CHERRY CHICKEN SALAD

CHERRY CHICKEN SALAD
(feeds 4)

Ingredients for chicken part:
3 boneless chicken breasts
2 tsp Cajun or chili pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp canola oil
3 tbsp pineapple or 2 tbsp lemon juice

or

1 store bought rotisserie chicken, cold and shredded

Ingredients for dressing part:
1 1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
Mix together canola oil, pineapple or lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and Cajun or chili pepper in a bowl. Add chicken and cover them with the marinade. Let sit covered for at least 1/2 an hour.
Heat a skillet over low-medium heat and roast chicken until browned and done.
Let chicken cool down completely.

Mix together all the ingredients for dressing and add the cold chicken, mix well, so all the chicken is covered with mayo mix.

We enjoyed our cherry chicken salad wrapped in a tortilla with some shredded Roman lettuce.

ELBOW MACARONI SALAD with BASIL-GARLIC MAYO DRESSING

As promised, here is my fresh, easy, quick pasta salad that can be ready in as little as 15 - 20 minutes: in the time elbow macaroni are cooked, veggies can be diced and dressing whipped together- Bon appetite!

ELBOW MACARONI SALAD with BASIL-GARLIC MAYO DRESSING

BASIL-GARLIC MAYO

This past Monday was my day off and I went to my little garden first I woke up in the morning. All my veggies are doing well and basil was ready to be cut for the first time this season. I was in dilemma of how to use my fresh, wonderfully fragrant, sweet, tender basil: salsa or basil-garlic mayo. I decided to go with my second option, because I will have more options of how to be creative with my creation in the long run.

Basil-garlic mayo has a fresh basely taste with a hint of heat from fresh garlic. It can be enjoyed as a companion to ham and cheese in a sandwich or as an compliment to grilled meats, chicken, fish or as a wonderful addition to a veggie wrap. But there is even more- how does cold macaroni salad with basil-garlic dressing sounds? Keep an eye out for my next post ^_-

BASIL-GARLIC MAYO

PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SANDWICHES SMOTHERED WITH SPICY CHEESE SAUCE

It's been a while, but I'm still cooking every day!

Now it’s time to build your Philly cheese steak smothered with spicy cheese sauce! Open the hoagies, drizzle some spicy cheese sauce, add plenty of meat, caramelized onion, more spicy cheese sauce, two slices of tomato, sprinkle of black pepper, and indulge! Doesn't it look yummy?

Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches Smothered With Spicy Cheese Sauce

"Achievement lies within the reach of those who reach beyond themselves." Congrats on all your achievements dear daughter and hope you all the best in college! Enjoy your summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MWAHHHHHHHHHHHH ♥♥♥

Another free digital scrapbooking design by Smilebox

PICKLED CAULIFLOWER AND CARROTS

It was far too long since I last posted, visited my foodie friends blogs, and even buzzed someone on FoodBuzz. Though that doesn't mean I wasn't being busy in the kitchen, I just didn't have time to take photos of my creations and write about them.

Since my daughter is a senior this year and off to college in the autumn and my youngest son is off to the high school in autumn, I decided to go back to school. But to my surprise, I finished all my classes, graduated, passed my state exam for CNA, find work, and started working in a much shorter time than I expected.
This is the reason I didn't manage to have enough time for my foodie friends and my blog.

Does it happen to you too that you just can't resist but buy that extra head of so beautiful looking cauliflower or that extra bag or two of carrots that look so bright orange and fresh? It does? Than you are just like me. And than that pour vegetable is sitting on the counter and waiting to be transformed into something delicious... This time, my extra veggies found their way into a pickling jar.

Pickled Cauliflower And Carrots- My Way

INSTANT VANILLA-CHOCOLATE TIRAMISU

On a busy day when you still wanna treat your dear ones with something special and delicious instant pudding and lady fingers come to the rescue. I love LOVE shortcuts, they make our life so much easier! My first post was Always a star at dinner table- TIRAMISU and I made it from scratch, but these days it feels like I'm living in a vortex, so come on in shortcuts, you don't even have to knock on the door, it is already open!

