Thanks a lot, I’m not buying wheat loaf bread in the store anymore. My husband love it too. I’m selling it to my neighbors and friends. More power!” ~ Evelyn

” I am a freelance script writer. During last 6 months of Covid time, I’ve no job and no income. So I decided to learn some menu to sell online and decided to include Brownies which is my favorite. After going through all the recipes from YouTube I found yours the most easy and affordable cost. Now I am selling online and I am making some income from that. I even have regular customers for my brownies, they always order 10 pieces of my brownie almost 3 times a month. I got comments like, * Same taste from the favorites coffee shop when I visited state! *I cannot eat other’s brownies anymore after eating yours. I am so happy and always wanted to say thank you for sharing your recipes with everyone. Love you and thank you so much from Myanmar ❤️.” ~ Kyae

IF MY RECIPES ARE HELPING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORY BY LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW.

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Filed Under: General
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Jul 29, 2016

High Fiber Cookies with Dried Figs

 High Fiber Cookies Recipe

Any cookies that are crispy, have lots of fiber, no butter, and taste great are my kind of cookies. It’s this kind of cookie that I always have around the house so there’s always something sweet available. I make almost all my cookies with extra light olive oil but you can use any vegetable oil.

Sweets will always be part of my diet so I try to make them as healthy as I can. And crispy cookies like this keep well. I put them in a zip top plastic bag and keep them refrigerated for weeks and they are still great. They’re big, too. This recipe makes a dozen big 4 to 5-inch cookies. Have one for a healthy, high fiber dessert or as a snack with a glass of milk. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Filed Under: Baking Without Butter, Sweets
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