summer salads

All summer long my lunches have consisted of these two salads.  I have them at least 3 times a week!  I crave them.  Now are these healthy salads?  I have no idea.  Healthier than fast food, which is what I usually would get when I can't figure out what to have for lunch.  The Chicken Guacamole one is probably healthier then the Buffalo Ranch one, but they are just tasty, and you should try them. 

Chicken Guacamole Salad

1 avocado

dashes of cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, pepper, garlic salt  

a little salsa

  *mix all of the above to make yummy guacamole

cilantro

shredded cheese

spinach leaves

diced cooked chicken

(If you need to clean out your fridge, throw in some beans and diced tomatoes!)

Buffalo Ranch Chicken Salad

spinach leaves

avocado, diced

cooked chicken, diced

shredded cheese

chives

cilantro

drizzle buffalo hot sauce on top

drizzle homemade ranch sauce on top. --homemade ranch sauce recipe can be found here in this post.  

Summer may be coming to an end, but I think I will keep eating these salads, until it gets super cold, then I will move on to soup!

Enjoy!

pin to (before) din: almond flour cinnamon rolls

When I was a kid, I loved Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls.  LOVED. But the problem was, with 6 people in our family, and only a can of 8 made for Saturday breakfast, we each only got one.  Sometimes an extra half, if we were lucky.  I always vowed that when I grew up, I would buy cans of the stuff and eat them all, because I could.  Now grown up, I did buy them often, and couldn't quite make it through a whole can by myself, (I guess that's a good thing) but I enjoyed trying.  :)  Now we are in Scotland.  With no Pillsbury.  NOOOO!  I wanted to try my hand at making some.  I settled in to trying my first ever almond flour recipe.  I have had many Paleo dishes before, as my sister and her family are all about it.  I know they can be tasty.  I found this recipe, for Almond Flour Cinnamon Rolls, and by the photos, they looked delish!  

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A review on Almond Flour Cinnamon Rolls:

Result: 2 out of 4 stars 

Will I make again? Yes.

Chef's notes: These were tasty, satisfied my sweet and carb cravings... easy to make.... But really, you have a mouth full of ground almonds.  Yes it tasted good, but they weren't very cinnamon roll-ish.  But I did like them!

I did not have coconut oil.  I used olive oil.  I did not have coconut butter, I used melted butter for that.  

grandma's lasagna

I have one of those grandma's where everything she cooks and bakes is amazing.  Most of my favorite family memories involve her most (family) famous recipes, including chicken enchiladas, cherry pie, chocolate cake, and lasagna.  My first memory of her lasagna is when my grandparents came over to babysit us, and she made it for dinner.  I remember thinking it was the best lasagna I had ever had!  And still to this day, I really think that.  I finally got the recipe from her, to make it myself, and I thought I would share this easy recipe, because you need to make it.  It's so easy with simple ingredients, I will never buy a frozen lasagna again!  I hope you enjoy!

ingredients/directions

-brown 1lb ground beef

-add 2 cloves garlic, minced

-add an 8oz can tomato sauce

-add 2 cand diced tomatoes

-add 1/2 t salt

-add 1/2 t oregano

-add 1/4 t pepper

-cover and simmer for 15 minutes

-cook 1 package (about 10 noodles) lasagna noodles while sauce is simmering.

(you can skip this step if you like, just put the noodles into the lasagna, and they can cook while in the oven)

-Layer noodles, the sauce, then cottage cheese (10-16 oz for whole lasagna, then 1lb monterrey jack cheese for the whole lasagna.  Repeat for 3 layers.  

-Top with parmesan cheese.  

-Bake for 15-30 minutes at 350 degrees F or until cheese is bubbly.

chef's notes: 

I used shredded mozzarella cheese, because the UK doesn't have monterrey jack cheese.  

pin to (before) din: strawberry shortcake muffins

I tried out some Strawberry Shortcake Muffins the other day.  I was pretty excited about them!  As you can see, my muffins didn't turn out as yummy looking as the recipe's... but don't let looks fool you, they tasted good!  

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A review on Strawberry Shortcake Muffins.

Result: 2 out of 4 stars - A good muffin, yes, but I am a fan of blueberry muffins, rather than strawberry.

Will I make again? Maybe.

