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 :)

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

Shrimp Kabobs

Jay is a HUUGE fan of shrimp and these never disappoint!!  Very light and super flavorful!!

2/3 cup vegetable oil
3 limes, juiced
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar

Mix all together and marinate at least 30 minutes.  The longer, the better.  Grill and Serve.

Guacamole

I have NEVER been a fan of guacamole, OR avocado's for that matter. However, Jay is a HUUUUGE fan of the Guac they make at Chili's and since a neighbor brought over a bunch of avocado's, I decided to give it a whirl.   Of course, Im sorry to say there is NO WAY I will be sampling it.... but Jay says its a SUPER hit!!

2 avocado's (medium to large size)
2 med. tomatoes (you can sub rotel, if you're out)
1 med. onion
1 handful of chopped fine cilantro
2 lime's juiced
1 can corn

Chop and mix all ingredients together to desired consistency and serve with chips!
Enjoy!! Dani ;)

Sausage Balls

These are a Moran Family TRADITION- so you can imagine that you can never mess em' up, OR ELSE!!
Awesome for a party or even a wkd football snack!!  These will give you QUITE a workout too!  Guaranteed to look BUFF while everyone's checking you out because you brought the best dish!

Ingredients:
1 lb. bulk country sausage
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese — shredded
2 c. Bisquick

Heat oven to 350F.
Measure Bisquick into a large bowl. Add small pinches of sausage to the Bisquick, stirring often to coat the sausage. Add shredded cheese and mix thoroughly.
Form mixture into 1-inch diameter balls and place on a baking sheet
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes until lightly browned, cool pan on a rack then peel foil from balls. Repeat for second batch.

YUMMO!!
Dani ;)

7 Layer Mexican Dip

Another HUGE party hit! Or.... just an awesome dinner for Football Sunday
when NO ONE wants to cook!!

Ingredients:

1 package taco seasoning mix

1-2 lbs ground beef or turkey

1 can refried beans

1- 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

1- 16 ozcontainer sour cream

1- 16 oz jar salsa

1 large tomato, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 bunch chopped green onions

1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded

1 can sliced black olives, drained

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 diced onion

Saute your ground beef with taco seasoning and chopped onion. 

Spread the refreied beans into the bottom of a large baking dish.  Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the refried beans. Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.

You can almost throw anything you WANT and leave out anything you DONT...Some add avocado, etc.

Bake it on 350 for 30 minutes and let cool.  THEN......DIG IN!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy!   Dani :)

Italian Pasta Salad

This is another party favorite I always make...All the ingredients are fresh!
It also will keep in the fridge for about a week so it makes great leftovers!
This recipe makes a TON!!  (like a huge salad bowl worth)

Ingredients:
2 boxes of tri color Rotini (you can use ANY pasta but this is prettier)
About 4-5 Blocks of diff. cheeses (Parm, cheddar, pepp jack, mozz, colby, etc)
1 stick of salami
1 stick of pepperoni
2 bottles of dressing (ANY oil based dressing...3 cheese Italian, or raspberry vinaigrette, basil Italian..)
Olives (optional)
Peppercinis (optional)

Boil your pasta until just before soft.  It will need to be a little tough for when you mix.  Let cool.
If you mix your pasta before cooling it will melt your cheese so be careful!
Cube all your cheese and cut all your salami, & Pepperoni.  Mix everything together and drench in dressing... Ziplock it and let it marinate in the fridge..Serve cold.

Enjoy!
Dani :)

Black Bean Dip

MMM Looks awesome huh?? (Insert sarcasm here)
Well it may not look it but it sure does taste it!!!  I was soo shocked at how much I liked this dish!
Im not an overly huge fan of black beans.  They're ok with rice, etc.
SO I was pretty pleased!!!  It's AWESOME for a party!!

Ingredients:
1 (14 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
¼ teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro, plus extra for garnish
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon minced canned chipotle chile in adobo  (totally optional)
½ tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Place all the ingredients in food processor until the dip is smooth and creamy, scraping the down the bowl as needed.  Transfer the dip to a serving bowl, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve with tortilla chips.

Par-tay Cheese Dip!!

This is a HUGE party favorite!! Everyone LOOOVES cheese dip! 
It's so super simple!
You can make it on the stove on low or you can stick it in the crock pot
til' later!!  Either way = DELISH!!!

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs ground beef or turkey
2 cans rotel or 1 jar of salsa (you can also use fresh salsa)
8 oz of sour cream
1 big block of velvetta cheese
Onion
All seasoning (this is for your meat, you can use almost anything)

Begin to saute your onion and once translucent you can add your meat.  Continue cooking your seasoned meat until its completely cooked. Drain.
In a separate pot, simmer the cheese on low until its completely melted...(You may want to spray or butter your pan so the bottom layer doesnt stick).  When the cheese has completely melted you can add your drained meat and the rest of your ingredients...  Continue to simmer until all the flavors marry together!

Enjoy!!
Dani :)

Ceviche!

This is my all-time favorite meal, and it happens to be really healthy! 

Even Madi, my 2 year old, LOVES it!

Ingredients:

4 med. tomatoes

1 lrg. cucumber

1/2 onion

1 bunch cilantro

1 jalapeno (depends how hot you want it)

2 lemons juiced

1 lime juiced

1 lb cooked shrimp

1 cup Clamato

Garlic powder

Tostada shells

Chop all the veggies and shrimp and place in a larger bowl. (Onion and jalapeno should be chopped really finely.) Squeeze the lemon and lime juice over the veggies.  Add the Clamato and a little garlic powder. Mix and let sit in fridge for at least 30 minutes.  Serve on tostada shells.

Enjoy!

Brittney