Leighs’ Thousand Island Dressing

This was inspired by my good friend, Leigh.

This is perfect to use as a dressing & it’s good as a dip too.

3/4 c. mayo

1/8 c. ketchup  

1 T. relish

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

Pinch each: dried minced onion, red pepper flakes

In a small clean bowl, combine ingredients. 

Stir with a clean fork to mix.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Serves 6.

Easy Chimichurri

 This is perfect sauce for grill season, over your favorite pasta or anytime.

1/3 - 1/2 c. olive oil
1 clove garlic crushed, chopped                                         1 tsp. red wine vinegar
1 - 2 T. each: dried basil, parsley, oregano.              Pinch red pepper flakes 
1/4 tsp. each: pepper, salt, diced jalapeno 

Peel, crush, chop garlic

Rinse, seed, dice jalapeño.

Combine oil, vinegar, herbs, pepper flakes, black pepper, jalapeno, garlic, salt in a food blender and blend for 20 seconds.

Drizzle with a clean spoon over your favorite meat or pasta, toss to coat.

Serves 4

Veggie Kabobs

 This is perfect for the 4th of July, a meatless meal or anytime.

3 zucchinis cut into pieces

1 large onion, cut into 36  1 - 2 inch pieces

2 large bell peppers, cut into 36  1 - 2 inch pieces

1 pint button mushrooms 

36 cherry tomatoes

1/3 c. olive oil

juice of 1 lemon

1 - 2 cloves garlic, crushed & chopped

1/2 tsp. each: dried parsley, oregano, dried basil

1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

pinch of turmeric 

Place 12 wooden skewers in a baking dish with cold water to soak for at 1 least hr. 

This will prevent skewers from burning.

Peel, rinse and chop onion into 1 - 2 inch pieces, place into a clean bowl. 

Rinse, cut ends from and cut zucchini into pieces, place into bowl.

Rinse mushrooms and place into bowl.

Rinse tomatoes under cold water and place into bowl.

Rinse, seed, chop peppers into 1 - 2 inch pieces, place in bowl with the other vegetables.  

Peel, crush, chop garlic.

In a measuring cup combine: oil, salt, pepper, herbs, garlic. 

Cut lemon in half and through a sieve, squeeze lemon into measuring cup. 

Stir with a clean fork to mix.

Pour oil mixture over veggies. 

Cover bowl with a plastic wrap and place in fridge for a few minutes.

To assemble skewers:

Remove bowl with vegetables from refrigerator.

Remove skewers from water.

Preheat grill pan to medium high heat, lower heat to medium low, and add oil.

Thread vegetables onto skewers, place skewers on grill on 1 side for a few minutes. 

Rotate skewers to evenly cook on all sides for a few minutes or until done.

Serves 4 - 6 (2 - 3 skewers each).

Debate Night Dip

Tonight’s the 1st. presidential debate.

This is perfect for your debate watching get together, game night or anytime.

Enjoy!

2 c. greek yogurt

1/3 c. real bacon bits

1/8 c. green onions

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

Rinse, remove ends from & chop green onions, set aside.

In a clean bowl combine ingredients. 

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

Serves 4.

Pattis’ Peanut Sauce

This is perfect for summer or anytime.

1/3 cup peanut butter

1 - 2 T. low sodium soy sauce

1 tsp. sesame oil

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

1 T. water

pinch red pepper flakes 

In a clean bowl, combine ingredients, add warm water, a little at a time. 

Stir with a clean fork until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Serves 4

Milk Chops

I call this recipe milk chops because I used milk instead of eggs to coat the pork chops.

I’ve used bone in pork chops, but you can use boneless pork chops too.

4 pork chops

1/2 c. milk

3/4 - 1 c. bread crumbs

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

2 T. olive oil 

In a shallow dish combine: milk, half of salt, pepper. Mix with a clean fork.

Pour breadcrumbs in a separate dish add garlic, rest of salt, pepper.

Dredge both sides of a pork chop in milk. 

Dredge both sides of chop in bread crumbs. 

Repeat process with remaining pork chops. 

Heat skillet to medium high heat.

Lower heat to medium, add oil.

Add chops to pan and cook on 1 side for 8 - 10 min. 

Flip over and cook chops on other side for 8 - 10 min more or until done.

Remove pork chops from skillet and place on serving plate to let rest.

Serves 4.

Rainbow Salad

This is perfect for summer, a healthy breakfast or anytime. 

You can use what fruits you have available too.

1/2 c. each: sliced fresh strawberries, pitted fresh cherries, fresh blueberries, fresh blackberries, green grapes, chopped melon, pineapple chunks, tangerines,

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Cut lemon in half, set aside.

Rinse, pit, cut cherries in half, set aside.

Rinse grapes and cut in half.

Rinse berries through a colander, slice strawberries, set aside.

Peel, section tangerines, place in a clean bowl.

Add pineapple and berries to bowl. 

Add melon, grapes, cherries to the bowl.

Squeeze half of lemon over fruit and toss fruit with a clean spoon.

Place bowl in fridge until ready to serve.

Serves 4.