Broccoli, Cauliflower Delight Salad

One of the things I like most about cooking is adapting recipes. I, for instance, have seen this recipe so many different ways that it is not even funny. I also make it a lot of different ways. This salad originated as this...

Broccoli Delight Salad

1 lg. bunch fresh broccoli, cut in pieces (4 to 5 cups)
1 c. raisins
1/4 c. diced red onion
10 strips bacon, fried and crumbled
1 cup sunflower seeds

DRESSING:

3 to 4 tbsp. sugar
1/4 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. vinegar

Put washed, well drained broccoli pieces in large bowl; add raisins, onion, bacon and sunflower seeds. Mix together dressing ingredients; pour over salad. Yield: 6 servings.

However I added cauliflower to it as well as I had seen it done that way in the past. I then had to increase the dressing to one and a half... Thank GAWD I did so well in math class... who would have ever thought I would need it for a broccoli salad... I also have added things such as fugi apples sliced to mine, dried cherries, dried cranberries, cut up mandarin oranges, slivered almonds, shredded cheese. I always make sure that there is cauliflower, broccoli, the sunflower seeds (although I used honey roasted... just for the effects of helping my butt grow at a more rapid rate... nothing better...) bacon and red onion.... and the dressing as well of course. Then, after that it really depends upon my mood for the day (which interprets into what Carlie or the other kids are in the mood for... as we all know I will eat just about anything that suits my fancy.) This is a great summer salad, as you can eat it for dinner just alone, and never have to turn on the oven...... thank goodness for small miracles when we get old and grumpy with too hot of weather. I hope you enjoy this very versitile and wonderful salad... Just remember, there is a lot of fiber to this salad... as a friendly reminder. GRIN! And no, this is not an ad for Beano.

Corn and Black Bean Dip

If you only knew what we do on the 4th of July. It could get really ugly if we were all honest with each other, yet the word goes unspoken. Seriously... it does. I live in a very kind and sweet neighborhood. We have wonderful neighbors. They are caring for each other and we look out for each other. We watch each others homes when the other is away. We watch each others children to make sure they are safe when they are out and about on the street. Until a couple of months ago, our daughter was the youngest on the block, yet now there is a family across the street renting a home there, and their son is the same age, and a child even younger. However, we still make sure the teens are being safe. We are the neighborhood that bakes for each other during the holidays... and we gather several times a year to enjoy each others companies. HOWEVER, the 4th of July is all about... OUT COOKING OURSELVES from what we brought the year before. That is what I tell myself... as I am not the one that has to be reminded of what I brought the year before. My mind is a volt when it comes to food. SMILE! BUT... ME BEING THE HONEST ONE AROUND HERE, I must tell you that I am also the one that has to tell you a secret.... we are all really trying to out cook each other as well. Again, it is unspoken. When you put your dish on the table to share... it shows... it totally shows. We eye each others dish, like it is the shoot out at sunset from Gun Smoke!

This year, I think that the block party was bigger than any of the past. Each family welcomes other family and friends from all over the place to join in on the festivities as long as they... BRING FOOD!!!! I love seeing when people are carrying over a sliced watermelon... it should disqualify them of the secret contest that is going on.... and people that bring the same dish each year, no competition.... I.... uhm... I mean WE... have found something bigger and better from the year before. We wear that invisible crown, letting the world that we are warriors of the kitchen... but we do it with a little smile or grin and say we will get the recipe to share right away. They obviously don't know... I have a food blog... and that may or may not be kept a secret. I mean... I would hate someone else to win with MY RECIPE... right?

Seriously though, we are very blessed to live in a neighborhood where we can join together and love each other and share our food. We are blessed to live in America. We are blessed to have each other and call each other friends... and we are blessed to be FREE, thanks to the men and women that keep our country safe. Yes that refers to soldiers... and their families, as that is obvious to me. However, we need to also think outside the box, as to the police, ambulance and fire in the area. We need to think of the neighbors that look out for each others home and belongings... to the teachers that go above and beyond for our kids... the daycare and pre school teachers that watch our children and keep them safe as we work. There are smaller scales her too that go without notice... but... AGAIN... on a big scale... people serving in our Armed Forces... I appreciate you.

