Tortellini Salad

I wanted to include this recipe in time for Memorial Day. It's a delicious salad that's great for picnics, parties or even just as a side for dinner.

INGREDIENTS FOR SALAD:
16 oz bag tri-colored tortellini; cooked and drained
1 package grape tomatoes, quartered
2 handfuls spinach, roughly chopped
1 jar pimentos
1 package feta cheese
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

INGREDIENTS FOR DRESSING:
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
4 oz honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced

1. For salad, assemble ingredients in a large serving bowl and refrigerate without dressing.
2. For dressing, add ingredients to a shaker bottle and let stand on counter.
3. Pour dressing over salad 4-6 hours before serving so it has time to marinate. Refrigerate and toss thoroughly before serving.

Sugar and Spice Blueberry Crisp

With a scoop or two of ice cream, this dessert is to die for!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp corn starch
2 pints of blueberries
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 cup flour
3/4 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 stick butter, cut up
3/4 tsp cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl combine sugar and cornstarch. Add blueberries and lemon juice; mix well. Spoon blueberry mixture into a medium baking dish. Set aside.
2. In the same large bowl combine flour, oats, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon. Mix with a fork to form coarse crumbs. Crumble over the blueberry mixture. Cook for 35 minutes. Let cool and serve with vanilla ice cream.

Vegetable Bean Chowder

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
2 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
2 large sweet potatoes, chopped
1 (15 oz) can cream-style corn
1 (15 oz) cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
2 cups milk
2 Tbsp cornstarch or flour

1. In a large stock pot heat oil. Add onion, celery and carrots; saute for about 8 minutes until tender. Add water and salt and bring to a boil Add sweet potatoes and bring to a second boil. Turn the heat down to a simmer and cover; cook for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir in corn and beans. Simmer covered 10 minutes until heated through.
2. Combine milk into cornstarch or flour until smooth. Stir into soup and simmer uncovered until soup is thick.

Strawberry Shortcake with Whipped Cream

This recipe is taken from Country Living Magazine. I made it tonight and it is really yummy. Also, it's not as complicated as it may look; it was fairly easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:
1 quart strawberries, rinsed and cut into quarters
3/4 cup sugar divided
1 cup flour
1 cup cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
6 Tbsp cold butter, divided
A pinch of salt
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 pint heavy cream
3 Tbsp confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar. Set aside in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow for the sugar to draw out the juice of the strawberries.
2. Preheat oven to 400 and place rack on the highest position. In a mixing bowl combine flour, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, cornmeal, and baking powder. Mix well. Add butter and salt and cut into the flour with a pastry cutter or your fingertips. Whisk egg and milk together in a separate bowl and add to dry ingredients. Drop batter onto a lightly greased cookie sheet with a Tbsp and make 3 inch diameter rounds. Bake for 15 minutes on top rack until lightly golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack.
3. Pour cream into a mixing bowl and beat until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla and beat again until stiff peaks form. Assemble dessert as the picture shows being sure to use the juice and the strawberries.

BALTs, A version of the famous BLT sandwich

Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato. Don't forget the avocado. My friend Jenny told me they had these the other night and so we tried them tonight. Yummy! Plus here's what I learned about the goodness of avocados from a website avocados.org..."Avocados provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They also act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit."
So get out your INGREDIENTS:


Whole wheat bread, toasted
Turkey bacon (it's our favorite)
Tomato slices
Avocado
Fresh Spinach or whatever lettuce you prefer
Hellmann's Mayo


Mayo that bread, layer those ingredients, and bite into delicious goodness. Tonight we paired our BALTs with baked beans and homemade sweet potato fries (this recipe is listed on this website). Yum and yum!

Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

I got these cookies off the back of my bag of flour. Boy oh boy are they yummy! 

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups oats

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup or 1/2 of a 12oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Heat oven to 350. Mix sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs until creamy and well blended. 

2. In a separate bowl combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Slowly add mixed dry ingredients to butter mixture. Mix well; stir in chocolate chips.

3. Bake cookies on ungreased cookie sheet for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack for about 10 minutes, then place in a tight seal container.

Taco Pizza

As usual, this recipe is a family classic. No family gathering is complete with out it. I have fond memories of Easters at my Nanny & Poppop's house where I would plop myself next to this delicious appetizer and eat about a third of it. Now that it's spring, maybe you'll host a party. Try this one, I'm sure it will be a hit! What's even better is that you can make it ahead of time. Cut up the ingredients and set aside until serving.

INGREDIENTS:
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 jar salsa
1 green pepper diced
8 oz mozzarella cheese
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 large bag of Scoops

In a medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese and mayo with a fork until mixed well. Spread over a large serving dish. You want to have approx. a 1/4 layer of this mixture. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When ready to serve, layer the ingredients in this order; salsa, green pepper, cheese & tomato.