About:Nancy J. Cohen

Website: https://nancyjcohen.com Profile Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day Mysteries featuring South Florida hairstylist Marla Vail. Titles in this series have been named Best Cozy Mystery by Suspense Magazine, won a Readers' Favorite gold medal, placed first in the Chanticleer Book Awards and third in the Arizona Literary Awards. Nancy’s instructional guide, Writing the Cozy Mystery, was nominated for an Agatha Award. A featured speaker at libraries, conferences, and community events, she is listed in Contemporary Authors, Poets & Writers, and Who's Who in U.S. Writers, Editors, & Poets. When not busy writing, she enjoys fine dining, cruising, visiting Disney World, and shopping.

Posts by Nancy J. Cohen :

Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients

1-1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 egg, beaten
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 cup chopped onions, divided
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
12 oz. bottle chili sauce
18 oz. jar grape jelly
15 oz. can tomato sauce
1/4 cup sweet Marsala wine

Directions

Make meatballs: Mix ground beef with beaten egg, garlic powder, ½ cup chopped onions, and bread crumbs. Form into small balls. Set aside. (Or use frozen turkey meatballs instead of making them from scratch).

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, blend together chili sauce, grape jelly, and tomato sauce until jelly is melted. Toss in remaining onions and add wine. When mixture is bubbly, add meatballs to pot. Stir gently to coat with sauce.

Cover and reduce heat to simmer. Periodically lift lid, being careful of steam, and stir. Cook for 1 hour on low heat (or ½ hour if using frozen meatballs). Serve over cooked rice as an entrée or by itself as a party appetizer. Note: If you have extra sauce, freeze it and use as gravy in the Shepherd’s Pie recipe.

Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients

1 large firm eggplant
Salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten or egg substitute equivalent
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
8 oz. package mozzarella cheese slices
24 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel eggplant and cut cross-wise into one-half inch rounds. Salt eggplant slices on both sides and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off bitter juices and pat dry with paper towel. Sprinkle half of flour, eggs, and bread crumbs into three separate plates. Dip eggplant slices progressively in flour, eggs, and then bread crumbs. Add more of these ingredients as needed until all eggplant slices are coated.

Arrange eggplant rounds in greased baking pan and bake until fork goes through and slices are tender, about 15 minutes. Flip over halfway through cooking time. Remove from oven when done.

Spread thin layer of spaghetti sauce on bottom of greased 9x13x2 inch baking dish. Arrange half of eggplant slices over sauce, then cover with half of mozzarella cheese slices. Add another layer of sauce, eggplant, and mozzarella. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with oregano and Parmesan cheese. Bake until heated through and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serves 6 to 8.

Tuna Pea Casserole

Ingredients

(2) 12 oz. can tuna, drained and flaked
8.5  oz. can peas, drained
10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
1 Tbsp. dry bread crumbs
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Mix first three ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese on top. Microwave for 3 to 5 minutes on high or until heated through. Serves 2 to 4.

Tuna Spaghetti Salad

Ingredients

8 oz. box spaghetti
(2) 12 oz. cans solid white tuna in water, drained and flaked
14.5 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, drained
4 oz. jar diced pimento, drained
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup pitted black olives, chopped
1 cup sweet onion, chopped
3/4 cup mayonnaise or more as needed
4 tsp. lemon juice
Bunch of fresh parsley

Directions

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and place in bowl. Cut into shorter pieces. In a separate large bowl, add the rest of ingredients except for parsley and toss lightly. Mix in spaghetti. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Spoon into a serving bowl and garnish with parsley sprigs. Serve cold. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Zucchini Quiche

Ingredients

1 large onion, chopped
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
3 cups zucchini, peeled and grated
1 cup biscuit mix
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup egg substitute

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together the first five ingredients in a large bowl. Add the zucchini, biscuit mix, cheddar cheese, and egg substitute. Stir to blend. Spray two 9-inch pie dishes with cooking spray. Pour mixture into pie plates, dividing evenly. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown and center is cooked through. Serves 6.

Caribbean Rice With Pigeon Peas

Ingredients

2 cups long grain rice
13.5 oz. can coconut milk
1 cup chopped green onions
15.5 oz can Goya dry pigeon peas (find near canned beans)
2 Tbsp. butter

Directions

Drain and rinse peas, saving juice. Combine coconut milk, juice from peas, and enough water to make 4 cups of liquid. Pour into saucepan. Add rice and simmer covered, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Mix in green onions, pigeon peas, and butter. Add salt to taste. Serves 6 to 8.

Noodle Kugel

Ingredients

16 oz. bag wide egg noodles
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 lb. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
Juice from a fresh lemon
Cinnamon sugar
Cornflake crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the noodles in boiling water for 8 minutes, then drain and rinse under cold water. Stir a few noodles into the beaten eggs. Pour eggs into bowl with noodles and mix. Add sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, drained pineapple, and lemon juice. Stir until blended. Pour into a greased 9x13x2 inch baking pan. Sprinkle cornflake crumbs and cinnamon sugar on top. Bake for 50 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Optional: Cut butter to ¼ pound and add one pint sour cream; Add one tsp. vanilla instead of lemon juice; or Add 1⁄2 cup golden raisins.

Rosemary Red Potatoes

Ingredients

3 lb. bag of petite red potatoes
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped garlic
1 large onion, sliced
0.75 oz. package fresh rosemary, stemmed and chopped
Olive Oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Clean half of potatoes and cut into quarters. Store the rest for another use. Put the cut potatoes into a large bowl. Mix in garlic, onions and rosemary. Add enough olive oil to moisten. Spread onto greased 9x13x2 inch baking sheet. Bake on the next up-from-bottom rack for 30 to 45 minutes or until potatoes are browned and fork-tender. Serves 4.

Sweet Potatoes with Red Onions and Rosemary

Ingredients

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled
8 Tbsp. canola oil
3 tsp. minced garlic
2 large red onions, peeled
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut potatoes lengthwise and then into one inch cubes. Mix with 6 Tbsp. oil and minced garlic. Spread on greased, foil-lined baking sheet. Meanwhile, cut onions lengthwise and then crosswise into chunks. Mix with remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and spread on another greased, foil-lined baking sheet.

Put potatoes on center rack and onions on bottom rack. Roast for 30 minutes. Halfway through, turn both batches and sprinkle rosemary on potatoes. When both vegetables are tender, remove from oven and toss together in a bowl. Sprinkle cheese into mixture before serving. Serves 4 to 6.

Wild Rice, Barley and Mushroom Casserole

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 medium onion, chopped
8 oz. wild rice
2 Tbsp. pearl barley
28 oz. beef broth
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
8 oz. sliced mushrooms

Directions

Melt ¼ cup butter in 2 quart microwave casserole on high. Add onion and cook uncovered on high until soft, about 1 minute. Add rice, barley, beef broth, and thyme. Cover tightly and cook on high for 25 minutes. Stir and cook on medium setting for about 40 minutes, or until most liquid is absorbed.

Melt remaining ¼ cup butter in shallow 10 inch microwave dish on high. Add mushrooms. Cook uncovered on high until mushrooms are tender, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir mushrooms into cooked rice and barley mixture. Serves 6.