-
What Inspired the Creation of Gilly Can Cook?
Gilly Can Cook: Simple Snacks & Elegant Eats. Artistry and skill are the hallmarks of great editing and cooking. Inspired by a year in lockdown, this Hollywood film editor has become as passionate about cutting veggies as cutting films. The meals became the movie, the kitchen became the cutting room, the ingredients became the inspiration, and hopes for a culinary blockbuster – the happy ending. Encouraged by friends who said, “Your recipes and photos are great.…
-
Healthy and Easy Mediterranean Pasta With Tomato Basil Zucchini
This Mediterranean dish is one of my favorites. It’s low in calories and rich in healthy fats. I use fresh ingredients like juicy tomatoes, crisp zucchini, fragrant basil, garlic, parmesan, and some red pepper flakes for heat. I usually have these on hand to whip up a quick, tasty meal anytime. Tomatoes and zucchini are also great sources of vitamins A and C, potassium, and antioxidants.
-
Best Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies With Macadamia Nuts
Who doesn’t love fresh cookies? Simple and delicious, especially with dark chocolate and nuts! Just like many happy accidents that turned into beloved favorites—think superglue or sticky notes—the chocolate chip cookie was also born by accident. In 1938, at the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts, chef Ruth Wakefield added chunks of Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate to her plain cookie dough, expecting them to melt. Instead, the chunks kept their shape, but she and her guests were pleasantly…
-
Best Easy and Addictive Chili Cheese Tacos
This high-protein, fiber-rich recipe is quick to prepare using canned organic chili and sharp cheddar cheese on freshly toasted corn tortillas, finished with chopped pickled jalapeños for added crunch, heat, and vitamin C.
-
Blogging about Bolognese… A Fascinating Deep Dive Pays Off!
Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Well, I’ve been working very hard on my Bolognese recipe. Part of what I like to do with my recipes is research the dish’s origin story and the original recipe, if it can be found in archives. The story goes that when Napoleon’s soldiers invaded Italy in 1796, they brought their culinary traditions, including ragu. Italian chefs began adapting these French techniques, creating their own versions of various meat-based sauces that eventually…
-
Simply the Best 5-Layer Bean Dip
It’s incredibly easy—no cooking required. Because it’s so simple, use only top-quality ingredients, and trust me, people will taste the difference. Whether you bring this appetizer to a party or potluck, it always steals the show. Nothing else compares when this is around. Everyone is drawn to it and happily devours it until it’s all gone! The dip comes in many versions and became a favorite party food in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to easy…
-
The Best Spiced Lemon Roasted Cauliflower Bites Ever
Tasty and guilt-free, this vegan recipe is so easy to prepare that it’s likely to become your favorite go-to appetizer or light snack, whether you’re relaxing at home or entertaining friends. At just over 100 calories and without breading, they are light and crispy, with minimal prep before going into the oven. They are a great source of vitamin C, K, potassium, and folate. It’s a flavorful treat you can feel good about enjoying anytime!
-
Simple And Juicy Sicilian Swordfish
Enjoy the bold and savory flavors of spicy Sicilian swordfish, packed with juicy tomatoes, aromatic garlic, briny Kalamata olives, capers, and a touch of red pepper. This easy-to-make, one-pan dish is perfect for a quick and satisfying meal, ready in less than 20 minutes, including prep time.
-
Roasted Rainbow Baby Potatoes With Fresh Garlic And Rosemary
A savory complement to almost any dish. These English roasted potatoes have a crunchy exterior and a fluffy inside. Made by roasting in oil with garlic and herbs, they are simply irresistible.
-
Out of This World Upside-Down Plum Cake
This English Upside-Down Plum Cake is a sweet summer delight. English upside-down plum cake is a delicious dessert that showcases a caramelized plum topping baked beneath a moist cake layer. When the cake is inverted, the plums create a beautiful, jammy topping that is both sweet and tangy. The term “plum” in English plum cake refers to dried fruits like raisins and currants, not fresh plums. This cake originated in medieval England as part of a…
-
Quick Lox and Bagel Dish
This dish was first widely enjoyed in New York, among Jewish Americans. It features lox, a bagel, cream cheese, red onion, capers, and fresh dill. Its creamy yet refreshing flavor is perfect for a lazy weekend brunch or everyday snack. Lox originated in Scandinavia, where fishermen in Sweden perfected the art of preserving salmon in saltwater brine in the 19th century. Bagels are even older, allegedly first spotted on the Silk Road in China before being…
-
A Better Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad)
Gilly has put a delicious spin on the classic Greek lettuce salad by adding Kalamata olives and finishing it with a red wine vinegar dressing. This salad has finely chopped romaine lettuce, fresh dill, creamy feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and a red wine vinegar dressing. Although the recipe is simple, the salad is bright, flavorful, and crunchy.
