Super Easy Refrigerator Pickles

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers
2 medium onions
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1/2 t. mustard seed*
1/2 t. ground turmeric
1/2 t. celery seed
1/2 t. ground cloves*
1/4 t. salt


* For my first batch I used ground mustard and whole cloves because that's what I had in my spice cupboard.  These are so good!  I'm definitely going to be making these all summer long!

Directions

Thinly slice the cucumbers and the onions.  

Mix the remaining together in a small saucepan and bring to a boil until the sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat and pour over the sliced cucumbers and onions. Cool before placing everything into a glass jar.  Refrigerate at least 24 hours before eating. 

Makes about 6 cups. 

ENJOY!!!! 

Cucumber Pico de Gallo

Ingredients

1/2 cucumber
1 tomato
1/4 c. onion
1/2 fresh jalapeno
1/4. c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 t. cumin

DIRECTIONS

Dice the cucumber, tomato, onion and jalapeno into small pieces.  Place them into a medium size bowl. Add the chopped fresh cilantro.  Combine the spices and mix them into the vegetables.  Allow the sit for at least an hour.  Serve with tortilla chips 

ENJOY!!!  

Bok Choy Salad

SIMPLE, EASY, DELICIOUS! 

Ingredients

1 bunch bok choy
6 green onions
3 T. Hormel bacon bits

Dressing

1/8 c. olive oil
1/8 c. apple cider vinegar
2 T. sugar
3 T. soy sauce
Black pepper to taste

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Directions

Cut the bok choy into bit size pieces, slice the green onions and add the bacon bits.  Combine the ingredients for the dressing and pour over the salad.  Let it sit a few minutes before serving.  

ENJOY!!! 

Carrot Apple Raisin Salad

A good way to get some of your fruits and vegetables for the day!  I'm going to place these into individual bowls, so these will be ready to grab for a quick lunch!

Ingredients

1 16 oz bag matchstick carrots
5 stalks celery-diced
2 small apples-diced
1 c. raisins

1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 T. sugar
1T. vinegar
black pepper to taste

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together the carrots, celery, apples and raisins.  In a small bowl, mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar and black pepper.  Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.  

ENJOY!!! 

Crockpot Texas Chili

Monica's recipe and photo for chili!  Looks good Monica!!!

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb. beef stew
1 can kidney beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 T. chili powder
1 t. cumin
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream

Directions

Put the beef on the bottom of the crockpot.  Add the seasonings over the top of the meat.  Top with drained and rinsed kidney beans and the tomatoes.  Cook on high for 6 hours.  Serve in a bowl and garnish with cheddar cheese and sour cream.

ENJOY!!! 

Your Garden...GOT MAIL? Nope, but it has tools!

A neat idea for keeping your garden gloves and tools within reach of the garden!

Another great idea from Pinterest!

From Scrap Pallets to a Strawberry Garden Planter

Strawberry Garden Boxes!!!

I've always been fascinated by the stuff people make from pallets.  I found this idea from www.lovelygreens.com   I've never had much luck growing strawberries in Texas, but I'm going to give this a try.  I just need to find 2 pallets!!!  No wait, 4!  I need 4 pallets.  I want to make one for herbs too!  :D

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Instructions for choosing pallets and for building the garden boxes.

Seven Plus Layer Salad

Why stop at 7 layers when you can add more of your favorite ingredients?  

Ingredients

16 oz package salad greens
1 c. sliced celery
1/4 c. sliced green onions
1 c. shredded carrots
1/2. c diced green peppers
1/2 c. small broccoli pieces
1/2 c. small cauliflower pieces
5 oz. frozen green peas (thawed)
1/2 c. bacon pieces
3/4 c. shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 c. mayonnaise
3/4 c. sour cream
1/4. parmesan cheese
1 t. dried dill

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Directions

Layer the salad in order, starting with the salad greens and ending with the cheddar cheese.  Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, parmesan cheese and dill, then spread it over the top of the salad.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.  