Chef's notes: My muffins look a bit darker (and a little burnt on top, lets keep it real) because I kept breaking them open to see if they were done, and I kept seeing dough.  But afterwards, what I think it was, was the strawberry juices inside the muffins making the cooked muffin around them look like uncooked dough, so I kept putting them back in the oven!  Still tasted good, once the chunks of blackened strawberries on top were taken off.

pin to din: tomato basil + cheddar soup

Spring is in the air.  I think.  I always get tricked when I wake up to a beautiful sunny day.  I think it is warmer then it really is.  We still have some cold days ahead, but we will soon be done with sick season, and move on to light jackets and sun sun sun!  Until then, I still enjoy making soups, especially when we all are under the weather here.  I pinned this tomato soup awhile back, and finally tried it.  After a few bites, I felt like I had tasted that exact soup before, but couldn't place it.  Panera?  Camille's?  Nope!  It tastes EXACTLY like La Madeline's Tomato Basil Soup!  What a happy surprise.  The soup is on the slightly tomato-y sour side, but I like it. 

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A review on Tomato Basil + Cheddar Soup

Result: 4 out of 4 stars!

Will I make again? Yes!  

Chef's notes:  As I mentioned, it is kind of a sour soup... from the yogurt, maybe?  May try cream next time. We also used chicken broth, versus veg broth.  We did not mix the cheese in, because that makes for a hard clean up on the pot later... we just sprinkled it in our bowls.  We first tried it chunky, (as the recipe suggests you can) but I blended the left overs, and liked it much more all blended together. 

pin to din: cajun chicken pasta

I tend to stay faithful to my love for Mexican food, but I think it's time for me to branch out more.  Every time we go visit Jason's family in Louisiana, we have at least one Cajun meal.  I guess it's to be expected.  I always forget to cook Cajun!  I haven't even cooked gumbo for my Cajun husband.  Shameful!  (I am planning on making some soon!)  I pinned this Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe a while back, and finally made it.  It was amazing!  So yummy, and Jason loved it.  This will be going on our recipe rotation!

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A review on Cajun Chicken Pasta:

Result: 4 out of 4 stars!

Will I make again? Yes!  

Chef's notes: I used pasta I already had, penne, and I liked it a lot.  I like the texture of this pasta better than linguine for this recipe.  I also didn't go the 'low fat' route.  Very yummy!

pin to {after} din: yummy treats!

Tis the season for making yummy treats!  I've been trying out a few that I have pinned.  Pumpkin Spice Donuts and Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes.  The donuts make me feel cool and that I am actually a chef, even though I didn't do anything extra special, except pour into a donut pan.  :)  The cupcakes I was super excited to make because for as long as I can remember, Texas Sheet Cake has been 'our' cake.  My family has been making it forever, and I actually thought, until a few years ago, that it was my grandma's recipe.  I was shocked, SHOCKED to find that others new about its yummyness!!  

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A review on Pumpkin Spice Donuts:

Result: 2 out of 4 stars.  

Will I make again: Tasty, yes, but not WOW as I was hoping for.  Easy to make, so I will probably make again.

Chef's notes:  I found that rolling the donuts in the sugar/cinnamon after dipping in butter was way too much.  So I just sprinkled the sugar/cinnamon on the donuts after dipping in the butter.

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A review on Texas Sheet Cake Cupcakes:

Result: 4 out of 4 stars!!

Will I make again: YES!  This is the best chocolate cake ever in my opinion, and to have it all packaged up in a little cupcake makes it perfect.  

Chef's notes:  Pile on the icing!  (It's the best part)  :)

pin to din: buffalo chicken tacos

I am always searching for recipes that can take the place of some of my favorite (restaurant) meals back home.  We love Buffalo Wild Wings, and I usually get their buffalo chicken tacos.  This recipe for buffalo chicken tacos is similar, if not better!  I seriously ate this for a full week for lunch.  Not tired of it yet.  The recipe calls for ranch dressing.  The UK doesn't have ranch dressing, but luckily one of my new (American) friends here gave me a yummy homemade ranch recipe, so I used that.  It was delish!  

Here is the Ranch recipe:

1/2 cup Kefir (or sour cream)

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tbsp mayo

1 1/2 tsp dill

1 tsp chives

1 tsp parsley

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic

salt and pepper to taste.

