What’s For Dinner? Caprese Salad and Kiwi & Strawberry Summer Fresh Salad!

This week I am sharing two fantastic recipes that are easy , quick and delicious. Enjoy!

2 kiwis

1 avocado

4 strawberry’s

1/4 cucumber ( peeled & seeded)

spinach – few leaves

fresh mint

2 blackberries for garnish

Juice of  1 lime

dash -sea salt

1 tbsp -olive oil

1. Chop kiwi, avocado, strawberry’s ,  cucumber and mint and combine in a bowl.     Add olive oil, salt and juice of 1/2 lime mix.   Scoop mixture into  ramekins turn over onto plate top with spinach leaves.  Garnish with blackberries.

Caprese Salad

3 tomatoes ( cut into 1/4 inch slices)

1 pound of fresh mozzarella ( cut into 1/4 slices)

1 bunch of fresh basil about 20-30  basil leaves

1tbsp olive oil

salt

pepper

1. Pour balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the vinegar has reduced to your liking . I generally let it reduce for about 15-20 mins.  Set aside, and cool to room temperature.
2. Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil , and then the balsamic reduction.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy !!

The Terrible Twos ?

As I was leaving the supermarket today the cashier looked at my son and said ” I remember you from yesterday your a mischievous one aren’t you ?” then she looked at me and said ” you are going to have your hands full” and laughed. I then thought ,Going to have my hands full? Nathaniel is a wonderful little boy dont get me wrong he is well behaved most of the time and most people say I am lucky. But recently he has been a little more into everything than usual. Hes now climbing on everything and anything and if he can climb in it guess where you will find him, yelling when he gets frustrated and cant do something, hitting other children and my favorite looking at people and throwing his cup or whatever he has at the time at them to see if they will pick it up for him. Is this the start of the terrible twos? and if so how do I stop it lol..
I have tried time outs and well to be honest with an 18 month old putting them in a chair for 30 seconds seems like eons but doesn’t seem to get the message across. I have tried the distraction method which doesn’t work anymore like it use to, the take away method leaves you with a screaming toddler. So far the only thing that works is bringing out the vacuum and let him push it around or give him the broom and he is content and not into anything for a good 15 – 20 minutes. The only downside is when I have to take that away. I have now started getting in the habit of telling him the broom or vacuum needs to go night night and we will see it later, and that seems to be working for now but for how much longer.
The terrible twos? Probably .. Now excuse me while i get my son off of the kitchen table.. Guess who figured out how to push the chairs back up to it 😉

Shortbread

So again from the Canadian Living 93 holiday edition book comes a great shortbread recipe.

1 cup butter softened
3 tbsp corn starch
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups of all purpose flour

In a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy;gradually beat in corn starch,then sugar. With wooden spoon, beat in flour, about 1/4 cup at a time.
On a lightly floured surface roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Using floured fluted 2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out cookies. Place on waxed paper lined trays; prick each cookie three times with a fork. Freeze until firm. ( can be stored for up to 1 month in freezer)
Place frozen rounds on baking sheet;bake in 275 degree oven for 40 – 50 minutes until firm to the touch. Remove from baking sheets and let cool on racks. ( can be stored in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks)
Makes approx 24 cookies

Pasta Salad

My pasta salad recipe.
Easy and delicious … Add different veggies to keep it new and exciting

Ingredients:

1 long English cucumber
1 red pepper
1 orange pepper
4 stalks of celery
2 carrots
1 avocado ( optional)
Black olives halved (optional)
1 cup of dried cranberries
1box of whole wheat Rotini of Fuseli
½ cup of Italian dressing

Directions:
Boil Pasta until al dente, drain put aside
Wash and chop all veggies. Combine veggies and pasta. Add Italian dressing and cranberries and toss.
Serve

May add different veggies or cheese based on taste.

Mmmm Meatloaf

The original recipe was from my boyfriends family. I decided to tweak it a bit and this is what I have come up with. The topping is still from the original and it just makes the meatloaf that much better

1 lb ground beef or whatever meat you enjoy.( I found ground pork, veal and beef work really well mixed together)
1 small red onion chopped
1/2 of a red pepper chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 1/4 cup of large baking oats
1 egg
1/4 – 1/2 can undiluted mushroom soup
approx 2 tbsp Worcestershire
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp pepper

meatloaf topping
3 tbsp Brown sugar, 1/2 tsp prepared mustard, 3 Tbsp Ketchup mixed together.

Mix together. Put in a greased loaf pan. Add topping. Bake in oven at 350 for approximately one hour.

Enjoy!

Mango Salsa

I find this pairs well with salmon or mix it in with wild long grain rice

1 ripe Mango , Peeled and diced
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno or serano pepper finely chopped
1 or 2 tbs of fresh ginger grated
1/4 to 1/2 of english cucumber peeled and chopped
20-30 blades of fresh chives chopped
juice of 1 lime

Combine all together and serve..
Thanks to Rachel Ray for this one 🙂