Easter Cookie Time

Today was the day to make some Easter cut out cookies.  I used this recipe to make them.
Susanna's Sugar Cookies

Here are some of the chicks, bunnies and eggs that are waiting patiently for icing.

Well they are now dressed.  The icing is still a work in progress.

Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Well the sun is shining and looks so warm and inviting outside but guess what looks are deceiving.  So I decided to bring to tropics to me if I couldn't be in the tropics.  I threw together this little smoothie in no time.  Only thing missing was a little paper umbrella.  Maybe next time.

I have started keeping some different frozen fruit in the my freezer just for this reason.  Today it is tropical fruit.

I started with a heaping cup of pineapple, mangos and strawberries.

Put that in the blender.  To that I added a container of passion fruit Greek Yogurt.  I am becoming a fan of Greek yogurt especially when it is mixed with something else.

Added a cup of Passion fruit juice.  I love this stuff. Makes me think I am in Hawaii when I drink it.

I added a squirt of honey just to add a little sweetness.

Cover and pulse.

A little tropics in Alabama.  Try this at home with any fruit and juice combination you might like.  It is a real pick me up during the day.

Garden Bow Tie Salad

The new Taste of Home magazine came in one day last week and this recipe jumped out at me and I had to try it. It is a perfect pasta salad for those summer picnics because it doesn't use mayo.

It is chocked full of good veggies.

Wash and do not dry one cucumber, yellow summer squash, zucchini, red and green bell pepper.

Chop those up into small bite size pieces.

Add 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, cauliflower pieces, and chopped red onion.  Toss to mix.

Sprinkle the veggies with 2 packets of Italian salad dressing mix.  Toss to coat.  Cover and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight.

Cook 4 1/2 cup bow tie pasta according to package directions.

Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.

Add the veggies to the pasta.  Mix well.

Mix 1/4 cup olive oil.

Add 1/4 red wine vinegar to the olive oil.

Salt and pepper it

Mix the dressing well.

Drizzle over the top and mix well.

Toss the salad well to mix.

Serve.  Keep leftovers in the fridge.

Garden Bow Tie Salad Recipe

1 medium cucumber
1 medium yellow summer squash
1 medium zucchini
1 medium sweet red pepper
1 medium green pepper
4 cups fresh broccoli florets
3 cups fresh cauliflowerets
1 small red onion finely chopped
2 pkg Italian salad dressing mix
1/4 cup olive oil
1.4 cup red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs

Well since the weather is not cooperating and making it feel like spring I decided to take a trip to the tropics at least in the kitchen.

These are very easy to throw in the crock pot for dinner.

Start with 32oz frozen meatballs.  They do not have to be thawed.

Drain a 13.5 oz can of pineapple chunks and save the juice.

Pu that on top of the meatballs.  Also at this time cut the bell peppers into chunks and add that on top.  I guess I forgot to get the picture.

Add 1 cup of brown sugar to the pineapple juice.

Add 2 Tablespoons of corn starch.

2 Tablespoons of soy sauce

Add 2/3 cup of white vinegar.

Mix the sauce well.  Make sure all the brown sugar and cornstarch are disolved.

Pour over the meatballs.  Cover and cook for 3-4 hours.

The cooked meatballs.

Serve over rice.  It would also be good to serve with toothpicks as a party food.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Meatballs Recipe

32 oz frozen cooked meatballs
13.5 oz can unsweetened pineapple chunks save the juice
1 large green pepper diced
2 Tablespoon cornstarch
2/3 cup white vinegar
2 Tablespoon soy sauce

Honey Barbecue Sauce

I found this sauce in the newest edition of Paula Deen Living and had to try it.  It will go well with the pork shoulder we are making tomorrow.  I will post additional uses for this sauce in the very near future.

Just the basics.

Start with 1 cup ketchup

1/3 cup honey

2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce. ( I used Archies)

1 Tablespoon cider vinegar

1 teaspoon chili powder

Whisk well.

Store in the fridge.


Honey Barbecue Sauce Recipe

1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup honey
2 Tablespoons steak sauce
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder

Alabama White Sauce

If you have ever had any of Big Bob Gibson's BBQ then you are familiar with white sauce.  If you live outside the south this might be a foreign sounding BBQ sauce, but you need to try it and soon.  It is so good on grilled chicken and even pulled pork.

A few simple ingredients that you probably have in your pantry.

Start with 2 cups mayo.  I used lite.

Add 1 1/2 Tablespoons salt

2 Tablespoons black pepper.

4 Tablespoons white sugar

6 Tablespoons lemon juice

6 Tablespoons white vinegar

Mix well.

A whisk helps get it mixed.  Cover and store in the fridge.

Now grill some chicken and dig in.

Alabama White Sauce Recipe

2 cups mayo
1 1/2 Tablespoons salt
2 Tablespoons black pepper
6 Tablespoons white vinegar
6 Tablespoons lemon juice
4 Tablespoons white sugar