Pickled Corn Salad with Cumin, $1.25 Barbie Size Food & Minions...

I had a couple ears of corn to use up and we were having burritos for dinner so I thought I'd try to make a Pickled Corn Salad with Cumin. The idea was, we could either add it to the burritos or eat it as a side dish. We liked it as a side dish salad. This was easy and surprisingly tasty, and the boys said it was perfect for summer:@) I love cutting it off the ear and leaving some of the kernels attached in little rows so folks know it's fresh corn. Recipe below...

Dollar Tree has this set of Barbie Size Food Erasers in with the back to school things. It has a good variety of items, hot dog, hamburger, French fries, soda and personal pan pizza, and would be perfect for doll play:@)

And I hear there's a new Minions movie out... Thought I'd share my silly Minion Deviled Eggs from back in 2016:@)

Cumin Pickled Corn Salad

For each two ears of cooked corn:

Hearty 1/4 C green/red bell pepper

Small jalapeno, cleaned diced

About 1/4 C onion, diced

3 Tblsp apple cider vinegar

2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp oregano

S&P to taste- or your favorite seasoned salt

Fresh parsley or cilantro if you have it-optional

~Mix everything, cover and let sit in fridge for a couple hours.

Have a Happy Day:@)

Christmas Side Dishes: Pea Salad, Corn Pudding, Cheesy Broccoli Casserole, and more...

When it comes to holiday meals, it seems to me that in my family, we have a little more wiggle room to try new things at Christmas than Thanksgiving. So... I have a few suggestions in case you're looking for something a little different this year, and one is make ahead, one uses a slow cooker, and one is just full of cheesy goodness:@) We'll start with this pretty, refrigerated, make stir and serve, Christmas Pea Salad. I love the red and green colors! If you want to get extra fancy you can use a mini cookie cutter in a star shape and add some red pepper stars to the top...

We all know oven and stovetop space are at a premium during the holidays, that's why I like to have a few Crock Pot recipes on-hand... I'll share a pic of Corn Pudding using Jiffy Mix, but also give links to Mixed Vegetable Casserole and Slow Cooker Stuffing.

This Frozen Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Casserole is on my dinner list for this year, and I'm debating about giving it a twist and adding some cooked macaroni too... Kinda like a Broccoli Mac and Cheese, we'll see:@)

Finally, may I suggest giving cole slaw a little tweak by adding some unexpected ingredients... Apple, Walnut, Raisin (or Dried Cranberry) Coleslaw looks great, but tastes even better:@) This was a huge hit with my crew, and I think it's time to make some more!

Looking for more ideas? 

You can find all of my Pinterest Boards HERE.

🎄Happy Holiday Planning,

Have a Great Weekend🎅

Bar-B-Que Pork Stew (or Burrito Filling, or Dip...)

Did you make pulled pork this holiday weekend? This BBQ Pork Stew is a great way to use up some leftover meat, and can be whipped up in no time. Use pork chops, cooked loin, or leftover shredded pork from sandwiches. In large skillet, simply cook up some onion and peppers, add corn and enough Bar-B-Que sauce to create a nice juicy meal. Want more gravy? Add a little cornstarch to the drained Rotel juice, and adjust BBQ sauce to your taste. There aren't any rules here folks, cooking doesn't need to be complicated, let's just add what we like and use those leftovers in a different way:@)

I can think of several serving options... I used a yellow rice here. I can see this served over polenta, or over hoe cakes or cornbread. How about rolled in a flour tortilla as a burrito. Or, if feeling a little naughty, maybe spooned over Fritos:@) And ~it's h-e-r-e~... Football season!!! If using shredded BBQ pork, this could even be a dip served with tortilla chips! Just small dice the peppers and onions.

Good stuff folks,

my favorite meal in a while:@)

Bar-B-Que Pork Stew

Up to 1 lb pork, any cut of meat or leftovers you have

Drizzle olive oil

Large onion, diced

Large green pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

10 oz Rotel, drained

14.5 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 C corn, either frozen or canned drained well

1 C BBQ sauce, your favorite brand

1. Quick saute pork if not using leftovers, remove from pan. Or dice/shred leftover meat.
2. Drizzle pan with olive oil, add onion and pepper. Fry for about 5 minutes or until lightly softened.
3. Add garlic, cook a minute.
4. Add everything else and heat through.
5. Serve over rice.

