Cherry Coke Salad

I definitely hit a nerve yesterday posting Cherry Coke Salad on the menu. Is there such thing? Yes and if you like cherry jello, fruit, cherries and bites full of fizzy wiggly deliciousness, then this is the 'salad' for you. I think salad is used a bit loosely here. It's more of a dessert jello dish. But it comes from The Best of Postal Recipes. This book was a staple in my husband's family menu's and I was so glad to happen upon a copy one day. It holds within all those awesome family reunion, picnic, some comfort food, one-of-a-kind goodies. Cherry coke salad is one of them and while it's definitely a treat, it's still a Foster fave. I've cut back on the sugar and used sugar free jello and even tried diet coke. Of course, I always add more fruit and my own mix of what I have. Just make it to your liking and enjoy each one of those fabulous fizzy bites!

Cherry Coke Salad

1 can pitted cherries
1 c sugar
1/2 c water
2 sm boxes cherry jello
2 c chilled coke
1 c walnuts (opt.)
1 sm can crushed pineapple

Put cherries, sugar, and water in saucepan and bring to boil. Pour in dry gelatin and stir. Remove from heat and let cool. Stir in cola, nuts and pineapple. Pour into a large dish or bowl and chill until set.

Farmer's Casserole and Menu Monday

Trying some new things this week for something different for the many bored palates.

Tonight: Farmer's Casserole, Cherry coke salad
Tuesday: Potato Soup & homemade biscuits (pushing the wrong dinner for weather but hey, they're predicting rain. (Notta Nicegirl "As if that matters in Kansas.") Dang! Who was that?!
Wednesday: Philly Sandwiches
Thursday: Hamburgers on grill, corn on cob, Cherry coke salad
Friday: FFY-getting ready for the big birthday party!

The farmer's casserole is simply a mundane excuse for breakfast at dinner, an all around family fave. I love all ingredients and the combo of them marrying around together. Plus, casserole's are just home-y and delicious in their own right.

Farmer's Casserole (breakfast casserole whatever)

1 package hash browns (I used the cubed O'Brien style but it calls for shredded)
(I threw in some leftover grilled potatoes too)
1 package cubed ham
1/2 onion diced
8 eggs
S & P to taste
1 1/2 c cheddar cheese
1- 5 oz can evaporated milk

In 9x13 pan, spray with Pam. Layer hash browns, then ham, cheese & onion. Whisk eggs, milk and S & P. Pour over layers. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

For the Darling Diva I made a individual version of this in a ramekin and used 3 T of rice milk to one egg.

Eat up and enjoy the Spring!

Crock pot love

Shame on me for not posting more often. Moving on. I have this supersonic love for my crock pot and sadly it's home is on my kitchen floor due to lack of cabinet and counter space. It used to be housed on my kitchen shelf in the garage (extension of my cabinets) but I got tired of up and downing the stairs every day or every other. I have a severe affinity for kitchen galore (gadgets, serving trays, plates and fun mania that I can use when I have my pals over) and it never ceases to amaze me at how much stuff I have in this room. Oh well. I love it and don't care. I'm trying a new recipe today and now can't find the webpage. DANG! (winks to Jerm! That was for you mofo) I love all the ingredients here independently and together I thought shazam! This ought to be fantastic! So we're giving it a whirl.

Crock pot chicken

3-4 chicken breasts
1 can Health Valley organic cream of chicken soup
1- 8 oz package fat free cream cheese
1 packet Good Seasons Italian Seasoning/Dressing mix

Place chicken in crock pot and with hand mixer, combine remaining ingredients. Pour over chicken and cook on low 8 hours. Enjoy friends~!

Chicken Pesto Pasta

This is a staple in our house. It's an easy one pot meal and so tasty! I'm filling in at Darling Diva's daycare this week. Yes I'm a teacher and a classroom full of 25 1st graders DOES NOT intimidate me but a roomful of 6 under 2!? Whoa seriously a completely different universe. Whoa is all I can say. Let's just say at 8:20 pm tonight and I wish I was in bed and I'm a night owl. Trying to be better at blogging and keeping up so here I am, plugging away. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. Plus it's easy to disguise those veggies in so go ahead and throw them in.



Chicken Pesto Pasta

3-4 chicken breast cut up in 1 in pieces
1 pkg Good Seasons italian seasoning
Cooking oil

In hot skillet, add chicken to oil and season with Good Seasons.

1 pkg fettuccini or linguine

Cook this according to pkg directions while chicken is cooking.

Once chicken is cooked through add

1/2 c pesto
1/2 c sharp cheddar, shredded
1/2 c light italian dressing
couple shakes crushed red pepper
1 can corn drained
1 can diced tomatoes, drained

Stir in pasta and cook an additional 4-5 minutes on low until heated through.

Start swirling those forks folks!

Crop mania! My very own subway art!

So I'm heading off to a crop in April and I thought I'd try out the whole subway art using scrapbook mania. While it took a while, I'm completely addicted. We'll be wearing these proudly across our backs. I'm sure people will be unconsciously following us trying to read what they say. But hey, it's something fellow scrappers will completely understand. Here's what I came up with:



Enjoy!

PS. If you want this, I'd be happy to email it to you!

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad (homemade!)

So I'm a total sucker for those darn boxed pasta salads. I hate to admit that since we're trying diligently to get away from boxed foods. If I can make it, I usually do. I've been away for some time trying new recipes, some good, some NOT. Well my new venture was to make my own, healthier version of the bacon ranch version of this. It was a success! I had all the ingredients on hand and while the amount of mayo was whew a LOT, I feel that using a fat free version or a much healther mayo will do just the trick.


Ingredients

I box pasta of your choice, cooked, drained, cooled
1 c mayo (I used 1/2 c fat free mayo, 1/2 c grapeseed vegannaise)
1 pkt dry ranch mix
4-6 slices bacon cooked, crumbled
1/2 can peas
2 cucumbers
1/2 bag baby carrots, shredded
1/2 pint cherry tomatoes halved and quartered
1/4 t garlic powder
black pepper to taste
*1/2 c shredded cheddar (I omitted this)
*(I used the veggies I had on hand so you can add or substitute what you like.)

Whisk mayo, ranch and seasonings. Stir veggies into pasta. Stir in dressing mix & cheese if using. Serve. Lovely!