Sugar and Spice Pumpkin Casserole

Sugar and Spice Pumpkin Casserole
This easy to prepare recipe has become a family favorite at the holidays or anytime!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked or canned pumpkin
- 3/4 cup milk
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- Topping
- 1 cup vanilla wafer crumbs
- 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- 2. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
- 3. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, melted butter, eggs and vanilla; mix well.
- 4. In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add to pumpkin mixture; mix well. Transfer to casserole dish.
- 5. Bake at 375 degrees F. for 45 minutes or until almost set.
- 6. Meanwhile, combine topping ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle over pumpkin casserole.
- 7. Bake, uncovered, 12 to 15 minutes or until heated through.
Notes
It is a side dish that is sweet and spicy, with a crispy topping! Anyone who enjoys pumpkin desserts will love this casserole! Enjoy it!!
Fried Nutella Banana Rolls ala Mode

Fried Nutella Banana Rolls ala Mode
In the Philippines, this is a very common snack or dessert item sold on the streets, we often buy it during recess time at school or work break.
Ingredients
- Fried Nutella banana rolls ala mode
- Serves: 4
- Ingredients
- 2 fully riped bananas
- 16 pieces 8" spring roll wrappers ( thin ones)
- Nutella spread as filling
- Cornstarch paste for sealing wrapper or lightly beaten egg white
- Neutral oil for deep frying
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- 1. Prepare the ripe banana by peeling and cutting crosswise, and then cut lengthwise. Two ripe bananas will make 8 pieces total.
- 2. Place 2 stacked spring roll wrappers in a diamond shape in front of you ( For 1 banana slice, use 2 spring roll wrappers to prevent breakage/leaking while frying).
- Place the banana slice about two inches from the bottom center, using a piping bag filled with Nutella, pipe it on top of the banana, then put other banana slice on top of nutella. Pull the bottom corner and cover the filling. Take the left and right corners and fold them towards the center. Finish rolling the entire Nutella banana roll upwards until you have about one inch left. Dip pastry brush in beaten egg white and brush the top corner and complete the roll to seal. Repeat with the rest of the Nutella banana rolls.
- 3. Freeze the rolls for at least 15 minutes.
- Preheat oil at 350°F. Deepfry Nutella banana rolls for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown in color. Drain in a colander.
- 4. Plate fried spring roll in a dessert plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream then drizzle with melted Nutella spread and a sprinkle of favorite toppings ( nut, sprinkle, powdered sugar).
Notes
It's basically sliced ripe local banana wrapped in thin spring roll wrappers, then fried to golden brown perfection and coated with caramelized brown sugar. Moving here in the US, I am immersed in a wide array of foods, especially desserts from different parts of the world. So I recreated this Filipino classic dessert by using the widely available dessert banana, adding Nutella because banana and Nutella are a perfect match, wrapped in spring rolls and fried to golden perfection and served it with vanilla ice cream on the side with a drizzle of melted Nutella. This is the dessert I always do for my Filipino-American family if I don't have much time in the kitchen, it's quick to prepare, just 10 minutes or less with widely available ingredients from the pantry.
Glorified Rice

Glorified Rice
This is our family's take on the Swedish traditional rice pudding.
Ingredients
- .5 cup minute rice
- .5 cup water
- 1 qt. Whole milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 1. Pkg knox plain gelatin
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- .5 pint whipped cream (whipped)
- Hershey syrup
Instructions
- 1. Prepare .5 minute rice and .5 cup water as stated on the box
- 2. Cook/lightly boil the rice in a quart of milk for 20-30 minutes
- 3. While rice is cooking, soak gelatin in .25 cup of cold water and set aside.
- 4. Add in 1 c. Sugar, the gelatin soaked in water. And vanilla.
- 5. Cover and cool in the fridge overnight as it thickens.
- 6. In the morning, whip up the .5 pint of cream.
- 7. Stir up the jelled rice and fold in the whipped cream.
- 8. Keep in the fridge until ready to serve in dessert dishes.
- 9. Eat as it is or our family lightly dribbles chocolate syrup over the pudding. (Dont mix!) Enjoy!
Notes
We eat the Swedish traditional hot rice pudding with cinnamon/sugar on top for breakfast, but we eat quadruple recipes of this glorified rice for Christmas, served with Swedish spritz and other Swedish Christmas cookies. It has been enjoyed by 6 generations
TUNA FIESTA “TORTITAS” with Jalapeno Lime Cream