Eat well, and Have a Happy Day:@)

Skillet Fresh Sweet Corn with Jalapeno & Cream Cheese

The corn on the cob looked great at the store so home it came... I wanted to try something a little different, and this Skillet Sweet Corn with Jalapeno & Cream Cheese was very tasty:@) It comes together in less than 15 minutes, and the corn stays nice and crunchy. Not the most glamourous side dish, but it would be great with anything from grilled meat to fried chicken. 

Options...

Want a more complete meal? Add cooked chicken.

Grilling out? Use the side burner.

Cooking for one? Estimate half.

Skillet Fresh Sweet Corn with Jalapeno & Cream Cheese

For every 2 ears of fresh corn, shucked and cut from the cob:

Drizzle of olive oil

1/4 small onion, sliced

1 jalapeno, deseeded and sliced-small or large, you know your crowd:@)

approximately 1/8 tsp cumin, or to taste

few hearty grinds black pepper

pinch of salt

1 oz cream cheese

2 Tblsp milk or half and half

1. Add a little olive oil to skillet, heat to medium.
2. Add onion, cook for a minute or two.
3. Add Jalapeno, cumin, and S&P, cook for a couple minutes.
4. Add corn, cook for a couple minutes.
5. Reduce heat, push veggies to outside edge of skillet, add cream cheese. Press down to help begin to melt.
6. Add milk, stirring to incorporate into cream cheese.
7. Stir and serve immediately.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

Tamale Pie -Retro Jiffy Cornbread Recipe

I've wanted to try a Tamale Pie for a while, found a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin mix in the cabinet and decided to put it to good use:@) The beauty of this meal is, you can mix and match and add anything you'd like to. The only constant is the cornbread. Most use ground beef, some sub chicken, vegetarian options call for black beans and sweet potato. I've seen recipes calling for creamed corn, and some, including the one on Jiffy's site, bake the cornbread first, then top it with the meat and cheese. I like the look of the cornbread on top.

I used a disposable regular size lasagna pan, 

worked well with plenty of room for more additions:@)

To stretch the version below, add a can of drained black beans.

I used two ears of fresh corn.

Tamale Pie

1 lb ground beef-can cut back or sub some beans

1/2 large onion, chopped

1/2 large green pepper, chopped

14.5 oz can sweet corn, drained -or- up to 2 C frozen corn, thawed -or- 2-3 ears fresh corn

10 oz Rotel, drained, hot or mild-you know your crowd

1 envelope taco seasoning, or up to 3 Tblsp your favorite blend

8 oz tomato sauce

1 tsp sugar

S&P to taste

up to 1 C cheddar cheese, shredded-optional

1 box Jiffy mix

1 egg

1/3 C milk

Serve with sour cream, salsa, or hot sauce.

1. Cook ground beef with onion and peppers until no longer pink. 
2. Add corn, Rotel, taco seasoning, tomato sauce and sugar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook for a couple minutes. 
3. Pour into 9x13 baking dish.
4. Sprinkle top with cheese.
5. In separate bowl combine Jiffy Mix, egg and milk. Pour over cheese.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until cornbread is done.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

Jiffy Mix Cinnamon Apple Cornbread

This Cinnamon Apple Cornbread using Jiffy Mix couldn't be easier folks! And it's great as either a coffee cake for breakfast or as bread with dinner. Especially if you're serving pork as we're getting closer to Oktoberfest... I made mine in an 8" round pan, you can use an 8" square pan but the cake may be a little thinner, and you could also make muffins. Since I served it for breakfast, I added a little extra sprinkle of coarse sanding sugar on top. Slathering it with butter would be pretty darn good too:@) 

Best eaten the day it's made.

Jiffy Mix Cinnamon Apple Cornbread-adapted from Jiffy Mix

One box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

1 egg

1/3 C milk-I used half and half

1 apple, peeled, cored and small diced

1 - 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon-you know your crowd...

sanding sugar-optional

granola-optional

1. Mix egg and milk well, stir in Jiffy Mix.
2. Stir in apple.
3. Pour batter into sprayed 8" pan or paper lined muffin tin.
4. Sprinkle top with sanding sugar or granola if desired.
5. Bake at 400 degrees 15-20 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Cold Barbequed Bean Salad -From dry or canned pinto beans

I was curious to try this Cold Barbequed Bean Salad guessing it would be perfect for picnics and grill-outs... And it is:@) I know it sounds odd, a cold side salad that has a BBQ sauce type flavor profile? But I promise it will appeal to most in the crowd! The recipe makes a ton, it's easily cut in half, and even half will go a ~long~ way. My only suggestion is, don't skimp on the green and red bell peppers, they really add a nice bite. Don't hesitate to give this a try folks, especially if you're looking for something different to bring to the 4th of July BBQ!

