Hold On Summer

 Anyone else feel like the days are passing at supersonic speed and summer 2022 is on course to be one of the quickest ones yet? 

July 4th came and went, and now I'm sure it is only a matter of days before school supplies show up in the store aisles where the fireworks and Americana displays were just a week ago. 

I am sure part of my need for a pause button is the fact that once August comes, I have to face the reality of my babies going back to school. If you don't know, Max will start Kindergarten this year, about a week after his big brother begins his Senior year of high school. Yeah, that week is going to be a tear-filled, blubbering, Mommy is a wreck time. I've always said the 12 year age difference has been perfect, allowing me the best of both worlds, except for this one week when I have to send them both off for BIG years and sit alone in the house wondering what to do with myself. 

But enough about what isn't coming for another month (see, I can totally be in denial just a bit longer). In reality, there is still plenty of summer left and absolutely plenty of reasons to gather in the backyard for a cookout, barbecue or pool party. 

If I have being honest, I wanted to post this recipe as an idea for your Independence Day celebration, but with the whole "tree fell into our house" ordeal, I am a little behind on my work. 

So instead you are getting a tasty, easy, side dish idea perfect for that next cookout, or just for supper this week. 

Broccoli Slaw is one of those dishes that takes a classic summer dish and puts just enough of a twist on it that makes it new and fresh. Coleslaw just isn't for cabbage anymore! 

This is a great summer take-along too because you can make it ahead and leave it in the fridge until you're ready to eat. 

If the summer gods are reading this, I beg you to make time slow down a little. Please. From a mommy who wants to suck every last bit out of this summer as she can before some big changes come our way. 

 

 Broccoli Slaw 

2 (12 oz.) bags broccoli slaw mix

1/2 cup + 2 TBS mayonnaise

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup dried cranberries

2 TBS white vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 TBS celery seed

Salt and Pepper

In a small bowl whisk together mayo, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, celery seed, salt and pepper. In a large bowl mix slaw mix, cranberries and nuts. Pour dressing over and fold gently to combine. Chill at least 1 hour before serving. Stir before serving and garnish with extra nuts and cranberries if desired. 

A 18 Year Tropical Twist

 How did we get to the middle of May already? I'm not complaining, but it just proves the point that warm weather days and months go by ten times faster than their cold counterparts. Seriously! We are going to blink and it will be July 4th. But before we bust out the fireworks, we've still got Memorial Day to plan for! 

Memorial Day weekend is the gateway to summer. Especially this year since the holiday is literally the last day of the month. Are you planning a cookout or backyard barbecue to celebrate? Many of us are gathering once again, but even if it's just your household or pod, fire up the grill and make your kickoff to summer menu delicious! 

Coleslaw is such an American classic for summer time parties, picnics, and gatherings. From graduation parties to burgers on the grill and picnic baskets over flowing, coleslaw is definitely a go-to dish. But this version? It's going to put a little tropical twist on this warm weather staple. 

Plus, it gives me a reason to gush about my hubby for a minute. See, he loves mangoes and we happen to be celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary on May 17th. However, 18 years is only the marriage part. We've actually been together for 24 years; and feel very blessed to be celebrating another year. I have loved him from the time I was a 16 year old girl, and I am so proud of the time we have built. He's given me two amazing boys and our family is not only my biggest blessings, but also what I am most proud of. 

So when I saw this recipe in Food Network Magazine I knew it would score me major wife points. A creamy coleslaw with bites of mango was right up his alley. The dressing has sweet and sour notes in it with coconut milk and lime. And he loved the added crunch from the peanuts too. It really is a unique version that screams summer time and lets you take a little tropical beach vacation without leaving your backyard. 

If you are looking for new dish for your Memorial Day bash, be sure to save this one! If you take it with you to share, carry the recipe too because everyone is going to want it!

 Mango Coleslaw

1 (14 oz.) bag coleslaw mix

3/4 c. canned coconut milk

Juice of 3 limes

1 mango, peeled and diced

3/4 c. roasted salted peanuts

Salt and Pepper 

In a small bowl whisk together coconut milk, lime juice, salt and pepper. In a large bowl pour dressing over coleslaw mix. Mix well. Add mango and peanuts. Stir again. Chill until serving. Garnish with a few extra peanuts before serving.  

 

Shared at Weekend Potluck
 

Two Favorites, One Bowl

One of the things I love to experiment most with in the kitchen is combining two favorites into one new, delicious dish. What do I mean? Well, for tasty examples, check out my Taco Spaghetti, Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta, Pizza Gnocchi Bake and Philly Sloppy Joes!

