Lisa Recipe Reviews (Pg. 1) - Allrecipes.com (1445817)

Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Orzo

Reviewed: Jun. 23, 2008

I made sure to review after letting this sit for a day, but I have to agree with others who've stated that this recipe is somewhat bland. My food processor may not have chopped up the sun-dried tomatoes enough(?), but either way I think using a little less pasta would help, too. I will definitely be making this again, however, using the above changes.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
2 users found this review helpful

Mom's Cucumber Salad

Reviewed: Jun. 23, 2008

*The* quintessential summer salad. I've been looking for this recipe for some time now, and was glad to find it here. I sweat the cucumbers first with some salt as I mix the dressing, making sure to add more vinegar than stated to balance out the sweetness. Also, onions are a must!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
4 users found this review helpful

California Grilled Veggie Sandwich

Reviewed: Jun. 6, 2008

I didn't know if this would be my thing, but I can now say that this is *THE BEST RECIPE* on the site. I would recommend these minor additions: portobello mushrooms (essential, esp. for meat eaters) and zucchini. We had to use the oven due to rain, but I let the peppers cook longer and finished them off under the broiler. Perfection! You MUST try this. ;)

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
6 users found this review helpful

Oatmeal and Wheat Flour Blueberry Pancakes

Reviewed: May 24, 2008

Initially I wasn't that fond of these pancakes, although my husband loved them. However, now I find myself craving them on a weekly basis. We do substitute regular milk and fresh blueberries, and occasionally add a touch of vanilla or flaxseed. I never would have thought to put oatmeal in a pancake, but these just keep getting better and better!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
4 users found this review helpful

Bake Sale Lemon Bars

Reviewed: Apr. 5, 2008

Many thanks to GOURMETMOMMY's tips on this recipe. These were the best lemon bars I've ever had! Like other reviews, I wish I would have doubled the recipe for the crust or at least put it in a smaller pan.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
2 users found this review helpful

Ranch Dressing II

Reviewed: Apr. 2, 2008

I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this recipe, as I've hated Ranch dressing since childhood. I think I can see why now, though, as this doesn't have that weird, almost tangy aftertaste that bottled dressing does. For the sour cream portion, I used a mixture of buttermilk and Greek-style yogurt (which is very similar to sour cream) and it gave the final product the perfect consistency. Thanks a million!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
1 user found this review helpful

Bacon Gravy for Biscuits

Reviewed: Mar. 30, 2008

A very good, basic recipe for bacon gravy. I've even had to make it with half the bacon when we've run out, and it still turns out well!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Banana Shake

Reviewed: Mar. 13, 2008

Very good recipe. I added vanilla extract instead of lemon juice, but will definitely try it next time, along with an extra banana...

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
1 user found this review helpful

Insalata Caprese II

Reviewed: Mar. 12, 2008

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. I did follow the more Sicilian method (with balsamic and fresh garlic) and used smaller Campari tomatoes. It made a perfect appetizer and is now a house favorite!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
4 users found this review helpful

Chicken Milano

Reviewed: Mar. 12, 2008

I followed this recipe exactly, and it turned out pretty well. I may try some changes next time, but you can easily make this without them and get good results.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Green Beans with Bread Crumbs

Reviewed: Feb. 15, 2008

These were the hit of the dinner party we went to last night! As soon as I realized the mixture was basically the same one used for filling stuffed artichokes and meatballs, I knew I'd love them. We mixed everything together and it sat in a covered dish for about 20 minutes before serving, which let the breadcrumbs soften and the flavors blend. The texture was perfect and I'll definitely be making these again.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
1 user found this review helpful

Pizza Popcorn

Reviewed: Jan. 31, 2008

I don't know that I'd say it had "pizza" flavor, per se, but it was a nice change of pace from regular buttered popcorn. The garlic powder was definitely essential in this recipe.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
1 user found this review helpful

Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Reviewed: Jan. 27, 2008

I followed this recipe exactly, only omitting the walnuts, and the cookies were still soft and chewy the next day! For those who don't have the same good luck, try my grandmother's trick. Store "hard" cookies in a sealed container, along with a piece of fresh bread, several hours or overnight. When you remove the bread, the cookies will have absorbed its moisture and be soft again. Voila!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
3 users found this review helpful

Old-World Cabbage Soup

Reviewed: Jan. 24, 2008

I made several modifications but am sure the recipe is still great as is. The vegetables were instead cooked in a bit of olive oil and butter, adding the cabbage in the last minute or two before the liquids. Also, I used "Better Than Bullion" beef base instead of vegetable broth, fire-roasted tomatoes, and some leftover grated zucchini from the Zucchini Bread IV recipe. Excellent!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
3 users found this review helpful

Grilled Prawns with a Spicy Peanut-Lime Vinaigrette

Reviewed: Jan. 23, 2008

This sauce tastes very similar to one I've made for a Mongolian hot pot dinner, but turned out significantly thinner, which led me to use a tsp. of cornstarch and water to quickly thicken it a touch. The flavor is actually so impeccable that making the marinade isn't really necessary, so I'll definitely be skipping that step next time around. I highly recommend this recipe!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
8 users found this review helpful

Cucumber Sunomono

Reviewed: Jan. 22, 2008

I was worried about the fresh ginger, as it has quite a bit of bite on its own, but after marinating for the hour suggested, the flavors meld together perfectly! Admittedly this is more appropriate for warmer weather, but I'm pretty sure I'll be making it year round.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Lemon Grass Lemonade

Reviewed: Jan. 22, 2008

I was really looking forward to this recipe, but something about the flavor is just not right. I attempted to fix it, to no avail, and can't say it's worth the time to make this lemonade. The cinnamon is just too overpowering for a hot lemon drink, and it made the fresh lemon juice I used taste like some concentrate.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
2 users found this review helpful

Plantation-Style Vanilla Lemonade

Reviewed: Jan. 20, 2008

It's my pleasure to be the first to rate this recipe. With just a hint of vanilla aftertaste, it tastes something like if Orange Julius were to make lemonade? It has just enough sweetness to bring out the vanilla flavor, but not too much to overwhelm the tartness of the lemon. Also, I'm not sure if the recipe is intended to use the entire lemon rind and not just the zest(?), as lemon pith is quite bitter. I HIGHLY recommend using Meyer lemons if you can find them. They're sweeter and much more fragrant; plus, they have minimal pith, so you can put the rinds directly into the blender without zesting!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
13 users found this review helpful

Asparagus Wrapped in Crisp Prosciutto

Reviewed: Jan. 17, 2008

This is a quick and elegant appetizer. I would definitely recommend spreading a soft cheese over the prosciutto first, and sprinkling some freshly ground pepper over the pieces before baking.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
4 users found this review helpful

Oaxacan Tacos

Reviewed: Jan. 9, 2008

This recipe was absolutely fantastic -- it will definitely change the way you think about tacos. Other than a little salt and pepper, I left the meat alone and used our broiler for the cooking. The fried shells, as always, are an absolute must! I'm not sure if I compromised the authenticity of these tacos, but I added some fresh avocado, queso fresco, and creme fraiche. Magnifico!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
2 users found this review helpful