 I did start with dry pintos, 

no soak, and used my ♥Instant Pot for 28 minutes, natural release.

Use extra 1 minute increments if needed.

Don't see why we can't sub canned beans, 15 oz = approximately 1 1/2 C of rinsed beans. 

Barbequed Bean Salad-from Taste of Home

16 oz dried pinto beans, sorted, rinsed, and cooked

1 medium onion, diced

1 medium green bell pepper, diced

1 medium red bell pepper, diced

15 oz can corn, drained-I used frozen corn cooked in microwave for a minute

-Dressing:

1/4 C ketchup

1/4 C cider vinegar

1/4 C olive oil

3 Tblsp brown sugar

1 Tblsp Worcestershire

1 Tblsp chili powder

5 tsp Dijon mustard

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1. Cook beans your favorite way, drain. Or rinse canned beans, drain well.
2. Add all veggies to large bowl.
3. Bring all dressing ingredients to boil, reduce to simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Let dressing cool for a bit.
5. Pour over veggies, mix well.
6. Store in fridge until serving time.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Ham and Cabbage Salad

The temperature soared to a humid 94 degrees on Saturday, and in case you're wondering... Um, no, that's not normal for May 21st in Philly. Keeping cool and hydrated was priority number one. So, whether you want a nice cold salad and are out of lettuce, or are looking for more recipes that use cabbage, this Ham and Cabbage Salad made a nice easy meal:@) Honestly folks, it really doesn't even require a recipe, make it family size, or just a bowl for lunch (like I did here). Simply add a squirt of lemon and mix to your desired consistency with mayonnaise. The ham adds a salty component, cucumber cold and wet, corn sweetness, and the cabbage is filling. It's a nice combination.

This is a good ~use it up~ recipe if you happen to have some ham in the freezer.

I used cabbage I already had in the fridge,

a nice young head with some green leaves would be prettiest if possible.

And yes, please do replant those scallions!

Either in water on the windowsill like I did here,

or right in the garden:

It's just good thrifty fun:@)

Ham and Cabbage Salad-from Taste of Home

Small head of cabbage, approx 1 lb, sliced like coleslaw

4 small cucumbers

15 oz can sweet corn, drained well-I used frozen corn, cooked in microwave and cooled

8 oz ham, diced

1/3 C scallion, sliced, use white part too-save a little for garnish if serving company:@)

3/4 C mayonnaise

1 Tblsp fresh lemon juice

S&P to taste

~Mix everything well, serve chilled.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Southwestern Rice

One of the Sunday meals in our rotation is Burritos, we all love them, and it just happens to be Cinco de Mayo this week:@) Sometimes I'll make Mexican Rice as a side dish or to add to the tortilla, but this week I chose to try this Southwestern Rice. Boy, this was a big hit with my crew! It has a nice, mild cumin flavor that goes well as a side dish, or you could add a little cooked chicken, beef, or pork and call it lunch (which is what I'm doing with the leftovers). And of course, swap out the chicken broth for vegetable broth, and it would be vegetarian with the black beans adding some protein. Good stuff folks!

This makes a ton of rice...

Great for a party or large family.

Southwestern Rice-from Taste of Home

1 Tblsp olive oil

Medium green bell pepper, diced

Medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 C uncooked long grain rice

1/2 tsp cumin

1/8 tsp turmeric

14.5 oz chicken broth

2 C frozen corn, thawed-I only had a little over a cup

14.5 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed

10 oz can tomatoes with chiles, undrained

Cheese for serving-optional

1. In large skillet, heat oil, cook onion and pepper for a couple minutes, add garlic, cook another minute.
2. Add rice, spices and chicken broth. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook until rice is tender, approximately 15-18 minutes. Stir occasionally.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients, heat through and serve with cheese if desired.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

Instant Pot Taco Chicken Pasta Dinner -One Pot Dump Recipe

Sometimes I feel like I need a meal that's super easy and fast. I've seen a lot of 'dump' recipes for slow cookers, and used that as inspiration. I had a thawed boneless chicken breast and decided to try a quick, "toss everything into the ♥Instant Pot pressure cooker, and see how it turns out" meal... I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! This Taco Chicken Pasta Dinner came together in minutes, and was a mildly spiced, hearty meal. Use any beans you have on-hand and there's wiggle room with the amount of chicken... I like to cut back on meat whenever I'm using beans. Don't hesitate to try this one folks, it's not gourmet, but a nice pantry item meal idea to tuck away for when needed:@)

Perfect as is, or it can be topped with shredded cheese, 

green onions, black olives, and/or sour cream. 