Whenever I make one of these new creations, I am always reminded of an old episode of Full House. Michelle was trying to earn a cooking badge, and she decided the easiest way to do this would be to take two things she liked and combine them into a new dish. Yeah, she was like 6 or 7 at the time, so it didn't go too well. I distinctly remember her family being subjected to "tuna ice cream." She like tuna fish sandwiches. She liked ice cream. It was sure to be a hit! NOT! 

Thankfully, I've never taken it to that extreme, but that image always gives me a giggle. Trust me when I say this combo is way more yummy! 

I know we are far from cookout season, but I know without a doubt this is going to show up on our deck lots this year! To be hones though, sometimes I just need a "warm weather" meal in the middle of winter to remember what those flavors are. This was the perfect side to some hot dogs, and the leftovers were delicious the next day for lunch! 

Finding new ways to enjoy favorites, combining them in new unique ways, is a great way to feel more creative in the kitchen. What are some of your favorite two favorites in one dish recipes?

Coleslaw Pasta Salad

1 lb. ditalini pasta

1 lb. tri-color coleslaw mix

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 large cucumber, finely chopped

1 1/2 c. mayo

1/3 c. sugar

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

 1/2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. dried parsley

Salt and Pepper

Boil pasta according to package directions, rinse with cold water and drain well. In a large bowl combine pasta, coleslaw mix, red pepper and cucumber. Toss to combine. In a medium bowl whisk together mayo, vinegar, sugar, onion powder, parsley, salt and pepper until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Pour over coleslaw mixture. Stir well. Cover and chill 4-6 hours before serving.

Shared at Weekend Potluck
Shared at Meal Plan Monday

Finally, 70+

After this uber cold spring we've been having, I really thought the warm and sunny days were never coming. After all, it was only 8 days ago we had snow showers and a high of 37 with 40+ mph winds making it feel like 25!!

But come they did! That's right, Mother Nature had pity on us, and exactly one week after that loveliness, we had blue skies, the sun was shining and the thermometer read 75...76...77...78...basically, heaven on earth! 

I am a sucker for warm weather. I loathe winter. I can't help it. Like my husband says "You don't have to shovel sunshine." No joke, the minute the weather began to change, I could feel my entire mood improve with it. I was ready to bust out the capri pants, flip flops and get outside. (Okay, I can't like, being naturally hot blooded, plus pregnant, I would have been wearing both of those back in February had I not had to worry about frostbite, since I am heating from the inside out!)

Plus, I felt like cooking again. After all the weeks of nausea, and just being so dog gone tired, I have to admit my time in the kitchen working on new recipes for you guys has been sparse. I just find myself leaning on those tried and true ones that I can make with my eyes closed, making it easier on myself. 

It was time to come up with something new. Something to celebrate the weather. Something that says backyard eating or cooking out. Well, what says that better than a coleslaw? But this isn't your old stand by slaw recipe. This uses one of my favorite veggies out there...Brussels sprouts! If you've never had them raw, you might think I'm crazy, but they are just baby cabbages, so think of it as coleslaw, miniature size! 

This comes together in almost no time. Seriously, the most time consuming part will be slicing the sprouts, I promise. Plus, it has to sit in the fridge for a bit anyway, so you can easily make it ahead and have it waiting on you when you're ready to eat.

If the warm, sunny spring days haven't found your neck of the woods yet, have faith. They will. If they can come to Indiana, they can come anywhere! And now, we can start focusing on all those summer time barbecues, picnics, parties and all the yummy food, like this, that is to come!

Brussels Sprouts Slaw

1 lb. Brussels Sprouts, thinly sliced or shaved

1/2 c. dried cranberries

1/3 c. chopped pecans

1/2 c. mayo

1/2 tsp. celery seed

1 TBS Dijon mustard

2 tsp. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine sprouts, cranberries and pecans. Toss well. In a small bowl whisk together mayo, mustard, celery seed, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Pour over sprout mixture. Stir well. Chill 2 hours before serving. 

Shared at Weekend Potluck

Grilling and Campfire Cooking Day 1 {A Review and Giveaway}

I'm back with yet another fantastic Gooseberry Patch cookbook for ya'll! I'm super excited to share this one. One, because it's filled with delicious recipes just in time for summer grilling and camping; and two, because I just so happen to have a couple included in this one! It gives me such great joy to know the great folks at GP love my food enough to include my recipes in their amazing publications! (If you're interested, my Kansas City Pork Chops can be found on page 10 and Mini Parmesan Corn on page 97!!) 

We love to grill. In fact, we enjoy it so much we do so year round. Yep, we're the people who have been known to throw some t-bones on the grill during a blizzard. (True story! Ask our neighbors. They were so jealous!) But I will admit, during the warm, sunny months is when I absolutely enjoy it the most. There is just something about firing up the grill that screams summer to me; and this book is full of tasty recipes to celebrate all things barbecue season. Everything from salads to main dishes to desserts and beverages, it has something for everyone. 