-
Best Authentic Linguini With Clams | Linguini Alle Vongole
My friend M and I love to make Linguini Alle Vongole when we get together at her house in California. We have been perfecting the recipe for many years. The pancetta adds a smoky flavor. The first recorded recipe of a pasta alle vongole dates back to 1839. It originated in Naples and has remained very popular throughout the surrounding Campania region and in Rome. Delicious served with an arugula and parmesan salad and garlic bread.
-
The Ultimate Smash Burger
This Ultimate Smash Burger is incredibly delicious, with a crispy exterior and a juicy interior, topped with caramelized onions, melted cheese, and the tangy crunch of pickles. I recommend pairing it with my delicious ‘Gilly Sauce,’ which is part of this recipe. The original Oklahoma Onion Smash Burger became popular along Route 66 during the Great Depression, a time when meat was expensive but onions were cheap. Made with just meat, onions, and a bun, its…
-
Simple Irresistibly Rich Flourless Chocolate Torte
If you’re a chocolate lover, this easy-to-make recipe will impress guests at any occasion! Top with powdered sugar, raspberries, cocoa powder, or whipped cream. Tortes, baked with rich ingredients like chocolate, butter, eggs, and sometimes nuts or breadcrumbs, have dense flavor and texture. Unlike cakes, torres typically include fewer ingredients. The barely two-inch-tall flourless torte was created in 1900 to celebrate the ascension of Elena of Montenegro to the Italian throne.
-
Easy and Amazing Creamy Tuscan Salmon Pasta
Easy Creamy Tuscan Salmon: Prepared with fresh pan-seared salmon in a Tuscan cream sauce made with butter, cherry or sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, pepper flakes, thyme, oregano, basil, a splash of white wine to deglaze, half and half, freshly grated parmesan, salt, and pepper. Believe it or not, this recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish!
-
Easy Organic Scrambled Eggs With Spinach, Mushroom and Feta
Organic eggs, organic mushrooms, organic spinach, organic shallots, Valbrezo feta, with a side of herb toast and fruit. Substitute egg whites if you prefer.
-
Coq Au Vin, Tender and Savory Chicken With Wine
Coq au vin is a classic French stew. The chicken is braised slowly in red wine with a bit of brandy to create a tender and savory sauce with bacon, pearl onions, thyme, and mushrooms. Delicious served with garlic mashed potatoes or noodles, garnish with fresh parsley. My mother used to cook this recipe on special occasions, and it was a favorite of mine. Legend has it that coq au vin dates back to Julius Caesar’s…
-
Amazing Linguine With Shrimp Scampi
Keep in mind that half a dish’s ability to WOW is about the quality of your ingredients. To that end, I suggest you always use the highest quality, freshest, and most organic ingredients you can find.For this recipe, I use all fresh vegetables, double zero Italian pasta (no preservatives or sugar – just wheat and water), and fresh shrimp. Whole Foods has all these things – including the pasta and a choice of fresh shrimp.The organic…
-
The Most Amazing, Crispy Onion Rings
This recipe is simple and delicious. The onion rings come out very crunchy and light. I love love love onion rings, but I do not love the thick breading on most onion rings. I’m constantly sliding the onion out and only eating a tiny bite of the coating just to get the crunch. Finally, after many years, I thought, ‘how hard can it be to make them myself?’ The answer is – not hard. The first time I…
-
Make the Perfect Filet Mignon
Cover the steak with fresh cracked pepper, sauté in garlic butter and fresh rosemary – pan-sear to medium-rare and finished in the oven. Purchase the highest quality grass-fed beef you can find or afford.
