Asian Chopped Chicken Salad

 

We have had an exceptionally warm summer and I found myself looking for dinner alternatives that did not require heating up the kitchen.  I came across this while blog surfing, Reasons to Skip the Housework, and decided to give it a try.  It is absolutely delicious, easy to make, and best of all my sweetie loves it.

 

Asian Chopped Chicken Salad

 

Chopped Grilled Chicken

Chopped Cilantro

Chopped Red Onion

Chopped Lettuce

Broccoli Slaw

Sliced Almonds

Asian Sesame Dressing

 

Mix it all up, add your dressing, and you've got a tasty meal!

Strawberry Bread

 

I found this recipe online at The Simply Living Blog and have been dying to try it and this morning was the perfect day.  My sweetie teaches a class, The Bait of Satan, on Tuesday mornings and I teach a Beginner's Knitting Class on Tuesday afternoons.  Since the recipe makes two loafs there would be refreshments for both classes.  So I got busy this morning.  I must say, even if I did bake it, that it is absolutely yummy and the perfect snack to have with a cup of hot tea!

Strawberry Bread

 

2 cups of strawberries, sliced

3 cups of flour

1 cup of sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

4 eggs

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter 2 loaf pans.  Sprinkle sliced strawberries with a little sugar and set aside.  Mix all dry ingredients together in large bowl.  In a separate bowl combine vegetable oil, vanilla, eggs, and strawberries.  Add strawberry mixture to dry ingredients.  Stir until combined.  Add mixture to two buttered loaf pans, bake for 40-45 minutes.

The butter from the loaf pans makes the outside kind of chewy, while the inside is super soft and sweet.  So good, especially while it's still warm!

Wrap one of the loaves with cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon. You can add a tag with a Bible verse, recipe or a note.  Makes a wonderful gift!

 

My Hubby's Favorite Salad

This salad has become my hubby's all time favorite.  I prepared it for him a couple of weeks ago and today he suggested that we have Strawberry Chicken Salad for dinner.  He even offered to go to the market and get what we needed for the salad which was totally fine with me as it was a cool 108 degrees here in the "City with the Small Town Charm" today. His comments as he was eating was this is so good, I could eat this every night and then his final comment was "we need to have more light meals like this."  Sweet!!!

So here is the recipe for those that want a refreshing summer meal.

Strawberry Chicken Salad

assorted salad greens
sliced almonds
roasted chicken, cut in bite size pieces
sliced strawberries
shredded mozzarella cheese
red onion, diced
pomegranate craisins
strawberry or raspberry vinaigrette.

Mix all ingredients in salad bowl. 
Makes a yummy and healthy summer meal.

Speedy Spaghetti with Chicken and Fresh Tomato

Found this recipe on Pinterest via My Recipes.com.   Decided to prepare for dinner yesterday and it is absolutely yummy!  Easy to make and frugal at the same time.  Family loved it so it is definitely a keeper.  Click here for the recipe:

Peach Crisp

I found this recipe on the back of  Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie mix and thought why not give it a try, so I did and it is absolutely delicious.  A really quick and easy dessert when unexpected guests arrive.

Peach Crisp

Ingredients

1 (17.5 oz) Pouch Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix

½ cup cold butter

5 cups frozen sliced peaches, thawed and drained, or 1 can (20 oz) sliced peaches, drained

Directions

1.     In a bowl, place cookie mix.  Cut in butter, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

2.     In ungreased 8-inch square baking dish or 2-quart round casserole, place peaches.  Sprinkle cookie mixture over peaches.

3.     Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.  Serve warm or cool.

Serves 8

Tip

I have also used frozen berry medley for a berry crisp and it is absolutely delicious.

Snowball Cookies

Ingredients

1 lb butter

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp salt

4 ½ cups self-rising flour

2 tsp vanilla

1 ½ cups pecans or walnuts, chopped

Mix all ingredients except powdered sugar well.  Roll into balls and bake 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees.  Roll in powdered sugar while hot and cool then roll again.

Chocolate Coconut Pie

Ingredients

2 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, chopped

2 cups thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping, divided

1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust

3/4 cup Baker's Angel Flake Coconut

1 1/2 cups cold milk

1 pkg (3.4 oz) Jell-O Coconut Cream Flavor Instant Pudding

Microwave chocolate in medium microwaveable bowl on high for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds.  Stir until chocolate is completely melted.  Add 1 cup Cool Whip and 1/4 cup coconut; stir until well blended.  Spread onto bottom of crust.  Beat milk and pudding mix with whisk 2 minutes; spoon over chocolate layer in crust.  Top with remaining Cool Whip and coconut.  Refrigerate 4 hours.

