If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times. ~ Saint Augustine of Hippo
I was reading my daily dose of blogs yesterday, and came across this suggestion to go into my backyard in search of some magic. Well, magic I did find!
I am so excited! My raspberries are getting ready for us to eat!! These are the first three that ripened, and they were so yummy. I can’t wait for more to ripen! Raspberries are my absolute favorite fruit, I love anything that has to do with raspberries! I am going to try and make some freezer jam with them this year. My favorite way to eat them is right after they’ve been washed…just wash them and pop them!
So tell me, what’s blooming in your garden? What’s your favorite fruit and your favorite way to eat it?
This is my absolute favorite pasta salad. I made this up in my college days, although I’m sure I’m not the first with this brilliant idea! It is a perfect salad to bring to your summer barbeque!
It is so quick and easy to make and it always tastes delicious. You can’t forget to add the key ingredients… trust me, it just does not taste as good without them! The secret to the success of this salad is celery salt and dill, lots of it!
Summer Pasta Salad
1 (12 ounces) box tri-color rotini pasta
1 (15 ounces) can black beans, or kidney beans
1 can black olives, drained
1 small or medium cucumber, chopped
1/4 to 1/2 cup bacon pieces (ie. Hormel brand)
1 large roma tomato, chopped
1 cup broccoli, chopped small
1/2 to 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 to 2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup Ranch dressing, more or less to taste
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon celery salt
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Lots and lots of dill, trust me!
Fry the bacon pieces until crispy. This brings out the flavor and is much better than just tossing them in! Cook the pasta according to directions and drain. Rinse with cold water to cool just a bit.
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Use as much or as little dill as you like. I love it with a bunch in, it gives it a very unique and bold flavor that is to die for!
Can be served warm or chilled. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you have a favorite summer salad recipe? Any favorite summer memories? I’d love to hear them!
I love tuna sandwiches. They are one of my favorite “easy” foods to make. I am dying for summer to get here soon so I can enjoy all the fresh veggies out of my garden. For now though, the store-bought variety works just fine! I have just recently begun adding veggies to my tuna salad, normally I would do the trusty mayo and sweet pickle recipe. But one day last fall on a whim I added some leftover celery and cucumber to my tuna (minus the pickles!) and discovered it was quite delicious! So here is my recipe for tuna salad, sophisticated!
Summer Tuna Salad Sandwich
1 can (7 ounces) tuna
1/8 cup celery, chopped
1/8 cup cucumber, chopped
1 small clove garlic
1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil mayonnaise
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice
1/2 teaspoon dill
1/4 teaspoon sea salt or seasoned salt
Red or green onion, chopped, to taste
Tomato slices
English Muffins
Drain the tuna lightly, leaving some of the juice. This leaves the tuna moist so you don’t have to use as much mayo. Combine all ingredients except tomato and mix well. Toast english muffin slices, if desired. Layer tomato slices on half of the muffin, followed by tuna mixture. Top with the other half of the muffin and enjoy!
Makes 3 to 4 English muffin sandwiches.
Last week I did a 5 day cleanse with days 1 and 5 eating raw fruits and veggies and days 2 through 4 doing a juice fast. Kudos to those people who do 30 day juice fasts, I don’t think I could do it! I was so ready for food on the third day!
In the mail on Wednesday came a flyer for Papa Murphy’s pizza with a gigantic picture of their new Taco Grande Pizza. (Picture to the right is from Papa Murphy’s.) Holy cow that thing looked good! Normally I would never, ever think taco stuff on a pizza looked good, but for some reason that pizza looked so good! It was all I could think about for three days while I finished my cleanse!
On Saturday when I was free to eat normal food again, I begged Aaron to let me get this pizza for dinner! He looked at it and said “Are you sure??” Heck yes, I want it! I need it! So he reluctantly called in the order, making sure they only put green onions on half of the pizza! We got it home and cooked it up and let me tell you, that pizza is delicious!!! Holy cow! I love it! I am hoping they keep it on their menu because it is now my second favorite of theirs!
Well, this week I am doing another 5 day cleanse and I’m on day 3 and craving this pizza again! Thank goodness for leftovers frozen in the freezer! I don’t think Aaron would go for ordering this one again so soon!
