The BEST Broccoli Pasta Salad

Yum

Labor Day is coming up and a great holiday to celebrate with the last of summer food.  I'm going to be bringing you several posts with dishes to celebrate with.  First up is another great pasta salad.  

Everyone needs an easy yet scrumptious side dish and this is absolutely The BEST Broccoli Pasta Salad I've ever had.  It was adapted slightly from a recipe I found on Pinterest from Tiffany's blog Pics and Pastries.  To me this pasta salad screams summer!

THE BEST BROCCOLI PASTA SALAD

Imagine a pasta salad that includes fresh crunchy broccoli, sweet & tart cherries, and doused in a creamy 3 cheese ranch dressing.  Oh yum!  The combination of sweet/tart (cherries) and spicy/savory (bell peppers) just work wonders with the crunch of the broccoli.  The perfect way to use fresh summer vegetables.  I can truly say this is the best broccoli salad around!

So whether you are having a last summer bash for Labor Day, a summer picnic, concert in the park, or a potluck block party, make this dish!  Everyone will be raving it's praises and asking for the recipe.  The BEST Broccoli Pasta Salad is on the menu!

Enjoy!

Note:  Shared with The Country Cook's Weekend Potluck

The BEST Broccoli Pasta Salad

serves 6

6 oz bow-tie pasta
1/2 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 - 1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 head broccoli

1/3 cup dried cherries
3/4 cup Three Cheese Ranch dressing (such as Kroger or Kraft brand)

Kosher salt &  fresh ground pepper to taste

In a large pot of boiling water cook pasta according to box directions.  During the last 4 minutes of cooking add the broccoli head to blanch.  Broccoli should turn bright green.  Remove broccoli and drain pasta.  Allow pasta to cool.

Chop broccoli into florets.  Add to medium bowl.  Add diced bell peppers to the bowl along with the cherries. Add cooled pasta and toss to combine.  Add dressing and toss to coat.  Refrigerate 1 hour.  Serve cold or room temperature.  May add extra dressing if needed.

10 BEST Smoothies

Yum

10 Seriously easy and mouthwatering smoothies that will keep you cool all summer long!

1.  Banana Cream Pie Smoothie - Tastes just like the Banana Cream Pie your momma made, with the same comfort feeling! {GET THE RECIPE}

2.  Cherry Berry Smoothie - A tart and creamy smoothie that mixes in-season cherries and berries for one outstanding and healthy drink.  {GET THE RECIPE}

3.  Peach Cobbler Smoothie - Light and creamy this drink is a taste of the South!  {GET THE RECIPE}

4.  Black and Blue Smoothie - A double delight with not one but two berries that will provide your with antioxidants and fill your tummy.  A great breakfast treat!  {GET THE RECIPE}

5.  Vanilla Kiwi Smoothie - A cool and light smoothie made with luscious kiwis and warming vanilla.  {GET THE RECIPE}

6.  Avila Orange Smoothie - Oh this is one of my favorite breakfast treats.  Made with Avila farms honey (use your favorite) and oranges.  AWESOME!  {GET THE RECIPE}

7.  Strawberry Banana Smoothie - Traditional flavors that are outstanding together and kids love them!  {GET THE RECIPE}

8.  Strawberry Pear Smoothie - Fresh pears blended with strawberries make for a light and bright drink that will keep you cool and delight your senses!  {GET THE RECIPE}

9.  Pineapple Mango Chia Smoothie - Tropical flavors of pineapples and mango blended with chia for a wonderfully healthy smoothie that will make you feel like your vacationing on a beach!  {GET THE RECIPE}

10.  Blackberry Pomegranate Smoothie - Sweet and tart go well together in this outrageously good smoothie.  Filling and quenching all in one treat!  {GET THE RECIPE}

Cherry Garcia Scones

I have fond memories of my first encounters with Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.

I remember laughing at the puns in the titles.  All the 'stuff' they added to the ice cream to make some awesome new flavors.  This ice cream flew into the stores with such a force it became an in-thing to eat Ben & Jerry's, and to try all the different flavors.

Some of my initial favorites were Half Baked, Chunky Monkey, and of course Cherry Garcia!  Oh that cherry flavored ice cream loaded with real cherries and fudge bits. They really had me at cherry. One of my favorite fruits of summer.  I wait patiently each year for cherry season to start, and then I pounce!  Buying bags of cherries weekly during the short season.

Cherry Garcia Ice Cream is my inspirations for this week's recipe for a heavenly scone.  It has all the flavor of the ice cream; fresh cherries, chocolate bits, cream for a soft moist interior.  It's a flavor combination that can't be beat.   

