My Sister's Marvelous Go-To Crunchy Tossed Salad with Fresh Veggies

My sister introduced me to her marvelous crunchy salad when I recently visited her.  The genius of this flavorful salad is that she marinates the vegetables before adding to the lettuce, and all you have to do is toss right before serving!

This is the go-to salad for most entrees and her husband's absolute favorite!  I know you and yours will love this toothsome salad as much as we do!  It also makes a wonderful light meal with cooked shredded or sliced meat, shrimp or salmon.

                                    So Refreshing and Crunchy Good...

                          You Don't Have To Tell Them How Healthy It Is!             
                                                               

Crunchy, Chopped Fresh Summer Veggie Salad and A Real Smok'n Cookout!

My son recently ordered a custom smoker.  We thoroughly enjoyed being his guinea pigs for all the marvelous goodies he's so passionately produced on that smoker (which I dubbed "Ye Ole Smokey")!  Our first tasting was the Mother's Day cookout.  It was so great, the guys asked to be reinvited for more smok'n on Father's Day.  All this in preparation for a huge cookout in June with a Dallas TV show theme.  Everything that came off that smoker was unbelievable!  Hats off to my son, "J.R.," the Pitmaster!

My take-along dish Father's Day was this fantastic, crunchy veggie salad, which I'd been tempted to make for some time.  Well, I can tell you that it was a big hit, for those who were okay with a little raw onion, that is...read on!

                                             Fresh and Ready To Be...

                                                 Dressed and Tossed!

Laborless Labor Day Recipe Roundup!

Labor Day should be laborless, right?  That's exactly what this roundup of entrees, salads and desserts is all about...for you to enjoy a classic, fun and relaxed Labor Day!

For even more scrumptious recipes, perfect for a carefree Labor Day, see my Fourth of July Recipe Roundup!

                                      Keeping It Easy and Delicious...

                                      For a Laid-Back Labor Day!

Delightfully Seasoned Beef Taco Pie with Pepper Jack Cheese ~ My Happy Pie!

Packed with flavor, this family-pleasing dish is easy to make; but definitely not mundane!  I love the delightful and surprising bite of cinnamon along with the beef.  The pepper jack cheese and the chili powder offer just the right amount of heat, and the cheese adds just enough salt...no need for additional salt and pepper.

Though the pepper jack cheese does not offer over-powering heat to this delicious taco pie, you can substitute Cheddar cheese for those with more sensitive palates.  For a little additional flavor, I chose to use canned diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano.  This scrumptious casserole makes a wonderful weeknight meal or take-along dish, and it freezes well.

A fun and comforting pie, it makes me so happy...I just can't seem to get enough of it!

                                              Family Night Fun...

                                            With My Happy Pie!

Pimento Cheese Filled Deviled Eggs - Southern with Style!

A party or get-together in the South almost always means "Who's going to bring the deviled eggs?"  This year, I was elected to bring them to a holiday get-together at my daughter's mother-in-law's house.  Now, folks, her family is serious about their deviled eggs!  I confess, I can't remember the last time I personally made deviled eggs, so I was glad to try my hand at them.

I chose to make pimento cheese deviled eggs and sought my daughter's mother-in-law's advice on what kind of pimento cheese to use.  She strongly endorsed Palmetto Cheese (a Southern favorite), which I found in the deli section of the grocery.  These stuffed eggs were gobbled up in no time...a true attestment as to how scrumptious they were!

So, If this recipe didn't make it in time for your New Year's Eve party...there's still time for a New Year's Day party or brunch!
                    
                                         "They're So Pretty!" and...

                                  They're Deviled Egg-Expert Approved!

Famous Two-Ingredient, Two-Step Barbecued Pulled Chicken In The Slow Cooker

If you need something uncomplicated and delicious for dinner or a cookout, you'll love this famous... okay, my famous...lip-smacking, super-easy barbecued pulled chicken!  It's made with only two ingredients in the slow cooker in only three hours, using incredibly simple methods of shredding and cooking the chicken.

