Gretchen Grows Garlic

Gretchen Grows Garlic Gretchen is a village foodie North of Pittsburgh who enjoys sharing about food & drink.

Tomahawk Steak Tuesday is a success! Feeling a bit intimidated going in, but good step by step instructions ( thanks Goo...
05/26/2026

Tomahawk Steak Tuesday is a success!
Feeling a bit intimidated going in, but good step by step instructions ( thanks Google!) helped me cook this beauty just right, on the Blackstone 😊 We were lucky enough to have some bone marrow butter in the freezer purchased along with this choice cut from CKP's Butchery in Hazelwood. Using that to sear the steak made it the right kinda extra 🤩 add the garlic cloves to the melting butter and 😘 🧄
Some roasted Brussels with a drizzle of balsamic glaze ( Aldi makes a good one 👍) and a grating of Parmesan, and a baked potato for two and we had a delicious Tuesday night dinner 😋 the sweet feeling of success is good too!
https://www.orwhateveryoudo.com/2021/10/blackstone-tomahawk-ribeye.html

Healthier version of banana pudding! Blend up a medium ripe banana with instant vanilla pudding mix 1& 1/2 cup 2% milk a...
05/26/2026

Healthier version of banana pudding!
Blend up a medium ripe banana with instant vanilla pudding mix 1& 1/2 cup 2% milk and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt; crumble 1&2 Nilla wafers on bottom of small bowls or parfait dishes; cut another banana in coins and toss with a little lemon juice; layer pudding over the crumbles, a quarter of banana coins, crumbles, then repeat. No cool whip or whipped cream in this one, but loads of banana flavor and you don't have to feel so bad about indulging in that banana pudding craving 😋 Go even healthier by omitting the vanilla pudding and increase the Greek yogurt to 1 &1/2half cups, decrease milk to 1/4 cup or just enough to blend a bit. I used the Magic Bullet for this and worked like a charm 😉
Go bananas 🍌!

When some friends challenge you to try some garlic wings at a local establishment known for heavy handed scoops of garli...
05/21/2026

When some friends challenge you to try some garlic wings at a local establishment known for heavy handed scoops of garlic on said wings, you respond, "Sign Me Up!!"
This was a playful " let's see what ya got" call out that I heartily accepted a few weeks ago. Dave's Tavern only cooks up these deep fried and sauced delights on Tuesdays and some serious tips were given as this small neighborhood establishment packs them in to get those orders going at 6 pm.
My anticipation had reached its height over the weeks as these almost mythical chicken wings were taunting me. Person after person had commented on the immense amount of garlic that sat upon each wing. Knowing that my palate can handle an extra amount of my favorite allium, I was not daunted. However, a pang of wait-a-minute would zip through me and remind me that I am a mere mortal 😁
I came prepared. A new garlic shirt for the occasion, and a plastic spoon to scoop the extra garlic bits onto each bite.
Go big or go home 🧄
Friends snapped up a table early and it filled quickly with the fun friendly peeps that joined us for the occasion 🎉
Wings are $1 each and you can choose from a variety of sauces, wet or dry, all sounding delicious. I chose the mild honey garlic Parmesan. Hubs went for the hot garlic 🔥
Some ranch and blue cheese for dipping too.
You can start placing orders at 5:30, but no orders coming until 6. Time passed by pleasantly with quips and laughter and everyone's summary of their day which all agreed was getting increasingly better 😊
Out they came, steaming and sauced with heaps of garlic 😳 the Parmesan dusting on mine added a bit of illusion, but that minced garlicky goodness was a thick layer right underneath.
The wings are delicious. Cooked perfectly and my sauce was soooo goooood! I knew what I was there for, and I scooped up as much of the garlic with my handy dandy plastic spoon on each bite. I did a really good job and impressed (and possibly disturbed) my evening companions.
I will have to say, that it was certainly jarred, pre minced garlic, which decreases its potency. That was definitely to my advantage, but this was still a hellava lot of garlic 💪 🧄
Most of all, it was a fun evening with our foodie friends and Dave's Tavern wings are amazing 🤩 Next time, I will leave the spoon at home.....but, may still wear my themed T-shirt 😉
Get out there, go try some garlic wings!!!!!

The weeknight healthy meal challenge continues and a simple 4 ingredient sauce elevated a tofu bowl 😋!Sheet pan dinners ...
05/12/2026

The weeknight healthy meal challenge continues and a simple 4 ingredient sauce elevated a tofu bowl 😋!
Sheet pan dinners are a gift to us who still need a satisfying supper but are running out of steam after the work day 🚂. Broccoli, chick peas, carrots, and cubed tofu tossed in a bit of olive oil and your favorite spices at 400 for 35 minutes and ta-da! I used paprika, cumin, garlic/ herb blend, salt and pepper. Firm tofu keeps its structure and a quick dip in some cornstarch with paprika gives it a chance to get a bit crispy 😊. Served over quinoa, and it becomes a bowl of comfort.
This simple sauce though, this is what sends it up the flavor chart! Almond butter, Sriracha, pure maple syrup -- oh my! You'll see! I will keep this in my saucey sauce rotation. I am a saucey girl and this is a keeper 😉
Another delicioushealthy weeknight meal accomplished -- YAY 🎉 💕
https://zardyplants.com/recipes/spicy-almond-butter-sauce/

05/02/2026

Cheers!