-
Classic and Sensational Caesar Salad
This Caesar is one of those “simple” recipes I’ve been trying to get perfect for years. I finally did. Now I make it a lot. I worked hard to reverse engineer it from both the famous Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood and the original Mexican Caesar recipe.
-
Ultimate Spicy Vegetable Soup: Tomato, Potato, Zucchini, Spinach, Jalapeño
I came up with this Spicy Vegetable Soup recipe one day when I was craving a healthy, hot soup, and I couldn’t find a recipe with the herbs and vegetables I was craving. I have been perfecting it for many months, and now I have it just right. Tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, spinach, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, jalapeños, Worcestershire, and various spices. CAUTION: Highly Addictive!
-
Easy, Delicious Tagliatelle With Zucchini
Tagliatelle Alle Zucchine. This versatile Tuscan dish is wonderfully satisfying and easy to create. Other vegetables, such as summer squash, broccoli florets, artichoke hearts, or eggplant, can be added or substituted.
-
The Secret to the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich
My secret to the perfect grilled cheese is to use freshly sliced sourdough with organic mayonnaise, spread on one side of each slice. Six to eight pieces of good sharp cheddar cheese. Cook in a cast-iron skillet and use a cast-iron cooking weight. Toast each side until it’s nice and crispy (if the cheese isn’t quite melted – put it on a plate and cook in the microwave for five seconds). Serve immediately with a side…
-
Best Vibrant and Tasty Tacos
During my childhood, my mother often prepared these buffet-style tacos. They feature a delightful blend of flavors and a unique sauce. These tacos consist of corn tortillas cooked at home, ground beef, lettuce, tomato, red onion, shredded cheese, and tomato sauce. They are easy to make, and you probably have all the ingredients in your fridge. Indulge in this taco dish – not only is it simple, but it’s also a healthy, low-calorie option.
-
Rich and Healthy Avocado Bagel
Smashed avocado on a toasted ‘everything’ bagel is incredibly satisfying. You can enhance the flavor by adding red onion, tomato, and a squeeze of lime juice. This dish is rich in healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, and beta-carotene, which can support heart health and help lower cholesterol. It’s simple to make and incredibly delicious.
-
Great Riff On The Famous La Scala Salad
This flavor-enhancing recipe is a riff on the famous Beverly Hills restaurant La Scala Chopped Salad by adding red onion, pepperoncini, and pecorino-romano cheese. Restaurateur Jean Leon invented the salad and served it at his Beverly Hills restaurant, La Scala, beginning in the 1950s. Today, many celebrities still visit the restaurant to enjoy the Italian-inspired salad with salami, mozzarella, chickpeas, and a mustard-based dressing.
-
Easy and Addictive Baked Brussels Sprouts
I make this recipe often – the way many people make popcorn, but Brussels sprouts are much healthier and yummier, in my opinion. I like to make it simple, with olive oil, salt, pepper, and grated parmesan. You can also fancy it up with drizzled aged balsamic vinegar (bacon or prosciutto, crumbled cheese). Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable in the cabbage family and are very high in vitamin C, and have anti-inflammatory properties. It is…
-
Gilly’s Beautiful Bodacious Bolognese
Bolognese originated in Bologna, northern Italy, in the late 1800s. Savory and comforting, the traditional Bolognese ragu is rich and slow-cooked. It follows specific traditions that include a soffritto base, a mixture of pork and veal, pancetta, dry white wine, and milk. It was traditionally served with tagliatelle, not spaghetti. I started this recipe by exploring the original 1800s version and looking into different variations from some of my favorite chefs. Then, I put my own spin…
-
Simple and Spectacular Pasta All’aglio E Olio
One of my favorite books is The Best Advice I Ever Got by Katie Couric. A chapter I especially love is one written by the famous chef Mario Batali. He describes this beautiful and straightforward pasta recipe and its relationship to life. Pasta, olive oil, garlic, red pepper, and fresh parsley; I have interpreted his comments to create my own recipe here. Please enjoy! Excerpt From: Katie Couric’s Book, The Best Advice I Ever Got. Mario Batali, Celebrity Chef…
-
Healthy Little Red Potato Salad to Die For
Light, creamy, healthy, and delicious. Fresh celery and celery seeds add crunch and flavor. The red skins on the potatoes add color and texture. Serve on a bed of mixed baby lettuces for any spring or summer dish or as a side to cold chicken or roast beef. Potato salad originated in Germany in the 16th century, where its recipe is vinegar-based and served warm. The American potato salad is usually mayonnaise-based and served cold.