For the recipe. I found it at this site and I adapted it to our needs. The name is Some Kind of Delicious. She has some great recipes that I saw over there... that I will be trying again very soon. It was the first time I had been to the site, yet I knew I had to try this. And that I did.

Corn and Black Bean Dip

2/3 c. sour cream
½ c. cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 (15-oz.) can corn, drained and rinsed
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
Juice & zest of 1 lime
Salt & pepper to taste
Tortilla chips

In a bowl combine the sour cream, cilantro, cumin, cayenne pepper, and lime. Stir in corn & black beans. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with tortilla chips.

I increased the sour cream to 1 1/3 cups. I added some tapitio to add some zip, and some carne asada seasoning to it. I also added an extra can of corn and a small onion. Her way was divine, yet, I like a lot of extra spice to my food most often. I also increased the the cumin to 2 tsp. and added some green chilis that were diced in a can. I think next time I will add an extra can of black beans and a can of cheddar cheese soup or shredded cheddar cheese. We shall see what wild hair I get that day. All in all her recipe was fantastic... I always tweek... the way I am made.

I hope you try this... it is super easy. Ooooooohhhh... as I am sitting here and my mind wanders yet again, I am thinking it would be fantastic with Mexican sour cream as well. It is so very yummy.... hmmmmmm..... thinking, thinking, thinking.

I also hope you go over and visit her site. It is a keeper for sure.

Tuesday Tens: Things I do in my personal life to make me smile

Life throws all sorts of curve balls to us.... sometimes more than others... and in those times, I really have to do things that keep my mind busy and my heart smile. Some of the following things are what I like to do to keep me smiling and putting one foot in front of another.

My kids are ALWAYS in my happiness... and I feel whole when I am with them. For someone that wants to be so independent in life, I have suddenly realized that I am just not at all whole without them and feel somewhat lost when they are not around... they keep me grounded and give me so much purpose in life. I truly know that I was meant to be a mom, or more importantly to me, I was meant to be their mom. I was meant to be Bella Boo's Grammy as well. The four of them just make my heart smile... over and over again. Don't get me wrong... none of us are perfect, and I have earned every gray hair in this head with my kiddos, and worrying and trying to provide all I can for them... but... that is what we do as parents... care. With all our hearts we care.

This list has nothing to do with my kiddos... as that is a given... as well as Ms. Bella Green Jeans.... it is just about me... and my simple pleasures.

1. Painting my finger and toe nails. I work in a restaurant, so this is not allowed on my fingers... poor things suffer... but, I love it. As I speak it is not even 8 a.m. and Miss Carlie is telling me that she is wanting me to change her finger nails and toe nails. Who does that sound like? A mini me perhaps. I also am liking new colors. Example... Carlie (I have to live through her when it comes to painting nails...) now has purple finger and green tootsies... LOVE IT....

2. Looking through food blogs. I pick up ideas here and there. Sometimes I follow recipes, yet, most of the time I simply find a blog and/or recipe and I adjust it to my likes or my families likes. I get ideas and just go with it. I could do this for hours... and Carlie continuously comes up to me and asks for me to put on one of her Barbie movies, etc... Poor girl.

3. Scouring through my cookbook collection. I can't tell you the number of cookbooks I have. With the net and food blogs, etc... I am not sure why I hold onto them! They are a comfort to me for some reason. I love them. I can scour them for hours on end.... I can go without sleep as I don't notice the time passing. I like them that much...

4. Reading through... DRUM ROLL PLEASE... my cooking magazines. Paula Deen, Taste of Home, The Food Network... they all call my name as I pass them in the stores. Thank God for Costco where I can get them at a discount. Better yet, I need to just subscribe to them.