Can serve with corn bread, tortilla chips, or ideally, a nice green salad.

Oh and, hot sauce on the side is always a good idea:@)

Taco Chicken Pasta Dinner

1 C elbow macaroni, can use some whole wheat

up to 1 lb chicken, thawed, cut into bite size pieces-I used half of a large boneless breast

1 envelope taco seasoning

15 oz beans, black beans, kidney beans or pinto beans, drained and rinsed

15 oz can corn, drained, or up to 2 C frozen corn, thawed

10 oz can tomatoes with chiles, Rotel or store brand, use the liquid

1 C water

Anything you'd like to serve with it

1. Add macaroni to vessel first.
2. Add raw chicken over pasta.
3. Sprinkle everything with taco seasoning.
4. Pour in beans, corn and tomatoes with juice.
5. Add water.
6. Choose manual setting, 4 minutes, automatic release when done.
7. Stir, let sit for about 10 minutes so pasta absorbs some of the liquid, serve in bowls with toppings as desired.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies

These Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies were written-up as Christmas Cookies but I thought the cornmeal made them great for Thanksgiving too. Wow, I love these cookies, this is a different recipe! You will notice the cornmeal flavor, and the light almond is nice. It's also a cookie that isn't as sweet as others, which lends itself nicely to some colored sanding sugar if desired. And my favorite part is, the cornmeal makes them a tad crunchy with a little chew. I'll be adding this recipe to my yearly holiday baking. Don't hesitate to try this one folks, it gets my 'darn good' label and, if you like cornmeal, I think you will be pleased.

If you've ever cursed your cookie press (and yes, we've all been there),

you will find this a sticky wetter dough that sticks to the baking sheets well.

I do recommend using a good amount of cherry, we liked a half cherry for each cookie.

Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies-from Taste of Home

2/3 C butter, softened

1/2 C sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 C A/P flour

2/3 C yellow cornmeal

Red candied cherries, cut to desired size

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and extracts.
2. Add dry, mix well. Let dough sit for a few minutes so it hydrates a bit if you have the time...
3. Load cookie press with dough using desired disc (a flower or star would be traditional). This will be a sticky dough.
4. Press onto ungreased, cool cookie sheets 1" apart. Place a quarter half of a red candied cherry in the center of each cookie.
5. Bake at 325 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until set. Mine took a good 8-10 minutes more, until bottoms began to get golden.
6. Remove to wire rack to cool.

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Enjoy a cookie and have a happy day:@)

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Cream Cheese Corn and Jalapenos -Slow Cooker

This Slow Cooker Corn and Jalapenos with Cream Cheese is a nice side dish. Warm southwestern flavors that the cream cheese helps tame, making it a mild side dish that most would like. I love the pretty colors too:@) It truly is a recipe where you add everything to the vessel and don't have to think about it for 4 hours. You will have to do some stirring to combine everything at the end, but by then the cheese will be warm and melty, so that's not a big deal. I will say, even with the cream cheese, it does need some salt folks.

Note: Be sure to give yourself the full 4 hours of cooking time on low for frozen corn.

What would this be good for?

-A nice side dish for chili or any grilled meat.

-The holidays, freeing up oven or stove space.

-And yes, it's coming folks... 🏈Football season! 

In addition to the chili idea above, how about serving it as a dip with Fritos.

Just cut the peppers smaller for dip.

