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Fresh Mint Melon Dish

May 22, 2010 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
mint

What You Need:

1 C of water
3/4 C of sugar
3 tbsp lime juice
1 1/2 tsp fresh mint chopped
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 small watermelon, cubed
1 small cantaloupe, cubed
1 small honeydew melon, cubed
1 large peach, sliced
1 C of fresh blueberries

How to Make It:

Place the water into a saucepan and place the pan over medium high heat.
Add the sugar, lime juice, mint and salt and stir to blend in.
Bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat, cover and let stand until completely cooled.
Mix the melon cubes together in a large non metal bowl.
Gently fold in the peaches and blueberries.
Add the cooled syrup and gently stir until the fruit is well coated.
Cover the fruit and refrigerate for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Drain well before serving.

Makes 6 servings

Fresh melon is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day. Add grapes, strawberries or any of your favorite fruits to this dish. Better yet make it into a delicious dessert by adding a little whipped topping to each serving.

Filed Under: Desserts, Kid Friendly, Lunch Ideas, Recipe Cards, Recipes, Side Dishes, Soups and Salads Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Freezer Picnic Slaw

July 10, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
purple-cabbage

purple-cabbageWhat You Need:

1 (2 lb.) head of purple cabbage, shredded
1 tsp salt
1 C of white vinegar
1/4 C of water
2 C of sugar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard seed
1 carrot, shredded
1/2 C green pepper, chopped fine

How to Make It:

Sprinkle the shredded cabbage with the salt and allow it to stand 1 hour.
Pour the vinegar and water into a saucepan and whisk to combine.
Whisk the sugar into the mixture.
Add the celery and the mustard seed and whisk again to blend in.
Place the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a steady boil.
Boil the mixture for 1 minute.
Remove the mixture from the heat and let stand until room temperature.
Drain the cabbage in a colander then place in a serving bowl.
Add the carrot and green pepper and toss to combine.
When the sauce has completely cooled, pour it over the cabbage mixture and stir to coat.
Cover the bowl and freezer for at least 4 hours.
Allow the slaw to stand in the refrigerator 2 hours before serving.

Makes 10 servings

This cool refreshing slaw makes the perfect picnic slaw because it contains no mayonnaise. When ready to serve stir the slaw well to incorporate the flavors together. Green cabbage can also be used if you prefer.

Filed Under: Recipes, Side Dishes, Soups and Salads Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Cool Cucumber Orange Salad

July 6, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
cool-cukes

cool-cukesWhat You Need:

2 cucumber, sliced
4 naval orange, peeled and sectioned
1/2 C of honey
1 C of orange juice
1/2 C of olive oil
1 tsp cider vinegar

How to Make It:

Place the cucumber slices and orange segments in a serving bowl.
Place the honey into a small mixing bowl.
Whisk the orange juice, oil and vinegar into the honey until blended in well.
Pour the sauce over the cucumbers and oranges and gently toss to coat.

Makes 8 servings

Slice the cucumbers with a serrated knife and place the salad over a bed of lettuce before serving to give this salad an elegant look. Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans for a little crunch.

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Cold Food for Independence Day

June 23, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
watermelon

watermelonIndependence Day comes in one of the hottest months of the year. Just the thought of turning on the oven or stove can make you sweat! Why not try to make some easy cold food salads to please your guests, family and friends?

Fruit salad is a wonderful choice for a cold treat. Using strawberries, 2 c., raspberries, 2 c., watermelon, 5 c. cubed, 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped, and blue cheese crumbles, 1 c. mix together in a bowl. Toss with about 1/2 c. raspberry vinaigrette. Refrigerate and serve.

Cook 1 package of macaroni shells and combine 1 green pepper chopped 1 jar pimiento, 1 onion chopped, 1 c. pickles chopped, and ½ c. celery chopped in a bowl. Blend in 1/2 c. miracle whip or mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 1/4 c. of sugar. Chill for about 2 hours and serve. Add salt and pepper before serving.

Even though Mexico doesn’t celebrate our 4th of July, you can still serve a great cold Mexican style salad! In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp. finely chopped cilantro, 4 green onions finely chopped, 1/2 finely chopped red onion, 2 diced Roma tomatoes, 1 medium diced red pepper, 2 cans rinsed and drained black beans and 2 cans drained corn (whole kernel). In a smaller bowl, mix the dressing which is 1 clove of mashed garlic, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons olive oil, cayenne and pepper and salt to taste. Mix the dressing into the other ingredients and presto you have a wonderful cold Independence Day salad.

