Welcome to MJ’s Kitchen. I’ve spent well over 30 years in five six different kitchens cooking up a variety recipes – classics and originals – for family and friends. A few years after we were married, Bobby gave me a journal so I could start writing down my recipes. This was long before homes had personal computers so through the years I have filled that journal and a couple more. Finally, a PC landed on my desk and writing down recipes became so much easier. In MJ’s Kitchen I share some of these recipes and more with you. I also hope to show you how easy it is to cook and create your own dishes if you don’t do so already.
The Peach
Besides being my favorite fruit, there’s a story behind the peach. When Bobby and I moved from Louisiana to New Mexico in the 70’s our starter home was a 900 square foot house on a tiny lot with 10 mature fruit trees: 6 peach, 2 plum, 1 apple and an apricot. All of the trees were quite prolific keeping us very, very busy from spring to fall. With six peach trees, I had more peaches than I could handle so I was giving them away to anyone who would take them. When friends or family dropped by, I made them peach daiquiris or a peach cobbler or gave them homemade peach jam or spiced peaches, and of course, sent them home with a bag of juicy, picked ripe peaches. It didn’t take long for me to acquire the title – “The Peach Lady”, a name that stayed with me for years – and thus – the peach.
The Recipes
The recipes that you find in MJ’s Kitchen are mostly my own creations that reflect my southern upbringing and my life eating and cooking in New Mexico. Most are simple, with only a few ingredients that can be cooked any day of the week in less than an hour, and in many cases, 30 minutes. Cooking almost every night, I try to make dishes that are fast and simple. I also apply what I learned from my mother – be frugal and use what’s in the refrigerator before going back to the grocery store. Don’t throw anything away!
The ingredients for my recipes are pretty common and found in most every grocery store worldwide. However, there are a few ingredients that are more common in the southern or the southwestern United States – like grits, New Mexico red and green chile pepper, and chile powder. However, do not be discouraged when you see a recipe with New Mexico green chiles. With the internet right at our fingertips, one can pretty much order whatever ingredients are needed. In addition – there is usually something that you can use as a substitute; therefore, always be sure to read the Kitchen Notes for every recipe.
A comment about serving size – the serving size that I state in my recipes is NOT based on FDA or any official organization. It’s based on how many servings I get when I fix a dish for me and Bobby. I try to keep my serving size to what is recommended while Bobby just eats what he wants (and can!).
About MJ (Yes – the Peach Lady is a little older now)
In addition to loving to cook and eat, I have been working my dream job in adult education since I was 24. I’ve taught everything from mathematics to nanotechnology, so now it’s time to go light. Starting this food blog just seems like a natural thing to do at this time in my life.
I hope you enjoy it here and that you make MJ’s Kitchen one of your favorite places. I look forward to meeting you.
Credits and Acknowledgements
Photography – MJ Willis and Bob Willis
Peach illustration – Junifer Nez
A special thanks to
Holly for her willingness to test as many recipes as I can throw her way and to
Kylene for her invaluable assistance with dishes and accessories for the photos as well as a wealth of information on food styling.
Website Copyrights
All content (e.g., recipes, images) of the MJ’s Kitchen website is copyrighted by MJ and Bob Willis. Any use of this content requires written permission. Thank you for respecting this copyright.
WOW! I can’t wait to try all of these recipes. They look FABULOUS!
MJ- I’m so glad you are doing this site. I’m so excited to see the recipes that are to come! Love you
WOW! Maybe I can learn to cook now?!
))
I can’t wait to look through the whole book! You go gurl!, love Dale and Cindy
MJ – amazing website!!!!!! I am sooooo happy to see the “fruits” of your labor come out to play!!!!!! Always a fan of your cooking I now have your recipes at my fingertips!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed all of your recipes that have come across mama’s table over the years – especially lately! Congratulations and I love you!!!
How generous of you to share your culinary talents with us! The comments which accompany each recipe are entertaining and educational, and the photos are absolutely beautiful. I look forward to spending time in MJ’s Kitchen.
MJ, count me in, I’m a fan! I love your recipes, photography, and the whole website. It’s a delight to the eyes and, I’m sure, to the taste buds as well. I’m going to try your hack on Calzones, first of all. Congratulations and many warm hugs!
I hope now, when I come over, I’m not told to fix it yourself!
Having known Bob and MJ for a while I can probably vouch for all the recipes forth coming!!!
Thanks Everyone!!!!! This is going to be fun!