Super simple, this might just become your ~easy~ signature party contribution:@)

Cream Cheese Corn and Jalapenos

For each 12 oz frozen corn:

4 oz cream cheese, cubed

Equivalent of three cleaned 4" jalapenos, can mix in some bell pepper, red is good

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp seasoned salt + a sprinkle before serving-I used Lawry's original

1 Tblsp butter

1. Use Crock Pot liner or spray vessel. I used my 2 quart Crock Pot for the recipe above, that was plenty big enough to double the recipe.
2. Add everything, layering a bit as you go.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. 
4. Gently stir until well mixed, add more salt to taste, and serve.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

Chili and Lime Corn on the Cob

The corn looked pretty good the other day so I picked up my first few ears of the season. Popped them into the ♥Instant Pot, 1 C water, 2 minutes, automatic release, and shortly thereafter... Lunch was served:@) Every once in a while I mix up the flavors a bit, this time I tried Chili and Lime Corn on the Cob. A little chili powder and freshly grated lime zest was a very nice addition! When I was a kid, we'd have one "summer dinner" each year... A dozen ears of corn and garden fresh tomatoes! While I wouldn't trade a fresh ear of corn with butter at it's summer best for anything, my little spice additions are great for ears at slightly less than peak perfection.

Other flavors to try with corn on the cob:

Cilantro salt

Old Bay Seasoning

Lawry's Chili and Garlic Seasoned Salt

Buffalo Wing Sauce and Blue Cheese Dressing

Lemon Butter

Chipotle Powder

Curry Powder

Sweet Red Thai Chili Sauce

Southern BBQ Butter

Cajun Seasoning

Barbie Style:@)

Chili and Lime Corn on the Cob

Plan on one lime per 6 ears of corn.

Cook corn as desired, roll liberally in butter, sprinkle with S&P, lightly dust with chili powder and zest a lime over ears. Roll, serve and enjoy!

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Saturday ReView: Cornbread Christmas Tree, Felt Christmas Gnomes DIY & A White Christmas?

It's neat to take a family favorite and make it look just a little different... Here I used a tree shaped cake pan and made a Cornbread Christmas Tree. This adds fun to dinner any day of the week, and red and green bell peppers give it a little holiday color, not to mention taste pretty darn good too:@)

Walmart had some Barbie size mini gnome ornaments this year, they were cute and came in a four pack. But by the time I decided to get them, the red ones were sold out. So I decided to make one instead, using scrap items from my crafting stash... These little guys can be Christmas decorations or pillows for doll houses and dioramas. This is just a silly little holiday project that was fun to make!

He's 2 1/2" tall from bottom to to the bend in his hat. 

This is a good size if you'd like to make some as Christmas tree ornaments for gifts too.

What I did:

1. Cut a 3" circle of fabric for the body, I used felt
2. Sew 1/4" from edge all around circle, keep stitches wide, maybe 1/4" apart.
3. Tug two ends of thread to begin to close the circle, add a cotton ball or some batting to inside to create the body.
4. Cut the hat: Fold the felt over 1 1/2". Measure 4" up the fold, make a mark. Draw line from the 1 1/2" to the 4" point, cut triangle out.
5. Carefully hot glue the triangle into a cone shaped hat.
6. Optional: Fold a pipe cleaner in half to add to inside of hat so you can bend the hat. Cut to size.
7. Set hat aside.
8. The beard: If you have something that resembles long hair in your stash, you win the craft wars:@) I used yarn. I gathered it back a forth about 12 times, making 2" long loops I could cut to size later. 
9. Hot glue the gathered yarn to the gathered opening of the body. This will later be covered by the hat.
10. Trim the bottom of the yarn about 1/2" longer than the body. Now, this is your gnome to make look how you'd like... You can leave the yarn as is, or I chose to untwist each strand, kind of giving him curly hair.
11. Pull the beard towards the center to neaten it, hot glue the hat to the head. Start over the beard and pull the hat down a little in the back to cover part of his back. 
12. Hot glue small pom-pom to center of beard, slightly touching bottom of hat.
13. Trim yarn to shape the beard and make it the length you want.
14. Bend hat (if using the pipe cleaner in center of hat).
15. Optional: Glue or sew a small button, bell, sequin, etc. to point of hat.

Barbie says...

Tis the season for whatever makes you smile😉

And I'll leave you with a link to the Old Farmer's Almanac prediction

 as to whether your area will have a White Christmas this year:

Read it here: https://www.almanac.com/content/white-christmas-weather-forecast

Happy Holiday Season Everyone-enjoy🎅

Slow Cooker Corn Pudding -Jiffy Mix

This Slow Cooker Corn Pudding is an easy side dish that would be perfect with BBQ pork, and if you want to plan ahead a bit, it would make a great holiday side dish too! I love that in the summer you don't need to heat up the oven, and at the holidays it frees up the oven:@) And this is actually a perfect Crock Pot recipe, it cooks up nicely and remains moist. The recipe calls for a 3-4 quart slow cooker, I wanted to use my 2.5 qt casserole CP, well... It did puff up and touch the top of the towel I placed under the lid to catch condensation. So, you may want to use a larger slow cooker.

