CHERRIES

STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE

INGREDIENTS:

4 strawberries
½ cup milk
1 (6 ounce) container strawberry yogurt
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoons vanilla extract
6 ice cubes

Add all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve immediately.

TOMATO SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND GREEN OLIVES

INGREDIENTS:

3 sliced tomatoes,
1/2 cup green calamata olives,
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese,
2 tablespoons olive oil,
fresh ground black pepper,
salt to taste,

fresh parsley, dill or basil;

In a serving platter arrange tomato slices; sprinkle salt; add crumbled cheese and olives.

Drizzle olive oil; ground pepper; garnish (optional) with fresh parsley , dill or basil.

Here you have a nice and fresh salad; bread and butter, garlic bread or just right from the oven french baguette from the bakery next door, will be a delightful entry to a dinner for two (or more if you double the quantity)

Enjoy!
Have a nice day!

CHICKEN RICE AND SALAD

HOW TO COOK RICE:
Bring to boil two cups of water with one tablespoon of butter or margarine and one teaspoon of salt. Stir in one cup rice. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
INGREDIENTS FOR RICE PILAF:
2 cups rice,
1 cup chopped onion,
1 cup diced carrots,
1 cup diced celery,
1/4 cup olive oil,
1 teaspoon salt,
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper,
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder;
DIRECTIONS:
Saute onion,carrots and celery in 1/3 cup olive oil ; add salt pepper and garlic powder; add 5 cups of chicken broth (water is fine) ; cover and simmer for 20 minutes on low heat.
INGREDIENTS FOR SALAD:
2 hand full of lettuce
2 green onions,
4,5 radishes,
1/2 English cucumber,
2 tablespoons olive oil,
1/2 teaspoon salt,
2 tablespoons white vinegar;
Mix and serve !
Thanks to the Supermarket's fresh aromatic rotisserie chicken !!! These beauties really saved my time in the kitchen tonight. All I had to do was the rice pilaf and salad.
For dessert we had chocolate ice cream topped with strawberry syrup and roasted peanuts.

PORK AND BEANS STEW

INGREDIENTS:
1 LB.cooked pork meat,
3 cups cooked red beans,
1 cup chopped celery,
1 cup chopped carrots,
1 cup chopped onion,
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce,
1 spoon Taco Seasoning,
1 teaspoon garlic powder,
1/2 teaspoon red crushed pepper,
1/2 spoon thyme,
2,3 bay leaves,
1/3 cup olive oil,
salt to taste;
DIRECTIONS:
In a large cooking pan, heat the oil on medium high heat; saute onion, celery and carrots for few minutes or until tender; add pork meat, cooked beans and all the remaining ingredients at once. Add broth (or water) enough to cover all, stirring few times. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes on low heat, stirring few more times. Taste for salt.
I added a nice and fresh cabbage and carrot salad next to this delicious stew, but any other salad will be just fine and welcomed! Hope you like it!
Enjoy!
Have a nice day!

COOKIES

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup salted butter - softened,
1 cup sugar,
1-1/2 cups flour,
2 large eggs,
2 teaspoons vanilla extract;
Preheat oven at 375 F...

Combine all the ingredients starting with butter and sugar and adding the rest; Form 1-1/2 inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet 1 inch apart; bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the bottom of cookies are slightly golden brown; sprinkle powder sugar while the cookies are still warm.

Have your coffee ready and...

ENJOY!

Have a nice day!

BEAN DIP

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups cooked pinto beans,

2 cups chopped onion,

4 minced garlic cloves,

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese,

1/2 cup sour cream,

1/3 cup tomato sauce,

1/3 cup olive oil,

1/2 teaspoon red crushed pepper,

1 teaspoon salt;

Sautee onion and garlic in 1/3 cup olive oil for 3,4 minutes;

Add tomato sauce, crushed pepper and salt; cook for 2 minutes;

Combine cooked beans, sauteed onion mixture, sour cream and cheddar cheese in a food processor until smooth.

Pour in a serving dish and garnish (optional) with sauteed onion and garlic. Serve with your favourite chips!

Enjoy!

tip- How to cook Pinto Beans:

Sort and wash beans in a colander under cold water. Soak 3 cups of beans over night in 6,7 cups of water.Cover and simmer for 1/2 to 2 hours until tender adding more water if necessary.