-
New Basics Apple Pie With a Heavenly Cheddar Crust
This recipe makes a delicious apple pie. It’s fun to make and can easily be turned into a Dutch apple pie – I’ll explain how. It’s excellent à la mode. I discovered it years ago in a cookbook by Rosso & Sheila Lukins. Their cookbook is lovely because it provides detailed instructions and is easy to follow, although it does not include any photos. The ingredients for this recipe are theirs; the instructions and preparation are…
-
Flavorful and Easy Artichoke Recipe
Easy to make, delicious to eat. Artichokes can be roasted, steamed, boiled, fried, or grilled. This healthy, tasty veggie is packed with protein, antioxidants, fiber, and only 73 calories per serving, including the dipping sauce. I usually boil my artichokes with spices, and a dipping sauce (not always grilled) because it is easier to prepare. Serve with a simple pasta or garlic toast for a lovely lunch or dinner without much effort. Peak artichoke season is…
-
Refreshing and Spectacular Caprese Salad
A true classic for a reason, the Caprese salad is over 100 years old—the origin story for the Caprese salad dates back to post-World War I Italy. Like many Italian dishes, the Caprese salad is also famous because it is effortless to prepare. I recommend using only high-quality ingredients for this dish. Because the dish is so simple, the flavor of the ingredients is where it’s at! Heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese. *Shown…
-
Quick, Crispy Quesadilla With Guacamole
Literally meaning “little cheesy thing,” quesadillas originated in northern and central Mexico in the 16th century. I make mine with fresh-made flour tortillas, Monterey jack cheese, and pickled jalapeños. Light and delicious quick and simple – quesadilla with guacamole. Perfect for a healthy lunch or easy snack. Pairs great with an ice-cold Coca-Cola or a frosty beer.
-
Best Easy Marinaded Chicken Breasts Camping-Style
This recipe makes super juicy, flavorful chicken breasts. I like to make the marinade the night before a camping trip. The chicken can marinate for hours or a couple of days. I also enjoy foil-wrapped corn on the cob and a little red potato salad (recipes on this website). The potato salad will last up to five days if kept cold in Tupperware.
-
Great Foil-Wrapped Corn on the Cob Camping-Style
Succulent and tender corn on the cob with a butter cilantro dressing cooked in foil on the grill. Easy as can be and so delicious! For a touch of heat, add a dash of paprika. The perfect simple side for any camping dinner.
-
Simple and Juicy Foil-Wrapped Fish With Vegetables Camping-Style
Fresh fish filets wrapped in foil and roasted with vegetables make a healthy, simple dish suitable for camping. Tomatoes and olive oil keep it moist. Cook on the grill for 30-40 minutes. Use salmon, halibut, or swordfish with vegetables like squash, mushrooms, or asparagus. Try my foil-wrapped corn-on-the-cob recipe for a delicious side dish.
-
Easy Awesome Breakfast Burrito Camping-Style
A delicious burrito made with eggs, melted cheese, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and fresh salsa, all wrapped in a flour tortilla. Easy to make, this hearty breakfast will give you plenty of protein for all your fun activities out on the trails!
-
Simple Homemade Bacon and Egg Muffin With Cheese
Taking a page from McDonald’s playbook, this simple yet satisfying breakfast should excite and satiate adults and children alike. Substitute sausage, croissant, or scrambled egg if you prefer.
-
Simple Crispy Onion Rosemary Skillet Breakfast Potatoes
Crispy, tender, flavorful, and easy to make, these breakfast potatoes are perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Cooked to perfection in a cast-iron skillet with onions and rosemary. Add in paprika and bell peppers if you like, and serve with eggs and bacon, and you’ve got the classic American breakfast. The story goes that Breakfast Potatoes were created in the early 1900s by a New York City restaurant owner named Beefstew O’Brien,…
-
Easy and Delicious Sautéed Mushrooms
Mushrooms sautéed with garlic and garnished with fresh parsley. Perfect as a side or an addition to many recipes. Great with a steak and baked potato.
