Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Another week and another simple and great recipe that I wanted to share with you. I made this salad for a family gathering two weeks ago. My family loved it. Summer is upon us and this salad is great for something simple and light.

Ingredients that you will need:

4 cups or 12oz of uncooked spiral pasta or bow tie pasta

1 Cup of fresh basil Pesto

2 Tbsp of chopped green olives or olive tapenade. (I used 1 can of green olives). Use a desired amount

1/4 cup pine nuts. I would suggest at least 1/2 cup. I love pine nuts in this salad!

1 Cup of frozen peas, defrosted or fresh if you can get them. Peas are optional. I do not like them so, I do not use them.

12 ounces of cherry tomatoes, halved

Several fresh basil leaves coarsely chopped

3 Caps of olive oil

Salt and Pepper for desired taste

1 to 2 cups of grated Monterey Jack Cheese

Steps in putting the Salad together:

Step 1: Cook pasta according to instructions on the package. Make sure the water is salted. Remove your pasta from stove and strain your pasta after it is cooked. Make sure you do not over cook your pasta.

Step 2: Put your pasta in a large serving bowl.

Step 3: chop and Mix in your basil pesto, green olives, and pine nuts. Gently mix in your cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and olive oil.(peas optional)

Step 4: Add your 2 cups of grated Monterey Jack Cheese. Salt and Pepper to taste.You can chill your pasta or serve at room temperature.

Serving size 6- 10  Enjoy! This pasta salad will be one you will keep coming back for!

Crunchy Oriental Salad Recipe

Last night I got together with my brothers,and my parents for a family dinner. I was responsible for bringing salads and rolls. I decided I wanted to try out a couple of new salad dishes.I chose to do an Oriental Salad and a Pesto Salad. To my surprise it was very easy and quick. I am always hesitant to try new dishes for the fact that I think it is going to take all day for me to make. I am someone who needs things to be quick and easy. I do not have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. I wanted to share with you how to make a Crunchy Oriental Salad...It is so yummy. I got hooked on it when my sister in law made it a couple of months ago.

 Salad Dressing Ingredients that you will need:

1/2 Cup of Sugar

2 package of  Ramon Noodle Oriental Package with "season Packets" in them. If you want more flavoring in your dressing you can add more seasons. Just look on the back of noodles and it will tell you whats seasons are in the packets.

1/3 Cup of White Vinegar

1 Small Lime( Juiced)  and 1/3 Cup of Orange Juice (Freshly Juiced)

Sesame Oil to tasted. I used at least 2 tbs.

Red Pepper Flakes (optional)

Put all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until sugar and season is dissolved. I then put my dressing in a jar and chill it until I am ready to serve.  Note that when you are ready to pour your dressing on your salad just shake bottle well then pour.

Ingredients for your Salad:

1 Large Bag of Coleslaw

If you do not want to use a pre-made mixture of salad, you can use 1 medium head of cabbage- thinly chopped or shredded and into desired size. 2 cups of red cabbage- thinly chopped and one cup of chopped carrots.

3 Green  Onions chopped and diced.

1/2 Cup of almond slivers ( you can pre-roast these if you like)

1/4 Cup of Sesame Seeds

1/2 teaspoon of salt or sprinkle desire amount in dressing mixture

2 package of uncooked Ramen Noodles Chopped up

I Put the Ramen Noodles in a plastic bags and smash it with a spoon. No mess.

How to put your salad together:

Combine chopped up Salad ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Pour on 1/2 of Dressing and mix well. Sprinkle on your almonds and crunched Romen Noodles and mix. Add more Dressing to desired taste, texture and consistency you want.

Please note that you might not want to add dressing until you are ready to serve. Noodles will get soft when sitting in the dressing.

I was very surprised how simple and easy this salad was to make. I know that I will be making this for my family for years to come. It is yummy and delish!!! I hope you will try.

Severing size at least 10

Honey Lozenges or Cough Drops

So simple to make and all one needs is Honey and Powder Sugar for the mold if you don't have a candy mold.

1/2 C. Honey heat in a heavy pan on low stirring constantly. A small batch.

Bring to a crack stage or to 312-320 degrees. Have candy mold ready...sprayed with oil if using mold. If you want the fun put two cups of powder sugar in a pie tin and use a food color bottle for imprint of the mold. Level powder sugar down with hand and press food color bottle down making "the hole/mold"

Your Honey is ready now to place into the molds.
So simple to make and NO artificial colors, preservatives or nasty taste. If you get your honey locally it will help build your immune defense up too. I put a squirt of  the essential oil  Peppermint in the last half of the batch and Peppermint is an expectorant and decongestant, plus a mild pain reliever.

Tip: Eucalyptus oil relieves congestion.
        Echinacea is best before a full onset of a cold,  loaded with antibacterial
        properties and helps cleanse the blood.
        Sage is great for sore throats.

Simplify Your Life With 10 Quick Tips

1. If you have wood furniture or doors with scratches. Just try rubbing a Wal-Nut on them. This will disguise the dings and scrapes. If you do not believe... just try it for yourself.

2. If you have a hard time cleaning your mixing paddle on your bread machine, just soak it in warm soapy water, then scrub out the inside with a baby bottle scrubber. Great idea and time saver indeed.

