Fresh Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

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We are still hanging on to summer in Los Angeles as the weather is alternating between very hot, to mild.  It's that time when it is noticeable that the season is starting to change. 

We've eaten salads all summer long and I'm not stopping yet.  I'm going to make all my summer favorites until the leaves fall.  Pasta salad is a classic dish and I love it.  So I thought I'd make one more for good measure.  Something a little different this time, just for fun.

I must confess that I'm addicted to visiting Barnes and Noble and sitting there having an iced tea and pastry while reading special edition cooking magazines.  I also might be know to buy a few!  So browsing one by BHG I came across a wonderful Italian Pesto Pasta Salad.  I also found the recipe on line and you can view it here.

This recipe was calling my name, and I know that MGG loves pesto.  I decided to make this Fresh Italian Pesto Pasta so we could munch on this throughout the week.  I followed their recipe with the exception of substituting the elbow macaroni with rotini.  The jarred pesto really helps pulling this together quickly.  I also wilted the arugula on the hot pasta as it was draining to give it a different texture. 

Fresh Italian Pesto Pasta Salad - Another summer staple

Tender white beans, spicy arugula and toasted pine nuts really go well with the pesto.  Topped with fresh grated parmesan set's this off with a salty bite that finishes this dish beautifully.

Serve this along side grilled chicken or fish. You can easily make this in 30 minutes.   It's light and flavorful and has the fresh ingredients that go so well together.  If you love pasta salads then this will need to be in your recipe box.  It will quickly become a family favorite.

Enjoy!




Fresh Italian Pesto Pasta Salad

serves 10

8 oz of rotini pasta
1 7oz jar of basil pesto
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 15oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups baby arugula
1/4 c pine nuts, toasted
Freshly grated parmesan

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside.

In a large bowl stir together pesto, vinegar, and salt. Add beans, pasta, arugula, and the pine nuts. Toss well. At this point you may serve it or refrigerate several hours.  Top with freshly grated cheese before serving.

Jicama Radish Slaw

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I keep hearing that summer is over.

I'm not sure where this person lives...certainly not Southern California because it's still 100 degrees here everyday.  In my book that is summer still going strong!

I wonder why people want to rush into the next season?  All the stores have fall clothes and Halloween items already and I'm still in my bathing suit.  Even people pinning to Pinterest have joined the fall band wagon.  All the pins are of PUMPKIN already and it's not even Labor Day!

Well I'm going to slow things down a bit and bring you a summer dish that would be perfect to serve at your upcoming Labor Day bash.  Jicama Radish Slaw is a wonderful side dish that it easy to take along to a party, or quick enough to throw together for a backyard cookout.

The prep is easy, and will serve a medium crowd of about 8, but you can double this recipe if you plan on having a lot of people to feed.  Oh, and the flavors...a little pop of Asian flair will hit you when you take that first bite into a slaw that's crunchy from the jicama and carrots, and brings a little heat and earthiness from the radishes.  This light and fresh side dish will be the perfect compliment to hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, or even kabobs.  It really goes well with anything.

Summer is still calling, so enjoy this salad and savor the last days.

You may also like:

Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Fruit Salad with a Red Currant Raspberry Sauce

Springtime Pasta Salad

Tomato Tabbouleh Salad

Jicama Radish Slaw

serves 8

1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8-1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 of a medium jicama, peeled and cut into thin matchstick size pieces (about 3 cups)
3/4 cup radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/2 cup julienne or packaged coarsely shredded fresh carrots
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Lime wedges (optional)

In a large bowl whisk together cilantro, vinegar, oil, salt, and crushed red pepper. Add jicama, radishes, carrots, and green onions. Toss to coat. Serve immediately or cover and chill for up to 2 hours. If desired, garnish with lime wedges.    

source:  Diabetic Living Guilt Free Potluck Favorites, slightly adapted

    

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

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I think I've mentioned that MGG is a rabbit.

It's true.  He eats so much salad and veggies that I know he must have been a rabbit in another life.  He's even starting to look like a rabbit to me!  haha!