I love peaches and once had three very “giving tree” peach trees. I am anxious to read and try your recipes!
Bless your (and Bobby’s) hearts! You two ROCK!!! What an awesome brainchild…Compliments to all involved in this fun adventure
I absolutely LOVE your website and look forward to more of your yummy-looking recipes to try.
Like Shelley, I can hardly wait to try your calzone recipe(s) with the variations you
offered up; I also like the jam recipe and the fact you’ve made it so easy for the rest of us!
(Final note: I’m thinking “the hubby” will be cooking up your sausage/vegetables recipe).
Kudos!!!
I’m really enjoying this! And Bob’s photos are great!
Hope this helps you eat your fruit and vegetables. -:) Thanks Danny.
What a fun introduction! I enjoyed your site very much and look forward to seeing many more of your delicious recipes!
Thanks for the nice comments! I do hope to see you again!
Hello Mj
thank you for the friend request on foodbuzz
you have a wonderful blog here with amazing recipes and stunning pictures
glad I found it
Hi Mj!!
Itchy potato or arbi as we Indians call it… is actually called taro(root)
google search link below
http://www.google.co.in/search?gcx=w&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Taro+(root)
MJ… I’m so glad I came over to check out your “about” from your strawberry jam post! I really enjoyed reading about your life and I love that picture of you in front of the peach trees. Wow.. 6 peach trees… how did you manage!? It’s also so sweet that your husband helps take the pictures. You two sound like a great team. I’m going to spend some more time coming over here and checking out your older recipes. I realize now how much I have missed. Thanks for sharing these wonderful recipes with us. PS… tell your hubby fantastic photography. I am trying to improve my picture taking (Foodgawker hates my photos). I think it’s my camera and lighting… so I’m looking for any hints, tricks and camera recommendations. Thanks!! Ramona
Ramona, Thanks for visiting my About page and my older posts! I appreciate everyone of yours and everyone’s comments! As far as the photography goes, I think all of those food porn sites want you to blow out your exposures – everything is so white sometimes.
I love color so we have more of our pics turned down, than published. The decisions those sites make are very subjective, so we don’t take pics for Foodgawker or any of the others. We take pictures for us and what we like. I will pass your sweet comments on to Bobby. Thanks again!
Thanks MJ… I will keep plugging away taking pictures my way.
I like my pictures for the most part. 
Your food and pictures are stunning. Now I’m off to check out some older posts after drooling over your cranberry bread. 
I saw a picture of the red chille enchiladas. , now I’m hooked. Can’t wait to try. I would love to see more. So until later your new friend and follower .
Welcome Michael! I’m so glad you stopped by and look forward to seeing you again!
MJ..read your about page, am in owe with that Peach tree of yours. Wish I could come to your garden fill a bag full with those fresh fruits…and just munch..munch. Thanks for being a wonderful friend, love and hugs.
Hi MJ!
Greetings from Malaysia!
Thanks for dropping by my blog and I love your Peach trees! I can go crazy harvesting them! You are so lucky!
Christine
what a beautiful intro, loved reading it! ‘the peach lady’ is such a cute name, im so J of all the fresh fruits u must be flodded with during season… bookmarked quite a few of ur recipe’s, esp the herb bread thats on top of my list
keep cooking
Hello, MJ! Thank you for stopping by! I LOVE your recipes, and how wonderfully simple, delicious, and diverse they are. They’ll be keeping me busy in my little kitchen, that’s for sure!
Thanks for your ristra chile sauce recipe. It is spot on.
So cool! Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a staple in this house! Thanks for letting me know!!!
Thank you for the welcome to the blogging world and the kind mention on my blog. I love the essence of your blog. Happy blogging to my new foodie friend.
Thanks for dropping by Peter! Look forward to sharing with you!
I found your site through another food blog and thought I would stop by to check yours out. I just subscribed to your blog feed and can’t wait to see what your next post will be!
I just found your website searching for a massaged kale recipe–I loved your recipe and I love what you do!
Looking forward to trying out more!
Beth, Thanks so much for the comment and stopping by! Hope to see you again!
Hello MJ,
I just discovered your site through Foodbuzz. I love your recipes, photography, writing style – everything about your blog! So sincere and beautiful
. I am definitely going to stop by often to try some of your creations!
Now that I am here, I would also like to invite you to share some of your reicpes on a new photo based recipe sharing network that launched only this Monday. The idea is simple: recipe photographs are published within minutes of submission. No rejections, no reviews. The most popular images get promoted to the top of the gallery. And, of course, the images link back to the author’s site.
