Jan 6, 2015

Easy Tortilla Pie

Best Recipe Tortilla Pie You only need a few basic ingredients to make this easy tortilla pie: whole wheat tortillas, canned beans, bottled salsa, peppers, and reduced fat cheese. Add some onions and garlic and this comes together pronto in a yummy, stick-to-the-ribs dinner the whole family will love.

Here’s why I love my easy tortilla pie: It has two different kinds of beans, black and cannellini beans; It has three different colors of pepper – red, green and yellow; And it’s made with whole wheat tortillas. Even if you aren’t a fan of whole wheat tortillas, they become so soft when baked with my sauce and cheeses, you can eat this moist layered casserole with a spoon.

There’s a recipe for tortilla pie in my original cookbook but this new recipe is simpler, faster, and healthier, not to mention even more delicious. This is an easy recipe to customize and make your own. If you like is spicy, be sure to include the jalapeño pepper and get a jar of spicy salsa. If you like it mild, you can leave out the jalapeño pepper altogether and replace it with extra bell pepper, or a milder Anaheim pepper, and use a mild salsa.

Here are a couple of brands I use in this recipe:

Tortillas – Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Tortillas

Salsa – Green Mountain Gringo from Whole Foods

I make my pie in an 8-inch round pyrex baking dish with tall sides and a glass lid. Sometimes I cut the tortillas to fit exactly into the baking pan and with this pan, the filling all stays inside and doesn’t spill out. A lot of recipes use a springform pan and if you have one, that’s the pan to use. You can also make this tortilla pie in any kind of pie pan, preferably deep dish. Some of the beans may spill out but who cares? Just make sure you cover it well with foil.

Nutritionally, this healthy meal is hard to beat. There is lots of fiber in the beans as well as the tortillas, and beans also provide calcium and protein. The colored peppers are full of antioxidants to help protect against diseases like heart disease and cancer. And if you make it spicy, spicy foods boost metabolism and that helps with weight loss. But the best reason of all to make this easy casserole is it’s simply delicious. And it’s meatless, too. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Jan 1, 2015

Send Me Your Photo – Jan/Feb

How did my recipe turn out? Send me a photo and show off your creation. Please send your picture to: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com

DONNA (Central Virginia) MADE MY NO KNEAD CRUSTY ROLLS
Just yesterday I discovered your YouTube videos, website and Facebook page and what a treasure trove of wonderful recipes. I remember watching your TV show and when I saw your video on making No Knead Crusty Rolls, I was glad to see you are still around and making people happy with your food. The crusty rolls were so tasty and the chewy crust divine that I will be making them often. The 7 I didn’t eat went in the freezer to enjoy later.  Again, thank you for your fabulous recipes and doing the videos. We love you!”
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RANDY MADE MY PUMPKIN PIE
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ALISSA MADE MY CINNAMON-GLAZEDAPPLE BROWNIES
“Cant wait to eat them!!!”
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BRETT MADE MY EASY BAKED ZITI
“I gave your Baked Ziti a go and it is out of this world. Thank you so much for sharing all the recipes you have given me renewed zest in the kitchen again and on the track to eating healthier.”
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ALISSA MADE MY HOMEMADE APPLE PIE
“Well it tastes amazing even though it doesn’t look so pretty : / I used boskoop apples and they are kind of mealy but taste really good.”
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ANGELINE MADE MY NO KNEAD CRUSTY ROLLS
“These are from overnight dough which was prepared with cold water. I must admit that the dough was rather sticky! Nevertheless, they were yummy. Thanks,Jenny.”
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ANGELINE MADE MY GRANOLA BARS & PACZKI
“I used almond and pumpkin seeds in the nuts portion. And they kept well under refrigeration. Still yummy even after a month’ s storage! And beautiful donuts, thanks.”
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MARISA MADE MY PIEROGI
“Love the pierogi recipe!! Thank you!”
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LISA MADE MY CHICKEN POT PIE(S)
“Jenny’s Awesome Mini Chicken Pot Pies for my ‘premed’ son at University!! P.S. Cheated and didn’t make the crust but I will next time.  Love your recipes. It is kind that you are sharing the recipes from your cookbooks for all to enjoy.”
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CHUCK MADE MY NACHOS FOR DINNER
“Made your Super Awesome Healthier Nachos tonight and they were a win with the wifey!”
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SINISTER MINISTER MADE MY GRANOLA & BLUEBERRY PANCAKES
“I made your easy granola and it is guuuuud! You made me a believer! No more store bought!”
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“A very lucky wife got some of Jenny’s blueberry pancakes this morning!”
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CINDY MADE MY CINNAMON ROLLS
“I made your wonderful home made cinnamon rolls- Super yummy, super easy!!  Thanks.”
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KATHLEEN MADE MY CROUTONS
“Croutons with one finely minced Garlic clove. The house smells divine! This is my second batch and just as perfect as the first! We’ll be eating a lot more salads now. (I hear my husband snacking on them in the kitchen-warm from the oven)”
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KATHLEEN MADE MY TORTILLAS
“Oh my! I’ll only be eating homemade tortillas from now on! So easy! Used Olive Oil, rolled on Silpat, kept warm in 200 oven. The two of us ate almost all of them! + my DH was a little boy in South Texas and appreciates home made tortillas. This former Yankee is a success! Thanks Jenny!” (Silpat… I have to try that – j.j.)
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CJ MADE MY “TUNNELS OF CINNAMON” BREAD
“Thanks for the recipe!! I converted everything to grams and milliliters(europe :) ) and this is the result. I’m very happy!! Thanks!”
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Jan 1, 2015

Questions?