The other day "said rabbit" and I were walking through Costco and he picked up a container of Poki and a container of quinoa salad.  The poki is a favorite of his, but when I saw that quinoa salad and the price tag, I had to stop him there.   "But it tastes soooo good" he says.  "Yes honey, I know it does, but I can make it for you at home for a fraction of the cost and it will taste AWESOME!"  "Trust me...."

He grudgingly put it back and off we went.  Now I was under the gun to make a totally awesome quinoa salad that compares to the likes of Costco!  No problem.

I got to work in the kitchen while he looked over my shoulder to see what I was putting in it.  (Not as if I hadn't made quinoa salad before...sheesh!)  I think he was really counting on the lemony flavor of the Costco brand.  So I put a nice big lemon in front of him and put him to work zesting and juicing it.  That seemed to satisfy him for the moment.  The real test would come when he actually took his first bite.

About 30 minutes later we sat down to lunch with this huge wonderful Mediterranean Quinoa Salad, his poki, and some fruit and he had his first taste!  He savored the flavor, and then a big smile erupted across his face.  BINGO!  I knew I had him. He leaned over and gave me a big smooch.  Oh yea! One satisfied customer.

Enjoy!!


Mediterranean Quinoa

serves 10

2 cups  multi-colored quinoa or any colored quinoa 

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 Tbls olive oil

1 tsp lemon zest   

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 tsp sherry vinegar

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 cup cherry tomatoes, red and yellow, halved    

1/2 cup yellow, orange and red mini bell peppers, small dice   

1/2 cup chopped English cucumber, diced  

1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 tsp fresh mint, minced  

Rinse and drain quinoa in a mesh strainer.  Bring broth to a bowl over high heat in a medium saucepan.  Add quinoa and reduce to a simmer.  Cover and cook 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender.  Uncover and fluff with a fork.  Allow to cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile prepare the vegetables.  Add the quinoa and vegetables to a large bowl.  In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, zest, lemon juice, vinegar and salt.  Drizzle over salad and toss to combine.  Sprinkle feta cheese and mint over the top and serve.

Summer Drinks: Tropical Green Tea Cooler

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I've found my drink love for the summer. 

I was wandering around the mall parched from all the shopping, when I stopped in a random coffee house to get something to quench my thirst.  They had a wonderful array of cold drinks.  Typically I gravitate to iced tea.  That's my main stay.

But today something came over me and I decided to try their Green Tea Specialty Drink.  I was blown over by the light refreshing taste.  So much so that I new I had to try and recreate this at home.  After several tries I got it down.  I dare say, mine is even better!

You don't need a fancy blender for this recipe.  Nope!  Just a couple ingredients, a tall glass and some ice and you are set.  This will become your drink of the summer as well.  Just one taste and you'll be hooked.  Promise.

This is the perfect non-alcoholic drink, so it's kid-friendly.  Serve this at a BBQ, picnic, or a potluck.  It's versatile and oh so tasty!

Kitchen Note:  This recipe is based upon a ratio of liquids instead of exact measurements.  This will allow you to use this ratio for a glass or a pitcher of drinks.  Also, I used a sweetened ice tea.  If you use one that is unsweetened you may need to add 1 tsp of sugar to the drink.  Try it first unsweetened and then add to taste.

Enjoy!



Tropical Green Tea Cooler

serves 1

Ice cubes
Green Iced Tea ( I used Gold Peak Green Iced Tea)
Mango Puree ( such as Kern's)
1 tsp lime juice
optional:  sugar to taste, if not using sweetened tea

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes.  Pour in 2/3 of the glass with Green Iced Tea.  Fill in the last 1/3 of the glass with Mango puree.  Add the lime juice and stir to combine.  Serve immediately.

Fruit Salad with a Red Currant Raspberry Sauce

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Summer fruit is everywhere and what a better way to use it than in a cooling fruit salad.

This salad isn't any old fruit salad though.  No, it is one that is tossed in a wonder sauce.  Yes, a sauce that just lends another layer of fruit flavor to the mix. 

