REFRESHING WHEAT BERRIES SALAD

Autumn is almost here: days are getting shorter, though still not yet any cooler! Refreshing salad is a great bite any time of the year!

This is a salad that my 7th grade geography teacher once made and I can still remember the explosion of flavors in my mouth when I ate that first bite! It is refreshing, tasty, and filling.

Ingredients:
(for printable recipe click here)

2 cups cooked wheat berries

½ cup pickles cut into small cubes

1 large ripe tomato cut in small cubes

½ cup pickled hot banana peppers

¼ cup finely chopped Italian parsley

½ small onion, finely chopped

½ cup pitted black olives cut into circles

juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2-3 tbsp virgin olive oil

½ tsp salt (or to taste)

½ tsp black pepper

¼ tsp chili powder or crushed chili pepper

1 tsp Hungarian sweet paprika

¼ tsp cumin

Direction:

Into a big enough bowl, put cooked wheat berries, salt, pepper, all spices, lemon juice, vinegar, and oil. Mix to combine and set aside.

Cut all the vegetables and add them to wheat berries mix. Stir to combine and refrigerate for at least ½ an hour before serving.

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.

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

CAULIFLOWER SALAD with TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

This is a simple but very beautiful looking delicious salad. It is prepped ahead (the evening before), so when it's time to serve it, you just need about 10 minutes of cooking time and you can already dig in.

Cauliflower Salad With Toasted Breadcrumbs

LIFE IS GOOD and Elbow Macaroni with Toasted Breadcrumbs

It is a wonder how ones mood changes with the weather. And today is sunny and warm and beautiful. Even the brownish grass in the lawn looks somewhat brighter! Lawn- that just remained me of an old quarrel between Marie and Frank (Everybody Loves Raymond): "Who invented the lawn?" LOL So, my mood is on its highest, just put into oven some cabbage loafs, made some salad with leftover steamed cabbage leaves (with tons of garlic!), and stirred my "sourdough mother"! The procedure started yesterday after I bookmarked and printed out the recipe @Stumptown Savoury. There are many many wonderful recipes on this site, please do check them out! You can find the recipe here. Can hardly wait until my "sourdough mother" is ready and I can start baking with it!!!

Another good thing elated me today: I got a Stylish Blogger Award from  Elyse @The Cultural Dish! Thank you Elyse! If you follow this blog you  are probably familiar with super elegant Valentine Profiteroles and Cake Balls. If not, what are you waiting for, click that links and indulge yourself in yumminess! Official thank is on My Awards page.

Yesterday I mentioned my little computer helper, my youngest son. I wanted to glue his photo to the post but as he wasn't into it, I just let go. Anyhow, after he read all the flattering comment, he kind of said: "Oh well you can just put me on if you like!"  So here he is. I took the pic this morning before his concert. He is playing cielo.