TUNA FIESTA "TORTITAS" with Jalapeno Lime Cream
Tuna Fiesta Tortitas with Jalapeno Lime Crema carry a little piece of home and heritage.
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 3 cans Chunk Light Tuna in Vegetable Oil
- 3/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup yellow corn
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
- Diced Avocado, lime Wedges, sliced jalapeno, chopped cilantro for serving
- Olive Oil for pan frying
- For the Jalapeno Lime Crema
- 1 large avocado
- 1 cup mexican crema
- 1/2 cup pickled jalapeno slices
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- pinch of salt
- juice from half a lime
Instructions
- Preparation
- Drain Tuna well.
- In a large bowl add tuna and gently flake.
- Add in the all the remaining ingredients and stir until well combined and fully incorporated.
- Add 3 tablespoons olive oil to a large non stick skillet and heat on medium high.
- Scoop 1/4 cup fritter batter into skillet and gently flatten with spatula.
- Cook 2-3 minutes until golden brown and flip over cooking another 1-2 minutes. Add another tablespoon olive oil to skillet, if needed, after each batch. Place on paper towels until serving.
- For the Jalapeno Lime Crema Sauce
- In a blender add all the jalapeno lime crema ingredients and blender or food processor and pulse until smooth.
- Before serving drizzle sauce on fritters and top with diced avocado, sliced jalapeno and cilantro.
- Makes 12
Notes
Growing up, there was always a way to stretch a few simple ingredients into something comforting and full of flavor. My Abuela knew how to make a humble weeknight meal delicious. The colors in the peppers and the bright heat of jalapeno celebrate the vibrancy of my Mexican heritage. Every time I make these tortitas I’m reminded of the women in my family who taught me to cook with intuition, to honor ingredients, and to feed the people I love with pride. This recipe is my way of keeping that tradition going with simple ingredients, big flavor, and a plate full of memories!
QUINOA UPMA

QUINOA UPMA
The Upma recipe started when there was a shortage of rice grains. This recipe came as an affordable, nutritious, and adaptable meal for all classes.
Ingredients
- 200 grams Quinoa
- 50 grams of nuts (cashew and peanuts)
- 200 grams of vegetables (broccoli, carrots, beans, corns, cauliflower florets ,green peas and potatoes).
- Small amount of ginger
- Coriander leaves and yogurt for garnishing.
- 25ml of olive oil
- 5 grams of cumin seeds
- 2 red dry chilies
- Salt as per taste.
Instructions
- Wash 200 grams of Quinoa thoroughly in water and drain it. Put a pot on the stove. Pour 450 ml of water and put all Quinoa in the pot. Let it boil for 12 minutes.
- In the mean time wash all the vegetables and cut it in small pieces. Put another pan on the stove. Put 25ml of olive oil in the heated pan and then put the 5 grams of cumin seeds and 2 dry red chilies in the oil. Then add all the nuts and vegetables in the pan. Add grated gingers and salt as per taste . Saute it for 1 min and cover the pan for 5 minutes.
- Then open the lid and put all the boiled Quinoa on the vegetables. Then mix everything.
- Now the Quinoa Upma is ready. On a plate serve the Quinoa Upma and garnish with coriander leaves and yogurt.
Notes
This is often used as breakfast or anytime food. This is a traditional South Indian staple food. I changed the key ingredient, Semolina, to Quinoa to make it gluten-free.
Strawberry Cheesecake With Traditional Jam

