Easy Taco Salad

I make this for dinner a lot- quite a lot, actually. My husband and I love eating a giant salad for dinner and this one is chocked full of healthy, tasty ingredients and is really easy to throw together.  I don't have a "recipe" - you literally just add what you like and what you happen to have in the 'fridge (aren't those the best kind of recipes anyway?).  I think the simple dressing is what makes this salad so yummy. Choose your favorite salsa to mix into the ranch; eat the left over salsa with chips as a side with the salad.

Take this list of ingredients as suggestions - if you don't like something, don't put it in! I guarantee it'll turn out yummy!!

Dressing:
Bottled Ranch dressing
Jarred salsa

Salad:
Romaine lettuce, chopped (the two of us eat three heads)
Cherry tomatoes, sliced into quarters
Red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
Green onions, about three
Handful of cilantro, chopped
Black beans or garbanzo beans, about a can, rinsed and drained
Corn, I cut mine straight off the cob completely uncooked
Shredded cheddar cheese (pepper jack would be good, too)
Sprinkle of salt & pepper
Rotisserie chicken, shredded
Ripe avocado, peeled and chopped
Crushed tortilla chips

For the dressing:
Use equal parts ranch to salsa- I have never measured this. Basically, if you use 1/3 cup Ranch, add a 1/3 cup salsa and mix together. If your family wants more or less dressing, just adjust. 

Salad:
Combine the lettuce and all the other ingredients you are using, minus the avocado, chicken and tortilla chips. Pour dressing over the top and toss well.  Serve salad onto plates. Top each serving with chicken, avocado and crushed tortilla chips. Serve with extra salsa and chips as a side. Enjoy!

5 Minute Artisan Bread from CSF

This bread was outrageously good!! And it was crazy easy to make- no kneeding!! Yes, I said it- NO KNEEDING!!! And I will admit it, it took more than five minutes....but, it certainly took much, much, much less time and effort than your typical, homemade bread (and it tasted better, too - SWEAR!). Oh, and you bake it in a pot! How cool is that?

This recipe comes from my most favorite cooking blog, Cafe Sucre Farine. This woman is a culinary genius. I have never made anything off her blog that isn't just fantastic.  I have to admit, when I saw this bread I thought it was way too good to be true- I was doubtful my bread would turn out as well as hers.....

But, I think it did! I mean, I'm guessing it did!! My kitchen smelled like a French Boulangerie; the bread came out crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and perfect on the inside. Oh my, it was heavenly!!

Instead of posting the recipe, I am going to direct you to The Cafe Sucre Farine website.  Her step by step pictures are very detailed and her explanation on how to make this bread is extremely thorough. So, please click HERE to head on over to my favorite cooking blog and get yourself ready to bake some delicious bread!!!!

Hippie Peas

Hello long lost friends, I am back!! We just returned from the most amazing week at a Dude Ranch in Wyoming.....oh, it was heavenly!! What a gorgeous part of the country. And seriously, who knew I would LOVE riding horses!!?  There is more to come on this trip in future blog posts......I am hoping to blog some of the scrumptious meals we were served on the ranch.....

But for now, I am sharing with you an appetizer that has become a staple at all my girlfriends' gatherings.  I keep forgetting to take a "before" picture of it......but, maybe the tiny little morsel that is pictured above gives you a better understanding of how quickly and completely this appetizer is devoured by a gaggle of hip, hungry women who are reveling in a night out without the kids!!

This recipe was graciously given to me by my friend, Gina,  over at Hyphenista  (Gina is always giving me her fab recipes to blog- thank you, darling)!!!  The flavors are unique and different and 100% delicious. I wish I had a vat of it to stick my face into right now (I should know not to blog when I'm hungry).

Enjoy!!!

1 lb frozen peas
1/2 c mayo
1 Tbl curry powder
1 bunch of scallions, thinly sliced
1 c crushed smoked almonds

Mix the frozen peas, mayo, curry powder and scallions the day before serving (or at least a few hours- you do not want to serve frozen peas to your guests). Pour crushed almonds on top immediately before serving. Serve with pretzel chips, pita chips or crackers (our gang likes the pretzel chips best).

Watermelon Mint Blended Juice

Refreshing!! That word best describes this delicious blended juice. Oh and I need to add in easy, too! Refreshing and easy! Oh and one more word- delicious! Okay, you get the point!

My husband and I loved this, our kids loved it......I think it'd be perfect served at a BBQ.....it could even be spiked for an adult beverage.

This made approx. four 8 oz glasses of juice.

I forgot to put the sugar in this picture.....but, just a little goes a long way! The watermelon itself is very sweet.

4 cups of seedless watermelon, cubed (about 3 lbs)
1/2 cup coconut water (you can use regular water instead)
24 mint leaves
1 Tbl coconut sugar (you can use regular white sugar instead)
1/2 a lemon, seeded with rind removed
2 cups of ice

Place all ingredients in a powerful blender (I use a Vitamix). Blend until juice is smooth without any lumps. The consistency should be like juice, not a smoothie. Enjoy!