Now you may be saying...geez, I have to pit all thoses cherries?  Well not to worry. There is a wonderful gadget for that.  I use Oxo's Cherry and Olive pitter.  I picked mine up from Williams-Sonoma, here for $12.95, or you can find it on Amazon, here. Wouldn't be without this little beauty!

You will notice that I grate the butter into the flour mixture instead of the usual cutting in the butter with two knives or a pastry cutter.  I saw this technique on the TV when this chef was making biscuits so I decided to try it out.  I will say that I loved this technique.  It's very easy to do and the butter seems to get more distributed amongst the dough.  I will be grating my butter in many of my recipes going forward.  Try it and let me know if you like it.

You will absolutely love these scones.  Make them this weekend for a nice treat.  Enjoy!



Cherry Garcia Scones

Makes 12

             2 cups all purpose flour
             1/2 cup sugar
             1 teaspoon baking powder
             1/4 teaspoon baking soda
             1/2 teaspoon salt
             1 teaspoon vanilla
             8 oz butter, frozen
             1/2 cup fresh cherries, chopped
             1/3 cup chocolate chips
             1/2 sour cream
             1 egg
     
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium bowl mix flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking flour.  Grate frozen butter into flour mixture. Mix with fingers until flour resembles small pebbles or peas. Stir in vanilla, cherries and chocolate. Loosely mix together.

In a small bowl whisk together sour cream and egg.  Add to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Form dough into a disc.  Place the disc on a floured surface and pat into an 8 " or 9" circle about 1/2 inch thick.  Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut into 12 triangles. Place each scone on a parchment lined baking sheet, 1 inch apart. (I used two baking sheets)  Bake 15 min or until golden brown.  Cool.
   

Chocolate Cherry Banana Bread

The weather is turning cooler and it makes me want to bake.

It also puts me in the mood for the upcoming holidays. Last night MGG and I went to The Grove, a local outdoor shopping area that is attached to one of the original permanent Farmer's Markets in Los Angeles. It was just fabulous.

We toured the different booths at the Farmer's Market and drooled over all the fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. There is nothing better than the smell of fresh produce. I could stand there and sniff forever! We also looked at all the homemade candy, dried fruits and nuts. Oh yum! 

I got some inspiration and picked up some mini chocolate chips and some dried cherries to bake something scrumptious! Sorry, I'm getting over the pumpkin pie already!

We had a great time walking around looking at all the lights, a giant toy workshop, giant Christmas Trees, and even Santa and his reindeer flying through the snow. Live bands filled the air with great music that everyone was dancing to, and it even started to snow. Fake snow...this is Hollywood ya know!

Just a great way to spend the evening.

So, chilled and wanting something warm to drink and sweet to eat we went home.

I quickly make this great version (a winter version) of a banana bread, with my mini chocolate chips and dried cherries. 

Moist and flavorful, the bread along with a cup of tea was the perfect ending to a perfect evening! (Can't wait for breakfast tomorrow morning...)

Enjoy!


Chocolate Cherry Banana Bread

makes 1 loaf (16 slices)

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1/3 c Splenda Sugar Blend
2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1/4 c lite sour cream
1/4 c 2 % milk
2 t canola oil
1 t vanilla
1 large ripe banana, mashed
1/3 c dried cherries
1/3 c chopped pecans
2 heaping T miniature semisweet chocolate pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat the bottom and up the sides of a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, Splenda blend, baking powder, and baking soda, and make a well in center.

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, milk, egg, and oil. Stir in mashed banana and vanilla.

Add liquid mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in chopped cherries, pecan, and chocolate chips.

Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Makes 16 slices.
 

 

Cherryade

Baby it's HOT outside!

I think we finally caught up to the rest of the country and joined the heat wave party!  We've been in triple digits for well over a week straight and there is no end in site.

Time for some refreshments!  

How would you like to cool off with a homemade drink made from one of the season's best fruits...cherries?   Sounds good, doesn't it.

Yesterday, we had a pool party and a grill night to keep cool in the scorching 107 degree heat.  The Cherryade was the most refreshing drink to have sitting around the pool.  It was fruity and sweet, with a splash of sparkling water.  I'm in love with this drink.

I first tried this drink a week ago during a cooking class at Williams-Sonoma where we were creating recipes with fruit.  This was a huge hit with me and I immediately put it on my "to make" list for the following weekend.  Do you have a "to make" list?  Mine is getting kinda big....I guess I need to either cook more often, or just stop eating...not sure which!

The recipe may seem a little involved, but it's really rather easy to make.   TIP #1:  Make a big batch and use what you need, by the glass.  The cherry concentrate will stay fresh in the frig for a few days.  TIP #2:  Blend the entire concentrate with ice cubes in the blender until they are crushed and you have a slushy consistency.  Then add the sparkling water just before serving.  

