Potato-Vegetable Salad with Cilantro Dressing

It is a day to recover and post my pictures from Hawaii. I found a  recipe for a Coconut Potato Salad that sounded really good(while i was in Hawaii), but I think I need to try it before I post it.  Here is a great a different but really good potato salad recipe.  It is really good but it is not the normal potato salad.  HOpe all enjoy!  I always add more seasoning that the recipe  I would add more fresh cilantro and more cayenne i like my food spicer.  I leave out the tomatoes  ( i do not like them or i give them to my husband.)  I would try substituting mayo for the oil if like a creamy dressing,  The olive oil is good also.

1 1/2 lbs white potatoes (4 med potatoes)

Cilantro Dressing:
 1/3 c. olive oil
 2 T chopped fresh cilantro
 3 T white wine vinegar
1/2 t. salt
 1/4 t. gound cumin
1/8 t. ground cayenne

Salad

1/2 med. cucumber, seeded coarsely chopped
1/2 med bell pepper chopped
4 med green onions sliced (1/4 c.)
1 med tomato, seeded chopped (3/4/ c.)
chopped fresh cilantro if desired

boil potatoes till tender.  While potatoes are cooking combine all the the dressing ingredients till blended.  Drain potatoes, cool.  remove skins if desired.  cut potatoes into cubes  (about 4 c.)  Pour dressing over warm potatoes.   Add cucumber, bell pepper, onions and tomato. toss to mix  can serve immediately or cover and chill for a couple of hours  garnish with fresh cilantro. 

Masala Bhat (Spicy Rice)

We just spent 10 days in Hawaii and ate a lot of Indian Food.  Love it!!!!!  Tatton took us to the Hari Krishna  temple.  They had a restaurant in there temple area.  The food was wonderful.  They had this ginger mint drink that was made with fresh ginger and fresh mint.  Wow, was it good.  loved it!!!  I am going to try to find the recipe.  This recipe sounds great.  Have not tried it but they have made it at the temple to serve.  So I am going to try it.  We always like to eat new foods when we travel.  Found an Indian Store to buy some of the spices and brought them home.  The new spice that looks fun to try is Gram Marsala.  Tatton made some recipes with it and they where great.   Look forward to making some new recipes.

2 c. basmati  rice
2 1/2 c. boiling water
1 t. salt
2 t. oil
1 t. cumin seed
2 fresh red or green chilis
1 t. cinnamon
 1 t. grated ginger
 1/2 t. nutmeg
 1/4 t. cardamon or 3 cardamon pods
 2 T. fresh cilantro
 2 T. butter

 Wash rice in cold water and soak for 15 min.  Then drain rice in a colander.  heat oil and cook cumin seeds and chilis till seeds are lightly browned.  Add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cardamon, cook a min.  Add rice cook till lightly brown.  Pour boiling water over rice  Cook till rice is absorbed.  Uncover stir the butter and fresh cilantro in and serve

Hawaii

Have not posted in 2 weeks.  We have been on vacation to Hawaii.  What a wonderful 2 weeks.  I think it is going to take me a couple of says to get over my vacation!!!

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

This cookies sounds wonderful.  I want to try it .  Some day.  To many recipes to try.  This sounds wonderful though.  When i try them i will let you know how wonderful they are.  They can not be bad because they sound so good.  They won first  prize for the best cookie contest.  Yum!!!!  I  made this and is really good .  But, add   1 1/2 T  maybe even 2 T, Lemon juice   and  1 1/2 - 2 t. grated lemon rind.    I thought it needed to be more lemony.  

Cookie Recipe Contest Winner + Recipe

LDS Living staff - 14 hours ago

This was a tough decision, but with the help of our colleagues at Deseret Book Corporate and our celebrity judges, including Lion House head baker Brenda Hopkin, we narrowed down the field and we have a winner for the best cookie recipe.

We are pleased to announce the winner of best cookie is the Lemon Crinkle Cookie by Lauren Brennan from Hood River, Oregon. Congratulations!

We loved how they tasted both fresh and sweet, had the right amount of chewiness, and we couldn’t help going back for seconds and thirds.

