Seven Ingredient Salad

This is a fantastic salad that is so easy to prepare and pairs easily with almost any meal.

8 cups of lettuce (I like a mix of Romaine and Iceberg lettuce)
1 (14 oz) can of artichoke hearts (not marinated)
4 oz fresh salami
4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese (sliced into small cubes)
4 oz cherry tomatoes (halved)
1/4 small red onion (thinly sliced)
1/2 cup Sweet Italian salad dressing (I like Hendrickson's)

Toss all ingredients together.  Make sure that artichoke hearts are well drained (squeeze liquid from them). Drizzle salad dressing over top and serve immediately.

Happy Memorial Day! A Perfect Fruit Salad for your Picnic

Here's a refreshing fruit salad idea that's sure to be a hit at any Memorial Day picnic . . .

1 large seedless watermelon
1 quart of strawberries
1 fresh pineapple
1 (15 oz) cans mandarin oranges
2 kiwis
l cantaloupe
1 honey dew melon
4 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice

Remove watermelon from rind.  Keep rind intact so it can be used as a bowl for the fruit.  (That's why a large watermelon is best.  Slice lengthwise and save lower portion for bowl.)  Slice all fruits into large bite size chunks.  Mix and place into melon shell.  Lightly squeeze lime juice over the top of the fruit, and then squeeze the honey over the fruit

This recipe is so cool and refreshing for hot summer days.  It really doesn't take too long to slice up the melons and other fruit.  Feel free to replace the mandarin oranges with fresh oranges or tangerines.

Serve cold.

Cheddar Burgers with Red Onion Jam

I found this recipe on "www.myrecipes.com".  A quick five-ingredient sauce tops cheesy homemade burgers to make an easy, delicious dinner in no time.

Jam:
1 tsp olive oil
4 cups vertically sliced red onion
4 tsp sugar
4 tsp red wine vinegar
3/4 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Burgers:
3/4 tsp chopped fresh oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 lb extra lean ground round
cooking spray
4 (1/2 oz) slices white cheddar cheese
4 ( 1 1/2 oz) hamburger buns, toasted
4 tsp canola mayonnaise

Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

To prepare jam, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add oil to pan; swirl to coat.  Add onion; saute 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in sugar, vinegar, and thyme.  Cover and cook 10 minutes or until onion is very tender.  Remove from heat.

To prepare burgers, combine oregano, salt, garlic powder, and beef.  Divide mixture into 4 equal portions, shaping each into a 1/2" thick patty.  Place on grill rack coated with cooking spray; cook 2 minutes.  Turn patties over.  Place 1 cheese slice on each patty; cook 2 minutes or until done.

Spread cut sides on each bun with 1/2 tsp mayonnaise.  Place 1 patty on bottom half of each bun; top each with 1/4 cup onion jam and bun top.

Lemony Angel Cake

1 pkg angel food cake mix
2 lemons
2 cups powdered sugar
2 cups frozen whipped topping (thawed)
1 pkg (10 1/2 oz) frozen raspberries (thawed)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Pour batter into ungreased  Rectagular Baker; spread evenly.  Bake 35 - 40 minutes or until top is golden brown and cracks appear dry (do not underbake cake).  Carefully invert Baker onto cooling rack (do not remove cake from baker); cool completely.

Using a skewer, poke holes in top of cake about 1 1/2" apart.  Finely zest lemons to measure 1 Tbsp.  Juice lemons using juicer to measure 2 oz.

In small batter bowl, combine powdered sugar, lemon zest, and juice.  Pour over cake; spread evenly.  Let stand 30 minutes or until glaze is set.  Cut into squares and serve with whipped topping; to with raspberries.

Harvest Chicken Salad

Crimson apples and tangy orange dressing make this chicken salad the main attraction.

Dressing:  2 oranges, 1/3 cup Miracle Whip, 2 Tbsp stone-ground mustard, 2 tsp sugar, 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper, 1 small garlic clove (pressed)

Salad:  1 pkg (6 oz) fresh baby spinach leaves, 2 cups diced roasted chicken, 1 cup diced celery, 2 medium Red Delicious apples, 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries, 1/2 cup toasted pecan halves (optional), orange segments and whole-grain croutons

For dressing, zest one orange to measure 2 tsp zest.  Juice oranges to measure 1/2 cup juice.  Combine orange zest, Miracle Whip, mustard, sugar, salt, pepper and garlic in batter bowl.  Whisk until smooth .  While continuously whisking, add orange juice in a thin, steady stream; set dressing aside.

For salad:  place spinach in bottom of large serving bowl.  Dice chicken and celery.  Cut apples in half lengthwise; remove stems and seeds.  Cut each apple half into four wedges, crinkle cut wedges into small pieces using Crinkle Cutter.  Chop onion using Food Chopper.  Layer chicken, celery, apples, onion, cranberries and pecans, if desired, over spinach.  To serve, drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat.  Top with orange segments and whole grain croutons, if desired.  Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings.

Tips:  To toast pecans, spread over pre-heated skillet over medium heat.  Stir constantly for 3 - 5 minutes or until pecans are very fragrant.

