Grilled Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

This one came from here...

1 pint grape tomatoes cut in halves

1 ripe avocado, roughly chopped

2 ears of fresh sweet corn

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Dressing:

Juice of 1 lime

3 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp honey

Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

1 clove garlic, minced

Dash of cayenne pepper

Slice the tomatoes in half. Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.

Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn and honey lime dressing and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the avocados. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle. Enjoy.

Zucchini Bites

We made these today and were pleasantly surprised that everyone liked them. It made a great afternoon snack and had no sugar in it. Wahoo! I think I'd go ahead and double this batch next time just to have a bunch to eat.

Recipe adapted: The Naptime Chef

yields: 24 mini muffins

2  cups zucchini, grated (frozen and thawed works great!)
2 egg
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 cup cheese (cheddar or Parmesan work the best) (I used some smoked cheddar and it was great!)
1/2 cup bread crumbs - I used Italian style
Salt and Pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a mini-muffin tin with non-stick spray, set aside.
2. Grate the zucchini and then place in a dish towel to squeeze out the excess water- like when using frozen spinach; if you skip this part, the middle of the zucchini tots will be really soggy while the outside gets crispy and no one wants that.
3. In a bowl combine, the egg, onion, cheese, bread crumbs, zucchini, salt and pepper.
4. Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, fill the muffin cups to the top. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the top is browned and set.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Basic Recipe

Thanks to my daughter learning how to make these, my recipe card needs to be thrown away, so I guess it's time to put the recipe here...

1 C. Shortening
1 C. Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 C. Flour
1 tsp. Soda
1 tsp. Salt
12 oz. Chocolate Chips

Mix shortening, sugars and vanilla. And eggs and beat. (You can throw in some peanut butter here too if you like, maybe  1/4-1/3 C.) Combine soda, salt and flour. Mix in. Fold in chocolate chips (and coconut if you're my husband)

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 about 10-11 min.

Blueberry Ice Cream Pie

Almond-Brown Sugar Crust
1 1/2 cups slivered almonds
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Blueberry Sauce
3 cups blueberries, rinsed, well drained, and carefully picked over for damaged berries
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
A few gratings of nutmeg (about 1/8 tsp.)
1 tablespoon water

Assemble and Serve
1 homemade or purchased vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup of the Blueberry Sauce, chilled
1/2 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed, picked over, and well dried on paper towel-lined baking sheets
Remaining Blueberry Sauce, heated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In bowl of food processor fitted with a steel blade combine almonds, brown sugar, and salt. Pulse until coarsely ground. Stir in melted butter. Turn into 9-inch pie plate. With fingers press onto bottom and sides to form a firm, even layer.

2. Bake 8 to 12 minutes until lightly golden. "Don't overbrown or the crust will have an overpowering flavor," Scott says. Allow to completely cool on a rack. Transfer to freezer until ready to use (may be made up to a week in advance and frozen, tightly wrapped).

3. In large, wide, nonreactive skillet combine blueberries, sugar, cornstarch, and salt, stirring well with a spoon to distribute the sugar and cornstarch. Add zest, lemon juice, water, and a few gratings of fresh nutmeg; stir again to blend.

4. Cook and stir over medium heat until blueberries begin to pop, give off juice, and come to a full simmer. Simmer, stirring gently for 1 additional minute until sauce is lightly thickened and cornstarch is well cooked.

5. Set aside to cool; refrigerate sauce until completely chilled before proceeding. "Otherwise you'll wind up with a blueberry milk shake," Scott says.

6. Transfer ice cream to a mixing bowl and let stand in the refrigerator 30 minutes or until just softened.



7. Spoon half into prepared crust. Spread in even layer and top with the chilled blueberry sauce. Spoon on remaining ice cream and spread to edges.

8. Cover surface of ice cream with plastic wrap and freeze at least 8 hours or overnight until firmly set.

9.To serve: In chilled mixing bowl, whisk creme fraiche, heavy cream, and sugar until just thickened to spreading consistency. Do not overbeat. "It is very easy to go from smooth to grainy," Scott says. Spread cream mixture over pie; top with blueberries. Serve with heated sauce on the side. Makes 10 servings.

