Do you see anything strange? I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think something is wrong with my finger.

That's my index finger, by the way.





Don't worry - I'm chopping black olives. For a pasta salad that I love.










The best thing about this Pasta Salad is that you can add whatever you like and it turns out great.



Tri-Color Pasta Salad

1 box Tri-color pasta, cooked and drained
Black Olives
Fresh Dill
Parmesan Cheese
Chives
1 package Good Seasons Italian Dressing, prepared according to directions.
Salt & Pepper to taste


Combine and toss!

Enjoy!

Don't you love my precise measurements and meticulous directions?

This dish is so quick and easy to put together and it has a nice smokey flavor, too.


Smokey Creole Goulash


1 cup Lil’ Smokie Sausages, chopped

1 cup ham, chopped

1 small onion, diced

1 small bell pepper, diced

1 - 16oz can chili beans, mild - or HOT if you feel daring.

2 - 14 ½ oz cans tomatoes, okra, and corn

1 - bay leaf

1 tsp. Louisiana Cajun Seasoning

1 tsp. chili powder

½ to 1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp Liquid Smoke

Couple dashes of onion powder and garlic powder

2 cups whole grain brown rice, cooked

Drizzle pan with olive oil. Sautee Little Smokies, Ham, onions and bell pepper until browned.
In a dutch oven combine the remaining ingredients - except rice. Stir and simmer on medium heat for 15 minutes. Add meat to soup mixture.

Stir in cooked rice and reduce heat to low. Cook for an additional 15 minutes.


It’s ready when you are!

Lasagna Soup
Serves 6

1 lb. hamburger
1 small bell pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
32 oz. beef broth
2 14.5-oz. cans petite-diced tomatoes, undrained
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. mafalda (mini lasagna) noodles (I used radiatori noodles - couldn't find mafalda)
1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese
Shredded mozzarella

Add ins: diced carrots,  & mushrooms

1. In a Dutch oven or soup pot, cook hamburger, bell pepper, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until hamburger is browned. Be sure to add garlic when the meat is almost ready - you don't want to burn the garlic.

2. Stir in thyme, brown sugar, broth, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

3. Add noodles. Simmer until noodles are tender, about 10 minutes.

4. Stir in parmesan cheese.

5. Serve with shredded mozzarella.

Egg & Olive Sandwich

An old classic that I enjoy from time to time.

Hard-boiled Eggs, Chopped
Olives with pimentos, Chopped
Mayo
Mustard
Dash Celery Seed
Dash Dried Dill
Extra pimentos

Spread on Sandwich and enjoy.

TACO SAUCE




I'm making tacos tonight - nothing fancy. But, then I realized that I was out of Taco Sauce. Oh no! I have to have my taco sauce. I mean, a taco isn't complete without it. So, here is a simple recipe that's easy to make and tastes great.

I think my cilantro leaf is upside down. I knew, thought, it had a shiny side? .....What? I didn't say nothing...continue reading, carry on...



TACO SAUCE

8 ounce (1 cup) tomato sauce

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 tablespoon of dried onion flakes

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper


Mix together until smooth. Pour sauce into pan and cook over med-low heat for 10 minutes or until onion flakes are re-hydrated and soft.

Sweet & Sour Chicken



Look at this golden goodness - straight from the oven.



As I was making this recipe. I wanted to add all the yummy stuff that goes along with sweet and sour chicken like; bell peppers, red bell peppers, pineapple chunks. But, let me tell you - this is good just as is. Especially if you are in a hurry to get supper finished and out of the kitchen - like I was tonight.

The next time I make this dish, I will add all those other goodies. So, look for a new picture later on.

I served it with brown rice and my only change to the recipe was, that I added about a 1/4 tsp. of garlic powder to the chicken, before I put it in the oven.


Recipe by: My Kitchen Cafe



Sweet and Sour Chicken


1-1/2 pounds chicken strips
Salt and pepper
1 cup cornstarch
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup canola oil

Cut boneless chicken breasts into chunks. Season with salt and pepper. Dip chicken in cornstarch and then in egg. Fry in a little oil until brown but not cooked through. Place in a single layer in a baking dish. Mix sauce ingredients (below) together and pour over chicken.

Sauce:
¾ cup sugar
4 tablespoons ketchup
½ cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt

Bake for one hour at 325 degrees. Turn chicken every 15 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cookies

*Recipe from my Aunt Janice*
Photo to be posted soon.

1 cup of sugar
1 cup of peanut butter
1 egg
1tsp. vanilla flavoring

Pre-heat oven to 325

Mix all ingredients together and drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Use fork to flatten cookie batter out.
Bake for 25 min.