BEFORE ASKING A QUESTION... please look in the FAQs at the top for answers to many commonly asked questions. Or maybe it’s something you can research on your own or find in the recipe comments.  I can’t always keep up with responding so thank you for understanding.

❤️???? My thanks to everyone who jumps in to help answer questions. ❤️????

Jan 1, 2015

I Never Expected This

I never expected that so many people would come to my website and watch my videos – over 40,000 people a day! And it’s wonderful. I am thrilled with all the feedback, but it’s becoming hard to keep up with the questions.  I’m doing my best but the numbers keep growing and it’s getting harder and harder to keep up. I’m truly dumbfounded to see the thousands of people who visit here every day.

I never did this for money. I did it for my love of cooking and I just wanted to share my recipes. So please understand if I have not answered your question. I’ve addressed the most commonly asked questions in my new Questions category. You’ll also see a lot of helpful comments under each recipe from other cooks that might address your concern.

I wasn’t expecting this. I’m just a home cook sharing what I love as a hobby. I’m humbled and so very appreciative of your kindness and support but this is a one-woman operation and I’m doing the best I can. Before asking a question, please try to look for answers here or on the internet. I’ll try to keep up but seriously… 40,000 people a day from 190 countries! And 50,000 on the weekends!! This is crazy! For commonly asked questions click here.Jenny Jones

Filed Under: General
18 Comments
Dec 27, 2014

How To Store Parsley

I’ve had this parsley for over a month! If you’re tired of throwing away wilted parsley, you will love this easy way to store fresh parsley. Just put it in a glass of water and cover it loosely with a plastic produce bag. I use the bag I brought it home in from the store.
IMG_0418Fresh parsley is great to use in cooking but I only use a little at a time. I used to keep it in the vegetable drawer in a plastic bag but I always had to throw it away before I could use it all up. There had to be a better way. So I tried putting it in a glass of water in the fridge and it kept a little longer but after a few days it was drying out.

The solution to drying out had to be plastic so I tried putting a light weight plastic produce bag loosely over the parsley and glass and I could not believe how long it lasted. I put it away on November 23rd. That was five weeks ago! And look at it today…

IMG_0695I’ll be using this parsley until 2015! I’ll let you know when it finally runs its course – probably six or seven weeks. I just had to share!

Dec 25, 2014

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my cooking friends.

ada85ad506a9204d5840b640d8cab712What a beautiful creation! I did not make this gingerbread house but I would like to live there.

I hope all your holiday creations turned out.

Dec 11, 2014

How Do I Print a Recipe?

There is a “Print” button at the top of the recipe, just to the right of the title. Click the “Print” button and follow the prompts on your computer.

Having problems? If you are using a desktop computer, for some reason, in some browsers (like Google Chrome), the “print menu window” appears to load faster than the actual recipe page you’re trying to print. To address this problem please close the print window and then click the Print button again. I hope this helps. You can also right click on any recipe page and select the “Print” option from the dropdown menu. Another option is to use the “Share” buttons at the upper right of each recipe to share any recipe or to email it to yourself.

Dec 11, 2014

Polish Chrusciki (Angel Wings)

This is the only think I deep fry… but I don’t care. Chrusciki are too good not to have at Christmas time and there is no way to make them without frying. And there is no way to eat just one.

These dainty powdered sugar delights, which are also called angel wings, also called bow ties, also called faworki, etc., are absolutely delicious thanks to the delicate flavor of vanilla and fresh citrus peel. As dramatic as they look, they are easier to make than you think.

I learned from my mother who made them every Christmas. She rolled the dough and my sister and I shaped them into knots or bow ties. She made a whole bunch at one time but I find it more manageable to work with a smaller dough and take up less counter space. Besides, if I made more I would just eat more. I’ve never seen anyone eat just one.

So here is my how-to video. I tried to keep it simple so even inexperienced cooks can make these fabulous holiday cookies. The most important thing is to roll the dough super thin so be patient. It takes me two minutes to get it thin enough and I’ve been making them for years.

You roll half the dough at a time and it needs to be at least 12 by 12 inches or 14 by 10 or 16 by 8, etc.. The shape doesn’t matter as long as you have around 140 square inches. You should be able to almost see through the dough.