Cinnamon Marshmallow Popcorn

3 Bags popped popcorn (I mix 2 bags of microwave with one bag's worth of air popped, but whatever. You definitely want the buttery, salty taste of the microwave popcorn in there, though)
4 C Mini Marshmallows
1 Bag Cinnamon Bears (cut into pieces)
2 Cubes Butter
1 1/3 C. Sugar
1/2 c Karo Syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
3 drops red food coloring

I find the easiest way to make any gooey popcorn is in a large brown grocery bag. For this recipe, toss a bag of popped popcorn in, then add 1/3 of the marshmallows and 1/3 of the cinnamon bears. Then make two more layers of the same. When the sauce is done, you just pour it on top, close the bag and shake it up. It's also lots easier to stir with a spoon this way, if shaking doesn't get it done.

OR, you could do it the standard way....

Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Divide the popcorn on the cookie sheets. Add about 1 1/3 C. mini marshmallows onto each sheet. Add the cut up cinnamon bears to the popcorn and marshmallows..


Moving on now...
In saucepan combine butter, corn syrup and sugar. Heat to boil on medium heat, stirring continuously. Turn heat to low and simmer 5 minutes. Add vanilla and food coloring to sugar mixture.

Pour the hot sugar mixture over the popcorn. Carefully stir. The heat will melt the marshmallows and make everything gooey and delicious.

Eat, but try to share some with other people, or you are sure to get cavities within the week.

Asian Noodle Salad

1 pkg whole wheat linguine cooked and cooled
Head of green cabbage shredded
Head of purple cabbage shredded
(I sometimes just buy 2 bags of coleslaw)
Bag of spinach
Red yellow and orange bell peppers thinly sliced
4 green onions
1 peeled and sliced cucumber I use a half because they are not my favorite
Little chopped cilantro
1 can of cashews

Dressing
Juice of 2 limes
1 cup olive oil
4 T sesame oil
3/4 cup soy sauce
2/3 cup brown sugar
6 T fresh ginger
4 cloves of garlic
2 jalapeño

Blend the dressing together in food processor

This is a large salad I cut everything in half if I'm making it just for my family!

Mint Ice Cream Brownie Squares

This dessert is basically four desserts combined into one. Obviously you can't go wrong with that!

Recipe by OurBestBites.com

Ingredients
1 box brownie mix, baked in 9×13 inch pan (check sizes on back of box)
1 1/2 quart mint chip ice cream
1 cup dark or semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup cream (heavy or regular)
1/4-1/2 teaspoon McCormick pure peppermint extract
15-20 oreo cookies
1 8-ounce container whipped topping
optional: McCormick green food coloring, shaved or curled chocolate or sprinkles

Instructions
Line a 9×13 inch pan with foil and let foil extend at least 1 inch over edges of pan. Bake brownies according to package instructions. Cool completely and place in freezer to chill. Soften ice cream until you can easily stir it with a spoon. Gently spread in an even layer over brownies. Place pan in freezer to chill. Place chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat cream in microwave until hot and bubbly. Pour over chocolate and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let sit 5 minutes and then whisk until smooth. Whisk in peppermint extract and let chocolate mixture cool to close to room temperature. Drizzle in an even layer over ice cream layer in pan. Sprinkle crushed cookies evenly over chocolate and lightly press in with your hands. Top with whipped topping and spread out into an even layer. If desired, sprinkle shaved or curled chocolate, or sprinkles on top. Freeze at least several hours (and up to several days, covered), until firm. When ready to serve, let sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes to soften. Remove dessert from pan using foil and then cut into squares.

Cupcake Version: If desired, bake 1-2 tablespoons brownie batter in cupcake liners. Once cooled and chilled, layer remaining ingredients on top. Pipe on whipped topping (color with food coloring first, if desired) and freeze until firm.