-
Flavorful and Simple Grass-Fed Ribeye Steak With Sautéed Mushrooms
Pan-seared grass-fed ribeye steak with olive oil and butter, finished in the oven, topped with mushrooms sautéed in garlic butter, and garnished with fresh parsley. Great with a baked potato on the side.
-
Simple Really Juicy Baked Garlic Lemon Chicken
This simple, delicious dish will become a favorite of your guests and family. How can you not love a go-to recipe like this? It is incredibly juicy and flavorful, yet requires minimal effort or shopping to prepare. I suggest serving it with rice pilaf or pasta, along with either a simple arugula salad with shaved Parmesan or zucchini sautéed in butter and thyme. Click ‘Read More’ to watch Gilly make the marinade.
-
Foil Baked Salmon With Asparagus in a Lemon Butter Sauce
Salmon and asparagus baked together in foil. The sauce has some spice with hot sauce and cilantro (or parsley). This simple and satisfying dish is low-carb, paleo, gluten-free, and keto-friendly. Serve it with rice pilaf, garlic toast, or mashed potatoes. This recipe is also versatile. You can easily swap the fish or vegetables to suit your taste.
-
Rich and Savory Vegetarian Nachos
Nachos are packed with protein, carbs, and vegetables. They are crispy, savory, and easy to prepare. Nachos are made with crunchy tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and jalapeño peppers, and can also include ground beef or chicken if you like. You can add a variety of toppings such as tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and salsa. The history of nachos can be traced back to 1940 in Piedras Negras, a town on the Mexican border. Ignacio…
-
Ultimate Burrito Supreme: Chicken, Cheese, Bean, Guacamole, Sour Cream
Super delicious and easy to make, this hearty snack can rival any restaurant’s burrito! Feel free to add to or swap out the chicken with your favorite protein, such as shrimp, steak, sausage, bacon, or eggs, to suit your taste.
-
Best Epic Salad With Gorgonzola, Avocado, Tomato and Walnuts
This salad hits all my favorite palate points and is satisfying, packed with vitamins, and rich in protein. I combined all the textures and flavors I love most in a salad to create this Epic Salad. I crave it all the time. A fantastic addition – if you have leftover steak, chicken, or are in the mood to cook some bacon, add them to this Epic Salad.
-
Energy Boosting Tuna Salad With Kidney Beans and Dijon Vinaigrette
I first ate this wonderful salad at a small French café on Larchmont, a quaint, tree-lined street near Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. This salad is refreshingly light yet hearty. Perfect for those on a diet or after a workout. It is an excellent meal to fuel muscle growth because it’s packed with lean protein. I swear, when I eat this salad, it boosts my mood, and I feel like Popeye after he eats his spinach!…
-
Best Ever Little Red Garlic Mashed Potatoes With Chives
Garlic Mashed potatoes made with little red potatoes, half & half, butter and fresh chives are always the right choice: with steak, chicken or fish. Some Potato History. During the Seven Years War of the mid-1700s, the Prussians captured a French army pharmacist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier. As a prisoner, he was forced to live only on rations of potatoes. At that time in France, no one ate potatoes. They were considered to be just fed for livestock…
-
Gilly’s Thoughts on Why Good Kitchen Tools Matter
April 12, 2021. Let’s talk about tools and the importance of good tools in the kitchen. Here’s a story about Gilly in the kitchen from many years ago. I once had a skillet I’d been using since college and never gave its quality a second thought. One day, I rinsed it while it was still hot, and it bent radically. I had to laugh, as I also realized I needed to buy a new one soon.…
-
Best Arugula and Shaved Parmesan Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
A refreshing and light, easy to prepare classic Italian salad and one of my favorites: if you love Arugula and I do, you love lemon, and I do, you love parmesan, and I do – then, in less than five minutes, you can create this delicious, sophisticated salad which pairs beautifully with many dishes.
