Summer is Coming

      It has started to get warm and now you have thoughts of eating outside.  This is when you start thinking about food that seems to go with summer.  This is one of my favorites.

Kidney Bean Salad

1 15 oz. can of Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed

2 Hard Boiled Eggs, diced

10 Bread and Butter Pickles, diced into small pieces

1 small Onion, diced into small pieces

2 Tbsp Miracle Whip

1. Put the first four ingredients in a bowl.  Stir them together.
2. Add the Miracle Whip.  Toss the salad until the Miracle Whip coats all the other ingredients.
3. Refrigerate for an hour or two before serving.

Welcome to summer.

Deli Counter Dinner

              Don’t ignore the deli counter as an addition to your dinner menu.  I recommend trying those spicy chicken or turkey meats as part of a flavorful and quick meal.  Here is a favorite of mine.

Turkey Quesadillas

¼ - ½ lb. thinly sliced Spicy Turkey

¼ lb. thinly sliced Cheese (I like a Pepper Jack)

2 medium Tomatoes thinly sliced

1 pkg. 6” or larger Corn Tortillas (The package I purchase has 12 tortillas)

Canola Oil

1. Heat a skillet or grill pan.
2. Away from the heat, assemble the Quesadilla.  First place two slices of Cheese on one Tortilla.  Then put two slices each of the Turkey and Tomato on top of the Cheese.  Follow with two more slices of Cheese.  Finish with a second Tortilla.
3. Use about a teaspoon of Canola Oil to coat the hot skillet or grill pan.
4. Place the prepared Tortillas in the pan.  Cook until the bottom tortilla is brown and flip.  Once the other side is brown, remove from the pan and cut into four pieces for serving.

Options:

Chicken is an easy and great substitute for Turkey.

Soy Cheese can be used in place of regular Cheese.

Enjoy!

Egg-cetera

         Ham and eggs, that is what you usually think of when you think of the food served for Easter.  The ham sandwiches the next day always taste so good, but what about those extra hard boiled eggs you colored?  Well I love Deviled Eggs which are a great way to use those eggs.  Here is my recipe.

Deviled Eggs

6 Hard Boiled Eggs sliced the long way and the yolks removed

¼ c. Miracle Whip

3 dashes of Tabasco Sauce

Sweet Paprika

1. Mash the egg yolks.
2. To the mashed yolks, add the Miracle Whip and Tabasco Sauce.
3. Fill the egg halves with the yolk mixture.
4. Sprinkle the tops with Sweet Paprika.

Optional Flavors:

Chipotle Tabasco Sauce

Smoked Paprika

Serve along with your ham sandwich.

My Salad Nicoise

                It’s spring soon and the markets have what they call Spring Potatoes.  These little potatoes seem so much more tender than the usual potatoes the rest of the year.  This salad is how I like them best. 

Salad

(These amounts will make two salads)

½ lb. small Potatoes boiled until fork tender

½ lb. small Green Beans-steam or blanch to preferred doneness

1 5 oz. can Oil Packed Tuna

2 Hard Boiled Eggs-cut in 1/4s the long way

24 Nicoise Olives

20 small Pear or Cherry Tomatoes halved

1. Arrange the potatoes, beans, eggs, olives, and tomatoes on a plate.
2. Top with tuna and drizzle with dressing. 

Dressing

¼ c. Olive Oil

2 Tbsp. Rice Wine Vinegar

1 tsp. Dijon Mustard

Pinch of Sugar if needed.

1. Wisk together all the ingredients.

   

Black Bean Chili

              It’s the beginning of March today and true to form it is acting like a lion.  Along with this weather phenomenon is the continuing trend for some meatless dinner during the week.  This is why I am giving you this recipe.  Not only will it keep you warm, but you will also have a tasty, meatless meal.

2 Tbsp. Oil

1 large Onion finely chopped

1 tsp. Mexican Oregano*

1 tsp. Chipotle Powder*

1 tsp. Ancho Powder*

1 tsp. Ground Cumin*

1 14.5 oz. can Fire Roasted Tomatoes Crushed

1 14.5 oz. can Fire Roasted Tomatoes Diced

1 10 oz. can of mixed Chilies and Tomatoes

2 15 oz. cans of Black Beans-drained and rinsed

* 1 heaping Tbsp. of your favorite chili blend can be used in place of these spices.