Vegetables make a wonderful salad. Combine 1 can of each of the following vegetables in a large bowl: drained green beans, French style, drained, English peas, drained, whole kernel shoe peg corn, 1 jar of drained pimientos, 1 c. celery chopped, 1 finely chopped pepper, and 1 bunch chopped green onions. In a large sauce pan, 3/4 c. vinegar, 1/2 c. oil, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. pepper, 1 Tbsp. water, and 1/2 c. of sugar and boil until the sugar is fully dissolved. Mix dressing into the vegetable mixture and refrigerate overnight. Even the kids will love this great vegetable treat!

Torn greens make a surprisingly good cold food salad. Wash and tear 8 cups of salad greens, 3 c. blueberries, 2 c. strawberries sliced and hulled 4 oz. Blue cheese crumbled and place in a medium bowl. Top with a dressing mixture of 1/4 c. red onions minced, ¼ c. blueberry chutney, 1/4 c. raspberry or blueberry vinegar, pepper and salt to taste then incorporate 2/3 c. oil. What a great blue, white and red tossed salad!

Even though the 4th of July may be hot, your food doesn’t have to be! Be creative and have a salad supper with neighbors and family instead of slaving over a stove or oven all day. Instead play with the kids and have a great time!

Filed Under: July Fourth, Summer Cooking, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , ,

Food Ideas When Your Too Hot to Cook

June 9, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
fruitysmoothies

floatingpoolWhen the heat of summer hits you the last thing you want to do is be in the kitchen. Just the though of food is more than most of us can handle. When you hear that dreaded phrase, ‘what’s for dinner Mom” you just want to cringe. Yet we all know we have to eat. What can you make when the thought of food is the furthest thing from your mind? Here are a few ideas to try.

Salads always top the list of great summer foods. Toss salads are great if you don’t have a really hungry crowd. When that salad needs to be more than just a dinner starter you can add some of the following to help beef it up. Cubed cheddar cheese with slices of deli chicken, turkey or ham can make a great salad. Leftover meats, sliced into strips are also a real salad pleaser. Add zucchini or summer squash slices for something a little different. Try a taco salad by adding left over ground beef, tortilla chips and salsa.

Chef salads have been on menus everywhere for years. These salads are a toss salad with all the great extras. Hard boiled eggs, cheese, sliced turkey, ham or roast beef can all be added to make a Chef’s salad. Top it with your favorite dressing, bacon bits and croutons and you have a meal that will satisfy any family.

Spinach salads are also a great meal when it’s too hot to cook. Make you salad with baby spinach leaves. Add cheese, cucumbers, pickles, olives and even a jalapeno pepper if you feel like adding a little more sweat to the brow. Strawberries or mandarin oranges are a great addition to a spinach salad.

Sandwiches of any type can be the perfect meal in the summer. There’s not cooking, very little fussing and they fill you up. They are easy to eat on the run, while lounging in your favorite outside chair or in the comfort of that air conditioning.

Deli sandwiches are great on a hot summer evening. Use deli turkey, ham, roast beef, chicken, corned beef or salami are all great meats for these types of sandwiches. Add your favorite vegetables and cheese and these sandwiches will be a mealtime hit.

Chicken or tuna salad make great summer time sandwiches. Serve them on bread, croissants or in wraps. Place a spoonful on a bed of lettuce and add a fresh fruit salad on the side. What a way to cool down.

When it comes to a hot summer nobody really wants a 4 course meal. Satisfy your family with an easy salad or sandwich while keeping cool at the same time.

Filed Under: Summer Cooking, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cool Down Summertime Treats

May 28, 2009 By The Recipe Mom Leave a Comment
plateofgoodies

plateofgoodiesSummertime yields some of the best fruits and vegetables of the year. Some favorites include plums, peaches, nectarines, grapes, summer squash, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, carrots, corn and the list goes on and on. Try grabbing a handful of grapes or strawberries as a snack on a hot summer’s day. Try chopping up some crisp, raw vegetables to enjoy with a creamy dip. There are numerous ways to serve these fruits and vegetables for a summer snack.

Berry Fool is an easy to make summer dessert. Everyone will be in awe when they see this delicious dessert and everyone will want this recipe.

Start with 4 cups of strawberries. Other fruits such as blackberries, blueberries or raspberries can also be used. Toss the fruit with 1/2 C of sugar and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Place the mixture into the blender and process until smooth. Beat the heavy cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Fold the pureed berry mixture into the cream. Place in dessert dishes, garnish with fruit slices and enjoy.

Jell-o ice cream is another great treat to help with the cool down. Kids love gelatin and this treat is no exception.