Tips: 

1. Use a liner for super easy clean-up. The liners may actually be the real reason I've been enamored with slow cookers lately...
2. I read a fantastic tip on Recipes That Crock... All slow cookers have hot spots, so turn your vessel every so often. If you have a round vessel, give it quarter turns, I simply took my oval out, turned it around and put it back in the opposite way. 
3. My best suggestion: It's always a good idea to make a test batch to see exactly how long it will take to cook, especially if this will be a special holiday side dish:@)

I'll list what I did, you can click the original link for Betty Crocker's directions.

Slow Cooker Corn Pudding-adapted from Betty Crocker

14.5 oz can sweet creamed corn
14.5 oz can corn, drained
Box of Jiffy Mix
1 C sour cream
1/4 C butter, melted-I used 2 Tblsp butter, 2 Tblsp water
1 egg
1 C shredded cheese, either cheddar or pepper jack-I used pepper jack

1. Mix everything, add to vessel (I used a liner, spray well first if not using a liner). 
2. Turn to high, cover. After one hour, remove lid, wipe off condensation, place paper towels or dish towel under lid. I also rotated the vessel. I did this after every hour.
3. Cook for 2-4 hours on high... My 2.5 casserole Crock Pot took 3 hours and 15 minutes.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Zucchini Chili Mac with Beans -Summer Chili Mac -Vegetarian/Vegan

I love chili but have to admit that, for me, it's just too heavy for a summer meal. So I decided to make a Zucchini Summer Chili Mac subbing zucchini for the meat. It still has some protein from the beans, a little starch and body from pasta, and there are enough veggies to lighten it up nicely. This is an excellent way to use up an extra squash, which I'm sure we all have right about now:@) And if you're looking for a tasty vegetarian or vegan dish, it works for that too!

My experience has been, that when folks say they don't like zucchini it's usually because it's cooked to the point of being mushy. For this recipe I suggest just tossing the cubed zucchini in the pan during the very last couple minutes of cooking time. It will still have some crunch and bite and is a very nice addition to this meal. If you want to stretch this a bit more to feed another person or two, you can add some corn.

   And this my friends, 

concludes Zucchini-Palooza for 2020:@)

Summer Chili Mac -Zucchini Chili Mac with Beans
1/2 C dry macaroni, cooked, run under cold water and drained well, set aside
1/2 C onion, small diced

1/4 C bell pepper, green and/or red, small diced
1 stalk celery, sliced
1 Tblsp olive oil
1 C zucchini, 1/4-1/2" cubed, or just use a small zucchini
14 oz can diced tomatoes with juice
14 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 envelope chili seasoning, your favorite brand

1. Add onion, pepper, celery and olive oil to large skillet. Cook over medium heat until onion softens.
2. Add zucchini, tomatoes with juice and beans.
3.  Sprinkle with chili seasoning, mix well. Raise heat, cook quickly for a minute or two until sauce begins to thicken.
4. Add macaroni, stir and serve.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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Curried Corn on the Cob -And How to Cook Corn in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

If you like curry powder, you'll love sprinkling some on a nice, fresh ear of corn! And I get a feeling there may be a few ears eaten over these next few summer weekends:@) This Curried Corn on the Cob really isn't much of a recipe, it's simply corn with butter and some curry powder sprinkled on. But I have to say, I really did enjoy it for lunch the other day!

My favorite way to cook corn on the cob?

In the pressure cooker.

Clean, place on rack or in basket, add 1 C water and set timer for 2 minutes. Automatic release-enjoy!

Looking for a few more ideas?

