June 14 Recipes

As usual, I make our lunch side dishes on the weekend. 

Meals:

Red Potato Salad

There aren't specific amounts of ingredients for this recipe I just boiled 8 large red potatoes (keeping two for hash browns) and keeping the skins on, add cut up dill pickles, dill, salt, pepper, and mayo. I top this with sliced hard boiled eggs.

Chicken/Pasta/Bean Salad

The same with this recipe. No real amounts just add what you like.
Mine includs: Can of chicken in water drained, 2 Cups cooked pasta ( whatever you have around), 1/2 can olives sliced (I buy the big can and slice them myself), salt, pepper, can of drained garbanzo beans, 1 teaspoon sugar, enough Italian Dressing to coat pasta ( I use Paul Newman's dressing because he does not use high fructose sugar), and a couple tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

 NOTE: I COOKED THE PASTA AND TWO EGGS IN THE SAME  POT.  Put the eggs in at the beginning and add the pasta when the water starts boiling. They will be done at the same time. The eggs are for the potato salad.

Anti-Pasta Salad

Hubby loves this for lunch. It's easy. I cut uncured slices salami into pieces, add black olives, several Peperoncinis with a splash of it's liquid, a pinch of sun dried tomatoes, and a couple tablespoons of Italian Dressing.

 Meanwhile, the ribs are marinating. Lots of ancho chili powder and grill seasonings. Three sections will give us 2 dinners and 2 lunches.

Sweet and Sour Cucumbers

Yes, that is hubby's fingers. He is in charge of tasting. This is strictly what hubby loves. It's a dish from his past in the mid west. Equal parts of sugar, white vinegar, and water. Add thinly sliced English Cucumbers, thinly sliced sweet onions, and salt and pepper to taste. This time I used three cucumbers. It won't last long.

Later on this evening after hubby grills the Ribs I will make Coffee Cake adding crushed macadamia nuts. 
Because our Tin Can gets hot this time of the year hubby will put our portable oven outside on the table to cook the Coffee Cake.

Tamale Pie

This recipe is in memory of my Nana. We had Thanksgiving Dinner at her house most of the time. She would cook a giant turkey in a roster oven she put on top of the wash machine in the laundry room. After that dinner came a lot of turkey type dinners. One being Tamale Pie.
Each time I make this dish I think of my Nana.

Tamale Pie 4 servings

Saute 1/4 diced onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil for a couple minutes. Add 1/2 bell pepper and one minced garlic clove. Cook for a couple more minutes.
Add a small can of diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 C of kernel corn (I use Trader Joe's roasted frozen kernel corn), diced cooked turkey (as much as you like), 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 can of whole olives. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook or 15 minutes until flavors combine.

In small pot add 1 cup water, 3/4 cup corn meal, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Cook and stir until thick. Add 1 tablespoon butter.

Divide cornmeal. Add half to the meat mixture and combine.
Spray an 8x8 cooking dish with vegetable spray (I use olive oil spray) and add meat mixture.
Top with the remaining cornmeal and spread it over the top in a crust type layer.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes with foil on top. Take foil off and cook for 10 more minutes.

Sorry I keep forgetting to take pics. I think you get the gist.

Memorial Day BBQ

I know most of you are grilling outside today. NOAA says rain today, but we are going try to sneak in some cooking on the BBQ.
Today it's ribs, turkey breast, and Whole Foods all beef hot dogs (the dogs are a bit pricey but well worth it).
Also hubby will grill veggies for tonight's dinner and I will boil the corn.

While making a delicious meal for today we are gearing up for the week of dinners and lunches as well.

1. This morning I cooked about 15 corn tortillas in my George Foreman Grill. These will be evening snacks with good healthy Costco salsa.

2. I also made a Chicken/pasta salad with Paul Newman's Dressing, can of olives, celery, chicken, pinto beans, and shaved Parmesan Cheese.I add a tablespoon of sugar and a shake or two of basil and oregano. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Corn/black bean/fresh salsa with grilled corn, black beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, cumin seeds, lime juice, onion, and salt and pepper to taste. Try to keep the tomatoes and jalapenos the same size as the corn and beans.

4. Blueberry muffins are a must for our mid day snack and breakfast.

5. Yesterday I made a double batch of waffle mix with toasted pecans. I'll add blueberries to these for breakfast and topping it with real maple syrup.

I long for retirement days where I don't have to plan for the week. Maybe just eat a veggie dinner straight from our garden. Hubby said when he was a kid sometimes they would eat a dozen ears of corn, cucumbers, and sliced tomatoes for dinner.