Cucumber & Tomato Salad

I LOOOOVE me some cucumber salad! Normally I like the white creamy one but my Dad loves the vinegar kind so I decided to swing that way, this time!  This recipe was a HUGE hit!!  Everyone asked me what the secret ingredient was!

6 large cucumbers, sliced thin
1 medium tomato diced
1 medium onion diced
1 Tbsp salt

Dressing:
1/2 cup cider vinegar
4 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tbsp honey
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2-1 tsp salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Couple dashes of cayenne pepper

Put sliced cucumbers in a strainer and toss with 1 Tbsp salt. Let stand for 30+ minutes. (This draws all the water out of the cucumbers, so either put it on a plate to catch the water or in the sink. I like it on a plate in the fridge so the cucumbers stay cold)
In a large bowl, combine diced tomatoes and onions.

In a small bowl whisk together all the dressing ingredients. When you are ready to serve, rinse the cucumbers to get all the salt off and drain. Add to tomatoes and onions. Toss with dressing.

Enjoy!  Dani :)

Salmon & White Bean Dip

I made this dip for a birthday picnic! Everyone loved it and I will definitely make it again!  It was a light fish flavor w tons of punch!  Would also make a great snack for anyone on a diet!

14oz can of pink salmon
15oz can white beans
2 ribs of celery
1/2 medium onion
2 tbsp white balsamic vinager
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp fresh minced dill
3 tbsp olive oil

In a medium bowl, flake the salmon with a fork until large pieces are broken up. Add beans, celery and onion and mix to combine.

In a small bowl, combine vinegar, juice, garlic, salt, pepper and dill. Whisk in olive oil to make a thick, homogenized dressing.

Add the dressing to the salmon mixture and fold to thoroughly coat each part of the mixture. Refrigerate and serve cold, alone or with crackers.

Enjoy!  Dani :)

Hoisin Chops w Veggies

This was an emergency "kids have a play and we're going to need a quick dinner" meal!  Ha.
I kind of just threw this together and it was SOOO GOOD!!!  It will definitely go on our regular rotation!  YUMMO!!  The best part is that you can sub out the pork for chicken or steak!

2-4 Pork chops
1 cup Orange Juice
1/2 c Worcestershire Sauce
Yellow & Orange Peppers
Hoisin Sauce to taste
4-6 Red Potatoes

Marinate the porkchops in 1 cup of OJ and 1/2 cup of Worcestershire Sauce.  Slice the peppers and red potatoes.  Place in the bottom of your baking dish.  Season & toss with EVOO and Hoisin Sauce.
Place your marinated chops on top and add a little hoisin sauce to the top of ea. (Not pictured).
Bake 350 for 1 hour!

Enjoy!
Dani :)

Split Pea Soup

Jay HATES to eat/drink hot liquids but he LOVES Split Pea Soup...BLEH!!  I am not a pea person but he swears they dont taste like "regular" peas in soup.  Hmmmmm, I dont know....  I saved the Ham Bone from Christmas Dinner in the freezer thinking I would make a soup with it, so when it cold I knew just what would rock his world!  Ive never tried it and certainly never made it but how hard could it be?  Turns out it was EASY PEASY.....and I tried it......and...wait for it.....I AM A HUUUGE FAN!!! Who knew???

Adapted from here.

 

1 whole onion

1 full size carrots

8 cups of chicken or vegetable broth

1 ham bone or smoked ham chunks

3 tbsp Complete Seasoning (Garlic, Oregano, etc.)

2 bags of rinsed peas

 

Saute onions, celery and carrots til soft.  Add chicken/veggie broth, ham bone (with chunks of ham still on, they will fall), 3 tbsp of Complete All seasoning, & 2 bags of rinsed peas.

Simmer for a few hours until the peas break down and remove bone after ham falls off....(4-5 hours)



Enjoy!
Dani-

Cubed Steak Extraordinaire!

Cubed steak is probably one of the CHEAPEST cut of meats there are.  If you cook them long enough they are JUST as tender as a nice lean roast! Seriously, they're like $2 for 2 steaks.  This is a yummy recipe, similar to country fried steak but BETTER!! it was a HUGE hit and I will definitely make it again.  I served it with mashed potatoes which was AWESOME to eat with the gravy the meat will make!  Added bonus:  You can also throw this in the trusty crock pot!
Adapted from here.

4 cube steaks

2 tbsp of All or Complete seasoning (s&p, garlic, parsley)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cupvegetable oil

2 beef bouillon granules (depending on how much water you add)

1 sliced onion

 

Season the cube steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. Pour the flour onto a shallow plate and press the steaks into the flour; shake off the excess flour. Heat the oil in a large skillet with lid over medium-high heat. Place the steaks into the hot oil, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.

 

Pour water into the skillet to almost cover the steaks. Stir the beef bouillon to taste into the water. Sprinkle the onions over the steak.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until very tender, about 2 hours.

 

Enjoy!

Dani

Chicken Pesto Panini's

We loooove to eat Sandwiches....make it a hot sandwich and we are SMITTEN!  The panini press sandwich maker might be one of THE BEST inventions of.all.time!!  You can make ANY combination you can think of. Seriously...ANYTHING!  We often make them with our favorite pesto sauce, chicken, cheese, etc. but whatever you have in the fridge will do.

French Roll

Chicken Breast Lunchmeat or Rotisserie will do.

Classico Pesto Spread or Sun Dried Tomato (Our favorite!)

Mozz cheese (use whatever you like)

Fresh Sliced Tomato

Stack your sandwich and PRESS!! Ta-Da!

If you DONT have a press you can also do it in a frying pan and press with a spatuala like a grilled cheese.

Enjoy!! Dani :)

Taco Cupcakes

We are BIG taco fans! Regular tacos, taco salads, nacho's (yea! thats right, same thing!)...Taco Cupcakes?? Umm....YES, PLEASE!!!
I saw this recipe and HAD to try!  It was DELISH!!  Great for parties or large gatherings.

1 lb 95% lean ground beef
1 pkg taco seasoning
1canned black beans, drained and rinsed
16 wonton wrappers
queso dip or salsa con queso
1 cup chunky salsa
1 cup reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese
Guacamole/Sour Cream for serving

First, pre-heat the oven to 375. Lightly mist muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.


Heat the ground beef and taco seasoning and brown beef, breaking it with a spoon. Add black beans and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes until warm.
Push a wonton wrapper into the bottom of each of the eight sprayed cups in the muffin tin. Spoon a teaspoon of queso dip into each wonton wrapper and spread across the bottom.

Follow by spooning some of the meat/beans mixture into each cup (I would say about two teaspoons) and then spooning a teaspoon or so of salsa on top of that. Sprinkle a pinch of the cheese evenly over the top of each cup.

Now do it all again, one more time!
Press another wonton wrapper on top and repeat the layering steps with the remaining ingredients.
Just press around the edges, as if you are putting on the top of a pie.
Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin