Catalina Salad

Many of you probably do not like to cook during the summer months when it is very hot. I have a great recipe that I use to make in Texas (don't really know who came up with it, but I am sure it was a Texan). If you want to, you can cut up the lettuce and add the carrots, but I am real lazy when there is package salad mix. All you need to add is the following: tomatoes, bell peppers, ranch style beans (drained and rinsed) or you can use Bush Pinto beans. Cheese, Fritos and Catalina Dressing. Just before you serve this salad, add the the cheese, fritos and dressing and mix well. This is a meal, but if you like, serve some fruit as a side.
This is very yummy, and I sometimes wonder why I don't make it more often for it is so simple.

Until next time

So Popular

I made this snack for the staff at summer camp and they like it so much, I thought that I would put it on the blog. I found this recipe in the Penzeys magazine. To me, this taste like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

PEANUT BUTTER BARS

1 cellophane wrapped package of graham crackers
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
2 sticks butter
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 1/2 cup peanut butter, creamy or chunky
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 12 ounce bag chocolate chips

1. Crush the graham crackers; mix in the cinnamon and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan; remove from heat and add vanilla and peanut butter and mix well.
3. Add the powdered sugar and graham crackers.
4. Stir until well combined: it will be a stiff dough.
5. Pat the mixture into an ungreased 9x13 pan.
6. Melt the chocolate either on the stove or in the microwave.
7. Spread the melted chocolate over the peanut butter mixture.
8. Refrigerate for 1 hour before cutting.

Yield : about 24 bars

New Creation

Many of my good followers know that I am a camp cook for multiple handicap children for 5 weeks during the summer. We have food provided for these children through a summer program to feed them throughout summer vacation. Well, most of these children have problem in eating hard foods like apples - so I found a way for them to enjoy this delicious fruit. I sliced the apples into eight pieces using an apple slicer; placed them in a baking dish and added brown sugar and cinnamon. I covered and then baked them in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, I diced up some rolls that the church had leftover from their dinner, and melted some butter and poured over the diced bread; and I also added more cinnamon and brown sugar and mixed until all the bread was covered; place in the oven and baked for 20 minutes. I then added the croutons to the apples and let them cook for another 30 minutes. It was delicious.
So, if you have some apples lying around and you want to do something different, try this recipe. Until then.

Okay, It Has Been A While

Dear Fellow Followers:
I am sorry that I have let you down by not writing any new recipes in the last three or so months. As you know it is hot and many people do not like to cook when it hot. However, I have found out interesting ways to use leftover baked potatoes. Here is what you can do the next time you make baked potatoes - bake extras. Put them in the fridge until you want to make potato salad. I like to put hard boiled eggs in mine and use the yolk in the dressing. Here is what I do. First, I mash the yolk, and the add mustard and mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip) to the yolk and mix well. Now if you have leftover mashed potatoes, it is also good to put in the dressing for it makes the dressing more creamy. I also put celery, onion, pickles and bell peppers in my potato salad. If you want the recipe, I will be more than happy to write it down for you, but you have to remember, I do not measure anything. Until next time...