ENJOY!!! 

* This inspiration for this recipe is from Kraft at allrecipes.com 

Spicy Chicken Wings

Ingredients

24 chicken wings
1 stick butter
1 bottle of hot sauce

Directions

Cook the wings on a medium heat grill for 30 minutes.  Cook another 30 minutes on low heat.  Put the butter and the hot sauce into a medium stock pot.  Add the cooked wings and bake in the oven for 30-45 minutes at 250 degrees.  

ENJOY!!!  

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

I couldn't stop myself...I cut into it and started eating it warm!  MMMMM!!!!  

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
1 c. zucchini
1/3 c. chopped pecans
1/4 c. chopped chocolate
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1/2 c. oil

Directions

Measure all dry ingredients into a medium mixing bowl and set aside.  Mix the eggs, oil and vanilla in a large bowl.  Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix.  Place the batter into bread pans that have been sprayed with Pam and coated in flour.

Bake at 350 degrees about 35 minutes. Insert a knife into the center of the bread, when it comes out clean the bread is done.  

ENJOY!!!

Spicy Oven Baked Zucchini Chips

Ingredients

1 zucchini cut into 1/8" slices
1/3 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
1/4 t. garlic
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
pepper to taste
3 T. milk

Directions

Mix the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, cayenne pepper and black pepper together in a medium bowl or a large Ziplock bag.  Slice the zucchini into rounds.  Dip them into the milk.  Coat the zucchini  in the bread crumb mixture and place them onto a foil lined cookie sheet. 

 Bake in a 425 degree oven until crispy.

ENJOY!!! 

Spinach Calzone

Ingredients

1 c. ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1/4 c parmesan cheese
1 c. mozzarella cheese
2 c. chopped spinach
1 t. dried basil
1 t. oregano
1/2 t. powdered garlic
Pillsbury Pizza Dough
marinara sauce for dipping

Directions

Set the pizza dough aside. Mix all the other ingredients together.  Open the container of dough and stretch the dough out into 4 rectangles.  Fill each rectangle with some of the filling, fold the dough over and seal by pinching the sides together. 

Bake in a 400 degree oven until the crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. 

Serve with a side of marinara sauce.

ENJOY!!!

Chocolate Eclair Cake

Ingredients

1 box graham crackers
2  3 oz boxes French Vanilla Pudding
1 can chocolate icing
1 9oz cool whip

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Directions

Line a 13" x 9" pan with whole graham crackers.

Mix pudding as directed on the box.  Let pudding set for 5 minutes.
Fold the whip cream into the prepared pudding.

 Pour half of the mixture over the graham crackers.

Put another layer of crackers on top of the pudding.

Pour the rest of the pudding over the crackers.  Add another layer of crackers.
Melt the chocolate icing in the microwave until melted, about 30 seconds.

 Pour the melted icing over the crackers and spread evenly.
 Refrigerate for one day.

ENJOY!!!  

* This recipe was given to our Brownie Troop 1572 in 2002, by Abby Crowley.  

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"Only as high as I reach can I grow,

Only as far as I seek can I go,

Only as deep as I look can I see, 

Only as much as I dream can I be." 

~ Karen Ravn

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If you prefer to make your own chocolate icing mix 1/3 c. cocoa, 1 c. sugar, 1 t. vanilla, 1 stick of butter and 1/4 c. milk to a saucepan and boil for 1 minute.  Allow to completely cool.

This tip is from BaysChick at allrecipes.com  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-eclair-dessert/

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Who can resist peanut butter cookies?  Not me!  This version is less sweet than a typical peanut butter cookie.  It has the texture of my favorite almond cookies from Ding Ho in Columbus, Ohio.  

Ingredients

1 1/4 c. plus 2 T flour
3/4 c. oats
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 c. egg whites
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder

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Directions

Add all the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Cream the peanut butter, egg whites, vanilla and sugar together.  Add the dry ingredients and mix well.  