To make this treat you will need 1 (3 oz.) pkg. any flavor gelatin, 1 C of boiling water and 2 C of ice cream or sherbet.

Dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water. Stir the mixture for 2 minutes. Place the ice cream one spoonful at a time into the gelatin, stirring until the ice cream is melted. Pour the mixture into a serving bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until firm. Serve with berries as a garnish.

Try vanilla ice cream with orange gelatin for that great dream sickle taste. Better yet use your imagination and come up with your own special blend.

Shakes are always a hit in summer and a Berry Fruity Shake is one that will hit the spot on a hot summer day.

Fill the blender 3/4 full of ice cubes. Pour 2 C of milk over the ice. Add in 1/3 C of sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla and 2 C of fresh berries. Blend until smooth.

These are just a few ideas on how to use those summer fruits and vegetables to help create the perfect cool down treat. Try making a creation of your own using one of natures very best fruits or vegetables.

Filed Under: Summer Cooking, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Cool Kids Need Cool Snacks

May 26, 2009 By The Recipe Mom 3 Comments
littleboyeatingoutside

littleboyeatingoutsideThere’s nothing worse than kids that get bored, hungry and hot in the summertime. When kids become bored, hungry and hot they are hard to satisfy. Do you often hear “but I don’t like THAT mom” or other complaints when you offer them a quick snack? Looking for some healthy, delicious, “cool” treats to satisfy kids of all ages? Then look no further! Here are some treats the kids will love and ask for over and over. You will love them too because they are easy to make, delicious and healthy.

Fruit Pizza:

• 1 pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough mix
• 1-8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 4 cups assorted fruits, sliced

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees Celsius). Roll the cookie dough into a ball and place in the center of a pizza pan. Spread the dough evenly onto pizza pan, into a 12 inch circle. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Mix the sugar and cream cheese together and spread over the crust. Layer the fruit over the sauce. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the fruit to help keep it from turning brown. Refrigerate. Slice into 12 pizza wedges and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers. This is also a great treat to serve at a birthday party. Kids and adults love it!

Fruit Juice Spritzer

Kids like soda, but it’s not the best drink for them especially when they are hot. A fruit juice spritzer will fit the bill when it comes to replacing that soda intake. It’s refreshing, cool and tasty. It has the added benefit of fruit juice so you can count is as a fruit serving for the day. Use 100% Juicy Juice because it is 100% all natural juice. The kids will love it. This sprizer is a cool, easy to serve beverage made of ingredients you probably already have.

To make this spritzer, fill a glass with ice. Add the juice to fill the glass half full. Fill the rest of the glass with 7UP or Sprite. It’s better than a full glass of soda and the kids get the fruit serving they need. You can vary the amounts of course; a little more juice or a little less, depending on your taste. Just remember not to defeat the purpose of cutting down on the soda.

For an added treat you could blend the juice with some ice in the blender and make a slushy drink. Just fill the glass with the mixture and pour the soda over the icy juice.

Homemade Juice or Kool-Aid Popsicles

Homemade Popsicles are a kid’s delight. They have the enjoyment of helping to make them along with the fun of eating them. These are handy to have around when the kids are looking for a quick cool down snack.

To make these little wonders you will need a pitcher of juice or Kool-Aid. When using juice be sure to mix it with 5 parts water to 1 part juice. Pour the juice or Kool-Aid into freezer Popsicle molds. Ice cube trays may also be used. When using ice cube trays place them in freezer and allow them to freeze slightly. Insert the Popsicle stick into the middle of the frozen ice cube and continue freezing until solid.

Ice Cream Candy Float

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream is a sure thing when you have kids and its summertime. What better summertime treats can be found than a delicious ice cream float

Use the kid’s favorite ice cream. Place two scoops in a tall glass. Break up candy bar into pieces and place in glass with the ice cream. Fill with root beer or cola.

Yogurt and Fruit Pops

Kids love grabbing something quick and cool to take outside on a hot summer day. Best of all they like sharing these special treats with their friends. These little pops are easy to make, quick to grab and are a healthy alternative to the summer time cool off snack.

To make these pops you will need Popsicle molds with sticks, a container of fruit yogurt and sliced fruit.

Fill the molds with the yogurt. Insert the stick into the mold. Place the sliced fruit on top of the yogurt. Place them in the freezer until they are very firm. To remove the pop just place the mold in warm water.

These snacks are easy, cool and healthy all wrapped up in one. Keeping kids happy during the long summer months doesn’t have to be looked at as a chore. In reality it’s an adventure. Give your kids the snacks that will keep them happy while maintaining your own cool as well.

Filed Under: Recipes, Summer Cooking, Today's Kitchen Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,