This is soooo refreshing, you will never want to buy store bought cherry juice again!  So buy some of this season's wonderful cherries as cherry season is almost over. Both Red and  Rainer cherries will work perfectly in this drink.  You might also want to invest in a cherry pitter.  They are handy little gadgets and make pitting cherries an easy and quick task.  Oxo make a  good one and you can purchase it here.  It's great as an olive pitter too!

Relax with your Cherryade, on the porch, trying to catch a breeze in this heat...and savor the summer...and the cherries!

Cherryade

source: Williams-Sonoma

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups Bing or Rainier cherries, pitted

1/4 cup sugar

1 fresh thyme sprig

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

Ice as needed

Splash of club soda (soda water) (I used sparkling water)

Directions:

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cherries, sugar, thyme and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cherries have softened, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Discard the thyme, then transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher. Stir in the lime juice and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Fill individual Collins glasses with ice. Fill each glass one-third full with the cherry mixture and top with club soda. Serves 6 to 8.  

shared with:
The Weekend Potluck

Cherry Berry Smoothie

You know how I love my summer fruit right?

Well I just got back from Sprouts, which is a store with a farmer's market concept.  The primary items are fruits and vegetables.  They also have a great bulk item section, and many organic foods, if you like that too.  I go for the great selection of fruits and veggies at such great, great low prices!  Make sure to try them out if you have one in your area.  Definitely worth going!


So I bought a car load of fruits.  I'm always doing that.  It's my weakness and I can't help it!  So I have to eat a LOT of fruit every day so it doesn't spoil.  This week I bought grapes, cherries, apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, plums, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  See what I mean???


I really can't help myself....


So I woke up and decided to make one of my favorite drinks...a smoothie!  I've posted many many smoothies recipes before, but I think I might just say this is one of the best, if not THE BEST.  I'm torn...


This is a Cherry Berry Smoothie.  I started off with adding some berries, (blue and black) and then came the cherries, and I threw in some green grapes just for good measure!  Oh,  I got to use my handy cherry pitter...love that gadget!  It just pops the pits out! Simple!!  What is your favorite gadget??


Back to the smoothie.  It's sweet all on it's own so sugar or nectar isn't necessary.  And I forgot the banana, but it was loaded with fruit it came out thick and creamy anyway!  So try this. You'll see, it delishhhhh!


Just look at this color...purple is my favorite...who wouldn't love this!

Cherry Berry Smoothie

Serves 1

1 10oz container of lite vanilla yogurt

8 blackberries

10 blueberries

7 pitted cherries

5 green grapes

¼ c 2% milk

1 cup of ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender in order listed and then blend until smooth and ice is crushed.

Brown Sugar Cherry Muffins

I love muffins....can you tell?


Growing up we always made muffins on the weekend.  Our basic recipe has always been an excellent standard sweeter muffin.  These days I like to experiment with that basic recipe and change it up a bit for new combinations.


Here's one I hope you will enjoy, Brown Sugar Cherry Muffins.


Sounds good huh?


So this is a variation on the my basic muffin recipe.  I just swapped out some ingredients and add some dried fruit.  Simple.


Here we go.


You will need the following for the basic recipe:  1 egg, buttermilk, canola oil, all purpose flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt .  For this variation we will add: cherries, swap out some all purpose flour for whole wheat flour, and we swapped the milk for buttermilk.

In a large bowl beat 1 egg.  Add buttermilk and oil and mix well.  Add both types of flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Mix until moistened.  Don't over mix or you will get tough muffins!  Fold in the dried cherries.

Now spray a non-stick muffin pan with cooking spray.  Spread the batter amongst 6 muffin tins almost all the way full.  That's how I like em!

Bake in a 425 degree preheated oven for about 18-20 minutes (watch these, they get brown quickly).

See how pretty!!!

Good tasting and pretty good for you too!

Brown Sugar Cherry Muffins

Serves 6

Cook time 20-25 min

Ingredients:

1 egg

1/2 cup low fat buttermilk

1/4 cup Canola Oil

¾ cups all purpose flour

¾ cups whole wheat flour

1/2 Cup brown sugar

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

½ cup dried cherries

Directions:

Place egg, buttermilk, and oil in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until light.  Add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Stir until moist.  Don’t overmix…batter should be lumpy and a little thick.

Fold in dried cherries.

Spray a non-stick muffin pan with cooking spray.  Divide batter amongst 6 muffin cups filling most of the way full.

Bake at 425 degrees for 18 -20 min.

Enjoy!