I hope you try my Polish chrusciki and if you make them, send me a photo for my scrapbook. Click here for the recipe. – Jenny Jones

Filed Under: Videos 1 Comment
Dec 8, 2014

How To Freeze Pecan Balls

Guess what? There is no difference between frozen and freshly made pecan balls. I tested them myself and asked two other people to do a blind taste test and no one could tell the difference. This is good news because anything you can make ahead for the holidays is helpful. I’m sure there is more than one way to freeze these delicate Christmas snowball cookies but here is how I did mine:

  1. Once they were completely cool and after the second roll in powdered sugar I gently placed them in a freezer bag so they were not touching.
  2. I removed as much air as possible from the bag and placed them gently in the freezer.
  3. To thaw I let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then brought them to room temperature.
  4. Then I gently rolled them in powdered sugar again to freshen them up.

So there it is. This is how you can freeze your homemade pecan balls and have extra time for…. making more! To make these super easy Christmas cookies, click here for the recipe.  – Jenny Jones

Dec 1, 2014

Send Me Your Photo – Nov/Dec

It’s really fun to see pictures of my recipes made by someone else.  Please send your picture to: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com

TERRY MADE MY EASY PAN PIZZA
“It was a keeper. Thanks Jenny.”
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RHONDA MADE MY CORN CHOWDER
“This is so easy to make and guests really liked it at our Soup Social last year. I had people taking it home it was just that good. It’s so delicious :)”
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MARCIA MADE MY PIEROGI
“I have to tell you Jenny thank you for putting this recipe on YouTube. I tried your pierogi and love it. I made a salad the next day and cut up cold pierogi and put on top. It was wonderful. It is great cold too. Thank you, I’m hooked.”
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MS. FABULOUS MADE MY APPLE BROWNIES
“Just made this and my home has the scent of cinnamon and apples, yum!  They are delicious …..so easy amd figure friendly!  Thanks so much!”
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SAMMIE MADE MY BEEF STEW
“Hi this I a my pic, I am Sammie, from your delicious stew! Sorry I just saw your post to send it, also I am making flat bread and will photo and send too. Your delicious!”
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ANTONIA MADE MY SPAGHETTI WITH CHARD & VEGETABLE PASTA
“prepare estos spagetis para mi familia en el fin de semana quedaron muy satisfechos es una receta muy saludable y facil, muchas gracias senora Jones por compartir sus deliciosas recetas nosotros somos de EL SALVADOR pero nos encanta mucho la comida Americana.”20140406_143048“I’m trying to eat more vegetables so I made your vegetable pasta using my favorite tri-color pasta. It was very good!”20140420_175008
MARIANNE MADE MY PACZKI
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PAULINE MADE MY LEMON BROWNIES
“These are so good & the frosting is amazing with no added butter. Pauline.”
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RYAN MADE MY PAN PIZZA
“The crust turned out perfect – pretty much just awesome. Super easy – have to wait 18 hours for the dough to rise but that’s the hardest part. If you notice one half looks lighter it’s because the other side has no cheese for a silly vegan.”
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ALISSA MADE MY CINNAMON ROLLS & RED VELVET CUPCAKES
“Followed your video. First time in my LIFE I kneaded something and it worked!!! Can’t wait for dessert and I’m so glad I worked out today.”
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LOI MADE MY CABBAGE ROLLS
“hi Miss Jenny. thank you so much for your wonderful and delicious recipe. I found your recipe in you tube and decided to make it today for our dinner. Its yummy and my husband and my in laws loves it… definitely make this again… Cabbage rolls.”

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KEVIN MADE MY BEEF STEW
“Thanks for this recipe Jenny. It’s terrific (especially with homemade bread).”
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PAULINE MADE MY TURKEY CHILI
“Hi Jenny, I’ve been looking for a chili recipe that my husband will give a thumbs up, & yours did it! This is going to be my main chili recipe from now on & how nice not to be simmering the pot all day!”
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SILVIA MADE MY MAKOWIEC & EASY BROWNIES
“Hi Jenny, I made your makowiec and easy brownies. They were scrumptious :-D Best regards, Silvia”
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KATHLEEN MADE MY SIMPLE WHOLE WHEAT BREAD
“Hi Jenny! Surprisingly, I just discovered your site this week and tried out the beautiful bread recipe. Now I know why you no longer buy bread. The loaf was lovely and delicious with a light crumb. Great sandwiches and toast with butter and raspberry jam. I forwarded links to friends and family and will be trying many more of your easy and delicious recipes. Kathleen Kennedy, Wimberley, TX”
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CAROL MADE MY NACHOS
“My hubby and I make lots of your recipes…this is one of our favorites, your nachos.  Also, don’t know if you are interested but I mentioned you and your “dry rub” on one of my youtube videos a while back…where I made a dry rub for country style ribs…and put a link to your “dry rub” page…over time we ended up changing the dry rub just a little to suit our family, but it’s so fantastic. Anyway, my channel is called UpLiftingHome if you care to see it. Thanks Jenny…we are 2 of your biggest fans of your cooking videos! Carol from UpLiftingHome channel
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