Cole's Blocks Co.

I recently came across a gold mine of a company!

I was surfing Instagram and saw a post by another blogger that had a customized cutting board with the name of her blog on it.  I immediately thought, "OMG! I LOVE THIS!  I want one NOW! Where do I get one?"

After a little researching on her blog I found a wonderful company that produces fantastic cutting boards, and does customized boards to boot!  Jackpot!  

Cole's Blocks Co. is family run company with 40 years and three generations invested in the wood industry and are located in Southern Michigan.   They use a high temperature roasting process to enhance the curly maple used in each of their cutting boards, cutting blocks, and serving boards. Their boards and serving platters are more durable, lighter-weight, and less likely to warp due to a higher resistance to moisture.

Naturally Stain and Chemical Free

Roasting darkens the wood naturally to an honey or espresso finish without the use of any harsh stains or chemicals.

The Advantage of Roasted Maple Cutting Boards over Plastic Ones

Maple cutting boards won't scar as easily as plastic since maple is a hardwood.

You won't have to replace your wooden cutting board regularly if cared for properly. 

Your knives will last longer because hardwood boards won't dull your blades as quickly as plastic will. 

Your won't want to hide your cutting boards because wooden boards, even well used ones, add warmth and beauty to your kitchen.

So I ordered my personalized cutting board.  Isn't it a beauty?  I just love, love, love this board.  Along with it I got an array of other wood items as well such as initialed coasters, and several serving platters.  I love the one in the shape of my home state "California". 

I've used several of my boards and one of the serving platter boards already (below is an example). They are beyond my expectations.  The boards keep well, they are easy to cut on, and clean up is a breeze.  The serving platters are beautiful, functional, and decorative at the same time.  I can't wait to throw a huge wine and cheese tasting party using my boards, just to show them off!  Wine anyone?

I also have to brag about their customer service.  I dealt with Betsy from the beginning and I have to say that she is exceptional.  From the start she took my order and worked with me by making fantastic suggestions until I had the board of my dreams!  This is how you want your service to be everywhere and Betsy and her family are top notch proprietors.

You can't go wrong with one (or several) of Cole's Block's Co boards.  I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas gifts.  They would also be a wonderful wedding present.  You can purchase your own here, which I highly recommend that you do.  You're gonna love them!

Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

-This simple salad uses the freshest ingredients for a flavor mix that will pop in your mouth!-

Yum

I do love a fancy salad, but a lot of the time I prefer simpler recipes that aren’t a lot of trouble.  A honeycrisp apple and romaine salad is awesome, but I’m happiest when you give me a simply fresh salad that I can throw together easily and still get oohs and aahs out of MGG and my friends.  (This Caribbean Chicken Salad may be an exception though...!)

Plus, if you have to travel with this salad it's guaranteed to arrive beautifully, and not look like it fell in the floorboard of the back seat of your car!  This simple and fresh salad looks beautiful no matter how it lands!

EASY CUCUMBER, TOMATO, AND AVOCADO SALAD TO THE RESCUE
If you need a versatile, yet simple salad recipe, that goes well with everything from steak to hot dogs then this Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad is the one for you.  It's a completely fresh and juicy salad with accents of rich buttery avocado for good measure.  It's satisfying and healthy, offering a multitude of vitamins, anti-inflammatory properties, and healthy fats.

This is a great fresh salad that will keep well in the refrigerator for several days.  This delightful salad easily pairs with burgers, chicken, fish, or steak.  It's versatility makes it the perfect go to salad of the summer.  Not to mention that people will just flip over this salad and quickly ask you for the recipe!

Did I mention that it's easy to put together?  Well it is.  A large serving bowl is all that's needed, so you save on dishes.  The vegetables are chopped in larger chunks making the prep work go fast.  Adding some salt & pepper and a drizzle of really good olive oil tops this easy-peasy salad off.    You can't mess up and you can't go wrong with this salad.

Enjoy!