Strawberry Cheesecake With Traditional Jam
This recipe was inspired by an old Guatemalan tradition from the highland markets.
Ingredients
- 8 cookies
- 30 g / 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 250 g / 1 cup cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 50 g / 4 tablespoons sugar
- 120 ml / 1/2 cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
- + Added:
- 1 pound of strawberries
- For the homemade strawberry jelly:
- 1 pound of strawberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (mixed with the water
Instructions
- First, crush the cookies. You can use María cookies, although any neutral cookie will work. If you don’t have a food processor, you can place them in a plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin. While you crush the cookies, melt the butter and add it to the cookie crumbs until a dough forms. Then, distribute the mixture into small cups.
- Next, beat the cream cheese with the heavy cream, adding the vanilla and sugar little by little. When the filling is ready, you can place strawberry slices along the inside walls of the cups to add extra freshness. After that, add the filling and place the cups in the refrigerator.
- While the cups are chilling, cut half a pound of strawberries into small cubes and add them to a pot over medium-high heat. Add the water, sugar, lemon juice, and the remaining ingredients for the jelly. Once the jelly is ready, remove the cups from the refrigerator and spoon some of the strawberry jelly on top. Finally, you can add a strawberry slice on top for decoration.
Notes
This recipe was inspired by an old Guatemalan tradition from the highland markets, where vendors would combine simple, everyday ingredients to create fresh desserts that could survive long journeys under the sun. According to local stories, strawberry harvest season was a time of celebration in the western regions of the country, especially around Chimaltenango and Quetzaltenango, where families would wake up before dawn to pick the reddest strawberries from the fog-covered fields. It is said that one grandmother, known in her community as Doña Rosita la Dulcera, loved to reward the children who helped in the harvest. But she didn’t always have flour or an oven, so she invented a chilled dessert made from crushed María cookies—popular and affordable across Guatemala—mixed with fresh cream produced by the neighboring dairy farmers. She gently folded in vanilla, a flavor cherished in many Central American households, and sweetened the mixture just enough to remind the children of festive days. What made her dessert unforgettable was the strawberry jelly she cooked over a wood fire. Using the strawberries the children had picked, she created a thick, fragrant syrup that she poured over the creamy filling. People said the aroma traveled across the whole village, announcing that a new batch of postre de cosecha—the harvest dessert—was ready. Over the years, families adapted Doña Rosita’s recipe, preparing it in small cups for celebrations, school festivals, picnics, and Sunday lunches. Today, this dessert honors the simplicity and creativity of Guatemalan home cooks, the importance of sharing food with loved ones, and the joy of turning fresh, local ingredients into something truly special.
Mom’s Black Bottom Pumpkin Tarts

Mom's Black Bottom Pumpkin Tarts
My Mom was a wonderful cook and baker and she taught me so much..
Ingredients
- 24 mini tarts (2 1/2 inch)
- Crust:
- 2 Cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup cold water
- Filling:
- 1- 15 ounce can of pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar (or brown)
- 1/2 cup evaporated milk or cream
- 2 large eggs – room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- Whipping cream (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, kosher salt, sugar and ginger in medium bowl, grate in the butter and using a pastry blender or fork (or hands) work into the flour mixture until it resembles fines peas. Stir in cold water and divide in half. Portion out 2 tablespoons of the dough into 24 cupcake tins coming up the sides about an inch and a half. Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
- Preheat oven to 375.
- Whisk all of the filling ingredients until well incorporated; except the chocolate chips and optional whipping cream.
- Sprinkle one heaping teaspoon of chocolate chips in each bottom of chilled tart shell, followed by 1/4 cup of the filling. Repeat.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees; turn down oven to 350 for another 15 minutes until a sharp knife inserted comes out clean. Cool on rack, remove carefully and serve with whipping cream.
Notes
My Mom was a wonderful cook and baker, and she taught me so much. As the oldest, I was next in line to take on those chores. That chore turned into the love of all things baking and cooking. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin are two of our family favorites, and the spices in these little tarts are a warm hug from my Mom and me.
Pasta with Pea’s and Bacon

Pasta with Pea's and Bacon
This is beautiful recipe of my grandma Itolella
It is simple dishes for a simple dinner or when you don’t know what for dinner. It easy and simple.
This dish comes from Naples Italia !!!
Ingredients
- 2 bag of 10oz frozen sweet peas
- One onions chopped
- One bag of bacon 8 oz
- Pinch Sal and pepper
- 1 vegetable broh
Instructions
- In a pan cut the bacon into small pieces and cook until it turn crisp;
- Remove the bacon from the pan; chopped the onions and brown it when it ready add the peas and cook for 10 minute whit a glass water.
- In another pot put about2 liters water that you will boil with a vegetable stock cube let it boil.
- Throw half pound of pasta on the peas ,cook and add a cup of boiling water every time it is absorbed,until the pasta is cooked put the bacon in the pasta the last couple minutes, serve and enjoy!!! Pasta e pisseli di nonna itolella!
Indonesian dumplings amidst sweet, savory, and spicy