The first recipes I'm sharing is one I know you're just going to love. What says cookout or barbecue more than a creamy, cool, crisp, coleslaw? I have many different versions I make, but the thing that caught my eye about this one right away was the dill. 

I am a huge dill fan, and any time I can add it to a favorite dish, it just takes it over the top. This is so simple to make and so delicious, I know it will be a great addition to your next backyard get together! Grab the charcoal, or maybe the propane tank, and get grilling all summer long. Oh, and Gooseberry Patch is giving (1) lucky winner a change to bring this book home to your kitchen. Just scroll down below the recipe to enter!  

Snippy Snappy Coleslaw AKA Zippy Dill Coleslaw
Found on Page 173, Contributed by Brenda Mclancon McComb, MS
1/4 c. mayo
1/4 c. sweet pickle relish
2 TBS ranch salad dressing
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS white wine vinegar*
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. dill weed, extra for garnish
1 (16 oz.) package 3-color shredded coleslaw mix

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except coleslaw mix. Whisk until smooth. Add coleslaw mix; stir until well combined. Cover and chill at least one hour before serving. *NOTE* I substituted white distilled vinegar since I have that on hand.

Shared on The Country Cook May 30, 2014

Coleslaw at Very Good Recipes

********Giveaway********

Rules:

1. This contest is open to US Residents 18 and older ONLY.

2. The winner will be chosen by Random.org 

3. The winner will be notified by email and Facebook. He/she will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 

4. When leaving comments for entries, they MUST BE SEPARATE ones AND include an email address so it's easy for me to find the winner. If entries are together, it will only count as (1) and if no email, entry will not be considered.

5. If any of the extra entries are items you are already doing, please just remind me!

6. Contest Ends: June 10, 2014

(1) Lucky Winner will receive:

(1) copy of

Mandatory Entry:

1. Leave a comment telling me your favorite grilled meal!

Extra Entry:

1. Become a Gooseberry Patch fan on Facebook. Leave me a comment when you have. 

2.  Follow Gooseberry Patch on Twitter. Leave a comment saying you've done so.

3. Follow Gooseberry Patch on Pinterest. Leave me a comment when you have. 

GOOD LUCK!

Disclaimer: I was given a free cookbook and one to give away to a fan for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Everyone's Favorite, Or So It Seems

A couple weeks ago I posed a question on my Facebook Fan Page asking ya'll if you enjoyed your coleslaw more with a dressing that is creamy or vinegar based. The answers were pretty evenly matched, but the one thing that was mentioned more than anything else was "I love KFC coleslaw the most." So when that many people declared it to be their favorite, I knew it was time to bring my version back to the blog, since it was first posted back before most of you were even reading on a daily basis.

For us, this is the closest thing to the original we've ever had at home. In fact, my husband declared it  to be "dead on", which coming from him and his absolute love for the KFC version, I took as very high praise! Now, I will tell you ahead of time, if you want the cabbage itself to look more like the original, be sure to read the note below. For us, we don't really care about that as much as the flavor itself.

And the best part about this recipe? It's so darn easy! Plus, you can make it at night, and it's even better after it sits in the fridge until the next day for dinner! Perfect with burgers, steak, barbecued pork...and of course fried chicken! Pretty much anything you want to pair it with, it will taste fantastic. Oh, and make this for guests or take it to a get together! I guarantee you will be an instant rock star! Everyone will say "Whoa....this tastes just like KFC slaw!" And you will know it was a complete success.

If KFC is your favorite coleslaw too, I think you will be very pleased with this version. Or if you're just always looking for new ones to try, you will enjoy this too! Either way, I promised it would be back on the blog as soon as possible, so here it is in all it's glory!!!

Copy Cat KFC Coleslaw

1 (1 lb.) package coleslaw mix with cabbage and carrots (see note below)

2 TBS minced onion

1/3 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1/4 c. milk

1/2 c. mayo

1/4 c. buttermilk

1 1/2 TBS white vinegar

2 1/2 TBS lemon juice

Dried Parsley

Place coleslaw mix in a large bowl. Add onions. Mix well. In a medium bowl combine buttermilk, milk, mayo, sugar, salt, pepper, vinegar, and lemon juice. Whisk well. Pour over cabbage mix. Stir well. Sprinkle with dried parsley. Chill for at least 2 hours until serving or overnight. *NOTE* If you want the cabbage and carrots to be more the texture of KFC, place mix in a food processor and pulse to cut up finer. For me, it's more about the flavor than the texture.

Shared on The Country Cook Feb. 21, 2014