5. Usually I need to stay busy to keep my mind going. My mind doesn't like to rest, yet, there is one thing that I love to do, and it may be above all other things. I love to be on a beach. I love to hear the crashing of water as it hits the shore. I love the wind on my cheeks (don't really like it in the hair, but it is part of the whole thing, so I will go with it.) I love the way it feels when the sun is hitting me. I love the sound of seagulls yet, don't want them near me... dirty birds... but, love the way it sounds. I love to dig my toes in the sand. I could just sit there for hours if by myself without others telling me it is time to go... or I need to go potty, or, when is lunch, etc....

6. Cooking and baking. LOVE IT. I feel relaxed when I do it. I feel whole. I feel happy. Not as in a restaurant cook... but for those I love. I am that lady... the one that likes to cook for others, so you often get yummy desserts or dishes being sent home with you. I AM HER.....

7. I love volunteering in my community. I do so in many different areas. I love to go to the school and read with each of the kids. It is amazing to me to see their little faces light up when the words click, or when they totally understand the story. I love to encourage them along the way. It keeps me involved with my own daughter... but I like knowing I am helping with others as well. As the old saying says.... It takes a village....

8. CRABBING. I bought a crabbing net at a yard sale when we first got to Oregon. I had heard of crabbing and thought it would be fun for Taylor and his dad. With that in mind, they started. In fact, I think I found two nets. ANYHOW... we had an international student staying with us, so we planned crabbing for a day in Newport. I was addicted from that day on. It is relaxing to me. Sitting on the dock... no tv... no phone... chatting with whoever you are there with. Since we pretty much go to the bay, there is generally a wonderful breeze going on. I love it. I love the rewards as well. Crab for dinner... not too much is better than that. I mean, how many times do we get the chance to catch our dinner and be eating it a few hours later. So good fresh.

9. Camping is also one of my favorite things. Everything takes longer... cooking, doing dishes, EVERYTHING. I love it though... no schedule to keep. I love being where I hear the crickets chirping and can open my little window of the tent trailor and watch the stars. I love the smell of the camp fire. I love that it is quality time with my kids and family/ friends. It is wonderful.

10. I love preparing for holidays. They are big for me. They are HUGE FOR ME.... I just love the excitement of my kids. I love to see how others celebrate. It makes me smile. I love planning the menues... thinking of the perfect gifts... Thinking of what will make it personal and special. It is great...

Tuesday Tens!

On Tuesdays, I will blog random tens... for the first Tuesday Ten:

Ten Things I love about summer........

1. Sand in my toes, sun on my face near water... anytime of year...
2. Watching Carlie run through the sprinkler
3. Fresh fruits and veggies and Saturday Market....
4. Popsicles on the back porch
5. BBQing and entertaining
6. Taking Carlie to the park and watching her ride the carosel
7. Camping.... one of my favorite things ever... always...
8. Crabbing...
9. Pedicures as my feet are the ugliest things I have ever seen... I NEED THEM...
10.The State Fair....

Uncle Bubby...

It is funny to me that his pet name as a brother lives on as an Uncle.

One thing in our home that is true, is that my children always have pet names. More than you can count.... tons of pet names. They are fun and cute and the kids loved them. Yet, there is one that stuck with Taylor. His sister's called him Bub... or Bubby, or Bubby Boy.... Bubs... You get it.... Bub! It is so fun for me to see that he refers to himself as Uncle Bubby to Bella. It makes me laugh and smile and it warms my heart.

This was a fun day that we had at Red Robin. Bella absolutely loves him. He is AWESOME with her.

The other day, on Father's Day, we took their dad to dinner. It was so cute. Carlie looks at her brother and said, Bubby, can I get a huggy from you. You could see him melt. He had posture, and was doing his best to act like a man, yet when he heard those words, he melted into the little guy that lives within as a young man living with Autism.