A 2 lb rotisserie-cooked chicken can be used to prepare this recipe, if desired.

Brown Sugar Dijon Brie

This is a great summertime party food.  Give this a try at your next get-together.

1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 (4") round (8 oz) Brie cheese with rind, room temperature
1 loaf (16 oz) French baguette
olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Coarsely chop the almonds with the Food Chopper.  In a small batter bowl, combine the Dijon mustard, brown sugar, and apricot preserves using small scraper.

Cut Brie in half horizontally.  Place one half of Brie, cut side up, onto center of large round stone.  Spread half of the apricot mixture evenly over bottom half of Brie using the small spreader.  Top with half of the almonds and remaining half of Brie, cut side up.  Spread remaining apricot mixture over Brie; sprinkle with remaining almonds.  

Using a bread knife, cut baguette on a bias into 24 (1/4" thick) slices.  Arrange baguette slices around Brie; spray with olive oil lightly.  Bake 8 - 10 minutes or until baguette slices are golden brown and Brie begins to soften.  Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Coupons 101 - Learn how to save money every week

I have been a "coupon queen" for probably 30 years, and I have a system that really works.  If you need to save money, give my system a try.  It does take some time every week, but with discipline and dedication, you'll be saving money in no time - lots of money!

1.  Buy a file box, not just a little plastic pocket with dividers.  Get something that's easy to carry, but big enough to hold lots of coupons.

2.  Buy dividers and label them by category - dairy, fruit, vegetables, snacks, soup, laundry, toilet paper, cleaning, etc.  I have 26 categories.

3.  Buy a Sunday paper every week.  Most weeks there are coupons.  On weeks that there are lots and lots of coupons or high value coupons for items I buy, I will buy two or three Sunday papers.

4.  Sign up on the websites of your favorite products.  They will often mail you coupons or allow you to print coupons online.

I spend every Sunday evening cutting out coupons from the weekend paper.  Then, I sort through my coupon box to remove any expired coupons.  Finally, I file my new coupons behind my category dividers.

On Monday and Tuesday the new week's grocery ads arrive.  I usually check the grocery ads, as well as Target, K-Mart and Walgreens, for sale items I may need or use often.  All store have "loss leaders" every week.  These are the items they sell below cost just to get us into the store.  If these are items I use often, I will stock up.  It's a double bonus if I have coupons for those items.  I make my shopping list (and plan my upcoming menu) as I study the ads, and I pull any coupons I plan to use at the same time.  If I plan to visit multiple stores, I use an envelope for each store to record my list and store the applicable coupons.

I'm fortunate enough to live in Fenton where it is cost effective to shop at multiple stores.  For those of you who don't have all of your favorite stores within one mile of each other, consider the gas money you'll spend driving from one store to another before you drive to multiple stores just to save a few dollars.

Tip:  Study the Walgreens ad each week.  Walgreens uses Register Rewards.  They are not coupons, but they are dollars off rewards to use on a future purchase when you buy a particular item.  I often tell people that I don't buy body wash, soap, shampoo or conditioner and I never pay more than half price for laundry detergent or cleaning products.  By using my coupons to purchase these items when there are register rewards, I actually make money sometimes.  Walgreens will often give register rewards for the total price of a products, making it free.  If I have a $2.00 coupon for that product and use it for that purchase, I actually make $2.00 on that transaction.

This is a lot of work, but it will definitely pay off if you dedicate a couple of hours each week to cutting and sorting your coupons, and studying the weekly ads.

I'd love it if you share your success stories with me or any methods you currently use that I haven't thought of.  

Get out there and save some money!!!

One Female Chihuahua Puppy Left

The little girl on the rock is still waiting to go to a good home.  She's a white chihuahua with a couple of beige spots and the sweetest personality.  Asking $125.00.  Send an e-mail to keplen@charter.net if interested.

Popovers

Popovers are crispy on the outside and hollow on the inside.  They are best served fresh from the oven, but if you need to make ahead, they can be reheated in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

4 large eggs
2 cups milk
3 Tbsp butter (melted)
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt

Preheat  oven to 450 degrees.  Grease two muffin pans' cups with melted butter or vegetable oil.

In medium bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat eggs until frothy; beat in milk and melted butter until blended.  Gradually beat in flour and salt.  Beat until smooth.

Pour about 1/3 cup batter into each prepared muffin cup (about half  to three quarters full).  Bake 30 - 40 minutes until golden brown and about 2" above the pan.  Immediately remove popovers from cups, loosening with spatula if necessary.  Serve hot. 

For a Fall twist try adding 1 1/4 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice.

Mango Shrimp Kebabs

1 lb large shrimp (16 - 20/lb)
2 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
pinch red chili flakes
pinch of salt
2 mangoes, peeled

Soak 10 - 12 bamboo skewers in water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning.

Make the marinade by combining the ginger, olive oil, orange and lemon juice and a pinch of red chili flakes and salt.

Peel the shrimp and place in the marinade for 5 minutes. Slice the mangoes into about 12 chunks each.

 Skewer the shrimp alternating with the mango on the skewers and grill or broil for 5 minutes, turning once, until completely pink.