Recently I had the leisure of attending  a Cool "No Cook" Sauces cooking class taught by Phillis Carey (one of my favorite chefs) down in San Diego.  She made some fabulous sauces using oils and vinegars from Vom Fass.  I love them all but new that I would make the Red Currant Raspberry Sauce first.  She placed it on a fruit salad and I loved it so much that I kept my dish simple as well.  

We had this for Memorial Day, but guess what?  The 4th of July holiday is coming up next week and this would be the most PERFECT dish to serve at any BBQ festivities you may be having.  Perfect for a picnic, grill, potluck, outdoor concert, beachside, lakeside...you name it.  Everyone loved this fruit salad so since it was such a hit, I wanted to share it with you today.

Kitchen Notes:  This uses a Red Currant Jelly.  Bonne Maman' make a good Red Currant jelly.  You also may find it from Knott's jelly.  If you can't find the red currant use a good grape jelly.  It tastes delicious as well.  This also uses raspberry vinegar which I've seen at most major grocery stores as well as Walmart.  You can also get one here. It's also perfect in salad dressings.  The 3rd item is that she uses grapeseed oil.  This is a great base to the dish as it a healthy choice and has a clean, light mild taste which is perfect for a dish where you want the fruit flavors to shine.  This can be bought at most grocery stores, Walmart, and Trader Joe's.

This serve a crowd but you can adjust this to suit how many you are serving.  I used little ice cream cups to serve our in.  They look adorable!

Enjoy!




Fruit Salad with a Red Currant Raspberry Sauce

5 cups of mixed fruit ( I used watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, honeydew melons)

Sauce:
1/4 cup red currant jelly, melted and slightly cooled
2 T raspberry vinegar
1 T sugar
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup grapeseed oil

Place the mixed fruit into a large mixing bowl.  To make the sauce, whisk together the melted jelly, vinegar, sugar, mustard, paprika and salt until well mixed.  Slowly whisk in the oil.  At this point the sauce may be chilled until serving time.  When ready to serve, pour over fruit and toss to combine.  Serve immediately or may be refrigerated up to 4 hours before serving. 

Source:  sauce if from Phillis Carey Cool 'No Cook' Sauces cooking class

Springtime Pasta Salad

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The weather is warming up, we are grilling outdoors more and I'm in the mood for summer.

Summer is "salad season".  Actually every season is salad season for those people trying to eat healthy.  I try, I really try. Fresh foods are our daily goal and we've been doing a great job of cutting out the processed foods.  Yea!

Summer reminds me of farmers markets with their abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables.  So this does spur me on to eat a lot more light and fresh salads.  

A sub-category of salads is Pasta Salads.  Hurray for pasta! I really like my pasta salads.  You can use all types of different pasta shapes and then you can customize what goes in it! Make a theme of it....are you feeling Greek today? How about a Greek pasta salad.  Or maybe you feel a little Mediterranean or even straight up American.  You can tailor a pasta salad by the veggie or ingredients you use to fit your theme.

Today, I'm feel Springy.  Fresh and light.  So I created a Springtime Pasta Salad loaded with asparagus, artichoke hearts and more.  It is the perfect as a side dish to a picnic, BBQ, or pot-luck.  

It's made with a vinaigrette so it keeps really well, and since there is "no mayo" you don't have to worry about the temperature.  

The 4th of July is coming up soon....keep this in mind.

Enjoy!




Springtime Pasta Salad

1/2 lb tri-color rotini pasta

1/2 bunch of asparagus
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 orange bell pepper, diced
1 c cherry tomatoes halved or quartered if large
1/2 can quartered artichoke hearts, chopped

1/3 c feta cheese, crumbled (more for sprinkling)
1/2 package dry, Italian-style salad dressing mix
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbls balsamic vinegar
1 tsp dried italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper 

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Cook al dente. During the last 1 minute of cooking add the asparagus to the water with the pasta. Allow to cook 1 minute and remove with a slotted spoon to a cutting board. Drain pasta. Allow to cool 5 minutes. Cut asparagus in 1 inch pieces and add to a large bowl.

Add red and orange bell peppers, tomatoes, chopped artichoke hearts and feta cheese to the bowl. Add cooled pasta and toss to combine. Sprinkle with the dried salad dressing mix and cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.