Roll the dough into balls and roll into sugar.  Press each cookie down with the tines of a fork, making a crisscross pattern over the top of the cookie. 

Makes 2 dozen.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-9 minutes. 

ENJOY!!! 

Tuscan Chicken Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 12.5 oz can chicken
1 can of Great Northern White Bean  
4 c. chicken broth
2 celery stalked
1 c. roasted red peppers
1 onion
1 t. minced garlic
1 t. cumin
1/2 t. pepperh
2 c. fresh spinach
2 T. fresh cilantro

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Directions

Dice the onion, celery and roasted red peppers and place them into a large stockpot.  Add the chicken,beans, spices and the chicken stock.  Bring the soup to a boil.  Turn down the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.  Add the chopped spinach and continue to cook until it is wilted.  Serve in bowls and garnish with fresh cilantro.  

ENJOY!!!  

The inspiration for this recipe can be found by clicking this link.

Chicken Lo Mein with Vegetables

Ingredients

1/2 lb. linguine
sesame oil
2 c. cooked chicken
2 T. soy sauce
1/2. c hoisin sauce ( or oyster sauce)
1 T. olive oil
1 T. minced ginger
2 t. minced garlic
3 green onions
1 c. shredded carrots
1 c. thinly sliced celery
1 c. onion
1 c. bean sprouts

Directions

Cook the pasta according to the directions.  Toss with sesame oil and set aside. 

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and saute the ginger, garlic and sliced green onions until fragrant.  Add the carrots, celery and onions and cook an additional 2 minutes. Stir in the bean sprouts. Add the pasta, sliced chicken and vegetables to the pan and mix in the soy and hoisin sauce.   

ENJOY!!! 

Pecan Raisin Chicken Salad

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. diced rotisserie chicken
1 stalk celery (diced)
4 diced green onions
1/4 chopped raisins
1/4 c. chopped pecans
1/4 c. chopped cilantro


Dressing:

1/4 c. mayonnaise
1/4c. plain greek yogurt
1 t. tarragon
1/4 t. garlic powder
pepper to taste
1 t. sugar
1 T. vinegar

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Directions

Dice the chicken, celery, onions, raisins, pecans and cilantro.  Place them all in a medium bowl.  

Mix the ingredients for the dressing.  Pour over the rest of the ingredients and mix. 

ENJOY!!! 

Cheerios Crispies Treats

My version of Rice Krispy Treats.

Ingredients

2 T. butter

2 c. mini marshmallows

2 1/2 c. Cheerios 

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Directions

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, add the marshmallows and stir until melted and blended.  Add the Cheerios and mix.  Place the mixture into a buttered dish and pat it down with a plastic spatula. Or use waxed paper and pat it down with the back of your palm. 

Cool before cutting into bars. 

ENJOY!!! 

Loaded Baked Potato Salad

Have leftover potatoes?  

Turn them into potato salad! 

 Simply slice the potato into sections, drizzle with dressing and add toppings! 

 YUM!

Ingredients

3 baked potatoes
2 T. mayonaise
1 T. sour cream
1/2 t. sugar
1 t. vinegar
pepper to taste
1 T. bacon bits per potato

1 T. shredded cheese per potato
1 T. sliced green onions per potato

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Directions

Slice each potato into sections.  Make the dressing by mixing the mayo, sour cream, sugar and vinegar together. Drizzle a little over each potato.  Make sure it goes down into most of the valleys.  Sprinkle with bacon bits, green onion slices and shredded cheese.  Add pepper and salt, desired.

ENJOY!!! 

Homemade Subs

A homemade sub made just the way I like it!  A warm sub seems so simple, but in today's world we sometimes forget how easy these are to make at home.  They are quick, easy and delicious!  Add chips with a drink and dinner's on the table!  The options and combinations are endless!  

