Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mozzarella, Tomato and Avocado Salad


My mom recently gave me pots of basil, cilantro, parsley, and thyme and I have been itching to find just the right recipe to use them in for the first time. When I saw this recipe posted on Ashley's blog, I new I would be making it as soon as possible. 

I made it for our Memorial Day celebration and it was a great cool salad to have on a 90 degree day here in Chicago. About half the people ate it as a salad on its own, and half put it on slices of bread, and it was great both ways!


Mozzarella, Tomato and Avocado Salad
From: Ashley
Prep time: 5-10 min
Chill time: 1 hr 

Ingredients:
1 container cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quartered if large
1 carton fresh mozzarella cheese pearls, drained (cut in half if desired)
1 avocado, peeled and diced
1/3 cup basil, julienned
2 tablespoons fresh parsley
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Baguette - optional

Directions:
1. In a large bowl combine the  tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and parsley.  Set aside.

2. In a small bowl whisk the lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper.  Pour over tomato mixture.  Toss to coat

3. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving

4.  Just before serving, stir in chopped avocado.  Serve with slotted spoon and bread (if desired).
  

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Orange/Lemon Julius




When I was younger I use to get Orange Julius often, but I haven't had it in a long time.  When I saw this recipe to make it myself I knew I had to give it a try.  I also made it with Lemon (which is what these pictures are of) both were good, but makes quite a bit so make sure you have someone to share with you!


Orange/Lemon Julius
From: shirleyelizabeth via Tasty Kitchen

Ingredients:
3/4 can concentrated orange juice (or lemon juice)
1/3 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups milk
8 cups ice
Top with whipped cream if desired

Directions:
1. Combine the concentrate, sugar, vanilla, and milk in blender.

2. Add the ice and blend to desired consistency.  Pour into cups and stop with whipped cream if desired.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Buffalo Chicken Burger

 

Bill really likes burgers, but I tend to get sick of having the same thing all the time, so when I saw this recipe I knew we needed to give it a try. It was so easy and delicious so it will definitely be making it into our burger rotation on a regular basis!




Buffalo Chicken Burgers
From: How Sweet It Is

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken breast
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 Tbp Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Ranch dressing and buffalo wing sauce for topping
Whole wheat buns

Directions:
1. Preheat grill or skillet.  In a large bowl combine ground chicken, salt, pepper, italian seasoning, parmesan and buffalo wing sauce.  Mix until just combined. Combine into patties

2. Grill or pan fry patties until brown on both sides and cooked through, about 8-10 min.  In the last 2 minutes, place 1/2 oz of cheddar cheese on each burger (I used shredded because that is all we had in the house).  Place burgers on buns and top with ranch and/or buffalo wing sauce.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Hot & Sweet Drumsticks




I saw this recipe on Tasty Kitchen and it looked so easy and tasty that I knew I had to try it. They turned out great!  Next time I might do a little less of the apricot preserves because while I loved how sweet they were, it was a little too sweet for Bill.  Also, be ready to have lots of napkins (or wet wipes) they are very sticky! :)  I will definitely be making these again!


Hot and Sweet Drumsticks
From: Terri Via Tasty Kitchen

Ingredients:
1 cup apricot preserves
1/2 cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
2 tsp Minced Garlic
2 tsp Hot Pepper sauce
3 lbs. Drumsticks (about 12)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small saucepan, combine preserves, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic and hot pepper sauce.  Cook and stir over medium-low heat until preserves are melted.

2. Arrange drumsticks in a single layer on a 13 x 9" pan that is covered in foil.  Pour sauce over drumsticks, turning to coat.  Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes or until chicken is done, spooning sauce over drumsticks while baking.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Thank you to everyone who commented and are now followers!  Since I'm not all high tech, I wrote everyone's names on slips of paper and put them in a bowl....

and the winner is... Jacquelyn Bos!  Congrats!  I will ship you the gift card asap!
Jacquelyn said...
Congratulations on 3 years! I would have to agree with you on the salad and another one of my favorites is the Mexican Lasagna!

See below for the video of picking the winner... (thanks to my computer savy husband!)


On a side note - I ran my first 5k today and am very proud of myself since I am NOT a runner! :)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

3 Year Blogiversary and Giveaway!

 (Above is My absolute favorite salad - so glad tomato season is coming soon!)

I can hardly believe it has been 3 years since I started by blog! I'm so glad to have a place to organize my recipes, try new recipes, and share them with others.  I will never claim to be a chef, just someone who loves food, loves to cook, and can read a recipe! Thanks to everyone who reads, comments, or tells me personally what they have made and liked (or didn't like!).

Unfortunately, the computer I usually do all of my posting from is DEAD, so I don't have easy access to most of my pictures.  So instead of sharing a new recipe today, I'm taking a look back at all my posts in the last three years and sharing links to some of my favorite recipes.

GIVEAWAY
As you can tell from the title I am doing a give away to celebrate!  This is not sponsored by anyone other than myself, but I wanted to give one lucky reader a token of my appreciation: a $25 gift card to Williams-Sonoma.

2 Ways to Enter:
1. Look through the recipes (doesn't have to be from my list of favorites) and leave a comment on THIS post telling me which recipe looks good to you or just say hello!

2. Click on the right and follow me. If you already follow me you are already entered in the giveaway!   

Rules: 1 comment per person, no entries after 9 pm CST May 6th, and the winner will be randomly selected... good luck! 

My Favorite Recipes:

Appetizers: Guacamole, Pickle Wraps, Tortilla Roll Ups, Not Your Average Rotel

Soup/Salad: My Favorite Salad, Asian Noodle Salad, Mimi's Chili

Breakfast: Huevos Rancheros, Fruity Baked Oatmeal 

Dessert: Chocolate Eclair Dessert, Peppermint Pie, English Trifle  

Mexican: Fish Tacos, Southwest Bake, Mexican Lasagna , Vegetable Pizzaz, Chicken Tacos 

Sides/Veggies: Rice and Black Beans (a staple at our house), Party Potatoes, Killer Marinated Tomatoes, Kale Chips, Any type of Risotto 

Entrees: BBQ Ribs, Pulled Chicken BBQ, Fish in a Bag, Poor Man's Lobster, Turkey Burgers, Turkey Lettuce Wraps, Spinach and Artichoke Pasta, Chicken Turnovers, Spicy Chicken Peanut Noodles, Stromboli, Picadillo


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