Lemon Crinkle Cookies
Makes 2-3 dozen

Ingredients:
½ cups butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 whole egg
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
¼ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoons baking powder
⅛ teaspoons baking soda
1-½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease light colored baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Whip in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and juice. Scrape sides and mix again. Stir in all dry ingredients slowly until just combined, excluding the powdered sugar. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Roll a heaping teaspoon of dough into a ball and roll in powdered sugar. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms begin to barely brown and cookies look matte {not melty or shiny}. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

*If using a non-stick darker baking tray, reduce baking time by about 2 minutes.



So, that’s the end of our first-ever Best Cookie Contest! We hope you had fun following the process. And a BIG thank you to everyone who participated!

© LDS Living 2011.

25 Item To-Do List EVERYONE Should Be Doing

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day, and while you walk, smile.
It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God (or to your higher power or meditate) about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,
' My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________ '

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that
is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan
salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control
Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a
college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life is not fair, but it is still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don ' t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.
Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it will not spoil the present.

14. Don ' t compare your life to others. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ' In five
years, will this matter? '

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD (depending on your beliefs) heals everything - but you have to ask Him (translate to your religion).

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night, before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.
You will be smiling before you know it.

Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing

OK, OK, OK,   it is a fat day for me.  I have been at a food show all day.  So I have been eating all day.  Well, the thought of food just does not sit well with me.  There was some really great  food.  Oh to keep the weight off, I guess it will not happen till I can get my will power back or get away from the food..    How about a great salad dressing to go with a salad.  This is a great yum!  If  I was hungry tonight it would be a salad. I think tomorrow.  Salad here i come!  I cut back the oil in all salad dressing recipes.  I cut the oil down to 1/2 c. and add more raspberries  to make up for the 1/2 c. of oil i take out. 

 

Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing

"I simply love this creamy, fresh-tasting dressing! It’s so quick to assemble and adds a summery gourmet touch when drizzled over a salad. I often serve it with lettuce or fresh spinach tossed with sliced strawberries and sugared almonds," suggests Kendra Stoller in Kouts, Indiana.

SERVINGS:16
METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 10 min.

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons Domino® or C&H® Granulated Pure Cane Sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries, thawed
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds

Directions:

In a blender, combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and mustard. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Add raspberries; cover and process until blended. Stir in poppy seeds. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 2 cups.

Pumpkin Biscuits

It sounds like a Carb day.  I would rather go on a Carb diet that any kind of diet.  I know that i could stay on it It is one of my favorite food groups.  (Along with sweets)    All well, i guess i will dream of these.  I collect recipe and then put them in a file to try if they are good then i put them in my cookbook.  I really liked these biscuits.  Rod thought they where good.  He did not like them as much as i did.  I think they are great. 


 2 1/2 c.  flour
 2 T. baking powder
 1/8 t- 1/4 t.  nutmeg
1/8 t.- 1/4  t.  cinnamon
 3/4 t. salt
 1/4 c. brown sugar
 1/4 c. butter
 1/4 c. shortening chilled
 1 1/2 c  pumpkin
 2 T. milk

 Directions:  Heat ovet to 425.  sift the flour baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and slat in a loarge bow.   Use your fingers to blend in the brown sugar.  

Cut in the chilled butter and shortening with a pastry cutter or pulse in a food processor till the mixture resembles coarse, crumbly meal.  Then stir in the  pumpkin and knead gently for 1 min.  adding a little flour as necessary to  incorporate all the ingredients.  Pat the dough in a 1/2  inc. circle and let it rest covered.  ( I like to make mine thicker) with a clean towel for 10 - 15 min.  Cut out the biscuits   dip cutter in flour if they stick.  Gather the scraps pat out again and cut into biscuits.  Arrange them about 3/4 inch apart on an ungreased pan and brush the tops with milk.  ( I like them to touch when i put them in the pan and i always grease the pan just in case.)   Bake till brown 10- 15 min.   I turn the temp down to 375 after i put them in the oven.  ( I like to add more spices i like to taste cinnamon and nutmeg) 

Cilantro Pepita Dressing

It has been a beautiful day!    Been Down in San Luis Obispo for the Day.  We took the long way home and went through Moro Bay.   There were some surfers out. What a great world we live in.
 It is a Salad Day today.  This is the best Salad dressing for a Mexican Caesar Salad.  It is time to make it and have a salad.  Yum!!!!!    Food,  Glorious Food!!!!!