In a small mason jar add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Shake to combine. Set aside.

When ready to serve toss the pasta salad with enough dressing to coat well. Transfer to a serving dish and serve.

Picnic in the Park: Banana Pudding Jars

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I hope everyone is enjoying the May weather.  We sure are!

Spring has sprung and it's been hot one day and cool the next.  We've also got some Grey May going on here in the mornings.  Not to worry, it burns off by afternoon and then the sun is shining and everyone is outdoors enjoying the cool weather until our scorching summer comes along.

Today we are continuing with our Picnic in the Park theme.  I love picnics don't you?  It's such a great way to enjoy nature, family, and friends....oh and let's not forget the food.  The other day I showed you how to make a great Mediterranean Chicken wrap with some delicious grilled chicken.

Today we are talking desserts.  Oh yea!

Now I always find it hard to take along a good dessert to a picnic or concert in the park.  Since I gravitate toward ice cream, that would end up in a melted mess, so that's out.  So I develop my desserts around the container...mason jars! MASON JARS are the perfect solution for so many toteable things.  Things like salads both green and pasta salads are perfect in jars.  How about drinks? Another winner, and there's no spillage with the lid on!  So of course desserts are also perfect in jars.

Mason jars are hearty, and roomy.  I've even baked the dessert in them, like with my Peach Raspberry Crisps.  I've also used them for my Take Along Smore's.

Today I'm thinking "southern" dessert, and Banana Pudding in mason jars is calling me.  Listen carefully...hear that?  It's calling you too. Seriously, you need to make these sweet little desserts and take them somewhere!  now!  Kids love that wonderful flavor and the vanilla wafers that turn into cakey goodness...HEAVEN!  

This is something that the whole family will enjoy!




Banana Pudding Jars


Servings: 6


For the Pudding:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt
6 egg yolks
3-1/2 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For Assembling:
3 medium bananas, ripe, and sliced
1 box Vanilla Wafers
6 Pint size Mason Jars

In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar, cornstarch, salt and yolks. Whisk in the milk and bring to simmer, stirring frequently, over medium heat 5-8 minutes. When the mixture starts to bubble, turn the heat down to low and continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1-2 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove the pan from the heat and immediately whisk in the butter and vanilla.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl and place a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper directly on the pudding to prevent a film from forming. Chill in the refrigerator until cool about 2 hours.

To assemble, place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each mason jar.  This will create a cake layer on the bottom. Spoon a large dollop of pudding on top. Add a layer of vanilla wafers standing up against the sides of the glasses around the circumference of the jar. Layer on some sliced bananas on top of the pudding. Add another layer of pudding and bananas.  Top with crushed vanilla wafers if desired.  Top jars with the lid to securely close.  Place in the refrigerator for another hour.  You may top them with whipped topping or whipped cream before eating if desired.  

Summer Corn Salad

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Taking advantage of summer's fresh vegetables is the best way to eat fresh, light, and healthy food.

One of my favorite vegetables is corn.  We eat it all summer long.  Mostly preparing fresh corn on the cob.  I just love it soooo much that I don't think there is ever enough corn to eat!

This past Sunday MGG and I had a went to a concert in the park, taking a picnic dinner while we listened to a Bee Gees cover band.  So much fun!  I'm dating myself but I used to love the Bee Gees and it was great to hear all my favorite songs again.  Anyone else a Bee Gee fan?

So a picnic dinner calls for food that is easy to pack, and easy to eat.  While I could have taken some corn on the cob I decided to make a corn salad instead.  That way I could make a heartier salad by adding other vegetables in the mix.

This is a light and fresh salad, mixed with several fresh vegetables, and tossed with a wonderful vinaigrette.  Can't get much simpler than this.  Again, this is a perfect side dish for your 4th of July BBQ, a picnic, potluck, or concerts in the park.  It goes with all types of main dishes from BBQ, ribs, chicken, burgers, sandwiches...you name it. 

Enjoy this fresh salad this weekend!



