Heavenly Food with Diana

I have made these delicious little appetizers a few times for parties and everyone loves them. They are simple, but yet so yummy. You will need: 1 cup of mushrooms, chopped very small 1/4 cup of chopped red onion 3 Tbs. of extra virgin olive oil, divided Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 cup of chopped basil 1 pkg. of phyllo cups 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese 1/3 cup of cooked and crumbled bacon Chopped scallions for garnish (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit. In a skillet over medium heat, add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil, onions, mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste. Cook until the onions and mushrooms are tender. Add the basil and bacon and stir. Remove from heat and let cool for about 10 minutes. Fill each phyllo cup with a scant tablespoon of this mixture. Top with the parmesan cheese. Drizzle the tops of the cups with the olive oil. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Garnish with chopped scallions. Enjoy!!

I was always taught as a child by my parents to not waste anything. Love the old saying "Waste not want not". That saying holds so much truth. I am the leftover makeover queen. I love leftover roasted chicken. There are so many things that you can do with leftover chicken. I have made chicken casseroles, chicken soup, chicken croquettes, barbecue chicken pizza and chicken pot pie. Just to name a few. Leftover rice from last night? Don't throw it away. You can easily make rice pudding with that left over rice or even make a casserole with it or turn it into fried rice. The options are endless. You just need to get creative. I have had many weeks where the kids have not had many sandwiches which resulted in sliced bread that has gotten to almost the stale stage. No problem!!! Put that bread in a food processor and make bread crumbs. Why go to the store and buy bread crumbs out of a can? The best part is that you can flavor it with anything you want. Add your favorite dried

Looking for something to do with all the green beans from your garden? I have got an easy and yummy recipe for you. My mom made this all the time when I was a kid. You will need: 6 cups of cut green beans 1 lb. of ground linguica 1 medium onion chopped 3 medium potatoes that have been cubed 1 1/2 cups of chicken stock 3 Tbs. of extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbs. of paprika Salt and pepper to taste Place a 6-8 quart saucepan over medium heat and add olive oil. Add the onion, ground linguica and paprika. Saute until onions are translucent and linguica is heated through. Add the green beans, potatoes, chicken stock and salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and cook for about 15 minutes or until desired tenderness of potatoes and green beans. I usually serve this with portuguese pops and my family loves it. I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it.

Everyone asks me if I have any money saving tips for them when it comes to putting food on the table. In this economy, people are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table. I definitely feel the squeeze. I usually go to the grocery store and go right to the mark down rack. The food that the grocer puts on this rack has not gone bad but, really need to be used that day. I went to the grocery store the other day and found pears for 75% off and thought to myself, "what can I make with these?" because I knew that my family would not eat all six of those pears that day! So I decided to make a nice pear crisp. I bought the pears for pennies and all the other ingredients were already in my pantry. I then walked over to the meat department and found chicken drumsticks on manager's special. I paid $1.50 for six drumsticks. Yes, you read right $1.50 for six drumsticks. If you find bananas on the rack, make banana bread for your family. It's a great after school

I know what you are thinking when you hear the words making jam, "No way that takes too long and it's too complicated and I just don't have the time." I felt the same way until I finally tried it. The summer time is the best time to make these delightful jams because the berries, peaches and plums, etc. are at their peak and not only are they cheaper, but they taste great. It is so rewarding to make your own jam because first, THEY TASTE SO MUCH BETTER THAN STORE BOUGHT and second I know exactly what is in it. So do yourself a favor and go to the store and buy yourself some canning jars and pectin then head to the grocery store and pick out the best strawberries and fresh basil and let's get started. Trust me you will thank me later! Now, you will need: 8 (8oz.) preserving jars with lids 1 packet of liquid pectin 5 lbs. of strawberries 7 cups of sugar Juice of 1 lemon 1/4 cup of chopped basil Prepare your boiling water canner according to your manufacture

I made this torta the other day for my family and friends and we absolutely loved it. I am going to give you the recipe so you can all give it a try. You will not be disappointed. You will need: 450 grams or 1 lb. of salted, boneless codfish, boiled and shredded. 1 chopped large onion, yellow or vidalia is good 2 cloves of minced garlic 5 heaping tbs. of all purpose flour 6 egg whites 1 cup of good extra virgin olive oil 2 cups of milk 1 to 2 Tbs. of portuguese red pepper paste 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley 1 1/2 tsp. of baking powder Please note that you will have to place your salted cod in a bowl and cover with water before boiling it. You will need to remove the salt. You should do this for a day, changing the water a few times. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Farenheit First beat your egg whites until stiff peaks are formed and set to the side. In another large bowl combine the cod, onion, garlic, flour, olive oil, milk, pepper paste, and the parsley. Mix this we