I used all dried herbs, and it tasted great, but it would probably taste even better with all fresh herbs!! Give it a try!

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Here is a review on Buffalo Chicken Tacos:

Result: 4 out of 4 stars!  A tangy yummy easy meal.

Will I make again? You bet!

Chef's notes: Tasted even more like BWW version with their sauce that our friend brought to us a few weeks back,  (but I also used Frank's Buffalo Sauce) and I added some shredded cheddar cheese too.  (BWW does that)  I am not a fan of Ranch dressing, but this homemade version I made is so tasty! 

pin to din: enchiladas with jalapeno cream sauce

I guess you can say my all time favorite food is Mexican, and my all time favorite Mexican restaurant is Chuy's.  (Not sure where it is all located, but they are in Texas!)  Specifically, Chuy's chicka chicka boom boom.  I have no idea why it is named that, probably just to hear people order it.  To me, it tastes like a yummy sour cream / jalapano, green chili sauced enchilada, or something.  

I came across this recipe, and it sounded like maybe it would be close, so I gave it a try.  Jason and I tend to make fun of chef's on cooking shows who are in love with the food they taste test, while cooking.  All the oo-ing and ah-ing.  Well, I have never had a recipe make me want to scream for joy!  I was all by myself, and I took a bite, and it tasted just like the chicka chicka boom boom from Chuy's!  Oh the excitement!!!  Noah thought I was weird talking to my food... I may make this once a week now... Jason wasn't too sure about that idea, although he did like it!

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Here is a review on shrimp enchiladas with jalapeno cream sauce:

RESULT: 4 out of 4 stars!!  Spicy with all the jalapenos.

WILL I MAKE AGAIN?  You. Bet.

CHEF'S NOTES:  I just used this recipe for the sauce.  (I don't like shrimp too much)  I also used pickled jalapenos, because the UK doesn't have fresh ones.  It tasted great! I then cooked chicken chunks, with sauteed onions and garlic for the filling.  With freshly made salsa, it tasted even more like Chuy's!  Enjoy!

pin to din: bang bang shrimp

I am growing here people.  I made a seafood dish.  I do not like sea food.  But I like this shrimp dish!  I first had Bang Bang shrimp at a restaurant in Lafayette, Louisiana.  It was so good.  Didn't taste sea food-y, just delicious!  We were at Jason's co-workers house (they are from Louisiana) were we had homemade Bang Bang shrimp from our (fabulous chef) friend.  It tasted just like the dish at the restaurant I had eaten.  I had to try to make it myself!  That same week I randomly came across this recipe, and so I decided to try it, along with my friend's recipe.  (Very similar)

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Here is a review on Bang Bang Shrimp:

RESULT: 3 out of 4 stars!  Only because they didn't taste exactly like my friends or the restaurants. My standards were high for this dish!

WILL I MAKE AGAIN? Yes, still very yummy. (See chef's notes below)

CHEF'S NOTES: The recipe calls to fry the shrimp. Since I have never cooked with shrimp, I didn't realize I needed uncooked shrimp.  (Although yes, it shows uncooked shrimp in pictures, but I tend to not read things all the way through.) So I bought already shelled and cooked shrimp.  A quick search online told me that frying cooked shrimp will just make it rubbery and not tasty.  So I decided to saute them (in the batter) and it worked out pretty well, although they would be way better (crunchy!) fried. I also added some Tony's spice to the fried batter.  Everything is better with Tony's!  (My friends sauce recipe calls for just 1 part sweet chili sauce, 1 part mayo, and tabasco sauce to taste.) 

pin to din: smoothie

Again, this isn't dinner, but it makes for a nice sweet treat afterwards!  Or for breakfast... or for a snack...

I have been meaning to buy a blender, to start making smoothies, for the main reason that Noah (and myself) don't eat enough fruit and veggies, and I thought Noah would enjoy them.  I finally bought one, and it has been worth every penny, (even made pasta sauce in it!) I am using it often, especially to make this smoothie, I pinned awhile back. The link is in a different language, you can use Google translate to read it if you like, or if you are like me, try and figure out the words.  Some you can figure out what they are.  This smoothie is so yummy!  Jason loves it.  He says best smoothie ever.  Noah likes the 'moodie' too.  He often asks for one now.  :)  

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Here is a review on banana, strawberry lime coconut milk smoothie:

RESULT: 4 out of 4 stars!  LOVE the coconut milk in it.