05/02/2026

Finding a Happy Hour hidden gem in Cranberry was serendipitous 😊 beautiful bar, delicious bites, layered up drinks, and friendly staff-- Thank you Togyu! 💕

Trying to put more veggies in the meals and not make it boring was the task this week 🤔 We've been eating deliciously an...
04/29/2026

Trying to put more veggies in the meals and not make it boring was the task this week 🤔 We've been eating deliciously and feeling good about it with a few easy ( though veggie prep can be time consuming !) adjustments 😊 Roasting several chicken breasts on Sunday in just a bit of olive oil and Italian seasoning, was the basis of 4 recipes for the week!
Two great recipes for a work lunch potluck plus enough to carry on for the Hubs lunches were a lighter version of Buffalo Chicken Pasta-- using neauchatel cream cheese which is significantly lower in fat and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, left plenty of flavor and a much lighter clean tasting dish. A co-worker is gluten free, but we still want her to experience a delicious lunch, so a Mediterranean chicken pasta salad with chick pea pasta was made 😋
Letting a bit of Ken's Greek dressing soak into the warm noodles then making a flavor packed vinaigrette was the key to this wow for the taste buds
Cottage cheese and finely chopped peppers of all colors made a protein chicken salad that is craveable. And then, a "pizza" casserole with a roasted chicken, veggies sauteed if your choice, oozey mozzarella, on a zucchini crust checked all of the flavor boxes ✔️
Lucky for me that cooking is my therapy after work because the those veggies don't prep themselves!
Well worth the time and the better feel after the meal 😊
If course, the addition of good flavor boosts like garlic, paprika, oregano, lemon pepper etc is crucial to bring home the yum. Loving the add more veg experiment!! 🧄 🍅 🥦
https://hoorahtohealth.com/zucchini-pizza-casserole-low-carb-gluten-free/

Day 2 of the Marvelous Mushrooms 😋 🍄 This time Sh*take -- beautiful flat caps, fresh and firm. Cooking and creative kitc...
04/14/2026

Day 2 of the Marvelous Mushrooms 😋 🍄 This time Sh*take -- beautiful flat caps, fresh and firm.
Cooking and creative kitchen craft is my destressor, hobby and therapy 😊 But, coming home from work tired or with a multitude of other things to attend to, is why I am also fond of dinner recipe hacks and semi-homemade meals
These lovely Sh*takes are going to be the freshness that a quick ramen stir fry with some "Asian" chicken needs to take it up a notch 😁
We found a brand of lightly breaded chicken breast chunks recently that we really like so two portions are put in the oven while I prepare the veg, noodles and sauce. I basically followed the recipe that I included, but used honey instead of maple syrup in the sauce. This says oyster mushrooms or sh*take. I also tossed the hot chicken pieces from the oven in a bit of sauce too with a little added garlic 🧄 use whatever noodle and veg that appeal to you. Always fun to make a recipe your own by changing a few things.
It is a guaranteed tasty and quick home dish that can replace a takeout meal 🍜
https://cookingforpeanuts.com/oyster-mushroom-noodle-stir-fry/

I was so excited to cook with some Oyster mushrooms that we bought from the "Mushroom Man" at a spring vendor mart over ...
04/13/2026

I was so excited to cook with some Oyster mushrooms that we bought from the "Mushroom Man" at a spring vendor mart over the weekend 😃 I have never tried these. I bought a 1/4 pound of them along with some Sh*take.
Looking at many recipes, I wanted to keep it simple and taste the earthy flavor and uniqueness of this type. They are lovely. A light gray to off white; fleshy with distinct "gills". I love vegetables that smell like the rich soil and good earth it came from. These are fresh and smell pure. I break off the tougher stalk (stipe) and gently rinse and pat dry the caps. The recipe I chose was simple, basically cutting the caps in large strips and sauteing 3-4 minutes on one side and then the other. A little olive oil remained in my pan from a quick sautee of zucchini that I wanted to compliment the meal along with jasmine rice and 2 brined and cast iron pan fried porterhouse pork chops made the night before. As the chops were reheating in the oven, I was able to get the rice going and get the zucchini and mushrooms in good form to surround the rice.
Butter and garlic were deliciously added to the mushrooms after the second side sauteed for a few minutes. Gently swirl the tender strips in the garlic butter and add only a couple of grinds of fresh pepper, dash of sea salt and chopped parsley. Since I am a saucy girl, I did add a drizzle of Wholey's Mesquite Steak Sauce on the pork. Great addition 😋.
Such a tasty and clean tasting meal. So much flavor in each element of the plate and all happily complimenting each other. I can't wait to use my Sh*take mushrooms this week and better yet, see the "Mushroom Man" again 😊 🍄
It seems he will be at the Ambridge Farm Market weekly when it starts up again 🎉
https://www.thesophisticatedcaveman.com/pan-fried-oyster-mushrooms/
https://twokooksinthekitchen.com/simple-brine-recipe-for-pork-chops/

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