Simple Outdoor Italian Dining Table Setting

One fun thing to do when setting a table is to mix multiple types of dishes or cups.  Here you can see I used two types of goblets.  This adds fun interest, but it also allows you to to host larger groups despite your maybe limited (4-6 servings) of a cup or plate. 

Menu

Appetizer Green Salad

Main Dish: Tour of Italy Lasagna 

Sides: Pesto Green Beans and diced fruit

Artisan Bread with oil and vinegar dipping dishes

Dessert: Apple Crisp of Cobbler with Ice Cream

For a narrow centerpiece down the middle:

Fill Glass bottles/jars with dry pasta

Cans of the Yellow Cento Crushed Tomatoes (you could also place some plants in these if emptied)

A strand of battery powered gold globe lights

Fake succulent plants I have around my house

 

Simple Summer Chacuterie Board

My son wanted a Chacuterie board for his birthday.  

Here is a simple one with some favorite foods of his!

Cubed cheese

Triscuits

Pickles

Grapes

Strawberries

Baby Carrots

Kale Chips

Cheeseball

Coconut Almonds

 

Mandy's Gourmet Salads Cookbook

 

I HIGHLY recommend this cookbook!  I have loved all of the recipes.  There are SO many salad dressing recipes in here and they are delicious!

This is also a really fun read to learn about two sisters who started a restaurant business in Montreal, Cananda (one a designer and one a chef) and then created this cookbook.  

My daughter lived in Montreal and went to Mandy's a couple of times.  It was always such a delicious treat.  Someday I want to go to one of their restaurants!  Anyone want to go with me?

Greek Salad Protein Bowl

Beautiful and Delicious.  

I crave Greek food now. Something about the combination---YUM!

Ingredients:

Spinach

Cabbage

Cucumbers

cherry tomatoes

pumpkin seeds

feta

avocado (sprinkle with salt/pepper)

Chickpeas (either canned or the crunchy ones)

chicken

Microgreens

Hummus

Almonds

Tzatiki yogurt sauce (optional-the one from Trader Joes is delicious if you want to buy it)

Salad Dressing:

I like to either use Olive Garden Italian Dressing or this homemade Divine Lemon Basil Caesar Dressing

 

Fluffy Banana Pancakes

Here is a fun pancake variation-Think banana bread in pancake form!  

These make great on the go leftovers!

Image from here.

Makes 16-20 pancakes

In medium bowl combine:

2 eggs

3 bananas very ripe, mashed

4 tablespoons sugar

Add:

2 cups all-purpose flour

5 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

6 tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

• In a medium bowl, beat the mashed banana, sugar, and eggs together until blended. Add all of the other ingredients and whisk until combined.  The batter will be slightly lumpy due to the mashed bananas.
• Heat a large nonstick pan or griddle over medium heat. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• Using a ⅓-cup measuring cup, pour 3-4 circles of batter into the pan. Cook until the pancakes are puffed on top and golden brown on the bottom, 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook on the other side until risen and cooked through, 1-2 minutes more. 
• Serve with banana slices and maple syrup.

 

Instant Pot Indian Butter Chicken

 

I LOVE Indian Food!  This recipe is so good that I've even had people that profess 

to "hate" curry love it!  I highly recommend doubling, tripling, or quadrupling this recipe.  The leftovers taste amazing too!  I've even had success freezing leftovers to use for a quick meal another night.

Image from Here

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 3) cut into 1 inch chunks

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

2 cloves garlic, grated

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp paprika (I like smoked paprika)

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp ground tumeric

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (for "medium" heat)

2 TBS butter

1 15-oz can tomato puree or crushed tomatoes

1 1/2 tsp sugar

3/4 cup cream

Chopped fresh cilantro, for topping

Naan and rice, for serving

Directions:

1. On the "Saute" setting of your instant pot: Add butter and spices.  Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes.  Add tomato puree, sugar.  Scrape the bottom of the pot to loosen spices stuck to the bottom.  Turn instant pot off.

2.  Add chicken and mix into tomato sauce.  Put on and lock the lid.  Cook on high for 5 minutes.  Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.  Manually release the remaining pressure.

3.  Add heavy cream.  Season with additional salt/pepper if needed.  Serve over rice and with naan.

**Note:  This can also work using precooked chicken, grilled chicken, etc.  I just Pressure cook it for 1 minute if I do that.  

**Leftovers freeze well.

November 2024 Book Club Cooking Class

Divine Lemon Basil Caeasar Dressing (Pizza Limone Copycat)

Raspberry Cream Pie

Fruit Cocktail

Pumpkin Orange Cookies

Trader Joes Wassail Hack

Instant Pot Indian Butter Chicken

Pineapple Storing Trick

FAVORITE Seasonal store-bought treat

PEPPERMINT CRUNCH Junior Mints

LINDT Peppermint Cookie Truffles

Trader Joes Wassail Hack

 

Image from Here

For a quick Wassail Hack...

Combine in large pan and heat until warm: 

• 1-64 oz bottle Spiced Cider from Trader Joes (shake before emptying to get all of the settled spices on the bottom of the bottle)
• 1 can frozen apple juice concentrate
• 36 oz water (Use apple concentrate container and fill up three times with water)

*Serve in your favorite mug.  

*Add a flair of garnish with a cinnamon stick, lemon slice, orange slice, etc.

Divine Lemon Basil Caesar Dressing

One of my favorite restaurants is Pizza Limone.  Their Pera Pizza is a life changer!  I also love their Caesar Salad.  It has this light flavorful dressing with notes of lemon and basil.  I think I have created something that comes really close to the real thing!  This dressing is also good on Salmon, street tacos, etc. Image from Here

Dressing (Makes 2 cups):

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 cup light olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves (or more to taste)

*In a blender, combine all ingredients.  Blend on high for 20 seconds or until smooth and creamy.  Store dressing in Refridgerator for up to 1 month.

Image from Pizza Limone Menu

Salad:

• Romaine
• Grated Parmesean
• Lemon wedges
• *Note: I also like to add shredded carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, toasted almonds, and grilled chicken 
• Basil Caesar Dressing

 

 

The BEST Thai Peanut Sauce

This sauce works great for a cabbage salad, Thai Salad, Fresh Spring Rolls, Protein Bowls, Lettuce Wraps, etc.  Enjoy!  Image from Here

 
 

Image from Here

Image from Here

 

Image from Here

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
  
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil (toasted or dark)
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoons sriacha sauce (this gives sauce"heat."  You may want to omit or up amount to 2 tablespoons depending on preference)
  
• 2–3 tablespoons sugar, honey, or agave
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced
  
• a clove of fresh garlic, peeled
• 1/3 cup of water

**Blend all ingredients on high for 30 seconds.  Store in mason jar or other preferred dressing container.  Keep Refridgerated.   Sauce will store in refridgerator for 3 months.

No Bake Cookies

 

Using a few recipes, here is my "healthy" version of a no bake cookie.  

These are nice and rich!

Image from Here.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup salted butter 
• 3/4 cup coconut or monk fruit sugar (I like to use a combo of both)
• ½ cup milk
• 1/4 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup  creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups  oats 
• 1/2 cup toasted coconut

INSTRUCTIONS 

• For the cookies, in a medium saucepan, add the butter,  sugar, milk, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and salt. 
• Set the pan over medium-low heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring gently for 60-90 seconds. 
• Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and peanut butter, stirring slowly until smooth. Add the oats and stir until combined. 
• Scoop about 3 tablespoons of dough into mounds on a baking sheet and pat into round balls/circles. 
• Chill cookies until ready to serve (up to 24 hours in advance). Serve the cookies chilled or at room temperature.