Switching Gears

Labor day weekend I ran the 5k below.
Between my hubby and I one of us has participated in this race almost every year since 2005.

It was at this race in 2005 my son Jack became fast friends with his buddy Daniel.

They both had a love for trucks!

Here they are this past Monday.

It was a beautiful day to be on the lake.

My boys looooove tubing.

Good friend's are priceless!

Who knew that one race could bring two families together.

Bonus, our friend's just closed on their summer cottage so we will be able to see them more often.

After our fun filled weekend it was time to go back to school.

I needed to switch gears and get serious about meal planning. 

 We have football practice 3 nights a week so sometimes short cuts are in order. I will definitely be making these two dinner's this week.

Chicken Pesto

1. Boil pasta according to package directions and drain

2. While pasta is cooking take chicken meat off of the bone and chop into pieces

3. Add pesto and chicken to pasta in saucepan and heat.

4. I always add more parmigiano-reggiano cheese, garlic powder and a little salt.

Mom's Homemade Chili

2 pounds of  ground beef

1 can of kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)

1-1 1/2 green peppers finely chopped

1-2 onions finely chopped

4 garlic cloves (pressed or chopped)

2-28oz. cans tomato sauce

28oz. crushed tomato

3 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder (to your liking)

1/2 tsp. cumin

1 1/2 tsp. sugar

Brown ground beef in a large stockpot. Then add all ingredients except the 2 cans of beans and cook until green peppers are soft (approx 1-1 1/2 hrs.) Add beans when there is only around 30min. of cooking time left so beans do not get soggy. Grate cheddar cheese on top and enjoy. 

Cheddar Corn Muffins

Make corn muffin mix from a box and add shredded cheddar cheese or jalapeno cheese for the adults!
Jen

Linking to: Tasty Tuesday

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Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Dill Sauce

During the summer I crave fresh food. This recipe is one of my favorite's because the flavors blend so nicely together. I swear, it tastes just as good as anything I have ordered in a restaurant.

Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Dill Sauce

adapted from My Recipes

Ingredients for Dill Sauce:

6 Tbsp. Low-fat sour cream

1 Tbsp. dried dill

1 1/2 Tbsp. finely chopped shallots (I have used onion)

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1/4 tsp. lemon rind

1 garlic clove minced

2 Tbsp. Rice vinegar

Ingredients for Cucumber Salad:

1/2 cup rice vinegar

2 Tbsp. sugar

Kosher salt

1 Seedless (English) cucumber

1/2 red onion thinly sliced

1/2 tsp. chopped dill (I omit it)

1 tsp. kosher salt (or less)

Salmon:

4 (6oz.) Salmon fillets

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 cup dry white wine

non-stick cooking spray

Combine sour cream, dill, vinegar, shallots, lemon rind, lemon juice, and garlic in a bowl. Stir well: cover and chill.

Bring the vinegar, sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring. Remove from heat. stir in 1/4 cup of ice cubes until melted. Shave cucumber into ribbons. Toss the cucumber, red onion and dill in a serving bowl with vinegar mixture; place in refrigerator.

Sprinkle salmon with salt and pepper. Heat a large non-stick skillet over med/high heat. Coat pan with non-stick spray. Add fish to pan and cook for 3 minutes and then flip over and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and pour in white wine. Let stand for 3 minutes or until fish flakes easily.

When serving place cucumber's on the bottom, then salmon and top with dill sauce.

Jen

Linking to: Tasty Tuesday

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Dinosaur BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe!

Living in New York it is a right of passage that when visitors come to town we take them to the Dinosaur BBQ. Why?  Their BBQ is amaaaaaaazing (you can find the history in the link toward the bottom of the page)! What I love is not only the great food but the eclectic mix of people who frequent the restaurant. You will see anything from men and women in business attire, casually dressed families to Harley Bikers.

I know, it doesn't look like much from the outside....

It's what is on the inside that truly matters....

The ribs and pulled pork are two very popular items.

Whether you love meat or you are a vegetable lover there is something for everyone on their menu.

 Their tomato and cucumber salad is great!

Love the cornbread!

Since we can't always make the drive to the Dinosaur then the Dinosaur has to come to us.

Here is how we make it at home:

Pulled Pork

1 Pork butt or roast (3-4 pound) 2 if you are having a party

2 medium cooking onions, coarsely chopped

salt & pepper to taste

2 jars of Dinosaur BBQ sauce

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

Place onion on bottom, then pork, salt & pepper on top, minced garlic and onion. Cover with enough water so pork floats. Cook on high 6-8 hours until fork tender. It usually falls apart when I take it out. Strain out any onion etc.

Pull apart with a fork. Cook on high with BBQ sauce for 1 hr. or until heated through. Meat can be frozen without the sauce.This batch I used 1/2 and froze 1/2 for another time.

I have made this for numerous parties and it is always a big hit!

It is a great make ahead meal. 

I typically by the sauce at our grocery store but if you would like to purchase any Dinosaur products you can find them here.

They also have a cookbook available.

Enjoy.

Jen

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Garlic-Parmesan Haddock and Bill's Green Beans!!

I am so fortunate to have a husband that enjoys cooking as much as I do. Saturday night my hubby fixed this meal and it was not only delicious but healthy too. It was also nice to have a night off from cooking!!!

Grilled Garlic-Parmesan Haddock

4 Haddock Fillets

4 Tbsp. Butter or less

1 clove fresh garlic or 1 tsp. prepared garlic

3/4 cup Panko or seasoned breadcrumbs (we used seasoned)

2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese (more to taste)

1. Melt butter in pan and saute garlic on low. Remove from heat. 2. Combine melted butter and garlic with bread crumbs in small bowl. Mix well. Add parmesan cheese and mix well. 3. Place foil on grill 4. Grill fillets for 5 minutes on direct heat. Add salt and pepper. 5. Place 3 Tbsp. of bread crumb mixture on top of fillets and grill for 7 more minutes on indirect heat.

Bill's Green Beans

Fresh green beans

garlic to taste

sesame oil

soy sauce (or just salt and pepper)

1. Cook green beans in salted water until fork tender 2. Blanch the green beans (submerge in cold/ice water to stop the cooking) 3. Put a little olive oil and garlic in a pan and gently saute. Add grean beans 4. At the end of cooking add some sesame oil and a couple of shakes of soy sauce. 5. Put green beans in bowl and do a few more shakes of sesame oil. 6. Garnish with sesame seeds

Thanks to our friend Bill and his family for sharing this recipe with us on one of their visits from Canada.

Jen

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