Another Kind of Southwest Salad

This was kind of a gourmet leftovers creation. I went to the grocery store while the employees were restocking produce, and ended up with a bunch of extras for cheap. To make this salad:

rice, cooked

beans, cooked

meat, grilled (ours was beef, but chicken or pork would be good, too)

corn, cooked

bell peppers and onions, sautéed

lettuce

tomato

cilantro sprigs

avocado

cheese, shredded (cheddar, colby jack)

dressing (I wanted to make a lime cilantro vinaigrette, but time required ranch)

Layer first five ingredients in salad plate and allow to cool slightly so lettuce doesn't wilt. Just before serving, layer remaining ingredients and drizzle with dressing. We didn't have any, but this would be good with warm tortillas.

Crunchy Turkey Salad

Salad

green leaf lettuce

cooked, shredded turkey

sliced almonds

chopped celery

diced red onion

dried cranberries

Layer ingredients on salad plates and chill. Serve with honey lime dressing from Chicken Cilantro Salad recipe.

Chicken Cilantro Salad

Salad

green leaf lettuce

cilantro sprigs

grilled chicken, chopped

dried cranberries

diced red onion

shredded mozzarella cheese

Dressing (from ourbestbites.com)

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 T grated onion

1/3 C fresh orange juice

3T fresh lime juice

2T honey

3/4 t cumin

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ground black pepper

1/2 C vegetable oil

Combine dressing ingredients in small jar or dressing container with lid. Shake well and refrigerate. Layer salad ingredients on individual salad plates. Chill. Before serving, shake dressing and drizzle over salads. Serve with biscuits or bread.

All Vegetable Lasagna

2 T olive oil

1 small onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp basil

pinch crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups crushed tomatoes

1/2 cup water

2 small zucchini, sliced into circles

2 large tomatoes, sliced

4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

Saute onions until tender. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes more. Add salt, spices, crushed tomatoes and water. Simmer until slightly thickened and saucy. Remove from heat. In greased 8 inch square pan, layer small amount of tomato sauce followed by a layer of zucchini, then tomato, then sauce, then cheese. Use half of ingredients for each layer. Repeat for second layer, finishing with mozzarella. Bake covered at 375 for 20 minutes, then remove foil for 15 minutes and allow cheese to brown slightly. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before cutting. Serves 4.

We served ours with garlic french bread, carrot sticks and broccoli florets, and watermelon.

Lentil Stew on Potatoes

It's been awhile since I've posted something delicious! Let's get cooking.


2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp basil
2 T olive oil
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 lb lentils
10 oz. spinach
salt and pepper, to taste

Saute onions, carrots and celery until just tender but still a little crunchy. Add spices and stir. Pour in lentils and add two cups of water. Cover and let simmer for about an hour, or until lentils are tender. Stir in spinach and cook until just wilted. If using frozen, cook until warmed through. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve over mashed potatoes. Serves 8.

Poor Man's Alfredo Sauce

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 cup milk

2 T flour

1 tsp garlic

1/2 tsp basil

1/4 cup grated parmesan

salt and pepper, to taste

Melt butter in small saucepan. Stir in milk. Stir in garlic, basil, salt and pepper. Whisk in flour and continue to stir until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in parmesan and allow to melt. Serve over fettucini. Other optional toppings include: broccoli, mushrooms and chicken.

Homemade Fry Basket

When you get the hankering to go out to eat with your honey, just think of how much fun you'd have making the food together! My husband and I frequently choose what looks yummy off of a menu and run to the store to buy the ingredients. It's not the most frugal approach to regular cooking, but for a special night together, it's cheaper than eating out, and usually a lot more fun!

Tonight, the winners were mozzarella sticks and onion rings.

1 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups bread crumbs

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp seasoning salt

1/2 tsp garlic

salt and pepper, to taste

1 small onion

4 oz. mozzarella cheese

Note: flour, eggs, bread crumbs and garlic measurements are doubled, and will be used separately in this recipe.

Place 1/2 cup flour, 1 egg, and 1 cup bread crumbs in three separate bowls. Season bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and 1/4 tsp garlic. Slice cheese into 1/4 inch X 1/4 inch X 3 inch sticks. Dredge cheese sticks in flour, dip in egg, cover with breadcrumbs, then sprinkle with flour again. Repeat with all sticks until finished.

Place remaining flour, egg and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls. (I used the same bowls, but you can use clean ones.) Season bread crumbs with seasoning salt and remaining garlic. Slice onion into 1/4 inch slices and separate into rings. Coat using same process as above.

Fry cheese sticks and onion rings 3-5 at a time in a medium saucepan with oil heated to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Each should take a minute or less to fry. Remove when lightly browned and place on paper towels.