1. Sauté Onions in the Oil until they become translucent.
2. Add the Spices and stir together.
3. Add the three cans of Tomatoes.  Stir and let simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add the Beans and let simmer until the beans are warm.  This takes about 10 minutes.  It is now ready to serve
5. Set up a Toppings Bar and let everyone choose their favorites.

Toppings

Sour Cream

Chopped Green Onions

Corn Chips

Salsa

Cheese

Avocado

Chopped Onions

Jalapeños-either jarred or fresh

If meat is desired, here are some suggestions to stir into the chili:

1 lb Ground Turkey Thigh

4 fresh Chicken or Turkey Chorizo Sausage removed from their casings

The Chili is even better the next day. Think Nachos.

Peach Squares

            I hope you enjoyed your Valentine dessert.  But you’re probably standing around trying to figure out what to do with three egg yolks.  I have a recipe for you.

Crust

1-1/4 c. Flour

1 stick Butter

2 Tbsp. French Vanilla Yogurt

Filling

¼ c. Flour

3 Egg Yolks

1/3 c. French Vanilla Yogurt

1 c. Sugar

1 15oz. can Sliced Peaches

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare the crust by blending together the Flour, Butter, and Yogurt. 
3.  Press the crust mixture into a 9x13 pan.  Cover the bottom and a little up the sides to create a small lip.
4. Bake for twenty minutes. 
5.  Blend together the Flour, Egg Yolks, Yogurt, and Sugar to create the filling.
6. Pour the filling into the crust when it comes out of the oven.
7. Cut the Peaches into thinner slices.  Place on top of the filling.
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until a knife comes out cleanly.  
9.  Let the squares cool before cutting and serving.

              The flour in the filling can be substituted with a Gluten Free All Purpose Flour. This can be done as well for the crust or a premade Gluten Free Crust can be purchased. Lactose Free or Soy Yogurt is available in order to replace the regular Yogurt.

Valentine's Day Tart

                Valentine’s Day makes you think of cards, chocolate, flowers, chocolate, candle light dinners with someone you love, and of course chocolate.

                Since I am trying to lose weight and still work with the allergies my family has, I think I have found a perfect dessert for the Valentine’s Day dinner.

                This is my take on Pavlova.  Most people think of it as a baked meringue with whipping cream and fruit.  I am still using the meringue, but changing the filling.

Valentine’s Day Tart

 1 Meringue Ring-This can be store bought or you can use the recipe I have included.

6 oz. or ¾ cp. French Vanilla Yogurt

1 lb. box of Strawberries-Small ones keep whole, half or quarter large Strawberries.

2 Tbsp. Chocolate Chips

1 Tbsp. sliced, toasted Almonds

1. Put Yogurt in the bottom of the Meringue Ring.
2. Arrange Strawberries on top of the Yogurt.  Place the Strawberries in circles with the end up.  Be sure to cover as much Yogurt as possible.
3. Put the Chocolate Chips in a microwaveable dish and cook for 20 seconds on high.  Stir to melt the chocolate.  Once stirred, if necessary, microwave for another 15 seconds and stir again.  When the Chocolate is completely melted, drizzle over the Strawberries and Meringue Ring.
4. Sprinkle Almonds on top.

          The tart can be eaten right away or assembled about two hours ahead of time.  If assembled ahead, put the tart in the refrigerator.

Meringue Ring

3 Large Egg Whites at room temperature

¼ tsp. Crème de Tartar

¾ cp. Sugar

Parchment Paper

9” Plate

1. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
2. Put a piece of Parchment Paper on the table.  Place the 9” Plate upside down on the Parchment Paper.  Trace around the outside edge of the Plate with a pencil to create your 9” circle.  Lay the Parchment Paper pencil side down on a baking sheet.
3. Blend together Egg Whites and Crème de Tartar.  Whisk until they create soft peaks.
4. Add Sugar 1 Tbsp. at a time.  Blend Sugar in fully before adding another Tbsp.  Once all the sugar is blended in, there will be stiff peaks.
5. Fill in the Parchment Paper circle with half of the Meringue.
6. Build a ring around the edge of the circle with the remaining Meringue.  The ring can be as thick or as thin as you desire.
7. Bake for 1-1/2 hours.  Turn off the oven but leave the Meringue in for another hour or overnight
8. Make sure the Meringue is cool before assembling the rest of the tart.

I hope you enjoy this dessert with people you love.