Doctored Up Fresh Green Beans

I had the pleasure of picking fresh green beans at Matt & Courtney's recently and scoured the web for a different recipe for the tasty vegetable. I stumbled upon a green bean blog and found a recipe using feta cheese and decided I would modify it a bit for our taste. We will definitely place this recipe in our favorites!

After enjoying this for dinner I did decide that the next time I would crumble some crisp bacon on top and perhaps add some water chestnuts...the possiblities are endless!

1 pound fresh green beans
1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup chopped Vidalia onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 large fresh tomato, chopped
Chopped parsley to taste
Kosher Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Sliced or chopped almonds (1/3 cup)
1/2 cup Feta cheese

Cook green beans, al dente (set aside)
Meanwhile, cook onion & garlic in olive oil over medium low heat until transparent. Add the almonds and cook until a bit browned and crisp. Stir in the chopped tomato and increase heat to boil the mixture, stirring until thickened, reduce heat and simmer for 5 - 7 minutes until most of the liquid is cooked off.

Remove from heat and add the cooked beans, parsley & seasonings. Finally, add the Feta cheese and combine gently. Place in serving dish and garnish with tomato slice & fresh parsley.

Bruschetta Your Way!

If you adore goat cheese, this is a must-try recipe for you!
It is a quick, easy, and delicious appetizer!

The photo's don't really look much different but one is tomato and the other is strawberry topped.

I sliced a baguette diagonally and toasted (but you could prepare in the oven if desired for a larger crowd)
Top the warm bread with goat cheese...I used cranberry goat cheese but you could use plain or flavored, whatever strikes your fancy!
Top some of the goat cheese with chopped strawberries and some with chopped tomatoes and then garnish with chopped fresh basil.
I sprinkled the tops with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

This is just so simple but so yummy!!!

Cherry Chicken Wraps

Have I mentioned that Michigander's are experiencing a very hot and humid summer? I don't mean to complain because winter is often long and dark but suffice it to say...spending time in a hot kitchen isn't always the best choice when the weather consists of heat and humidity.

So it is a good thing, as Martha would say, to stock the kitchen with some easy-fix dinner ingredients.

I generally have chicken tenders in the freezer and they thaw in record time so I chose to start there for our dinner. In perusing the cupboards, I found flour tortilla's and a light went off in the head...cherry chicken wraps would be quick, easy, and light!

I fried the tenders quickly in olive oil, setting them aside to prepare the veggies.
Chopped tomatoes, green onions, romaine lettuce, and dried cherries were prepared and set aside.
The flour tortilla's were warmed briefly in the microwave and spread with a doctored up Hellman's mix (Hellman's mayonaise & honey mustard to taste)
Then I simply started adding the veggies and chicken and sprinkled a little grated cheese on top, wrapped the tortilla tightly to hold everything in and there was dinner.

I did serve some Hawaiian Chips with the wraps and had a small bowl of fresh Michigan fruit to round out the menu.

Baby Turkey's

I was on my way down to our lower level to do some laundry and thought I heard something outside so approached a window and much to my surprise there were five little turkey's with their Momma right near our foundation. Off I went to get the camera as quickly & quietly as I could and to my delight the little ones were still there when I returned with camera in hand!

They didn't seem frightened at all but Momma was taking no chances so I clicked away rather quickly and got a few pretty good shots.

These pictures were taken in the morning and that evening we heard what sounded like a "crow fight"...looking out the window we saw Momma turkey diligently protecting her babies from about eight hovering large black crows...oh to live in the woods and take in nature. Every day is different out here and we love it!

Yummy Cupcakes

I have been wanting to make summery cupcakes and yesterday was the chosen date...I should have taken the humidity into consideration but I pressed on.
I spotted some pretty cupcakes recently on blogs and in magazines and decided I wanted to try my hand at something a little different!

I take great pleasure in using my collection of serving pieces, of which many have been gifts over the years from special loved ones!

Use your favorite cupcake batter and allow them to cool completely.

Use the frosting of your choice and color half with a bluish color and half with a purple color and place in a decorating bag (purple on one side & blue on the other). Using the tip of your choice, decorate the cupcakes as desired. Personally I like a buttercream or cream cheese frosting but on a hot & humid day, the consistancy is a bit challenging.

Be creative and know that even if the decorating doesn't turn out quite like you had hoped, the family will still eat the cupcakes & be thankful for a sweet!

Mock Turtles

Ooey...gooey Turtles!!!

I love me a turtle...but multiple turtles can be dangerous...so I made just a few of these little gems!

Of course they aren't up to Kilwin's (the chocolate franchise in town) standards but for homemade they are really good and very easy to make.

Three ingredients is all you need and very little of your precious time!

Pecan halves
Snaps style pretzels (or you can use other styles)
Rolo candies

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper (or aluminum foil)

Place pretzels on parchment paper
and on top of the pretzel place an unwrapped Rolo
then top the Rolo with a pecan half

Now place in oven for about 4 - 6 minutes
(don't over-bake)
When they are removed from oven, gently push down on the pecan to spread the Rolo out a bit and allow to cool completely

Grab a nice cold glass of milk and enjoy a Turtle!

Strawberry Mojito

I must admit that making mixed drinks doesn't occur often at our home so when it came down to the Family Throwdown I didn't really have a clue. I did a fair amount of recipe searching and decided on a Strawberry Mojito.

Personally, I thought the drink was tasty although a bit strong for my liking...the addition of mint leaves and sliced strawberries in the glass made for an attractive drink!

The Strawberry Mojito recipe is modified a bit from a Southern Lady magazine.

Strawberry Mojito:

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 ounces light rum
3 ounces Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup (recipe follows)
2 ounces club soda
Fresh mint leaves
Sliced Strawberries (fresh)

In a large (4 cup) measuring cup combine the lime juice, rum, simple syrup and club soda, stir to combine.
Place a few sliced strawberries and mint leaves in the bottom of desired glass. Fill glass desired amount of ice and pour drink over all.
Garnish withe fresh berries & mint leaves if you wish.

Strawberry Mint Simple Syrup:

3 cups water
3 cups sugar
3 cups chopped fresh strawberries
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

In a large saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium high heat, stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Add the strawberries and bring to a quick boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the mint leaves, cover and steep for 15 minutes.

Strain syrup and cool completely.

The Strawberry Mojito looks most attractive and tastes good on a hot & humid day!!!

Refreshing indeed, although I would personally cut back on the rum just a bit.