Happy on Wheels Cooks
On this page, we hope to provide information and recipes that you will find useful and adaptable to your own dietary needs/requirements.
I do have different options in the kitchen, so some recipes will use an oven, some will use a stove, some will use an air fryer, some will use an Instant Pot (or InstaPot as it’s sometimes referred to) and some will use a slow cooker.
I’m still debating how to best format this. Should I just do it as a blog-type page and list everything, or should I use links to different pages according to the type of recipe? I don’t know exactly what I’ll do; if you have any thoughts about this, please send an email to info@happyonwheels.com. Thanks. For now though, I’m just going to use a blog-type format.
Also, please note that I am not taking credit for all these recipes, if I made the recipe up, I will say so, but for other people’s recipes, I will give their name and contact info if known.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti has always been one of my favorites and is simple enough to prepare on a stovetop. That, however, does involve picking up pots that are full of boiling water; something I’m not too fond of doing after my accident with boiling water back in March. That’s why I was very excited to learn how to prepare spaghetti with meatballs in the Instant Pot!
You can add everything to the Instant Pot, turn it on, and then 9 minutes later you have dinner! You can’t get much easier than that and I really like that you only get one pot dirty. I found a bunch of recipes for Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs, and I use bits from here and there and add some stuff of my own.
Ingredients:
- Frozen meatballs (I use store-bought frozen ones, but you could probably use your own homemade ones if you wanted)
- Jar of sauce (I use a 32 oz jar of Rao’s)
- Noodles
- Water (about 32 oz is enough, but you need enough water to cover the pasta)
- Fresh herbs (optional
Directions:
- Place frozen meatballs in the Instant Por pot so that they cover the bottom of the pot in a single layer. In my case, that was roughly 25, but I have used fewer because that was all I had.
- Place pasta over the meatballs.
- Pour sauce over pasta.
- Add enough water to pretty much cover the pasta (I just fill the empty sauce jar and that comes out about right).
- Add herbs (really, you can add them anytime).
- Seal the lid and Pressure Cook for 9 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Because we try to watch our salt intake, I am not adding it, but you may want to add salt and pepper (and any other spice you like. I sometimes add a bit of Cayenne pepper, just to give it a little kick).
Baby Red Potatoes
Having small red bite-size potatoes is a comfort food and it’s also pretty healthy. Fortunately, it’s very easy to cook them using an air-fryer.
Purchase a bag of baby, red potatoes (they usually come in a mesh bag). Wash them well (this can be as simple as just rinsing them with water or if they look very dirty maybe you’ll need to be a little more thorough). Next, put them in a bowl and add a bit of whatever oil you like and spices (we just use salt and pepper, but you can use whatever you want). Mix them around a bit so they all have a light coating of oil and spices. Preheat the air-fryer to 400 degrees and set the timer for 20 minutes.
When the air-fryer is preheated, dump the potatoes in the basket and let them cook for 10 minutes and then remove the basket and stir the potatoes around a bit (most recipes say to shake the basket, but that doesn’t work for me, so I stir with a wooden spoon). Put them back in the air-fryer for 10 more minutes (depending on your air-fryer and based on the amount of potatoes, that time may vary a bit). Remove from the air-fryer, sprinkle with whatever spices you like and enjoy.
Chicken Soup
I know that it is not exactly the time of year for soup, but homemade chicken soup with rice was always kind of a comfort food for me…and a bit of comfort is good for us all these days. Much of this recipe comes from my Mom, but I also picked up hints and tips from various people and places.
First, for the chicken you need a split breast (pretty much any type of chicken would work, but a split breast is the best, in my opinion. Put the two defrosted pieces of the split breast in a deep pot and cover them with water (for me I usually fill the pot to about 2 or 3 inches below the rim because I like the broth, but to each his own). I also use some chicken broth if I have some around. You can also add spices if you want. I usually add some salt and some turmeric (mostly for color). Then turn the burner underneath the pot to high so the water can heat to a boil and once it starts boiling, just let it go for 45 minutes or so. If you feel like you need to be very precise, you can use a meat thermometer.
Anyway, after the split breast is cooked through, roughly 45 minutes, remove it from the water and put it in a microwave dish (or really anything you have that holds both pieces) and place it in the refrigerator to cool down for about 15 minutes. Then back to the boiling water.