WILL I MAKE AGAIN? You bet!  Already have!

CHEF'S NOTES: The recipe calls for sugar.  I don't put sugar.  I use strawberry greek yogurt, a whole lime (instead of half) and I have even put carrots in it too!

pin to din: shredded beef tacos

I just bought a slow cooker, and put it to good use with this first recipe.  These shredded beef tacos were SO GOOD!!  I could easily just eat the beef by itself, as a roast.  Yum-o!  Enjoy!
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Here is a review on shredded beef tacos:
RESULT: 4 out of 4 stars!! So tender, easy to make, very flavorful.
WILL I MAKE AGAIN? Yes.  Could turn it into a roast, (rather than a Mexican dish) by adding carrots and potatoes...
CHEF'S NOTES: I would change nothing!  :)

pin to din: avocado salad

I have always loved Mexican food.  We are missing all of our favorite Mexican restaurants back home! I think that's why I have kicked my Mexican food recipes into high gear.  I have many Mexican recipes I want to try, as you can see here.  With the discovery that coriander is cilantro in Scotland, it makes it all that much more better!  If only there were jalapanos here.  (There are pickled jarred ones, but no fresh ones.)

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Here is a review on avocado salad appetizers:

RESULT: 4 out of 4 stars!  (I tried the black bean salsa avocado salad, there are 3 different kinds you can try.)

WILL I MAKE AGAIN? You bet!  So easy to make, and if you combine avocado, garlic, lime and cilantro, I will eat it any time, anywhere.  YUM.

CHEF'S NOTES: I felt like a real chef whipping these up, and carefully spooning the little bean salad into the avocados.  :)

pin to din: buffalo wings

I have cooked every night this week and last (minus the weekend).  This has never happened before.  Never!  I am on a roll!  One of our favorite things to eat back home is Buffalo Wings.  Yum.  So I made some Buffalo Chicken Wings at home, using this recipe, that I pinned awhile back.  Super simple.  Jason said it was the best wings he had ever had!  

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Here is a review on Buffalo Chicken Wings:

RESULT: 3 out of 4 stars!  A whole bunch of messy goodness!

WILL I MAKE AGAIN?  Yes!  With Jason loving them, this will definitely go in our recipe box.

CHEF'S NOTES:  With two kids to watch over, making these took awhile.  (Frying chicken)  Next time I may try to bake the chicken instead of frying them.  

pin to din: homemade butter

Now I know this isn't actually a meal, but it's totally worth a post, because it is easy, fun, and makes me feel all Suzy Homemaker.  While watching Jaime Oliver, we took note of when he made his own butter.  So easy!  All you need is whipping cream, or heavy cream, and you whip it in a food processor, until the liquid (buttermilk) starts to separate from the 'butter'.  Done.  Since we don't have a food processor here, I put this idea on the back burner, until I saw this recipe version.  Put the whipping cream into a jar/tupperware, and shake shake shake!!  I shook mine for about 15 minutes total, and bam!  Butter!  Read through the recipe directions here for better step by step directions.  

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Here is a review on homemade butter:

RESULT: 3 out of 4 stars - I like a buttery taste, and although this was very creamy/light/whippy, there wasn't much taste.  

WILL I MAKE IT AGAIN?  Yes!

CHEF'S NOTES: Next time I will add a pinch of salt, and experiment with different batches of garlic butter, and sugar + cinnamon butter!  Yummy!

pin to din: pf chang's lettuce wraps

By now we are all obsessed with Pinterest... along the way I have been collecting yummy looking food recipes to try.  And I have finally decided it is time to start cooking some up!  

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Here is a review on PF Chang's Style Lettuce Wraps:

RESULT: 4 out of 4 stars | Yummy!!!  

WILL I MAKE AGAIN? Yes!!

CHEF'S NOTES: Mine didn't look like the picture in the recipe, and wasn't exactly like PF Chang's, but it sure tasted good, Jason and I BOTH enjoyed it, (that can be rare) and it definitely made it into our recipe box to make again.  I doubled the stir-fry sauce, it didn't seem like enough for me.