-
Simple Wrapped Fish Filets in Wine With Fresh Vegetables
This recipe is very healthy and simple to prepare. It also reheats well if you have leftovers. Foil Roasting is also terrific if you are camping. You can cook this without the wine because the tomatoes and olive oil will keep it very moist – Wrap it completely in foil and cook on the grill for approx. 40 minutes. In the oven, it may take closer to 50 minutes. You can substitute almost any favorite vegetables…
-
Easy, Creamy Tuscan Salmon With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Easy Creamy Tuscan Salmon: Prepared with fresh pan-seared salmon in a Tuscan cream sauce made with butter, cherry or sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, pepper flakes, thyme, oregano, basil, a splash of white wine to deglaze, spinach, half and half, freshly grated parmesan, salt, and pepper. Believe it or not, this recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish! Believe it or not, this recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish!
-
Epic and Amazing BLTC
Easy to make, filling, delicious, and packed with protein and fresh flavors. This sandwich might be the most satisfying bacon, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese sandwich you will ever eat. Try adding a fried egg or avocado to make it even more epic! John Montagu, the Fourth Earl Of Sandwich, invented the eponymous food in 1762. A notorious gambler, he would not leave the gaming table to eat. He asked for meat and a couple of pieces…
-
Grandma Arta’s Famous New York Cheesecake
I tweaked my 86-year-old grandma’s NY Cheesecake recipe. My aunt and her neighbors loved it so much that they wanted to see how it compared to New York City’s most famous cheesecake, from Ferrara Bakery in Little Italy. (Most people know the cheesecake from Peter Luger’s Restaurant in Brooklyn.) She had it FedExed overnight, and I was excited to hear that, in their taste test, my version of the famous New York cheesecake was the favorite.…
-
The Best Ever Cobb Salad
This salad is vibrant and nutritious with a beautiful balance of flavors, and it’s simple to make. It tastes so good you might feel guilty about eating it, but don’t. It’s low-carb and gluten-free, with many nutrients, lots of protein, and healthy fats. It’s a salad that eats like a meal. I make my Cobb salad without chicken, but you can certainly add it if you prefer. It makes a lovely and delicious choice for a…
-
Easy and Fantastic, Tomato, Basil, Garlic Pomodoro Pasta
This easy-to-make and delicious dish is one of my favorite go-to pasta recipes. I love the way the garlic and basil make my kitchen smell. I often serve it with a simple side salad, such as arugula with parmesan and a lemon vinaigrette, available on this website in the Salads/Soups category. A brief history of Pasta Pomodoro’s story begins with the arrival of tomatoes in Europe, which were initially met with skepticism. By the 19th century,…
-
Easy Filet of Sole Piccata
This fish dish is delicate, light, and melts in your mouth. I suggest serving it with rice pilaf and sauteed zucchini or garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli. It calls for a petrale sole, but any flakey white fish can be substituted. Sand dabs, flounder, perch, or rock cod are good choices. I fell in love with this dish at the beautiful Hollywood restaurant Musso & Frank Grill, as their sand dabs recipe – the favorite…
-
Crispy and Amazing Baked Potato Wedges With 3 Aioli Sauces
These crispy wedges are a perfect side dish for almost any meal, always mouth-watering and delicious, made yummier still with organic catsup or one of my three aioli sauces: Roasted garlic aioli, sriracha aioli, or avocado aioli. These recipes for Aioli include vegan ingredient choices.
-
New Blog Thoughts on Cooking, COVID, and Friendship
January 09, 2021. I’m still looking for editing work, but now that the president has requested much more production of the COVID-19 vaccine, things seem to be opening up again and gradually returning to ‘normal.’ Last week, I called my doctor’s office. An automated message said vaccines were available and asked if I wanted to make an appointment – I got one the same day. My first vaccination was on St. Patty’s Day. I received the…
-
Building My Blog: Sharp Knives and Learning Curves
Tuesday, March 2, 2021 – 6:38 AM Frustrating as figuring out all of the details of building this blog can be — setting up Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube accounts, cooking the meals, taking photos, and posting the recipes — it has also been satisfying and fun to do. Okay, enough about that — let’s talk about cooking! If you’re making my recipes, you’d be wise to find a high-quality Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese that you like, as…
-
Simple Chicken and Mushroom Alfredo Pasta
A homemade creamy mushroom Alfredo with the addition of flavorful roast chicken enhances this easy and savory pasta. It’s quick to prepare, hearty, and satisfying—making it a perfect comfort food.