Ingredients

Sub roll 

deli meat slices

cheese slice

salad dressing

onion

jalapeno

mild peppers rings

olives

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Directions

Cut your roll in half.  Spread some salad dressing on the inside of the roll.  Assemble your sub by layering the meat slices in the bun, add the cheese slices and any toppings you like.  Bake in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts.  

ENJOY!!! 

Roasted Turnips

I used to eat raw turnips as a kid, but I never bought them as an adult until now. They are good!  This is my first time to eat them cooked.  They taste similar to potatoes or very mild brussel sprouts.  They would taste good dipped in a little sour cream too! 

Ingredients

turnip

olive oil

cracked pepper

smoked paprika

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Directions

Cut the turnip into thin slices.  Rub a little olive oil on both sides.  Place on a cooking sheet lined with foil.  Sprinkle some smoked paprika and grind some fresh pepper over the turnip slices. 

Cook in a 350 degree oven until they are soft.  

ENJOY!!!  

Planting Seeds in Seed Trays

I will be posting pictures as the seeds start to sprout.  

With a little luck, I will have many nice seedlings to plant in the garden this spring! 

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Seeds planted:  tomatoes, peas, zucchini, cilantro, dill and parsley.

DAY 1

They're growing!!!  

Spicy Chipotle Scrambled Eggs

I like it HOT, HOT, HOT!!!  

Ingredients

Egg whites

Fresh jalapeno slices 

Chipotle peppers in sauce

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Directions

Heat the skillet with a 1/2 T. olive oil. Saute the jalapeno pepper slices until they are tender, but still crisp.  Add the egg whites and scramble them while they cook.  Add some sauce from the chipotle pepper and 1 whole chipotle pepper.  Mix the sauce into the scrambled egg.  Cut the jalapeno slices and the chipotle pepper with the spatula as you finish cooking the eggs.  

Serve with sour cream, fresh cilantro and warm tortillas.  

ENJOY!!!  

Mashed Plantain - Dominican Republic Mangu

Mangu (back right) is made with plantains and sauted onions. 

 It is a staple dish in the Dominican Republican.   

This recipe is for 2 servings.  If you need more just double the recipe.

Ingredients

1 ripe plantain

1/2 t. melted butter

1/2 onion

1 T. olive oil 

1 T. apple cider vinegar

pepper to taste

Directions

Slice the plantain into long pieces and boil in a small saucepan until tender.  

                                      Slice the onion.  Cook until tender in 1/2 -1 T olive oil.

  Once the onions are slightly browned, add 1 T. apple cider vinegar and a little pepper.

Remove the cooked plantains from the saucepan.  Reserve a little of the cooking liquid. 

 Mash the plantains with the back of a fork.  Add a little of the reserved cooking liquid to hold it all together.  Add 1/2 t. of melted butter, if desired.

Top the mashed plantains with the sauteed onions.  

Serve with a side of scrambled eggs with salsa and tortillas.

ENJOY!!!  

                                                                                            * This recipe is from dominicancooking.com

  

French Toast Rollups

Just for fun! Pick a filling and roll it up into your french toast!  

Ingredients

6 slices of white bread

Strawberry Jam

Cream Cheese

1/2 T. butter

1 egg

1 T. milk

cinnamon sugar

Optional: powdered sugar and syrup

Directions

Cut the crust off the bread slices.
(Set the crust aside, it makes great croutons for salads!)  

Use a rolling pin to flatten each piece of bread.  If you don't have a rolling pin, simply flatten the bread with the palm of your hand.  

Spread a thin layer of cream cheese and jam onto the bread.  Add a bit more to one side. This will be the end that you will start the roll.  Work your way to the other end. 

Pinch to close.

Roll the rest so you can cook them all at once.  

Melt the butter in a large skillet.  Dip each rollup into the beaten egg with milk.  

Place the rollups seam side down into the skillet.  Turn and cook on all sides.

Remove from the skillet and roll in the cinnamon sugar.  

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if you like.

Serve with warm syrup. 

ENJOY!!!