Summer Corn Salad

serves 6

5 tsp olive oil, divided
1 T lime juice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sriracha sauce
1 1/2 cups fresh corn (may use frozen)
1 1/2 cups multi-colored grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup cucumber, small dice
1/4 cup red onion, small dice
2 T fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

In a small bowl, whisk together 4 teaspoons oil, lime juice, salt and sriracha sauce. Set aside. Cook 3-4 cobs of corn in the microwave, or in boiling water until done. Allow to cool slightly and then cut off the cob with a sharp knife. In

In a large bowl place corn. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, onion and basil. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Chill in the refrigerator 1 hour. Sprinkle with cheese just before serving.

Asian Cucumber Salad

This is 4th of July week and I have a million things to do to get ready for the big day.

We always have a pool party and do some grilling with friends.  Then it's off to watch fireworks and I can't forget the dessert, which is something that involves fruit such as grilled pound cake and peaches or berries, or a delicious parfait.   But, we can't forget to top it with a scoop of homemade ice cream.  It's a tradition in our family to make ice cream on the 4th of July, and it would be sorely missed if we didn't make it. 

I have a lot of recipes ready for you this week to choose from for your Independence Day bash.  Let's start with a nice fresh side dish that has been in our family for quite some time. Our Asian Cucumber Salad is so refreshing and make the perfect side dish to sliders, chicken, burgers, and even ribs. Let's just say that this didn't last long in my house.  I even caught MGG in the kitchen later eating my leftovers I had saved for lunch!

Kitchen Tip:  If you use English or Hot House Cucumbers, you won't have to peel them (love that!). For regular cucumbers, you will need to peel them like I have done in these pictures.

I know you will enjoy this.  It's easy to put together, and you can make it ahead, which is always a plus in my book!

Be on the look out for more dishes over the next several days.  You won't want to miss them.
Enjoy!




Asian Cucumber Salad

Serves 8

4 large cucumbers, sliced, peeled if necessary, and chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
Ground black pepper

In a large bowl, add cucumbers and salt and allow to stand 5 minutes to draw out the moisture. In a small mason jar add the vinegar, ginger, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Shake to combine and set aside. Drain your cucumbers of any collected liquid. Pour the dressing over the cucumbers and then cover and chill 1 to 24 hours. Before serving add your chopped mint, and toss to combine. Season with black pepper and serve.

Dessert To Go: S'mores in a Jar

Hi there, I'm back!

I've been having computer problems and have decided it time to retire my laptop and upgrade to something new.  I've been looking at Chromebooks lately.  Anyone have one and want to share their likes or dislikes? As such with my current laptop it takes me about 2 hours to complete one post!  So, I'm sorry that the posts slowed down, but I'm working around that with an interim fix.

Last time I brought you Dinner To Go.  This was a wonderful Asian Pasta Salad dish that we took to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.  It was the perfect dish in every way; taste, and ease of transport.  I hope you enjoyed this and if you haven't made it...do so right away!

Today I wanted to bring you the perfect Dessert To Go. Again, this was born out the need to create a comforting yet delicious dessert that was easy to transport.  I could have made a cake and cut it into pieces, but I wanted something a little more special.  This is my take on S'mores in a Jar!

I love putting desserts in a jar so that each person have their own individual serving.  I use these jars which you can get here.  I love the design but any regular jar or container will do.  These Peach Raspberry Crisps were baked straight in the jar and we took these to a concert several years ago. 

Peach Raspberry Crisps

As chocolate was on my mind I wanted to get on the S'mores train and create a portable dish.  I wouldn't have a fire to roast marshmallows so I improvised and used the flavor of S'mores and built a wonderful layered dessert.  Using chocolate fudge pudding, graham cracker crumbs and small marshmallows worked perfectly.

Layering these ingredients in a jar, makes it cute!  It also allows you to get all the flavors in one bite.  The desserts were easy to pack and totally hit the spot during the concert intermission.  We even got comments from our neighbors on how pretty the dessert was, and what a great idea to use the jars.

Enjoy!



S'mores in a Jar

serves 4

1 3.9 oz box of Jello instant pudding, chocolate fudge flavored
2 cups 2% milk
2 sheets of graham crackers, crushed
1/2 cup of miniature marshmallows
4 mason or other canning jars - 8 oz.

