Spinach and Strawberry Salad

There are certain places you just don’t go to for produce. There’s one grocery in town that usually has less-than-extraordinary (okay, gross-looking) fruits and vegetables. However, today, they surprised me. The strawberries were absolutely bright, shiny and divine, as were the crisp, green spinach leaves. It is officially my summer (yay for grad school, no finals!), and that calls for the first salad of the season! I grew up with so many spinach and mandarin orange salads, it would make your head spin. But it’s tasty and has ingredients that we’d usually have in the fridge. Here’s a little spin on an old fave.

spinach and strawberry salad

makes 4 side salad servings, double for 4 entrees

6 cups fresh spinach
1 cup strawberries, about 8
1/4 cup chopped pecans

slice strawberries lengthwise. toss all ingredients together and top with sesame dressing.
optional toppings: shredded cheese, mandarin oranges, pineapple bites, grilled tofu/chicken/shrimp


fat free sesame seed dressing
2 TB sesame seeds
3 TB white wine vinegar
juice of 1 1/2 lemons
1/4 cup sugar (3 TB agave)
combine all ingredients together, stirring until sugar dissolves. serve immediately and/or store in fridge.
  
Happy Cinco, Happy Summer!

~Laurel~

Jeweled Fruit

Who doesn’t love a good, refreshing fruit salad? It’s a healthy dessert that you feel energized about. Although I do love the giant cupcakes in the bakery shop displays, their lovely decor and colorful frosting does not last once I realize how much butter, white sugar, and oil I have just consumed.

Here is an old standard that is fresh and not so boring.

Melon Mint Salad
Serves 10 (or 1 for 4 lunches)
*Wash and pat dry the non-peeled fruits*


1 cantaloupe, from the fridge, sliced into bite-sized pieces

Bunch of red grapes
Pint of strawberries, sliced into quarters/halves (depending on size of berry)
3 TB fresh chopped mint


Combine all ingredients together and serve now or later. The mint flavor infuses in the fruit the more you wait, BUT it’s delicious immediately after making, too. Enjoy! Quick and easy.


 Serve with apple bran muffin, tea sandwiches, pitas, and with a little citrus water.
 
Citrus Water
2 quarts filtered water
1 orange, sliced circular
1 lemon, sliced circular 

Simply combine fruit with water and chill in fridge for 3+ hours. Serve over ice. This is a great way to drink water for those of us who struggle to get 8 (or even 4) glasses in a day! 

Now for a little bling-bling…


My mom and I started going through my grandmother’s costume jewelry. You would not believe what a woman who lived 89 years would own! It was fabulous!

 Yes, she organized her jewelry by color…

Some funky finds

 My grandmother was one of the most caring people I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. She was not shallow in any way, but there were a few belongings that she cherished (and organized so well)…her china, cookbooks, and her costume jewelry collection. As her youngest granddaughter who came over to her house often, sometimes she would let me marvel at the colors and the shine, even take a few pieces home as my high school play and musical costumes called for. Wearing a 60 year old pair of earrings or a bangle reminds me of her and makes me miss her a tiny bit less. What a wonderful lady…



Happy Wednesday to you and yours.



 

~Laurel~

Family Recipes

Every family has favorites, even if they come from a delivery boy in a large flat cardboard box. I found a couple from my grandmother’s family, and this definitely shows the housewife in heels and pearls, Southern charm and the incredible tasty creations that the women of my family can whip up in a kitchen. Hint: when you see the word “Southern,” think creamy, high fat and high comfort. Just a warning. Here are a few charms…

Adjusttotaste.com

CHICKEN FOR COMPANY
from Aunt Ouida

Ingredients:
12 boneless chicken breast halves
12 oz cream of mushroom soup
12 oz cream of chicken soup
8 oz sour cream
3 oz cooked beef slices, diced (roast beef from the deli works)
6 slices bacon, sliced in halves

Directions:
1. Layer beef in bottom of 9X13 casserole dish.
2. Wrap each breast in half a slice of bacon. Place chicken on top of beef in pan.
3. Combine soups and sour cream and pour over chicken.
4. Sprinkle with black pepper to taste and bake at 275 for 3 hours. Serve over brown or dirty rice.

not my pic (Hubpages)

SEVEN (7!) LAYER SALAD

from Karol’s Kitchen.com

(adapted from Mama & Aunt Sherry)

Ingredients:
1 head lettuce (bibb, romaine)
1/2 cup each, chopped: celery, chives, green/red/yellow peppers (any)
10 oz snow peas (frozen is fine, but thawed)
6 sliced, boiled eggs (I prefer no yolks, so 9 eggs)
8 oz grated sharp cheddar
8 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Topping:
1 pt lite mayo
2 TB sugar (up to 2 more TB to taste)
1 1/2 c lite sour cream

Directions:
1. Layer the top ingredients in the order above (start with lettuce, end with bacon)
2. Mix topping ingredients. Use a spatula to spread evenly over the top of the salad.
Indulgent, creamy, a little sneaky (really? does this count as salad?). Reminds me of holidays.

NEW ORLEANS PRALINES
from Mom

Ingredients:
3 c sugar
1 c buttermilk
1 t baking soda
2 sticks butter/margarine
1 1/2 c pecans
1 t vanilla extract
pinch salt
2 TB white corn syrup (or Agave)

Directions:
1. Mix sugar, buttermilk (w/soda), butter, salt, and syrup.
2. Cook on med-low heat over stove until it forms a rather hard ball when a drop is dropped in water.
3. Add vanilla and pecans. Stir for 30 seconds.
4. Cool rapidly, beating it with whisk as it cools. Once it gets to a warm (but not scalding) temp, it is ready to drop.

Kingking cakes in Nawlins–oh, the cakes are good, too!

5. Using a tablespoon (sprayed with non-stick spray), drop spoonfuls on wax paper or a non-stick baking liner. Oo, delicious! Now soak that pot in warm soapy water and go eat a praline.

~Laurel~

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