He amazes me.

Fresh Tomato Basil and Mozzarella Salad

I went to Trader Joe's today. If you really know me, you know I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Trader Joe's. So much so that yesterday was their fourth day open here in Salem and it was my third trip in... I love them that much. I think I will even go there today. EWWWWW... this may be a problem. Anyhow... there was fresh basil there that I will be planting in the yard so it will continue to grow. I love it. They also had a sample of a mozzarella cheese logs. This is fresh, where it is not hard, or in the string cheese form. It is soft and wet and ohhhhh so good. So, this was simple....

Collect fresh tomatoes. Aren't tomatoes fantastic right out of the garden and when they are fresh? I love them. So good to just eat with salt. Also gather fresh basil, and the mozzarella cheese for the salad. I put a bit of garlic powder in it as well...
This is what I am talking about... don't those tomoatoes look good... just slice the tops off and wash... eat them raw. So good.
I had to include the above photo... it is Carlie, my six year old daughter. She picked the basil off of the plant for me and was ripping the leaves and adding it to the salad for me. I love she is six and tells me... mommy it is so fun to cook together. It makes me so very happy.
Cut the tomatoes and add the basil as shown above. I love the colors and how they contrast against each other so much. It just looks so fresh and appetizing.

Slice and add the mozzarella cheese to the mix. Easy enough. Now... add balsamic vinegar to the salad. I also added, after the photo... a dash of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. I thought of getting wild and crazy (hahahaha, this is my idea of wild and crazy at 44) and adding red onion and olives to the mix. It was so very good. If you wanted a meat to the salad, a salami would be nice or prosciutto would be fantastic. I served this with some french bread, and it was dinner. Grantid, nobody in the house liked it. He didn't like fresh mozzarella and she didn't like balsamic vinegar. However, mommy loved it... and that, for last night is all that counted. THUS... I had to make a spinach salad as well and a turkey pita pocket for miss Carlie.

Back in the groove....

It has been a very long year. Some think that may mean a bad year, but it is not at all what I am trying to portray. It is just a year... of learning and more discovering who I am. (Do we ever really get there?)

Well, THE BIG NEWS!!! I am a GRANDMA... or as it is known to my grandbaby... I am Grammy! I thought it might bother me to be called Grandma... am I really that old? However, it doesn't bother me at all. The name Grammy is cute and it is fun, yet if I am called Grandma, that is A.O.K with me as well.

SHE is a doll baby. She smiles and slobbers and giggles and she bites. YES... she bites... she just bit me yesterday. She flashes me a grin afterwards and somehow it feels like all is well in my world with a throbbing finger with bite marks in it.

Bella Jo fits beautifully in my world... our world. She is loved by all who meet her. She is precious and I am just in awwwww I have a child with a child. She is a bald little princess that is slowly but surely getting a few curls here and there. She has people wrapped around her finger. She is a fashion diva and a heart stealer. She is a Bella Bean, Ms. Green Jeans, Bella Boo, Pee Pee Butt... Silly Jr Sis, Puddin Pie, Sweety Petey, Pumpkin Pie... need I go on? She is my daughter's daughter, and even as I write this, I tear up over that fact. My off spring has an off spring. WTHeck???? Where did my moments slip off to? But most of all, she is a miracle, as all children are. She is a child of God... and I am blessed to have her in my life.

Her Uncle Taylor makes her laugh. It makes me smile seeing how although his autism rules his world, he loves... and he loves her... and she adores him. My heart fills with pride and affection at this very fact. I am blessed. Carlie... for six years old.. she is the best Auntie around. Can you imagine? She is so dedicated to loving Bella and being a kind Auntie. They will grow up like sisters I am sure. There just is nothing wrong with this...

So Here it is... a new chapter to life as I try to start my blog again with all of my thoughts... and my life to share... blessings in your lives.... Wendy