Make the pudding according to the directions on the box and refrigerate until set and ready for use.

To assemble jars:  Evenly distribute half of the graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of 4 mason jars.  Divide half of the pudding among the four jars layering on top of the crumbs. Divide all of the marshmallows on top of the pudding.  Follow with the remaining pudding divided equally and topping with the remaining crumbs.

Secure lid and keep cold until ready to serve.  NOTE:  if packing these for travel make sure that they are packed with ice packs and that they stay upright.

Southern Sundays and BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Welcome to Southern Sundays!

I hope everyone had a wonderful week.  I've been working on a very large project and my hours have been long, long, long.  So when I heard that I was going to get the weekend off I jumped at the chance to do something fun!

MGG and I went on a picnic yesterday.  This is where we ate.

Such a beautiful day at the beach.  This is a beach a little north of us, quiet, and less crowded, this pier was built in the 1800's in anticipation of creating a large shipping port.  The weather was just perfect for a nice picnic.  So I created some great "take along" dishes and off we went!

So today I wanted to share with you our main course, BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches.

These were done with a little help from the store, with a new Root Beer BBQ sauce.   So Yummy!!!

I tend to like the Carolina sauce the best with the vinegary flavor, but sometime I like it a little sweet.  After a taste test at my favorite store (Williams Sonoma) I just had to pick up a bottle of this sauce.  I love root beer...and in this sauce, it is sweet, with a bit of a kick in the back end.  So if you love root beer this sauce may be a winner for you!

To make this quick dish I poached a couple of chicken breasts, toasted up some kaiser rolls, and heated the Root Beer BBQ sauce. (Use your favorite sauce)  Once the chicken was done I just shredded it and put it in the simmering sauce.  Simple, easy to transport with some help from some tin foil and an insulated bag.  That's all there is too it.  A wonderful hearty Super Sandwich!

Look how good this looks!!  Sweet and spicy at the same time.  Soooo good!

I served it with some great side dishes, a Creamy Ranch Slaw, and a Jicama Melon fruit salad.  I'll be sharing those recipes with you this week, along with some of my favorite tote-able dishware.  


BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

serves 2


2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Kaiser rolls
1 bottle of Root Beer BBQ sauce (or your favorite flavor of BBQ sauce)


In a 2 quart sauce pan filled halfway with water, bring water to a boil over high heat.  Add chicken breasts and boil at a slow boil for about 15 minutes.  Chicken will become opaque and white.


Remove chicken and set aside on a cutting board to cool.  Meanwhile, heat oven to "broil".  Split your Kaiser rolls in half and place on a baking sheet.  Toast rolls for about 45 seconds or until golden brown and toasted.  Remove and wrap in foil to keep warm.  


Once chicken is cool enough to touch shred using two forks.  In a medium saucepan add your bottle of BBQ sauce and heat over low heat.  Once it get's bubbly add the shredded chicken and stir to completely coat with sauce.  Cook about 5 minutes until chicken is thoroughly heated through.  


Pack in a storage container if transporting.  Wrap container in tin foil and place in an insulated bag to keep chicken warm.  To serve, divide chicken between the two Kaiser rolls placing on the bottom half of the roll.  Place the top half of roll and serve immediately.

What's your favorite BBQ sauce??

So let's get to the features of last week's party.  I would like to thank everyone for participating.  It's so good to see all your creative food items!  Last week we had a small party, but we had some delishhh entries!

We had two entries that stood out from the crowd.  Different types of food but both are "comfort food".

Congratulations on your featured recipe!

"Best Damn" Short Ribs

by Paula of Call Me PMc

Peach Pie Cookies

by Deana of Country Momma Cooks

I want them both right now!!!

I must eat them...

Congratulations again to you all!  Stop by the creative artist's blog and say "Hi!".  I'm sure they love to hear from you.

So let's party!  I can't wait to see what you all bring this week.  Make sure to tell all your friends so they can join the party as well!

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Enjoy, have fun, cook lots of food, and relish your Southern Sunday!