Wow. It’s been a great week around Cafe Johnsonia–the actual one, the kitchen I cook in. We’ve been eating some pretty great meals. See what can happen when I plan? My husband has been a very happy boy. Last night we had another wonderful, healthy dinner. Bonus: It took less than 30 minutes to make! […]

Tilapia is a great fish for anyone who doesn’t love fish. It’s mild and versatile, and is very low in fat. It’s a great fish for those who are counting calories. Lemon Pepper Tilapia Ingredients:1 tsp. olive oil4 tilapia loins (or filets)2 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning Instructions:Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking […]

I really love arugula, also known as rocket. It’s absolutely perfect in salads and pasta dishes.Last night’s dinner required me to use up some ingredients I had on hand–tomatoes and feta. The arugula was bought for a salad I’ll be making for tonight’s dinner–it’s gonna be SO good. And I always have tons of garlic […]

Red and Black Raspberry Jelliesoriginal recipe Ingredients:1 cup frozen or fresh berries (we used black and red raspberries)1/2 sugar (depending on the sweetness of the berries)a little water, if needed1 Tbsp. unflavored gelatin (one 1/4 oz. packet)4 Tbsp. water Instructions:Place berries in a large bowl and sprinkle with sugar.  Toss to coat.  Let stand for […]

Last night we enjoyed a delightful summer-y dinner. It was enjoyed all around and I can’t wait to eat the leftovers for lunch! Cilantro Citrus Chicken Quinoa-Bulgur Pilaf with Corn and Jalapeños Spicy Baked Zucchini Wedges Passion Fruit Ice Cream Soda P.S. You can click on each title to take you to the individual recipe, […]

Have you tried quinoa? These lovely little grains come from the Andean region of South America. They were the staple food of pre-Columbian Andean civilizations, and still are a staple food item in that area. Quinoa is a super food. It not only has high protein content, but also essential amino acids. It also contains […]

I personally love quinoa. It is a superfood. I also love bulgur. We don’t eat nearly enough of either. The original recipe for this pilaf only calls for quinoa, but I realized too late I didn’t have enough. (Should have listened to that little voice in my head as I passed by the quinoa at […]

Passion Fruit Ice Cream Soda Ingredients:2-3 scoops passion fruit ice cream (or any flavor)sparkling waterlime wedges Instructions:Place ice cream scoops in a large glass. Top with sparkling water. Squeeze a lime wedge or two over the top and enjoy!

For Mother’s Day, I wanted to make pound cake flavored with rose water. And I wanted to have the cake with berries and cream. (You have to remember how excited I get about making my own birthday cake each year–Mother’s Day is the same kind of thing.) I knew Dorie Greenspan had a recipe called […]

A reader question came up regarding the recipe for Glazed Lemon Cookies. “Can you make the cookies without a food processor?” YES!!! And I do apologize that I neglect to add alternate directions for some of the recipes. It wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t have a food processor myself and I felt slightly […]