Honeycrisp Apple and Romaine Salad

I like to shop at grocery stores that I don't frequent often to see the different variety of items they sell.

The problem with that is that I'm usually there for hours on end checking out all the food. Mouth watering as I discover new items, and a cart so full of ingredients for new dishes, that I don't know what came over me!

On one such shopping expedition, I came a across some salad kits by Dole. I had seen these being used around the blogesphere and spotted one that I recall being praised as particularly good. Dole's Endless Summer Salad Kit. I don't care if it isn't summer any longer, I wanted to try this salad kit and that's what I did. So I grabbed some really nice Honeycrisp Apples and headed for home with a Harvest salad idea in mind.

Soooo glad I bought this kit. I must say that it's the bomb with the flavors and the freshness! Filled with Red Cabbage, Romaine, Carrots, a Summer Vinaigrette, Swiss and Gruyere Cheeses, Roasted Sunflower Kernels, Artisan-Style Croutons, Pepper and Herb Seasoning. You don't need much more than this. Just a small addition of some sliced apples, candied walnuts, and some red pepper for a little zip, and you have a wonderful summer turned harvest salad!

It was perfect to use what was included in the kit. I only left out the croutons and fresh herb seasoning, which I kept for another use. Their summer vinaigrette is also a winner! The perfect accompaniment for the apples in the salad.

Thanks to Dole for making such a great salad kit. I hope to try other versions soon. I hope you enjoy a nice harvest salad this fall.

Honeycrisp Apple and Romaine Salad

serves 4

1 pkg. Dole Endless Summer Salad Kit
Swiss and Gruyere Cheese, Shredded (from salad kit)
Roasted sunflower kernels (from salad kit)
1/4 cup roughly chopped candied walnuts
1 Honeycrisp apple
Summer Vinaigrette (from the kit)
About 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
About 1/4 tsp. pepper
red pepper, a pinch

Cut sides off apple into 4 pieces, leaving the core. Slice the apple pieces thinly with a mandoline or a knife. 

Place salad greens into a large bowl.  Add cheese, and sunflower seed from the kit to the bowl.  Add the candied walnuts as well.  Dress salad with Summer Vinaigrette tossing to coat.  

Add sliced apples to salad and toss to coat. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper.  Serve.

Game Day Snacks: Sloppy Guiseppe Fries

It's the season for sitting around the TV and watching a great game.

A good football game or the World Series is a great excuse for me to whip up some game day snacks!  It's a must in my book. We were watching the World Series the other night and I felt the urge for something hearty and hot to snack on during the game.  Which led me to whip up something easy; Sloppy Guiseppe Fries!

Hot, meaty and cheesy....my kind of snack!

The best part of this dish is that it uses leftover Sloppy Guiseppe filling from the sandwiches I made the night before.  So all you really need to do it make oven fries, heat the meat filling and put it all together.  An easy 30 minute snack!

So if you are enjoying a great game and want a hearty snack try this dish.  The men and kids in your life will go wild over it!

Sloppy Guiseppe Fries

serves 2

2 medium russet potatoes
2 T. olive oil
1 T Italian seasoning
1 c. Sloppy Guiseppe filling
Garnishes:  shredded mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes,

sour cream, chives

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Peel and cut the potatoes into this wedges.  Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.  Sprinkle Italian seasoning and spread out in to a single layer on a baking pan.  Cook until golden brown, about 30 minutes, turning the fries over half way through the cooking time.

Heat the meat filling in a microwave safe bowl on high for 2 minutes, or until hot. Remove fries from the oven and place on a platter.  Top with meat filling.  Add garnishes as desired.  Serve.

Ghoulish Halloween Treats

It's always fun to celebrate Halloween.

We've had some great parties at my house with Vampire Coffins, Witches Brew, and Jason hanging around amongst the fog and the dry ice patches everywhere.  Great times also calls for festive food.

A special punch is a must.  The rest, can be themed or not, but should be autumn inspired and easy on the preparation so you are spending time tricking or treating instead of cooking.

This year to get in the mood for Halloween we went to the Rise of the Jack O' Lanterns.  A huge display at Descanso Gardens of about 5,000 professionally carved pumpkins. Amazing work, amazing creativity!  We are in the mood now.
Take a look at some of my favorites.

Now, back to the food...
Here are some of my favorite ideas to serve this Halloween.

Monster Mash  - This is my all time favorite snack to make for Halloween.  Everybody loves this stuff!  The colors and the flavors all screammmm Halloween!

Sloppy Guiseppe's  - An Italian spin on a standard Sloppy Joe.  An easy dish to put together before trick or treating. AND, the kids love em'!!

Crescent Roll Mummy Dogs - who wouldn't love to bite into this little mummy?  Another easy dish that tastes sooo good.

Mom's Beef Stew - I'm actually making a batch of this right now!  Imagine that!  There is nothing more perfect that this hearty beefy vegetable soup on a chilly night.  I like to serve this in a hollowed out pumpkin used as a tureen.  Perfect!

Baby Acorns - These are so cute and totally remind me of fall.  Simple to put together and a great project to have the kids help make.  A wonderful little dessert or snack.

Chocolately Hot Chocolate - Let's not forget the best drink after a night of trick or treating. This hot cocoa will warm you up with it's creamy sinful flavor.

Make sure to have a safe and devilishly, ghoulish, and spooky Halloween!