Indonesian Dumplings Amidst Sweet, Savory, and Spicy
I was served a version of this dish when I was abroad in the Netherlands.
Ingredients
- 2 packages smoked Seiten or you can substitute shredded pork, pre-made jar of minced roasted garlic 4 tbsp, 3-4 red chili peppers, one 7 once Can of smoked Adobe chili peppers in Adobe sauce only requires half once to one once of the peppers and Adobe sauce mince peppers with Adobe sauce, 3-4 large broccoli heads cut off stems of broccoli head bunches only want to use the top leafy parts for the recipe once stalks via each broccoli stalk adjoining the bunches initially begin to chop them extremely fine fine, 2-3 tbsp olive oil, 2 top toasted sesame oil, q tbsp chili oil, dash of soy sauce and dash of sea salt add according to your personal preferences, 2-3 fresh sage leaves and half a roasted and pureed butter nut squash, 1 half roasted red apple and 1 and a half heads of purple cabbage, 1 red pepper, 2-3 shallot onions, pre-cooked chicken or pork, 1 turnip, 1 large package pre-made wraps to make the dumplings, 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp of honey, 1 tbsp red chili flakes, 1 and quarter cups real butter, 1 tbsp Sriracha chili sauce, half cup brown sugar, 1 cup crushed cashews, dash of freshly ground ginger and Himalayan pink salt, 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup white granulated sugar.
Instructions
- Begin by flouring a surface and laying out sheetz of pre-made dough for the dumplings once all the dumplings are rolled out and separated and placed on greased baking sheets set them aside. And next begin the dumpling filling. Carrots. Celery, cabbage. Red peppers, shallots, minced roasted garlic and turnip. both packages of smoked Seiten or equivalent measurement of a meat substitution next finely chop red chili peppers, and add roasted garlic and chopped red chili peppers together with the minced Seiten and toss until mixed evenly set aside and remove stalks from all the bunches of broccoli and leaving only the heads of broccoli and then finely chop broccoli heads very finely now heat up a large skillet or wok and add 2-3"tbsp olive oil once oil is heated put Seiten or other meat substitutions in and cook till done and nicely browned but not over done or burnt once its done reduce heat and add smoked Adobe, toasted sesame oil, chili oil, and dash of soy sauce or more to your own personal preference just don't overdue it too many sauce will make the dish heavy on salty flavor also add dash of pink Himalayan sea salt make sure to toss and coat the Seiten or other prefered protein option evenly and everything is mixed throughly the sauces will stick to protein choices as almost a glaze once sauce is mixed evenly throughout and coated everything add the minced broccoli and cover skillet or wok wa lid but first before covering it add a quarter cup of water with 1 tbspn dissolved honey pork in entirety over dish than cover and it will help steam the broccoli once broccoli is cooked just till tender remove the dish from stove. Finely mince everything and combine evenly and take 2 tbspn's and use the spoons to help grab about a gumball size amount of filling for the dumplings place filling in each dumplings dough encasement in the middle than grab another dumpling encasement dough crescent moon like object and place directly over top the other dumplings with filling on the them then gently go around the dumplings entire circumference the edges and pinch the two dumpling halves together ensuring the filling inside the dumpling is secured inside also be snot to overkill the dumplings because it may cause them to not cook evenly. Once all dumplings are filled and sealed up heat the skillet yet again once heated add half stick of butter and stir occasionally till butter is a carmel color (NOT BROWN) then reduce heat slightly medium low but slightly more leaning towards medium still add sage leaves approximately 3-4 leaves to the brown butter cook it'll be instantaneously for the leaves to cook they'll become crinkly and crunchy like and curl and dance as they shrink from the heat only cook them approximately 2-4 minutes then add dumplings and fry in the browned buttery sage sauce once the dumplings are cooled throughly and a golden brown color remove from heat cover with lid. Now finally chop remaining head of cabbage and get another skillet set at medium heat once ready melt half stick butter, add apple cider vinegar, and white granulated sugar melt mixture together and add all cabbage with it and cook till cabbage is tender not crunchy crisp but not limp or soggy.
- Lastly serve plate first the Seiten mixture as bed on plates for the dumplings then either encircle rim of plated dish with sweet and sour cabbage or however desired arrangement suits you
Notes
The family I was staying with in the Netherlands father had migrated with his sister from Indonesia with nothing but memories and hope for a better life. Fortunately, they brought with them some of their culinary recipes from their origins in Indonesia. However, I've added other elements and created a cultural fusion of multiple countries. Also, I've made it reflect the seasonal foods available in the current time and season were in. As a cook, I believe it is important to use the best and freshest sourced ingredients possible for the best outcome of whatever is being cooked.
Southern Eggnog

Southern Eggnog
Drinking eggnog while trimming the Christmas tree is an old southern tradition.
Ingredients
- 2 quarts heavy cream , 6 egg yolks , 1 cup white sugar , 1/2 ounce ground cinnamon , 1/4 ounce ground nutmeg , 2 ounces , vanilla extract , 1 cup Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a punch bowl, stir , chill in the refrigerator overnight !