2 canned green chilies
1/3 c. roasted pumpkin seeds
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 t. black pepper
1 t. salt
1 c. oil
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
 5 T. cotija cheese or Feta
 2 small bunches cilantro stemmed
3/4 c. mayo
 3/4 c. plain yogurt
 1/4 c. water

Place all dressing ingredients except cilantro, mayonnaise, yogurt, water in food processor.  Blend  10 seconds, then add cilantro little by little till blended smooth.  Depending on the size of blender, it may be necessary to do in a couple of batches.   Place mayonnaise , yogurt, water in a large stainless steel bowl and mix with a wire whip till smooth.  Add the blended ingredients to the mayo mixture and mix thoroughly.  Place in an airtight container and refrigerate.     Yields:  1 quart

Tzatziki

Another Healthy recipe today!  It is from my friend Laura Szabo.  She has such great recipes!!!!  Food  glorious food.  I wish i did not like it so much.   This appetizer is easy to assemble, although it takes a bit of planning But oh! is it worth the wait.   As part of a light summer meal it is a cool and satisfying salad; it's also terrific with pita as a dip.  It can be prepared days ahead of time. 

Makes  5 cups

4 c. plain yogurt, whole milk or low-fat
2 hothouse cucumbers, unpeeled and seeded
2 T. plus 1 t. kosher salt
1 c. sour cream
2 T. Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/4 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 T. olive oil
1 T. minced garlic
1 T. dill weed
1/4 t. pepper


Place the yogurt in a cheesecloth-lined sieve and set it over a bowl.  Grate the cucumber and toss it with the 2 T. salt, place it in another sieve and set it over another bowl.  Place both bowls in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours so the yogurt and cucumber can drain.   


Transfer the thickened yogurt to a large bow.  Squeeze as much liquid from cucumbers as you can and add the cucumbers to the yogurt.  Mix in the sour cream, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, 1 t. salt, and pepper.  You can serve it immediately, but i prefer to allow the tzatziki to sit in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to blend. 

Humus

It feels like a healthy day today!  So I need to post something that is wonderful, but good for us. I was at Costco today and they where giving samples.  One of them was a Cilantro, Lime Jalepeno Humus.  It was pretty good!  This recipe is better.  I decided that i could add lime, cilantro to mine and it would be really good.  This is great as is.   My great friend Laura Szabo gave me this recipe.  It is great with a Pita or a flat bread.  Thanks Laura for this wonderful recipe.

It was such a wonderful day at the coast.  On our way home we went to Morel Bay to the rock to see the waves.  It was gorgeous!!!!!  Waves were crashing over the rock breakwater.   At the same time it was Hailing in Paso. It was a great place to be today. Everything is so green,clean fresh,  love living here.   Just wanted everyone to be jealous. 


1 can garbanzo beans   151/2 oz.
1 T. lemon juice ( could add lime instead)
 5 cloves garlic
1 t. salt
1t. pepper
1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 t. chili powder
1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley ( could add cilantro instead)
 optional:  tahini, hot paprika, smoked paprika for a smoky flavor

 Put all ingredients in a food processor  grind till it is a paste and is smooth.   If dry add a little water. 

Banana Cake

It is a sweet day for me.  I have some very ripe bananas so thought it would be a good day for Banana Bread.   I use this recipe and put them in pans instead of a cake.  Either way is great.  This recipe is an old one I grew up with.  It was my Grandma Aiken's.   Grandma always had cake when we went to her house growing up.  Either Chocolate Cake or Grandma Gabbitas White Cake with Chocolate frosting.  Such fond memories of Desserts and  Pies from Grandmas House.  Those where the days that we could eat and not worry about our the weight!!!
Cream:
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening, margarine or butter
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas
1 t. vanilla

mix together
2 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking powder

 4 T. sour milk( 3 1/2  T. milk with 1/2 T. vinegar. let sit till curdles) or buttemilk
1 t. soda in 1/2 c. warm water

1 c.chopped nuts if desired. 