Add a cup of rice (you can use a little more if you really want a thick soup) and a package of frozen mixed vegetables (I use a 10 oz. bag and it works well for me). At this point you can turn the heat down a bit so the water is still hot, but you don’t want it to boil away. You can add a bit more water or broth if it looks like it needs some.
When the chicken has cooled enough that you can touch it, you should tear it apart and throw away the skin and the bones. You can tear it into pieces the size you want. Finally, just add that back to the pot with the rice and vegetables. You can add water or broth if it looks like it needs it.
Then just let that cook (on a medium heat) for about 45 minutes or an hour, tasting it every once in a while to see if the rice and veggies are cooked. You can add spices anytime.
If you want to you could chop up some fresh parsley to add.
Roasted Cauliflower
When I was a kid, it always seemed like vegetables were supposed to be green, not white. So, I remember eating things like green beans, broccoli, or peas and liking, or at least not throwing a fit, about them. I was not a big cauliflower fan though; I think most of that had to do with it being the wrong color for a vegetable. I would eat cauliflower, but it never really wowed me.
So, I was a little surprised that this dish cane out so well. Originally, it was a recipe I found in the Washington Post, but I find that you can make all kinds of adjustments to seasonings and spices to suit your own tastebuds.
In the recipe below, any alterations or additions I made are in parentheses.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup golden raisins (I used more because I like raisins)
- 1 head cauliflower (about 2 pounds), cut into 1 1/2-inch florets (or whatever size you want)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (I don’t usually worry about carefully measuring oil and spices, if I use too little or too much I can change that next time)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or more as needed
- 1/3 cup raw, skin-on almonds (I used about half a cup of sliced almonds because that’s what we had)
Directions
- Place the raisins in a small bowl. Cover with hot water and let them sit for 10 minutes. Drain. (I used warm water and I didn’t think there was any hugely noticeable difference.)
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Arrange the cauliflower florets in a large, shallow baking dish (I used a cookie sheet that has edges). Drizzle with the oil, and sprinkle with nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon of salt (I also used some turmeric, paprika, and black pepper); toss to coat. Cover the dish with aluminum foil; roast for 10 minutes, then uncover and roast for 25 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the cauliflower is tender and nicely browned (I let mine go for the full 40 minutes).
- Meanwhile, toast the almonds in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they are lightly browned and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Allow to cool, then coarsely chop (As stated above, I used sliced almonds and so did not chop them).
- When the cauliflower is done, stir in the almonds and raisins until well incorporated. Taste, and add salt as needed.
Restaurants
If you read my blog for this issue of the Newsletter (make into link), then it will not come as a shock to you that I am not totally back to the cooking game yet. I do enjoy cooking and I miss it when I’m not doing it, but I am easing back into it slowly. I’m using the air- fryer now and next I will move to the Insta-Pot and finally back to the stove and oven. In the meantime, we are eating meals provided by family/friends and ordering delivery more than usual.
The pandemic has certainly taken a toll on businesses, especially restaurants. We are fortunate to have a very good family-owned restaurant downstairs in our building, Rus-Uz. It provides a great selection of Russian and Uzbekistan dishes which, in most cases, were new to us.
We felt good that we were supporting a family owned business and helping them get through the pandemic. They delivered for free to anyone in the building and were nice enough to bring us a bottle of wine when we ordered dinner for our anniversary. The personal touch makes a difference. We want to continue to support family-owned businesses, especially restaurants, even as more things open up. They are good at their craft and it tastes like you are getting fresh food from your own kitchen.
Roasted Potatoes in the Air Fryer
This is, perhaps, my favorite way to have potatoes. I used to do this a lot using the regular oven, but it got to be kind of difficult (and somewhat scary) to be reaching into a 450°; so I decided to try the air fryer as that is a lot easier to use without risking some major burns! Sorry I have no pictures currently, but I will likely make some soon and I will add pics when I do.
Fortunately, I was able to find numerous recipes to roast potatoes in the air fryer, and by using various parts of different recipes, I have become fairly good at it!