Enjoy this laid-back, crowd-pleasing recipe for Labor Day, tailgating and effortless weeknight meals!

                                                        Oh Man...

                                                  I Can Taste It Now!

Light and Refreshing Orange Salad Enhanced with Pomegranate and Tossed with Toasted Pecans

Add a little zing to your entrees with this super easy, light and zesty side salad.  This salad is made with a savory spring mix and tossed with juicy, bright orange slices, tangy pomegranate dried cranberries, and crunchy toasted pecan halves.  A sprinkling of shaved Parmesan cheese adds a surprise piquancy and the orange flavor is intensified with a scattering of orange zest.  A drizzling of raspberry-pomegranate dressing perfectly completes the salad.

Delightfully refreshing, this salad is an ideal accompaniment to your summer meals.  Add chicken or turkey for a complete light lunch or dinner.  Also, this dish especially complements spicy entrees.  It was a big hit at our Fourth get-together, and I know you'll enjoy enjoy it as much as we did...make it for your next take-along! 

                                          Bright, Light and Refreshing...

                                               Just What I Want!

Chunky Cranberry Applesauce In The Slow Cooker

My daughter wanted to serve a cranberry applesauce for Thanksgivukkah.  Since I normally bring the homemade cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, I volunteered to add this to my contributions for this year's very special holiday.

When I discovered Dawdling Darlings' easy, chunky cranberry applesauce, I knew this was ideal for our celebration.  I made twice as much as the original recipe, so I altered the other ingredients as well and omitted the water.  To achieve a chunky applesauce, it was not pureed.

The festive red color of this sauce makes it an ideal condiment or side dish for your Christmas meals. 

                                                 Tart, Tangy and ....

                                                   Sophisticated!

Comforting Beef Casserole with Homestyle Egg Noodles and Colby-Jack Cheese

With the hustle and bustle of all the holidays, coupled with the cold weather, you want an easy, hearty warm dish to prepare for dinner.   You're kinda over the turkey (at least for the moment) and ready for a little beef...

Between all the holiday fare, you and your family will love this uncomplicated and comforting, cheesy beef casserole made with homestyle egg noodles! 

                                             Nice To Come Home To...

                       And So Easy...Give It To The Teenagers To Prepare!                                         

Pineapple Casserole with Triple Cheddar Cheese

If you want a little different side for Turkey Day this year that still seems "Thanksgivinish", this is such a super easy and super good dish!  More like a dessert, Southerners generally serve pineapple casserole as a side dish, much like a sweet potato casserole is served.  It also makes an awesome take-along dish!

I've tried other pineapple casseroles, but they were swimming in butter and the cheese didn't melt.  My recipe calls for half the butter typically used in a pineapple casserole.  I used finely shredded triple Cheddar cheese for a better melt and flavor variation than the plain shredded Cheddar that is generally used in this casserole.

I also experimented with using fresh pineapple; however, the canned pineapple just works better in this recipe.

This pineapple casserole is great warm or cold.  I've had it for breakfast...speaking of which, it would be fabulous for brunch!  And you know me...I also like it with whipped cream!

                                             Would You Like A Little...

                                          Whipped Cream with That?

Carrot "Souffle" Casserole ~ Adapted From The Famed Piccadilly Southern Cafeteria!

This "souffle" has been floating around my recipes-to-be-made file for a while.  Shame on me, because all this time we've been missing out of this fantastic dish!  It's an excellent imitation of a very popular side dish from the famed Piccadilly Southern cafeteria.  I think it's actually a little lighter than the restaurant's version; and, naturally, I've done my "spin" on it.

Delightfully sweet, it's similar to a sweet potato "souffle"...making it a wonderful addition to your holiday meals.  We all love our leftovers on Thanksgiving, and this is a good one for sneaking a little cold from the fridge.  (Don't tell anyone, but I love it, warm or cold, with a nice dollop of whipped cream...you know me and my cream toppings!)

                               Have Your Dessert Before Your Entree?...

                                               Why Not with It!