Mix flour mixture and milk and water mixture into sugar mixture.
Bake 350   20-30 min. or till done.

Grape Leaves

The Grape Leaves are just starting to bud.  So it is time to shut my gate so that the deer do not eat all my grape leaves.  If anyone is going to eat them it is going to be me.  I can not wait!   Our family is very blessed to have been able to grow up eating this kind of food and loving it.   There are so many people that  have never tasted anything like this.   I am THANKFUL to our Aunt Karen for bringing this culinary treat into our family and sharing it.with us all!!!

Soak 
1 c. rice
until water is gone.  water to cover
Mix together
1 lb Hamburger
rice
salt and peper
onion chopped
tomato juice, enough to moisten good

Wrap a spoonful in a grape leaf.  (takes about 1 pint of bottled leaves)
line pan with leaves and set wrapped meat on these.  Pour tomato juice over all and cover and cook slowly about 1/2 hr or till done.  .

Aunt Karen's Arab Flat Bread

I have such fond memories of growing up with Stuffed Grape Leaves and Arab Bread.  Loved going with Aunt Karen  to pick the grape leaves and then bottling them.  It has made me (what is the word)  a food snob or spoilt.  The Store bough grape leaves are just not the same. I will post the grape leave recipes later.   I have used the flat bread recipe a lot.  Used it in Primary and for friends and family.  In her recipe she drew little drawings to show me how to do it.  I have not figured out how to put the drawings online. So Aunt Karen if i have got this wrong let me know.

 2 T. yeast
1 T. sugar
1 c. warm water
add together and let stand about 5 min until yeast grows

Add:
about 3-5 c. warm water.
start with 3   In a large mixing bowl
mix with yeast mixture
Add:
 3-4 c. flour
 Mix: flour and water as needed
add:
 salt to taste
 Textrue should be elastic.
 Keading is very important ( so is yeast for texture).  Knead as long as possible,  adding water to dry flour a little at a time. Squeezing dough, punching dough, kneading,  ( as you are slowly adding water to flour and kneading the flour and water will look milky)  Continue to add flour and knead- leave dough damp not dry, not sticky.

Let raise, untill double about 1 hour.Knead down and let raise again  1/2 hour.   cut dough  into 4 or 5 roll and knead leaving in a round ball.
Let raise till soft   like a new baby skin about double in size..
 Flatten around outside first this will make a flat edge.
 Then flatten a little in center
 You can move from arm to arm streching, like they do pizza, this makes the bread more flat.  Or just flatten around edges, and bake --It will be more fluffy

Place in Hot oven  475-500 degrees oven vary but the oven does need to be very hot.   Place on bottom rack on large cookie sheet, or cover the bottom rack with tin foil with shiny side down.
Bread will puff up in center.  This will bake center of bread.   When bottom of bread is browned, move to top rack bake until browned, move to top rack bake till browned on the top.

 Then Karen wrote.     GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!          I guess i needed the luck!!!

Chipotle Cream Sauce

What a Beautiful Day!!  The Sun is shinning and it is going to be a really WARM DAY!    I am ready. This sauce is good for pasta or pizza.  I thought that Pizza sounded great today.   This is the sauce that my Family loves.  We put it on with chicken, cheese, bell peppers, topped with fresh cilantro after it is cooked.  Add more seasoning if putting it on pizza.

Saute:
5 T. Oil.                                         
1 c. onion chopped (I like lots of onions can add more)
 4-5 cloves garlic

add:
5 T. Flour    Cook for a min.or so

 Add:
 2 1/2 c. milk                          
 1/2 cream  (Can add all milk and no cream)

 Add
 1/2 - 1 t. tarragon                            
 2-3 t. canned chopped chipotle with canned adobe sauce (add according to the hotness desired)
1/4-1/2 t. salt                                    
Pepper to taste

 This sauce is good for pasta with chicken added.  If using for pizza the seasonings need to be stronger