I usually start with two white potatoes (sweet potatoes are great for this, they are just harder to cut). First, I wash them and then, because I’m always anxious during the pandemic, I peel them. I’ve roasted potatoes with skin on and that’s very good, it always just makes me a bit nervous. Anyway, after I peel them, I cut the potatoes into chunks, put them in a bowl, pour a little olive oil and whatever seasonings I have on hand on them. I usually use salt, pepper, turmeric (just a warning, turmeric will really stain whatever it touches so be careful if you use it!), a light sprinkle or two of cayenne pepper to give it a little kick, and finally paprika. Mix it all around and then preheat the air fryer to 400° and put the chunks in the basket and let them cook for 10 minutes. Then remove the basket and with a wooden spoon (it doesn’t have to be wood; I just try to avoid metal things that may scrape the sides) mix around the chunks and then cook for about 8 or 10 more minutes (also at 400°). Two potatoes provide a sufficient amount for two individuals as a side dish with whatever you are having as a main dish.
The times and temps above are what works for me, but they may vary slightly for you depending on your specific type of air fryer.
Slow Cooker Frittata
This past week, both Sheri and I had dental work, me a crown and cavities and Sheri had her wisdom teeth removed. This called for some very soft foods to eat. Fortunately, I had found recently a bunch of information about an egg dish using the slow cooker. I say a “bunch of information” rather than “a recipe,” as I did find many recipes and took various parts of each one and combined them to make what came out as kind of a slow cooker frittata.
Ingredients
- Package of hash browns (plain potatoes would likely work too, but I used hash browns)
- Any type of vegetables you want to use (I use cooked or raw)
- Any type of sausage or bacon (cooked through and broken up into bite-size pieces; or you can leave this out if you don’t eat meat)
- 1 package of shredded cheese (whatever flavor you like with eggs, we use mozzarella or cheddar)
- 12 eggs (seasoned with whatever you like)
Directions
- Make a few layers in the slow cooker of hash browns or potatoes and then the veggies/meat and cheese (just repeat until you are they are all gone, usually I have two or three layers)
- Pour the cracked eggs over top of the layers
- Cook on high for about 3.5 or 4 hours until the eggs are set (I have also seen recipes that say to cook on low for 8 hours, but I do the former)
That’s it! Very simple and easy on the prep. Some recipes suggest spraying the slow cooker dish with cooking spray, and I have tried it but actually, I forgot to do that last time and nothing was terrible without it; the edges were a bit dark, but not inedible or stuck to the dish.
Pizza
I know that, in most cases, we start off the New Year by celebrating with a very fine meal, this year, however, we had a lot going on so we just decided to take it easy and have our celebration with good food in a few days. I’ll write about that next month, but for now I’ll write about what we did last night for dinner because it is good and so easy.
We had homemade pizza. Granted, I just use stuff that is ready to be used/eaten, so a case could be made that it is not exactly homemade, but I think it qualifies.
Anyway, I start with a pizza crust that is made by Schär. We find them at Giant, but you could also order them online. We use gluten-free crusts because Sheri is sensitive to gluten, but you can use a different kind. The Schär gluten-free crusts taste like regular in my opinion.
Next I spread the sauce on the crust and add the cheese. The sauce we use is Rao’s Pizza Sauce (you can also find that online) and the cheese we use is just regular or vegan cheese from Giant. Finally, add whatever toppings you want. We use peppers that are precut, but you can use any kind you want. If you want meat, then add away! I’ve used meatballs (frozen meatballs that 
are cooked), prosciutto, ground beef, pretty much anything you want.
Than you just bake it in a preheated oven at 410° for 10 minutes (more if you want it very crispy). It’s difficult to get easier than that!
French Fries Made in an Air Fryer
The air fryer is a fairly recent addition to our kitchen and it makes French Fries in a healthier and much less dangerous way because it does not involve boiling oil! While I am still getting a handle on this new machine, I think it works well and does a better job for me, because it doesn’t involve reaching into a 400° oven! After reading a lot of different recipes, I am getting better at it, but it is still a work in progress; and it’s never a bad thing to have to eat a bunch of French Fries that didn’t come out quite right!
I took a little information from here and a little from there, and just play around. I think soaking the Fries in water makes a huge difference and many of the recipes I read had you cooking the Fries twice at two different temperatures. So, here’s what I’m doing now, and you can take this and play around with it until it’s good with you.
