Summer Salads

The days are getting cooler, the sun is setting earlier and several stores are now carrying Halloween, Christmas and winter items!  This summer season has slipped right on by but we have enjoyed it to the fullest.  A few leaves are changing colors and I always look forward to the beautiful fall trees.  I also begin thinking of favorite summer recipes that I want to sneak in, just one more time before the season changes.

Today I’ll be sharing a couple cool and refreshing salads that you just can’t beat on a hot summer day.  Both are quick and easy to throw together, healthy and delicious!

Fruit Salad~

https://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/fruit-salad-with-pudding-66575

This recipe is perfect for potlucks or family gatherings. It makes a large bowl or you can easily cut it in half for a smaller portion. The secret ingredient is vanilla pudding mix which makes a delicious sauce on the fruit!

Summer Corn Salad~

https://www.theslowroasteditalian.com/2014/07/fresh-corn-tomato-and-mozzarella-salad-recipe.html

This beautiful corn salad makes the perfect side dish. It’s light and fresh with a delicious lemon and garlic dressing. Serve with grilled chicken breast and a side of cold applesauce.

Thank you!

Thank you friends for your patience while I’ve had to put my blog on the back burner (no pun intended!) for awhile. The month of August just slipped right by and now it’s mid-September! I know it’s a busy time of year for everyone it seems. We took on a little fixer upper project recently that required more time and money than expected but we are so blessed by the results! My daughter and I spent several weeks preparing for the county fair. She had a wonderful week (see next post!) so it was well worth the time and effort. We also just began our freshman year of homeschool a couple weeks ago. It’s going to be a great year! We also recently began plans for a big kitchen remodel which I’m super excited about. I’ll be sure to share the progress as we go. It’s so fun to look at ideas but the planing is a little overwhelming. So many choices! And of course there is a little side thing called a J-O-B lol

However, I do view my blog stats and I’m grateful to see the clicks and follow the tracks. I hope you continue to find inspiration and enjoy the articles. There are some technical bugs that just won’t seem to go away but I’ll keep pursuing that!

I am excited to share several great recipes and some new fitness entries in the near future!

God bless, enjoy this beautiful day!

Honey!

Recently we spent a week camped out at our local county fair. It’s always a busy, fun and interesting time! If you have kids in 4H, you know what I’m talking about! Each day (and evening) was filled with family activities. Here’s a couple favorite photos of my daughter during the horse shows~

We are so proud of her! This is her third year of competitions with her beautiful mare April and they brought home several ribbons and a division trophy this time!

Each year, several local people are set up with honey samples and jars available for purchase. I always find it funny that each one tastes SO different. The honey bees collect the nectar from flowering plants and each blossom gives a different and distinct flavor. Some are dark in color, others are light, some are richer and some more sweet. You really must taste each kind before buying! I always look forward to this little tent area at the fair.  There is just no comparison between store bought and fresh honey.

I have shared posts previously on this blog about the benefits of raw honey. This all natural food is rich in powerful antioxidants, cancer fighting phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals. It is the oldest known sweetener and is used in many ways such as to aid in digestion, as a topical salve and a cough suppressant.

On to the really good stuff!

~~Honey-PB Protein Energy Balls

This is a quick and delicious breakfast or snack idea. We love these protein balls for breakfast with a side of peaches or pears. It’s very filling and so so good!

You can find more information and delicious recipes at the National Honey Board website:

http://honey.com/

Pastrami Deli Wraps

Quick, easy and delicious lunch idea, perfect for on the go, from Taste of Home. My daughter and I love this simple meal…serve with kettle chips and a side of fruit.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pastrami-deli-wraps/

It’s also a great way to get in your veggies!

Enjoy!

Charcuterie Board

Some call it an appetizer tray or a snack board. Basically it’s a beautiful board full of meats, cheeses, crackers, fruit, nuts and pickles or olives. It’s perfect for small or large gatherings and is super fun to make! Be creative and use different shapes, colors and textures to make a full board.

First, place the meats (pepperoni, salami, prosciutto), cheeses (Colby, havarti, cheddar, pepper jack) and crackers. Then add the other items and place the colorful fruit and garnishes last. Dried fruit such as cranberries or apricots are a great option too!

Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken

This delicious Indian dish is easy to prepare, smells amazing as it cooks for 4-5 hours and uses many spices that you already have in your cabinet.

Plan ahead- the chicken needs to marinate overnight. Many reviewers compare this recipe to meals at your favorite Indian restaurant! The chicken is so flavorful and tender in the delicious sauce. I served it over basmati rice and a side of vegetables.

I hope you enjoy this ethnic dish as much as I did!

https://dinnerthendessert.com/slow-cooker-indian-butter-chicken/

Magnolia Table

Who doesn’t LOVE Chip and Joanna Gaines?! Their numerous adventures include the hit tv show Fixer Upper, a lifestyle magazine, a new breakfast restaurant, Hearth & Hand home collection, an awesome new cookbook and oh yeah, a sweet new baby boy that just joined their family last week!

I was so excited to receive this gift on Mother’s Day! I’ve tried a couple recipes so far and I can’t wait to dig in further to this awesome book! I love the stories, the photos and the fun introduction. You should pick up a copy and enjoy it too!

JoJo’s Biscuits!

“It took me a year of Saturday’s to get these biscuits just right,” said JoJo. The recipe makes 20 biscuits so it’s perfect for sharing or taking to an event. You can also freeze part of the batch and use later.

I really like this particular recipe because you mix up the dough and then refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight. It’s quick and easy the next morning to cut out the biscuits and bake.

The biscuits turned out light and delicious! They were best served on the same day, they lost some moisture by the next morning.

Banana Bread!

This is a great basic recipe that uses an 8×8 pan instead of a loaf pan. The texture is great and it’s easy to cut nice squares. We have a few ripe bananas sitting on the counter and my daughter plans to make this again this afternoon! We can enjoy it for breakfast or a snack for a couple days, with a side of fruit.

“Life is so busy, but getting around the table and having a home-cooked meal, those moments are just so worth it.” Joanna Gaines

(Recipes by Magnolia Table)