Patriotic Potato Salad

This weekend we'll celebrate Fourth of July and I'm looking forward to a cookout with friends. Besides burgers and hot dogs, I'll make up some yummy baked beans and this potato salad, perfectly festive with red, white and blue potatoes. I made this last year and it was a big hit, so I'm looking forward to it again, provided the farm will again have this lovely mix of potatoes. I'm usually partial to a mayo based potato salad dressing, but this combo of mustard and cider vinegar is an excellent change of pace. Quick to put together, you could whip this up on Friday morning just before heading off to your cook out, or make it the night before to save some time.

Mini Chocolate Chip Scones

I think I'm officially on a scone kick. Not sure why that is, but I'm totally ok with it. I wanted to make scones and really wanted a simple chocolate chip version.These scones are tender, sweet and have the perfect chocolatey cocoa flavor for a tasty kick to breakfast. And anything that will give me chocolate first thing in the morning is a winner in my book. I made these mini because it's just so easy with my mini scone pan, but you could make them larger via the traditional method, or even just drop them on a sheet pan. However you decide to get these in your oven, you won't be disappointed.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

The last few weeks have been busy--lots of busy evenings, traffic was a bear getting home on many nights and sometimes I just wasn't interested in making dinner. Of course we still needed to eat, so I looked for some quick but also delicious dinners that I could make in a hurry. This casserole, filled with chunks of juicy chicken, lots of broccoli and a cheesy sauce all over a layer of fluffy rice, fits the bill perfectly. Plus it when from fridge to table in less than a half hour--exactly the kind of tasty and easy meal I've needed lately. Dave and I both had two servings (it was also a hungry night) and then I stole the leftovers for lunch the next day--perfect and kept me filled throughout the afternoon. If anything about this dish appeals to you, it absolutely needs to be made in your kitchen.

 

 

Garden Pasta Salad

Summer time and the sides get easier! I have a tough time figuring out side dishes to serve during the colder months, but summer time mean veggies fresh from the farm and lots of ways to serve them. This pasta salad is an excellent way to start. You can customize this pasta salad with the vegetables you have on hand or to your taste. But what I really love abut it is the vinaigrette--light and not overly oily or overpowering. Just enough flavor to bring it all together and highlight the crisp veggies. Easy to make too! You can get all the veggies chopped while the noodles boil, then toss together, dress and voila! Plus, this makes a bunch, but you could double it up for a party or BBQ.

Vanilla Cookie Krispies Treats

This photo shows two and a half krispies treats. Because they were the only two and a half left after making 2 (!) pans of these bad boys. Seriously, the rest never lasted long enough for me to get my camera. The first batch I took to work and just banked on having leftovers to bring home and photograph. No such luck. Not only did they not make it home, but they didn't even make it to the end of the meeting I brought them too. Then I made them again (pretty much for the sole purpose of photographing) and took them to a friend's house for Memorial Day. Five of us polished off most of them. I'm confident if Rachel hadn't made cupcakes, these last few would have been gone. (Yes, we ate most of a pan of krispies treats and most of the cupcakes. Hey, I don't judge you...) You know I have a love affair with chocolate, but there is a place in this world for vanilla and these treats are one of those things that belong. Soft, sweet and delicious, these treats have bits of chopped vanilla sandwich cookies sprinkled throughout for a perfect change in texture and flavor. They pair so well with the marshmallows and krispies, without being overly sweet. Seriously, once you try them, you'll know exactly why they basically get inhaled.