Chipotle Powder ~ Buffalo Sauce 
Sweet red Thai chili sauce ~ Cilantro Salt          

Not pictured: Lemon Butter and Southern bar-b-que butter

Curried Corn on the Cob-from Frugal Living Mom

1. Cook corn your favorite way.
2. Slather with butter, S&P.
3. Sprinkle with curry powder.

Enjoy the best of summer and have a happy day:@)

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Bacon and Cheddar Cornbread Stuffed Jalapenos And a New Aldi Seasoned Salt

It's been a while since I treated myself to one of my favorite munchies... These Bacon and Cheddar Cornbread Stuffed Jalapenos were worth the wait. I started with a Jiffy Mix and added some pre-cooked real bacon bits and a handful of cheddar cheese. What makes them extra flavorful is a hearty sprinkling of your favorite seasoned salt once out of the oven. Stuffed jalapenos are a great snack for sports watching, ~~~anybody remember sports??? Sniff. Oh well, I made these back in January for a Flyers game and they were very tasty:@)

I didn't do any strict measuring folks, just stirred everything up. 

If there's any leftover mix, you can bake it as a muffin and have it for breakfast.

Also in January, I found a new Hot Sauce Seasoning at Aldi.

If you like hot sauce, you'll love this stuff folks:@)
It is literally hot sauce in a powdered form and I've been sprinkling it on everything.

Bacon and Cheddar Cornbread Stuffed Jalapenos
Jalapenos that have been cut in half lengthwise and cleaned.
Jiffy Cornbread Mix, plus ingredients on box
Cooked and crumbled bacon, as much as you'd like-I added about a hearty 3 Tblsp
Handful of shredded cheddar cheese-I probably added a hearty 1/4 C

• Mix everything, spoon into jalapenos.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 12-18 minutes or until cornbread is set.
• Sprinkle with seasoned salt and serve with cold beverage of choice.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

Wednesday ReView-St. Patrick's Day, Jello Candied Popcorn & Orange Braided Headband for Barbie

St. Patrick's Day will be here before we know it folks, how about whipping up some tasty, crunchy, Bit O' Blarney Lime Jello Candied Popcorn for an unexpected treat. And of course Barbie wants in on the fun... This braided headband comes together in minutes using a recycled bottle ring and yarn, and is something most girls could make for themselves. All that's required for the braided hairband is a sturdy ring from a bottle with a screw-on cap, some standard worsted weight yarn and a little hot glue.

The directions are pretty straight forward, you can kinda just see from the picture below:

• I cut 12 pieces of yarn 30" long.
• Find the center (15"), start making a braid with three groups of 4 strands of yarn. Make it as long as you'd like it, then tie all of the strands into a knot to secure the braid.
• Create a braid down the other side the same way.
• Cut some short pieces of yarn and hot glue them to the top of the ring (the bottom of the ring is cut open, creating a headband). Make sure to add a little glue to the front of the headband so the strands point a bit downward.
• Hot glue the braid to the headband.
• Put headband on doll, trim the bangs and loose ends of braid to desired length.

The doll's hair has been pulled into a pony tail above, if your girl gave one of her dolls a hair cut...

This headband could act as an easy hair piece.

While I couldn't cut all of the hair off of one of my real Barbie dolls...

I did buzz cut a Dollar Store doll for this pic😉

Don't have orange yarn? How about green, or a rainbow of colors would be fun too.
I used a hair clip from Walmart for this headband, the post is HERE.

Picture tutorial for this strapless dress from 6" square of fabric HERE.

Here in Philly we're looking forward to corned beef and cabbage, and St. Patrick's Day is the day we traditionally plant cooler weather crops like peas... Although looking at the long term night time temperatures, we should be able to do that about a week earlier this year:@)

You can find ten years of Pig In Mud St. Patrick's Day crafts, recipes and ideas HERE.

🍀Make something just for fun and have a happy day:@)

Family Hamburger Soup with Mixed Vegetables -Pillsbury's #1 Soup Recipe

I get emails of recipes all the time and every once in a while one catches my eye... Pillsbury said this Family Hamburger Soup is the most popular soup recipe on their site, so I had to give it a try. This is a nice hearty soup for the last days of winter, while hinting towards warmer weather with the thinner, lighter broth. A yes, you ~will~ notice the addition of Worcestershire sauce:@) Don't hesitate to give this a try folks, I think it will appeal to most.

Family Hamburger Soup-from Pillsbury
1 lb ground beef (preferably at least 80% lean)
1 C chopped onion
2 C diced, peeled russet potatoes (about 1 lb)
1 C sliced celery
12 oz bag frozen mixed vegetables
32 oz beef broth
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 Tblsp Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp pepper
~Brown hamburger and onion in large pot.
~Add everything else, bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Eat well and have a happy day:@)

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