3. Use a pizza Cutter instead of a knife or fork to quickly cut your pancakes and french toast. Simple and Easy.

4. An easy way to chop your nuts is to put them in a plastic bag and roll them with a rolling pin to your desired fineness. Best part about this is that there is little or no mess to clean up.

5. If your little ones leave a crayon masterpiece on your TV or Computer Screen, just use WD-4D to clean off. This will save you tons of $$$$$.

6. Quick dinner idea: Sloppy Joe Spaghetti "Do you have extra Sloppy Joe mix? If so just add it to you spaghetti sauce. It will make it spicier and change up your meal. Serve over your desired pasta. I am sure your family will love.

7. Reuse your Nylon Mesh Bags. If you buy your veggies in a nylon mesh bag you can use that mesh for various cleaning jobs around the house and yard. Just wad the bag up and use it as a scrubber.

8. Are you just out of Cheesecloth? Just use a sheet of paper towel or a coffee filter to line your colander or strainer and then strain liquid. This would be only single use.

9. Do you like soft Cookies?  Keep your cookies soft by throwing a few slices of apple in your cookie jar or container.

10. How to open a Tight Lid Jar: Try putting on a pair of latex gloves then twisting the lid off. This will give you a good grip that will not slip. If you do not have latex gloves... use leftover nonslip shelf liner. Just cut out a square and use. Keep leftover for latter use.

I hope these tips will help you like it has for me. I really enjoy tips that make my life easier...and if I can save time and money it makes it all worth while.

Southern Style Corn Bread in an Iron Skillet

Super Quick Cornbread Baked in a Cast-Iron Skillet

This week has been cold and rainy so, Cindy and I decided to make some Chili and Corn Bread. We used a Southern Style Corn Beard Recipe. The recipe calls for an iron skillet. If you do not have a iron skillet you can use a skillet that is ovenproof. Your prep time is going to be less then 5 minutes.

Here are the Ingredients that you will need

1 cup of all-purpose flour

1 cup or cornmeal

3 tablespoon of sugar

4 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

1 cup of milk

1/4 cup of vegetable oil or butter

1 large egg, it will be lightly beaten

This should make at least 9 servings. If you want to add a kick to your Corn Bread you can add 1 cup of cheese and some jalapenos diced and and a few teaspoon of jalapeno juice. 

Step One: Preheat your oven to 425f. You will want to coat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with a cooking spray or you can you some vegetable oil.

Step Two: You will want to combine your flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. You then will want to add your milk, vegetable oil and egg. Stir your mixture until your dry ingredients are moistened.

Step Three: You will want to pour your batter into your prepared skillet.

Step Four: Put your skillet in the oven. Bake until golden brown. Baking time is 15-20 Minutes. If you are unsure if the corn bread is done you can insert a toothpick in center. When it comes out clean then it is done.

Corn Bread is the easiest bread to make. It is also very affordable and filling. You can add any  ingredients  to make your Corn Bread the way you like. It is very hard to mess up. You can also go simple and have it hot out of the oven with some honey. Making your Corn Bread in the skillet will keep warm for at least 30 minutes after baking. I am sure this will be a hit with your family.

Natural Enviro Friendly Tomatoe Protector

Here is a quick and easy recipe that is natural and Enviro Friendly. This with add great protection to your tomatoes plant without all the harmful pesticides. You can also use this spray on many other vegetable plants like squash.

Material that will be needed:
Spray Bottle or Plant Sprayer   Dry Milk
Hot Sauce         Dish soap
A Bowl             Spoon

Don't wait until your tomatoes plants are stressed to begin treating them. Start around one week after planting and spray once a week if bugs are a problem.

Step One: Mix your ingredient in a Bowl.  1/4 cup or Powder Milk into, 3/4Cup of Water, 1/8 Cup of Hot Sauce, and 1/8Cup of Dish Soap.
Please note that the dish soap will be the carrier. It is what would keep the mixture on your tomatoe plants. Also adds protection. The Hot Sauce has Pepsin so insect will leave your plants alone. This is a natural repellent. It has Potassium and Sodium to help aid your plants. The milk also help coat the leaves. The milk also has vitamin A & C and 40% calcium to help aid your plants and gives you an added benifit.
Step Two: Pour into your spray bottle.

Step Three: Spray your protector on tomatoes plants.

Mystery Pudding Cake

Mystery Pudding Recipe

1C. Flour     1Egg

1C. Sugar    1lg can of  Fruit Cocktail

1tsp. Soda    3/4c. Brown Sugar

A dash of salt.    1/2c. Chopped Nuts

Sift together flour, sugar, soda and the combine. Then add your eggs and fruit with syrup. Mix well. Spread in a greased pan(9x13"). Sprinkle your brown sugar and nuts on top. Preheat and bake at 350. Cook for 45 minutes. Serve with Ice cream or whip cream.

This recipe is pretty easy to whip together. When Cindy was making this I was not

sure about it. I tried it and now I am sold on it. It is easy to make and pretty yummy. This recipe is great for the spring time gatherings. This pudding cake is light and has just enough sweetness.