It’s called RecipeNewZ (with Z) – http://recipenewz.com.
I hope you get a chance to visit and to share some of your delicious posts with our viewers
Thank you so much for the nice comments and for dropping by! I have joined RecipeNewZ! Thanks for setting up such a great site for us foodies!
Great write up of your life…very interesting. I’m tickled to see your initials…mine are
also MJ…Marsha Joy (King) Baker. Thanks for sharing your lovely dishes. I’m all about simple, delicious and quick too.
Thanks MJ! So very nice to meet you! Hope to see you again!
I’m so pleased to find your blog over on the Real Food Forager Mj. I love your story and your nickname. My daughter’s is nicknamed Peaches too. I’m not sure where it came from and I always call her pumpkin…but she is a peach!
Like you I have lots of hand written recipe books compiled over twenty seven years of marriage…( I can’t believe it’s that long!) and also hate wasting food.
Oh well now I’ve said hello I can’t wait to go and read the rest of your blog.
Happy baking,
Deb
That’s cute – her nickname is Peaches but you call her pumpkin. My mom called me pumpkin as well.
Thanks for stopping by Debby! Hope to get to know you more!
Happpy Awarding my friend
You have been given two awards – check this post out: http://gobakeyourself.wordpress.com/2012/07/07/a-classic/
Congrats
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks so much Uru!
Hello!
I have nominated you for the “very Inspiring Blogger” Award
because MJ’s Kitchen is one of my favorites!
http://cookbakeshare.com/very-inspiring-blogger-award
Thanks so much Allen!
How wonderful that you had such a good variety of fresh fruits from your own backyard! I have always wanted to try growing some veggies and fruits because I love eating fresh, natural foods. But unfortunately, I don’t have a yard. I hope some day I will have a big yard to grow my own fresh produce in! Good luck with your kitchen renovation! =)
Sharon – I hope you do get a backyard some day. There is nothing like growing your own food! I haven’t been able to have a garden for several years now, but hope to change that come the spring. Thanks for your nice comments!
Hi MJ,
Thanks for the comments on my blog! I’ll be following yours regularly. Congratulations on your soon-to-be new kitchen. We did a major reno on our house last year. My kitchen was big enough for one person before and I’m loving the large kitchen we added on to the back of the house. I’m sure you’ll enjoy yours. Thanks again and look forward to seeing more MJ recipes.
i am making tamales sunday 11-11-12 (putting all together) how many days will my red chili sauce (made from dried pods and pureed) stay in the fridge? i made a batch today (tues) and making more on (weds) do i need to freeze it until sat nite? or will it stay in the fridge?
thanks
peg
Peg, As long as you only use water and not meat based stock in your chile sauce it will actually last a couple of weeks in the fridge before you need to freeze it. Have fun making tamales and thanks for contacting me!!!
Cooking up pink beans with chico’s tonight. Out in California, pink beans are as close as i can come to bolitas. Fond memories on NNM!
Miriam – thanks for the comment! I’ve never cooked with pink beans, but I have seen them and, yep – I agree – close enough to bolitas!
MJ… kuddos to you and thank you. I have really enjoyed your recipes over the last few months. It started out needing comfort while working. Simply viewing your recipes was comforting. I now am trying them. I love the ease of ingredients and time. Fabulous. Thank you for sharing some “home comfort” with my family and I.
Keri – Thank you SO much for such a nice comment! You certainly made my day! I’m glad to see that you have started to cook my recipes. Please let me know if you have any questions. Your feedback is always appreciated! Thanks again Darlin!!
ciao! luvFAB blog.
thebestdressup
Very glad to have found your site. I have already made some of your recipes and I find them extraordinary.
Carmen – thanks so much for your nice comment! It’s great to hear that you have tried my recipes. I’m definitely having a good day now.
Hope to hear from you again. Oh – and please share my site with your friends. Thanks again!
Hi MJ, Thank you very much for coming to my site. You have a nice blog with great recipes that I’d love to learn from you.Wish I’m your neighbor too so I can get your homemade jam and fresh peaches
Thanks Ann!!! You know – you can make your own jam. I have a few recipes where you can make one jar at a time with just a little fruit.
Hope to see you again.
Karen told me about your web site. Must be nice being the peach lady. Lol. I hope life has been good to you and Bob.
Omg! Is that really you!? Thanks so much for saying hi! Life has been really good here in NM. Hope life has been good to you as well. Hope to see you again someday.