Cucumber, Tomato, and Avocado Salad

1 English cucumber
3 Roma tomatoes
3 avocados
1/4 red onion,
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1 lemon
salt and pepper
Olive oil

Slice the cucumber into half lengthwise, then cut each half into medium to large slices.  Place in to a large bowl.  Cut the tomatoes in half lengthwise and then cut each half lengthwise again and cut into chunks.  Add to the bowl.   

Cut open avocados and remove the pits.  Peel skin off and cut lengthwise and then into chunks.   Add to the bowl.   Peel and slice the red onion into thin strips.  Add to the bowl.  Add the chopped cilantro to the bowl. 

Slice the lemon in half and drizzle the juice over the salad in the bowl.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.   Drizzle with olive oil until moist (about 1/4 cup) and stir to combine.  Serve.

Any leftover may be placed in an air-tight container and refrigerated for several days.

Sheet Pan Meal: Simple Citrus Herb Chicken and Tomatoes ( and a Product Review )

Yum

Sometimes you just have to give in to it.

Give in to the pressure.  You know the one, using the oven in summer?  Yea, that pressure.  The other night I came home late from work and I was dog tired.  I did not want to stand over the stove or the grill cooking anything.  Nope not today.  So I gave in and cranked up the air conditioner and turned on the oven.  Sometimes you need a break like that and it's okay.  Truly, to save me some work in cooking dinner that night I would stand any extra heat the oven caused.

So with chicken breasts in the refrigerator I decided to make a sheet pan meal.  Love them!  You just throw everything on a large baking sheet pan and cook it all together.  This meal was particularly easy with just chicken and tomatoes.  Yum, golden chicken flavored with citrus and blistered cherry tomatoes bursting with flavor!  You could easily substitute chicken thighs, or pork or fish with this dish as well as changing up the vegetables.  It's all good and easy to put together.

For the chicken I used some help from my favorite store, Williams-Sonoma, by using the Williams-Sonoma Citrus Herb Rub.

It is a dry rub that you sprinkle over your protein and can also be used on vegetables, or mixed in with a salad dressing...yum!  Here is their promo for the rub:

The sweet-tart flavors of orange, lemon and lime mingle with jalapeño peppers for a Latin-inspired rub that brings gentle heat and mouthwatering flavor to everything from beef and pork to poultry and vegetables. The rub is blended with California garlic and Mexican oregano, and finished with pure citrus oils for an aromatic finish.

Ingredients:

California garlic, kosher salt, jalapeno pepper, cane sugar, crystallized orange (evaporated cane juice, citric acid, orange juice, orange oil, ascorbic acid [vitamin C]), lemon peel, cilantro, crystallized lemon (citric acid, evaporated cane juice, lemon oil, lemon juice, ascorbic acid [vitamin C]), crystallized lime (citric acid, evaporated cane juice, lime oil, ascorbic acid [vitamin C]), orange peel, citric acid, Mexican oregano, orange oil.

I always feel confident using Williams-Sonoma's products because of the ingredients.  You can read them...understand them, and they don't use all the chemical fillers/preservatives you find in most commercially produced spice blends.  You can purchase this rub at your local Williams-Sonoma store or online here.

So dinner was a success.  I mean look at this gorgeous meal.  I really must say this was the perfect seasoning for our chicken dinner.  It was light and citrusy and perfect for a light summer dish.  Oh, and the heat from the oven was totally worth it!

Enjoy!

Simple Citrus Herb Chicken and Tomatoes (a Sheet Pan Meal)

serves 4

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
citrus herb rub (Williams-Sonoma Brand)
olive oil
salt and pepper to season
2 pints of multi colored cherry tomatoes
cooked rice (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350°F Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.

Drizzle olive oil on both sides of the chicken.  Sprinkle both sides liberally with rub.  Arrange the chicken breasts on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the sheet pan and add the tomatoes around chicken.  Place back in the oven and cook another 15 minutes.  Turn on the broiler and broil meat and tomatoes to obtain a little char on it, about 4 minutes.

Serve each chicken breast with the tomatoes over cooked rice if desired.