Are you hot yet? In these dog days of summer, I have been experimenting with fresh recipes for hot summer nights. I have been loving vegetable salad recipes that feature summer produce in a new way. This is one of my favorite summer side dishes. It is a change from the classic corn on the cob and is a great make ahead dish to bring on a … [Read more...]
Garden Reminder – Fertilize and Hydrate
Just a friendly reminder to continue to keep your garden nice and hydrated as we move into the dog days of summer. If you feel thirsty, chances are your plants are thirsty too! On the hot, hot, hot days, don't be afraid to water twice. I will often do a light misting in the morning, then a good heavy soaking in the evening. Also, it's middle of the summer...perfect time … [Read more...]
Twice Baked-Grilled Potatoes
Here's a new concept for you. Twice baked 'taters. Except you bake. Then grill. (Instead of bake twice.) And when I baked mine, I did so in the slow cooker...out on the porch (a trick I learned from Lynn when I was pregnant with Tyler...I couldn't stand the smell of cooking food, so I'd put the slow cooker out on the porch to cook and I didn't have to smell it and … [Read more...]
3 Meals From One Roast Chicken
Erin here - Add this to your next batch cooking day plan!!! It always feels great when we can make a meal go just as far as possible, and this is one of my favorite ways to stretch a whole chicken into three meals. In addition to saving on the budget, it also saves a lot of prep time in the kitchen and makes it easy to plan meals for the week - perfect for these busy summer … [Read more...]
Orange, Mango, Banana Dessert Smoothies
I love smoothies. While I normally make them with milk or yogurt, but what happens when you substitute ice cream for the milk?! Voila...a dessert smoothie! Now, get to sneaking in these Vitamin C packed orange gems in more places than your dessert smoothies! Orange, Mango, Banana Dessert Smoothies Now, get to sneaking in these Vitamin C packed orange gems in … [Read more...]
Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri Sauce is a traditional Argentinian sauce. It is the consistency of pesto and is usually served over grilled steak. But I serve it over everything I can because it is a great way to use up surplus parsley and cilantro. I dial down the heat on this sauce for my children, but you can make it hotter by substituting a hot pepper for the bell pepper. I love when the … [Read more...]
Breaded Tilapia with Sauteed Zucchini and Tomatoes
Clearin'. It. Out. We enjoyed this tilapia (on sale for $1.99/lb!) with Brussels sprouts from the freezer, and rolls from the freezer. Summertime Pantry Challenge continues... Breaded Tilapia with Sauteed Zucchini and Tomatoes A pantry and freezer clear out created this magical meal! 4 frozen tilapia fillets1 large egg (whisked)1/2 cup bread … [Read more...]
Reuben Croissants
Have I ever mentioned that I have a love affair with melted cheese? Yummy, gooey and warm. It really goes well with any meal. This time our cheese makes its appearance in these easy to make Reuben Croissants. They can be a little messy to make, but they bake together nicely. If you're lucky, some of the cheese will melt onto the pan and get crispy so after you serve the … [Read more...]
Vegetable Lasagna with Spinach “Noodles”
Summer finally arrived and all of my cool weather crops reacted to the heat by bolting. One nice thing about spinach when it bolts is that the leaves along the flower stalk are flat making them a great substitute for noodles in lasagna: I overlap the spinach leaves to create a layer. If you only have curled spinach leaves you can flatten them out a bit by making small … [Read more...]
Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
The first pantry challenge recipe for this month...banana muffins. With whole wheat flour. Honey. Really, really brown bananas. And of course, chocolate chips! Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins Banana muffins with whole wheat flour, honey, really ripe bananas and of course, chocolate chips! 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour1 tsp baking … [Read more...]