I usually start with two white potatoes. I’ve also used sweet potatoes, but they are so much harder to cut, that I tend to just stick with white potatoes. Personally, I like to peel the potatoes rather than having to thoroughly wash them and the French Fries I like are usually skinned anyway. Then I slice the potatoes into Fries and then soak them in plain, cold water for at least 20 minutes (I’ve seen recipes that say to soak them overnight, but I’ve not tried that). Apparently, this step removes starch and will help the Fries come out crispier.
After they have soaked, I put them in a big plastic bowl and add some oil and seasonings (I use salt, pepper, and paprika as well as anything else I feel like using). Then I lay them in the basket of the air fryer, trying to minimize contact between Fries, but it’s not a deal-breaker if they are touching.
Then cook them for 7 minutes at 370°, then increase the heat to 400° and cook for 5 more minutes. Times are always relative as you know your air fryer better than I do, so it may be a bit shorter or longer for you. And the worst thing that might happen if they don’t come out right the first time, is that you have a great snack!
Cold weather makes us all want comfort foods. One of my favorites is a very simple sweet and sour meatball dish that has a total of 4 ingredients and you can just throw everything together into the slow cooker and let it go for about 5 hours!
Ingredients:
• 12 oz. jar of chili sauce
• 10 oz. jar of grape jelly
• 3 tbsp. lemon juice
• 30-50 frozen meatballs (personally, I use Cooked Perfect Italian Style, but any kind of frozen meatball would work)
Here are the exact directions I received from My Mom: “Stir (first three) ingredients together in a crockpot; add meatballs; cook on low for 4.5-5 hours.” That’s it. You can’t get much easier than that! And they are really good for cold weather and football games.
This is one of our favorite Instant Pot recipes. It comes from Delish.com and on that site it is attributed to Makinze Gore. Below is the recipe straight from Delish, and I will note changes or alterations I made to accommodate our dietary or accessibility needs in parentheses.
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, trimmed (I used boneless, skinless breasts chopped into bite-size pieces)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1/4 c. low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp. honey
- 1 tbsp. sesame oil (I did not use sesame oil because I did not have any! It was fine without it, for me, anyway)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (I used just a few squeezes from a tube of squeeze garlic)
- Juice of 1 lime (I just used a squirt or two of lime juice from a bottle)
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced (in most recipes that call for onion, I just use a few squeezes from a squeeze tube of ginger)
- Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp. cornstarch
- Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Directions
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- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season well with salt and pepper on both sides. Set Instant Pot to Sauté function and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add chicken, skin side down and cook until golden, about 3 minutes then flip and cook 3 minutes more. Work in batches as necessary. Turn Instant Pot off of Sauté function.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining ¼ cup olive oil, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic, lime juice, green onions, and pinch of red pepper flakes. Place all chicken in Instant Pot and pour sauce over. Lock lid and set to Pressure Cook on High for 10 minutes.
- Follow manufacturer’s guide for quick release, making sure to wait until cycle is completely before, unlocking and removing lid. Using tongs, remove chicken from Instant Pot and set on plate to keep warm.
- Ladle out about ¼ cup of sauce from Instant Pot and whisk in cornstarch. Pour liquid back into Instant Pot and set to Sauté function. Let sauce simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds and serve over rice.
This is a marinade that I made up by just using various spices and/or condiments that we had in our kitchen cabinets . One thing I have learned about marinades is that you rarely ruin them by substituting ingredients . That’s certainly possible, but you should feel free to try your own and if it doesn’t taste good, you do it differently the next time!
Honey Turmeric Marinade
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- 1/2 cup avocado oil (you can substitute any type of cooking oil, avocado oil is just what we use)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 4 drops of Ginger oil
- 1 heaping 1/2 tsp of turmeric
- 1 splash organic tamari sauce (considered the same thing as gluten free soy sauce)
- 3 tablespoons organic raw pure honey
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Makes enough for 3 large boneless, skinless, chicken breasts or 2-3 medium sized pieces of fish (we have tried it on scallops, salmon and snapper). Score the chicken or fish (I just use a steak knife), so the marinade goes inside. Put over and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes, but up to a few hours is fine, then bake at 450 degrees for approximately 15 minutes.
I have an instant read thermometer to check ensure that whatever I am cooking is completely done and not undercooked. Chicken should have an internal temperature of 165° and seafood 145°.
Please note that after 15 minutes a very small bit of the bottom of whatever you are cooking, will turn very dark and look like it has burned, but it is the honey that has burned, and not the chicken or fish.