-
Gilly Can Cook – A Witty New Blog
Ok. Gulp, my first blog post.I journal at home, but I’ve never shared those thoughts with anyone, much less the world. Yikes, here we go. Today is Saturday, February 20th, 2021—7 AM.I am writing my first blog today on my new cooking/photography site. I named it GillyCanCook: Simple Snacks & Elegant Eats. I am excited and nervous. I’m still putting the pieces together, creating ‘Pages’ and filling in recipes. Plus, I need to set up accounts…
-
Best Easy Garbanzo Bean Salad
I love this simple, low-calorie, high-protein Mediterranean salad. It is very healthy and vegan. Packed with bright, crisp vegetables like garbanzo beans, cucumber, tomato, red onion, garlic, spices, and parsley, all in an oil and vinegar dressing. It’s undeniably amazing because of its delicious simplicity. I reverse-engineered the recipe from a Mediterranean food stand at my local Farmers Market. I made it multiple times until I got it just right.
-
Best Authentic Guacamole Recipe
I prepare my guacamole the traditional Mexican way, using avocados, tomatoes, garlic, lime juice, jalapeños, cilantro, and red onions. Serve this guacamole chilled with organic tortilla chips. You can also use this recipe to make a variety of dishes. Spread it on toast or a quesadilla, fill a warm pita pocket with cheese, top homemade nachos, add it to a juicy burger, and more. All of these other dishes are available on this website in the…
-
Epic and Amazing Turkey, Avocado, Bacon, Cheese Sandwich
This delicious, hearty sandwich is made with sprouted whole-grain bread or sourdough, baked turkey, crispy bacon, Swiss or Jack cheese, creamy avocado, fresh lettuce, red onion, red tomato, zesty Dijon mustard, and organic mayo. It’s an excellent choice that’s packed with protein and fiber, making it a nutritious and satisfying meal. I grew up in La Jolla, California. There was a liquor store by the beach called Dick’s Liquor. The deli sold a sandwich similar to…
-
Quick and Delicious Pan-Seared Salmon
Easy to make and packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and lean protein, it’s as good for you as it is delicious. The pure, natural taste of high-quality fish, beautifully brought to life by a quick sear on high heat with minimal seasoning. This pan-seared salmon is quick and easy to prepare, taking just ten minutes. It features a deliciously rich and buttery crust that is crispy and golden brown, perfectly complementing its juicy, tender interior.…
-
Simple Sauteed Spinach With Garlic
Simple sautéed spinach with garlic is a quick, delicious, and healthy side dish that I absolutely love. Spinach is low in calories and high in fiber, vitamin C, provitamin A carotenoids, folate, manganese, and vitamin K. Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese. What’s not to love?
-
Ultimate Meal: Pan-Seared Salmon, Sautéed Spinach, Garlic Toast
This meal falls into the zero-guilt category. Salmon, spinach, and garlic are considered ‘smart foods’ because they boost overall health and cognitive function. I refer to dishes like this as ‘clean’ food—simple yet delicious. It’s also low in calories, though I don’t focus on counting calories. My main focus is on quality and flavor.
-
Simple and Delicious Garlic Toast
This is a simple and delicious side dish that adds tons of flavor and a satisfying crunch to almost any meal.
-
Epic and Crave-Worthy Tuna Sandwich
Delicious and crave-worthy, this Epic Tuna Sandwich is simple and satisfying.
-
Best Lighter Authentic Creamy Fettuccine Alfredo
Rich, creamy, and lower in fat, this authentic recipe uses half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Filled with generous amounts of garlic and Parmesan, it’s sure to delight your taste buds. Plus, it pairs wonderfully with chicken, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli, making it a versatile and satisfying dish. Fettuccine Alfredo was created in 1908 by Alfredo di Lelio, an Italian restaurateur. That year was special for him—his wife had their first son, but she wasn’t feeling hungry.…
-
Easy Berries, Flaxseed With Nuts and Organic Yogurt Bowl
Mixed fresh berries, flaxseed granola with almonds, raisins, and organic vanilla yogurt. An easy and delicious way to jump-start your day with all kinds of nutrients, textures, and flavors! Great for camping.
