Get Together Pasta Salad

 Summer's the time of graduation parties, backyard barbecues, holiday get togethers, pool parties. 

This is perfect for any occasion.

Enjoy!

1 package macaroni shells (16 oz)

3/4 - 1 c. mayo (to taste) 

1/2 c. each: chopped onions, chopped celery

1/4 c. chopped green cocktail olives

1/4 tsp. each: pepper, salt, granulated garlic


Cook pasta according to directions on package.

While pasta is cooking, rinse, cut ends from, chop celery.

Peel, rinse chop onion. 

Remove olives from jar, chop

In a clean serving bowl combine: drained pasta, remaining ingredients, and some of the mayo.

Toss well to coat. Add remaining mayo if needed.

Serves 4 - 6. 

Steak Quesadillas

Happy Summer all!

This is perfect for summer or anytime 

8 flour tortillas

1 - 1 1/2 c. each: chopped cooked steak, shredded cheese

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper, granulated garlic

1/3 - 1/2 c. chopped peppers

1/2 - 1 tsp. fresh lime juice

nonstick cooking spray 

In a clean cutting board, chop steak.

In a bowl add steak. 

Sprinkle salt, pepper, granulated garlic over steak. 

Squeeze lime juice over steak, cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator for a few minutes to marinate.

Seed, rinse and chop peppers.

To assemble: 

Preheat skillet to medium high heat, lower heat to and spray non stick spray.

Place a tortilla on skillet.

Arrange steak on tortillas. 

Sprinkle 1 - 2 oz. of cheese over steak and veggies. 

Place another tortilla over tortilla.

Cook quesadilla on 1 side for 3 min. 

Flip quesadilla on other side and cook for 3 min. more or until done. 

Repeat cooking process with remaining tortillas.

Serves 4.

Cajun Spice, Very Nice

Grilling season's not just near, it's here!

This is perfect for grilling or anytime.

You can adjust the amount of spices used according to taste.

1/ 2 - 1 tsp. each: granulated garlic, onion powder

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, cayenne pepper, white pepper

Into a clean spice jar spoon ingredients.

 Screw lid on jar and shake for a few seconds to mix. 

Serves 4 - 6.

Lavender Fest Ice Cream

This weekend is the Michigan Lavender Festival.

This is perfect whether you're celebrating the festival or anytime. 

I've used premade lavender syrup, you can find it online.

2 - 3 c. heavy cream

1/8 - 1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 - 1/4 c. honey

1/2 - 2 tsp. vanilla

1 - 3 T. lavender 

In 4 clean jars combine: cream, salt, honey, vanilla, lavender syrup.

You can adjust amounts of honey, lavender, vanilla to taste. 

Screw lid on jars and shake jar for 5 min. ,  place jar in freezer to chill for a few hrs. 

Serves 4.

Olive Burger

 What's more American than getting loved ones together to watch the Detroit Grand Prix.

There's nothing better than a burger to enjoy it with

 I've used ground round beef for this recipe. 

1 lb. lean ground beef (ground round)
1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper, olive brine
1 T. Worchestshire sauce (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp. each: onion powder, granulated garlic (adjust to taste)

1/8 tsp. each: red pepper flakes, hot sauce 
 2 T. oil 

1/2 c. mayo

1/4 c. each: cream cheese, chopped olives

1 tomato sliced 

1 onion cut into slices

4 lettuce leaves rinse and dried

4 hamburger buns

Rinse, slice tomatoes.

Peel, rinse, slice onions

Rinse, pat dry lettuce leaves.

Chop green olives, set aside.

In a bowl combine mayo, cream cheese, hot sauce, half of olives, olive brine, Worcestershire sauce, spices. 

Mix with a clean fork and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

In a bowl combine meat, red pepper flakes, and half of the salt, pepper, chopped olives, garlic, olive brine, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce. 

Mix ingredients together with clean hands.

 Form beef into 4 patties. 

Heat grill pan over medium high heat. 

Reduce heat to medium, add oil. 

Add burgers and cook on 1 side for 6 - 10 min or until done. 

Flip burgers over and repeat cooking process until done. 

To serve:

Remove olive sauce from refrigerator.

Remove hamburger from grill pan and place burger on bun. 

Drizzle sauce over burger with a clean spoon and top burgers with your favorite fixings.

Serves 4.

Recipe To Help London Kentucky, Missouri

Prayers, thoughts for the residents of  London Kentucky, and Missouri as they continue to clean up from a tornado that struck tge states earlier this week 

The  E F 4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes, devastating families and 19 loved ones lost. 

On this website there are links to organizations that are helping in the relief efforts. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Melon Salsa

 This is perfect for spring or anytime.

 I've used cantaloupe & watermelon but you can use honey dew melon too.

2 c. melons (watermelon, cantaloupe)

1/4 c. each: chopped bell pepper, chopped onions 

1/4 tsp. each: pepper, salt

1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 - 1 tsp. each: chopped poblano, lime juice

Seed, chop melons, place into a clean bowl.

Seed, rinse, chop peppers, place into bowl.

Peel, rinse, chop onions, add to bowl

Add salt, pepper, red pepper flakes to salsa. 

Squeeze some lime juice over salsa. Toss to mix.

Let chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Makes 8 servings.