Instant Vanilla-Chocolate Tiramisu

POTATOES with SAUERKRAUT and CRUNCHED SMOKED TURKEY HAM

The part of Slovenia where I come from is called Brkini. This region has that kind of soil that is perfect for harvesting the best potatoes in quantities that last for a year, as well as cabbage that is turned into sauerkraut and stored to last through the winter too.

"Krompir v zevenci" or potato cooked with sauerkraut is a traditional dish that was usually served for dinner in those past days when food was not as abundant as today, and is served today for special occasions as delicacy and a staple of the region. What gives potato in this dish that special "aha"moment is the sauerkraut pickling liquid that kind of hardens the potatoes' outer layer and prevents potatoes from overcooking and mushing. Traditionally hot pig fat with crunched sausage is poured over the top to bring the dish together; but as I don't consume pork I always use olive oil and smoked turkey ham.

Potatoes With Sauerkraut and Crunched Smoked Turkey Ham

WHEN VANILLA MET CHOCOLATE

How to make sure your cake will be moist? The answer is simple, put instant pudding mix into the batter. Yes, it's that simple! All of you have probably seen the ready cake mix with big print "SUPER MOIST- WITH PUDDING in the MIX". And the most wonderful thing about instant pudding mix is that it comes in so many different flavors. What is also so wonderful about instant pudding mix is that they come in all the beautiful colors of rainbow, too. I chose vanilla and chocolate because they are the most popular in our house. But hey, wouldn't  it be great to make a pistachio and banana cake?

Vanilla Met Chocolate Cake

FEELING GOOD, MY NEW BOOK, and NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE

I'm back from Memphis and I'm feeleing WHITE, RED, and BLUE!!!! To celebrate I made some cheesecake, again, but this way the quicker, shortcut way.

I usually do everything the traditional way. But since my life became busy and hectic I'm trying to find ways to make delicious dessert recipes easier and quicker to make. Sometimes there is no way you can skip baking, but with cheesecake it simple- the secret is in INSTANT PUDDING MIX! I found this recipe on eHow Food and adjusted it a bit.
Instant pudding mixes come in so many different flavors, so it is easy to to make the perfect cheesecake for every occasion!

No-Bake Cheesecake My Way

Here are some photos on the way to Memphis:

MY FAVORITE SWEDISH PAIR

I lived two years in Sweden and I can honestly say that except for one savory and one sweet dish, Swedish cuisine didn't make a great impact on me.
Swedish scalloped potatoes and Bullar are those two dishes, one savory and one sweet.
Sweetness of the onions, creaminess of the cream, and starchiness of the potatoes is a perfect flavor combination for me, that is why I felt in love with Swedish scalloped potatoes at the first sight of the dish.Although I regularly bake bullar as everybody in our family enjoys them, I didn't bake the scalloped potatoes in a long long time as the male part of my family is not so fond of cream or milk joining in to a savory dishes.

SPAGETTI IN THE OVEN

Yeya, I won yet another givaway and it's the first day of spring! Thank you Elisabeth @Food and Thrift Finds! Can hardly wait till my book arrives and I can indulge myself into the delicious pages! Thank you again Elisabeth for sharing!

My husband just loves when the spaghetti are all crunched up in the oven. I'm the total opposite, I like my spaghetti smooth and smothered in enormous quantities of yummy sauce (no matter what kind, white, red, pesto...) So I balance, but as I cook It's me who decide which way it will go, bwahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!  I served my pasta with a side of green salad with black beans and some garlic bread.

Spagetti In The Oven

INDULGING LIFE'S 100's POST and PEACH CHEESECAKE

It's my 100's post and I decided to celebrate it with Peach Cheesecake! Thank you all so much for all support, encouraging comments, and friendship!!!!!

Peach Cheesecake- My 100's Blog Post

PIZZA DOUGH

We have sun in Nashville now for a few days and it feels amazing!!! I was so happy to see my mint all grown and bright green, and it smell so fragrant and fresh. Yea, I think I can for sure say: "Goodbye winter, sorry but I won't miss you a bit!"  

As I promised, here is my pizza dough. Everybody has favorite pizza topping, we love ours veggie style. This time: broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, onions, dry cured black olives, pizza sauce, and shredded mozzarella cheese.

Pizza Dough My Way