Sunday, July 19, 2009

Cold Pasta and Shrimp Salad

Here is another great COLD SUMMER RECIPE!
This is a recipe that we love to eat in the summer time with Chris's family. This recipe was made famous by Chris's Grandma B. It's cold and I think it's the only salad that actually leaves me feeling full. We serve this salad with hot rolls and homemade jam and slices of cheddar cheese. It's great if your on a diet and want something that will fill you up! Enjoy!

4 cups cooked shell macaroni (cooled completely)
1 cup finely chopped celery
Ranch dressing mix made up according to pkg. directions
1 Lb. marinated shrimp, drained (recipe below)
2 Tbsp. finely chopped green onion

Mix pasta, shrimp and vegetables. Add enough ranch dressing to make it very moist. You can use bottled ranch but I promise it's not nearly as good as freshly homemade ranch. When you dish it up, we drizzle extra ranch dressing on the top of the salad....sooooo yummy!


MARINATED SHRIMP RECIPE:
1 Lb. salad shrimp (these are the really tiny ones)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1-1 1/2 tsp. lemon pepper
2 Tbsp. olive or canola oil
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. fresh and chopped OR dried dill weed

While you are preparing all the other ingredients. Fill a bowl with hot water and let the shrimp soak in it for a few minutes. drain the water. Do this 2 or 3 times, and the last time soak them in cold water. This will take away the strong fishy taste, leaving a nice tender, not so strong flavor of shrimp for the salad. All shrimp should be nicely pink. Place shrimp in large shallow dish. In a small bowl, whisk oil, lemon juice, dill, vinegar, and lemon pepper until blended. Pour over shrimp, tossing until coated. Cover and chill at least one hour to overnigh, stirring occasionally. Drain before serving. Can be used as an appetizer, main dish, salad, etc.

When we make this we double or triple the recipe that way you can eat it for lunch the next day, and you have a healthy lunch.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Cape Cod Turkey Pita's

We went on a picnic and I wanted something quick and easy....and something cold. There's nothing worse than going on a picnic in the middle of summer and eating hot greasy food. This took about 10 min's to whip up, and they are so yummy, pefect for summer!

1 slice deli smoked turkey,cut 3/4" thick(about 1 lb.)
1/2 c lt. ranch dressing (I personally like the homemade ranch, it's tastes so much better!)
1/3 c sliced,blanched almonds
1/3 c Craisins,coarse chopped
2 scallions,chopped
8 small pitabreads (about 1 oz. ea) -I used wheat pita's to make them a little healthier!

Directions
Cut turkey in 1/4" cubes.
In a large bowl,mix together the turkey,dressing,almonds,Craisins and scallions. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
To serve,cut open each pita about 1" from the top. Spoon a scant 1/2 c of turkey mixture into each.

Tip: To make opening the pita's easier, cut them in half, put in microwave for 15-20 seconds, and they will split right open, making them easier to stuff!

Enjoy!

Recipe found in Family Circle magazine

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Banana Bread

I have been downing Banana bread everyday like it's going out of style. My mother in law keeps whipping up batches of banana bread and sending a loaf home with me every week. This last week she didn't cook a batch so I thought I would try my Better Homes and Garden "light" recipe for banana bread.....ummmm...lesson learned, some things should not be messed with. So here is my mother in laws recipe for her banana bread......so good!!!

5 large bananas (2 1/2 cups)
4 well beaten eggs
1 cup shortening
4 cups flour, sifted
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Beat bananas to a liquid in blender or food processor. Add eggs. Cream together shortening and sugar and add banana mixture. Sift together flour, soda, and salt and pour into banana mixture. Pour into 2 well greased loaf pans. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until done.
Makes 2 loaves.


I have found that in my oven 250 degrees doesn't cut it, I do it at 350 for 6o minutes, and then check it with a toothpick, if I need to bake an additional 5-10 min's and check again.