Gretchen Grows Garlic

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

Switch-a-roo on those leftovers for our dinner! Slow cooked pinto and black beans with sausage from yesterday was layere...
06/15/2026

Switch-a-roo on those leftovers for our dinner!
Slow cooked pinto and black beans with sausage from yesterday was layered up with corn tortillas, leftover rice and shredded co-jack cheese to bake at 350 covered with foil for 25 minutes then uncovered for 10. Spray a glass pie plate or baking dish of your choice with some cooking spray, I prefer an olive oil spray and Aldi's has a good one 👍. Drizzling some taco sauce and or ranch (homemade is best!) between the layers bumps up in the flavor. Let stand 5 minutes and cut like a pie or into squares to top with your favorite toppings.
Great way to use some leftovers to layer or top with-- use your own creativity! This easy assemble weeknight meal is fun and delicious 😋 Fiesta anytime 🪇 💃

If I haven't mentioned it, one of my foodie talents is repurposing leftovers into a whole new dish 😁 Leftover flatbreads...
06/01/2026

If I haven't mentioned it, one of my foodie talents is repurposing leftovers into a whole new dish 😁
Leftover flatbreads made on the weekend had the toppings scraped-- crumbled Italian sausage, roasted red and yellow peppers, ricotta, red sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan ---helped to make a yummy version of skillet spaghetti!
Thin spaghetti was cooked al dente then drained and added to a glug of olive oil and a pat of butter, heated and melding together until shimmery. The spaghetti sizzles and I am instantly brought back to my childhood days of my Mum taking leftover spaghetti and frying it in so much butter until it was golden and slightly crispy then a heavy dosing of grated Parmesan 😋 mmmm 😋
Now, the Hubs and I just can't be eating like that on a daily basis so, this was my healthier version with moderate amounts of oil and butter, added spinach which made the veggies out weigh the fats and meat in this remake.
It hit all the spots though 😊 Added a quick chopped salad with some green onion, radishes and pickled beets topped with a lemony white balsamic vinaigrette 🍋
Good stuff; reminiscing about my childhood comfort food, repurposing some leftovers, and enjoying a healthier grown up remake that's a keeper 🥰 👍

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/

Address

Pittsburgh, PA

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Gretchen Grows Garlic posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category