Steamed Milk

Steam Milk Without an Espresso Machine

Things you will need

• cold milk
• glass jar with cover
• microwave

Instructions

Pour 1/2 cup of milk into a 16 ounce glass jar.

What kind of milk should you use? That depends. When you steam milk, the milk foam is stabilized by the whey proteins. Skim milk is usually fortified with protein, so you get more stabilization, which means richer foam. On the other hand, whole milk has more flavor.  Either way, the milk should be cold, but it doesn't have to be ice cold.

Cover the jar and shake vigorously for 30 to 45 seconds.  You'll start with big milk bubbles, but it won't be long before the air really gets mixed in with the milk. You can stop shaking when the milk is about doubled in volume.

Remove the cover and place jar in the microwave. Microwave the milk on high for 30-45 seconds. Keep your eye on the jar of milk while it's steaming. You don't want it to get too hot, or it will foam out and go flat. The jar should be hot but not so hot that you need a pot holder to handle it.

Pour milk into prepared drink and spoon on the milk foam.  That's it, you're done. If you're making a cappuccino, pour the milk into your coffee, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon on the foam into a pretty cap. If you're making a macchiato, scoop up a spoonful of foam and plop it into the middle of your coffee.  Dust with cinnamon and enjoy!

Gingerbread Latte

Gingerbread Latte

“If you have an espresso maker in your home or office, you can whip up this spicy seasonal favorite.”  Espresso coffee is mixed with gingerbread syrup, and steamed milk.

Ingredients

2 fluid ounces espresso coffee

2 tablespoons gingerbread flavored syrup

½ cup milk, steamed

1/8 cup whipped cream

1 pinch ground nutmeg

1 pinch ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla powder

Directions

In a coffee mug, combine espresso coffee with flavored syrup.  Pour in steamed milk.  Top with whipped cream, and sprinkle with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla powder.

***See recipe for Steamed Milk.

Allrecipes.com

Eggnog Latte

Eggnog Latte

Prep Time: 4 Minutes                                  Ready in: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 Minute                                    Servings: 1

“It wouldn’t be Christmas without one (or several!!!).  If you have a home espresso machine, this is a great holiday coffee treat.”

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup 2% milk

2/3 Cup Eggnog

1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger brewed espresso

1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions

Pour milk and eggnog into a steaming pitcher and heat to between 145 degrees to 165 degrees using the steaming wand.  Brew the shot of espresso, then add to mug.  Pour the steamed milk and eggnog into the mug, using a spoon to hold back the foam.  Spoon foam over the top.  Sprinkle nutmeg on top of the foam.

allrecipes.com 

Salmon Cakes

Easy Salmon Cakes

Ingredients

1 (6-oz.) Chicken of the Sea® Premium Skinless & Boneless Pink Salmon Pouch
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash cayenne pepper
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
3 Tablespoons butter

Directions

In bowl, combine red pepper, green onions, mayonnaise, lemon juice, seasoned salt, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Stir in Chicken of the Sea® Salmon, egg and 1/3-cup breadcrumbs (mixture may be sticky). Divide and form mixture into 4 balls. Roll salmon balls in remaining breadcrumbs; flatten into cakes about 1/2-inch thick. In skillet, melt butter over Medium heat. Fry salmon cakes 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Makes four servings.

Preparation Time10 minutes                        Cook time 8 minutes

Sausage & Sauerkraut Dinner

This is absolutely one of my favorite fall dinners and the family loves it!!!

6 small red potatoes, unpeeled, quartered
8 fresh baby carrots, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp spicy brown mustard
1 tsp caraway seed
1 (15 oz) can sauerkraut
1 lb fully cooked turkey kielbasa, cut into 1 inch slices

In crock pot combine potatoes, carrots and onion.  In medium bowl, combine brown sugar, mustard and caraway seed; mix well.  Stir in sauerkraut and kielbasa.  Spoon sauerkraut mixture over vegetables in crock pot.  Cover; cook on low setting for at least 8 hours or until vegetables are tender.  Serves 4

To make your dinner complete add a really good bread and an Apple Crisp for dessert.  Yummy!!!