Avocado and Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette

I have been looking for a few new salads to make and this one seems to have all my favorite veggies!  I discovered it on the Authentic Suburban Gourmet blog via Pinterest.  Can't wait to try it!

"Avacado and Grilled Corn Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette"

Ingredients

5 Ears Corn, husk removed, brush with olive oil and grilled, remove corn with sharp knife
2 Avocado’s, diced and sprinkled with lemon juice to prevent browning
2 C. Tomatoes, red and yellow cherry variety or equivalent
1 Small red onion, finely diced
¾ C. Feta, crumbled
1 ½ C. English cucumber, skin on and chopped small dice

Add to a large bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cilantro Vinaigrette

6 T. Olive oil

2 T. Sherry vinegar
1 t. Garlic powder
2 T. Fresh cilantro, minced
½ t. Salt
10 Grinds of fresh ground pepper

Add all of the above ingredients in a small glass jar with a lid. Shake really well. Taste and adjust seasoning as you desire.

When ready to serve salad, add the dressing and gently toss.

{photos via The Authentic Suburban Gourmet)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend...Strawberry Cake

I have been eyeing this cake and blog post from The Smitten Kitchen all week!  I looks delicious and so festive for the Memorial Day weekend.  I am going to try this out today and will let you know how it turn out!  The recipe and more photos are here.

I hope you all have a safe and happy long weekend.

{photos via The Smitten Kitchen}

Best Banana Bread

I have been making this banana bread recipe, that I found in Cooking with Mary Kay, for years.  After trying several other recipes this one is by far the best.  My kids love it and prefer it without the nuts.  This recipe took 1st place at a bread baking contest in Jackson County Town, Missouri. 

Recipe:

1 1/2 C. sugar

1/2 C. butter

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

2 C. flour, unsifted

1/2 C. buttermilk

2 medium bananas, mashed

Nuts if desired

Cream sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add 2 eggs and salt.  Alternate flour with milk.  Beat well.  Add bananas and nuts.  Grease and flour two small loaf pans or one large loaf pan. (I use one)  Bake 1 1/2 hours at 300 degrees.

{photos via me}

Best chocolate sheet cake

All you need for this wonderful cake is sugar, flour, salt, butter, cocoa, baking soda, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, powdered sugar, milk, and pecans. (I left out the pecans because of kids)

My middle child loves to bake and loves chocolate so I thought I'd put him in charge of dessert last night and he was ready for the challenge.  This recipe is very easy and turned out perfect!  I mentioned above that we didn't add the pecans, but it was just as yummy.  Recipe here.

{photos via The Pioneer Woman}

Bacon wrapped jalapeno thingies

My daughter made these for our 4th of July party and they were such a hit!  Not only were they great as an appetizer but some of us ate them with our burgers and steaks.  Needless to say they were all eaten and I will definitely make them again.  For step by step pictures and recipe click here.  Yummy!

{photos via The Pioneer Woman}

Lemon Squares

One of our traditional, family deserts has always been Lemon Squares.  Since we were having family over for dinner I decided to make these and they were delicious.  Easy and affordable as well.

Crust

Before baking

Finished product

Everyone loved them and gave them a five star rating!

{photos via Sarah and recipe About.com}

Homemade Pico De Gallo

I was craving fajitas for dinner yesterday and decided to make fresh pico de gallo rather than buy it.  The produce looked very fresh and it always tastes so much better homemade.

Fresh Pico De Gallo:

1 white onion, chopped into very small pieces

1 small bunch of green onions, chopped very small

1 jalepeno pepper, remove seeds and chop into very tiny pieces (add 2 if like very spicy)

3 roma tomatoes, remove seeds and chop into small pieces

1/2 lime, squeeze juice over all ingredients

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together and let sit for 4 to 5 hours in refrigerator.  Serve with a variety of foods!

Mamies Million Dollar Fudge

For as long as I remember my Mom, "Mamie" to the grandkids has been making this fudge recipe around the Christmas season.  Some she kept for us, and several batches were wrapped as gifts for friends and family.  Now my kids expect it and have learned how to make it.  It really is the best we have had.  My kids aren't fans of the nuts, so we leave them out.  Either way, tastes great!

Million Dollar Fudge

3( 4 1/2 oz) plain Hershey bars

1 (12 oz). pkg. of Chocolate Chips

1 (13 oz) jar of marshmallow creme

1 Tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk

1 lb. of walnuts or pecans (we leave them out)

*Mix in a 6-8 quart container:  Broken up Hershey bars, chocolate chips, vanilla, marshmallow creme, and butter.

*Mix the following ingredients in a 4-6 quart saucepan:  4 1/2 cups granulated sugar, can of evaporated

milk.  Let the sugar and milk come to a boil.  After it boils, turn down heat and let slow boil for 6 minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning.

*Pour mixture of sugar and milk over remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy.   After it is completely blended, add the chopped nuts.

*Drop with spoons full onto sheets of waxed paper and let stand several hours until completely cooled

*Recipe makes about 6 pounds of the best fudge ever. (roughly 50 pieces)

Parmesian Black Pepper Crackers

I definitely prefer salty snacks over sweets and when I saw this recipe on Cupcakes and Cashmere blog, I decided I had to try it.  We are entertaining family Sunday night and will be serving these.  I followed the directions exactly, but did add about 2 tablespoons of water to the batch.  They smell heavenly while they are baking and are very delicious.  Can't wait to serve them.

(You can find the recipe here.)

(photos from love that and cupcakes and cashmere)

Soups On

Now that the weather is is getting colder and the days are shorter I find myself looking for hearty soups to feed the family.  It has to be substantial and usually include some time of meat for my hungry boys.  These four soup recipes are our favorites, simple to make and healthy.  That is key.  Served with hot crusty bread or crackers and you are good to go.  Enjoy these recipes.

1. Quick Turkey Chili
2. Tuscan Style Potato Soup
3. White Bean and Chicken Chili
4. Hearty Chicken Vegetable Soup

Healthy Salmon Recipe

Salmon Florentine

You'll be hooked on the scrumptious taste of this meal; plus, it provides a hefty 8 grams of ticker-protective polyunsaturated fats. Easy to make and family friendly. Click here for the recipe and enjoy!