Cool and Fresh Corn Chip Salad

Are you planning a get together for Independence Day or a special family day? Are you tired of taking the same old dish to gatherings? Are you looking for a recipe you can just throw together in the blink of an eye? If you answered “YES” to any of those questions, boy do I have a special treat for you with this Corn Chip Salad recipe.

Quick and Easy Broccoli Salad

I don’t know about you, but I love a good salad. Whether it is a fresh garden salad, a pasta salad or something a little different. A good salad reminds me of spring – cool and crisp. I remember the first time I tried broccoli salad. I could not get enough of it. The sweetness of the dressing, the crispness of the broccoli and the crunch of the onions and bacon –YUM, so GOOD! There’s tons of versions of this recipe. That’s why it is a perfect recipe to make all your own, but for me, I like to keep it quick and easy with a simple taste.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

It’s that time of year when winter veggies and fruits in the stores have been replaced with spring grown and the tastes let you know it. I love cucumbers, but it wasn’t until I was in my early 20’s when I really began to like them. A lady I worked with brought cucumber sandwiches to a party we were having and I loved them. She never told what she used in her dressing, so to this day, I haven’t had any cucumber sandwiches that tasted like those did. Maybe one day I will find that secret ingredient.

Flavorful Chicken Taco Salad

Flavorful Chicken Taco Salad is a quick and easy meal for a busy weeknight.  I stumbled over this recipe on Pinterest a few years ago and the pin didn't have any information. It was easy to figure out the plan of creating just by looking at the picture.   Since my family loves Mexican cuisine, I knew this would be a hit with them.

Pintos and Sausage Stew

The only thing I truly love about the winter season is the winter foods. It’s the perfect time of year for a good soup or stew. The warmth coming from a pot of something good on a stove is comforting. This Pintos and Sausage Stew is just that, comforting and so good.

Taffy Apple Salad {Day 25}

Taffy Apple Salad is a fruit salad like no other. I found this recipe in the newspaper when we lived in western Montana. I remember when I clipped it I thought I would probably never make it since it is a creamy fruit salad. I’m not a fan of creamy, mayonnaise-y fruit salads. It took me two years before I gave this recipe a try; I cannot believe I waited so long. I guess the lasting impression of soggy creamy fruit salads with mini marshmallows from family reunions  and church dinners in the past did an injustice for the ever so famous fruit salads everyone seems to love.

Chicken Stew

I love a good stew! I remember the first time I ate CHICKEN STEW, I kinda crinkled my nose because of the tomatoes. I do not like tomatoes, nor do I like to eat soups, stews or chili with huge pieces of tomatoes. I dislike the thought of having a tomato swimming around in the juice with me trying to scoop around it. Sadly, I have passed this on to my tomato eating son. Yeah, I know!

A Carrot Raisin Salad - Just Like Chick-fil-A

I was a little saddened when I heard about the removal of Chick-fil-A's Carrot Raisin Salad from their menu, last year. I was not A LOT sad because the closest restaurant to me  is a little over 300 miles and to hop in the truck for a quick Chick-fil-A trip is not going to happen anytime soon. For all of you Chick-fil-A lovers out there who are within a stone's throw from a restaurant, enjoy a chicken sandwich for me, please.

Comforting Northern Bean Soup

There's a chill in the air around here,  just a little tease of the cooler temperatures that will soon be heading our way. I love fall and winter and the yummy comfort foods that are perfect for the seasons. I found this recipe for Northern Bean Soup on a blog at the end of June and it sounded so good, I had to give it a try. Cooking the soup in the crockpot helped keep the heat down in my kitchen. In fact, when using the crockpot during the summer months, I put it in one of two places - the front hallway or on my washing machine when I'm not doing laundry.

 

Broccoli Cheese Soup

This month is an experimental month in the kitchen, I am trying as many new meatless recipes as I can to see how far I can cut my grocery budget. While I don't spend $400 or more a month, I would love to see just how low I can get my grocery bill without eating Ramen Noodles and hot dogs. Don't get me wrong, I like to eat my share of hot dogs, but not every day of the week.  Monday I cooked up a batch of  Broccoli Cheese Soup. 

While this soup wasn't the HUGE hit as my Garden Chowder, it filled tummies, it is frugal and I am happy some what. If I want to be one of those moms... it's healthy also. Since this was not a touchdown with my husband, it will be one of those meals I make when I need to use up broccoli before it gets limp-y in the refrigerator. Truthfully, I don't care for broccoli that is cooked to death, so I had a little hard time with this recipe. Can you say, "Last Resort Recipe" file? Yes, this is where this recipe is going.

The original recipe called for half and half, but I like my creamy, cheesy soups thick, so I used heavy cream. I also added more broccoli so the extra wouldn't go limp in the refrigerator. (That's probably why I didn't care too much for this.) I also added garlic cloves while cooking the onions.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1 Tbsp butter
½ medium chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup melted butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups chicken stock
½ lb fresh broccoli
2 carrots, grated
8 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Saute onion and garlic in butter and add to chicken stock; add broccoli and carrots and simmer for 15 minutes. Make a roux using the melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and add the heavy cream. ** If you want, drain (keep the stock) and chop the broccoli and onions in the food processor at this time. Place back into the pot. Add the roux to the stock and whisk to keep from clumping. Simmer for 10 minutes and add salt, pepper and cheese.

I know, I know! I should really love this recipe since I'm sharing it today. But you know what, I'm trying to keep it real. I REALLY do not like overcooked, undercooked, baked, boiled, steamed or mushy broccoli. Give me a plate of sauteed broccoli in an Asian sauce and I'll eat my weight in broccoli. Go figure!

Creamy Garden Chowder

I mentioned in my last post about secretly challenging myself to find as many meatless meal ideas to cut down on my grocery spending. While surfing the internet for ideas I remembered a friend of mine sharing many of her recipes on Facebook and most of those recipes were meatless. So, I headed over to her photos and found several. I remember looking at GARDEN CHOWDER when she posted it and thought yum, that really looks and sounds good but I don't think anyone else would eat it. 

Ranch Stew

A stew similar to chili and just as tasty.

I get all excited on Wednesdays when my husband comes home with the mail. Every week we get a local shopper/newspaper and it is loaded with recipes and tips for ladies. After weeks of collecting recipes I finally tried one yesterday. One thing I have had to learn about the cooking here is the people do NOT season their food.  Recipes also call for things like Accent; which is a mostly MSG seasoning and I stay away from that ingredient. This recipe called for it and in it's place I used a little cajun seasoning.

Ranch Stew is a stick with you recipe. I ate two bowls and was stuffed. I will definitely be making this again and doubling the recipe for leftovers.  ~SO GOOD!

Ranch Stew

1 Tbsp. oil                                               

1 medium onion, chopped  

1 bell pepper, diced                      

1 can whole kernel corn (drained)

2 cups tomatoes, diced

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cajun seasoning

1/2 cup water

1 pound ground meat

1Tbsp sugar

1 can kidney beans

salt and pepper

shredded cheese ** optional

In a heavy pot brown meat, onion and peppers, drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.

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The original recipe did not say whether to drain the corn or not, but I DID. I also added a little more chili powder to the pot.

Crockpot Brunswick Stew

My husband is a huge Brunswick Stew lover! Before I met him, I never really ate it too much, but I do remember my mother making it for us when I was young because my father LOVES Brunswick Stew. My husband shared his love for the stewy goodness with me and I have not been the same since.