Green Bean and Tomato Salad

This is a great way to use fresh green beans.... when you get tired of eating them cooked! And this gets better as it sits in the refrigerator!

1 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
2 pounds tomatoes, seeded and cut into wedges
OR 1 quart grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped Vidalia onion

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped, optional

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat ( I use my Dutch oven).
Add green beans and cook for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain the beans and rinse well with cold water. Place in a large bowl. Add tomatoes, onions and basil (if desired). Refrigerate while preparing dressing.

Dressing
5 tablespoons vinegar (Balsamic, Rice Wine or white)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl, gradually add oil and stir with a wire wisk. Drizzle over bean mixture; toss gently to coat. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Yield: 8 servings. Refrigerate leftovers.

Aunt Ruth's Squash Fritters

Riley, our 9yr old grandson, is with us for week 3 of 3. He's a growing boy and has had a wonderful time trying new foods (well, a few new foods!). This was one of his favorites - he rated it 11 out of 10! Pretty high compliment for a 9 yr old boy!

The recipe comes from "Aunt Ruth", a dear family friend from Marion, Al.

Aunt Ruth's Squash Fritters
2 cups finely chopped yellow squash ( I put it in the food processor)
1 cup finely chopped onion (Vidalia, if available)
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Oil for frying

Combine ingredients, stirring until moistened. Heat oil in frying pan, drop mixture into hot oil by tablespoons. Fry until brown, drain on paper towels and serve hot!

Bacon News!

Has it REALLY been this long since I've blogged??? Have you missed my quick and easy recipes?? Well, guess what? I've not been cooking as much as usual! Now, don't faint, but we've traveled to Italy (as most of you already knew) and since returning have been on the go... retirement is busier than our working years! AND I've found I'd rather paint (water color) than cook some days!!! Notice, I didn't say I'd rather paint than EAT, just than cook!!! LOL!

Here is the latest quick and easy flash! Thanks to Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, I tried BAKING bacon in the oven and it works like a gem! Place bacon strips (preferably nice thick slices from our Corner Butcher in Hayesville, NC) on a cooling rack that is placed across a 9x13-inch baking pan lined with foil. Place the pan in a 400 degree oven and bake for 20 -30 minutes, depending on how crisp you like your bacon! Viola! You're done! The clean up is a snap - simply fold the foil and discard the greasy mess!!!! How much simpler could it be? This method even beats microwave bacon!!!! Doesn't matter how much you need to cook... just use a larger pan and add another cooling rack- the time is the same! Paula Deen would cover the bacon with a layer of brown sugar before baking... its up to you.... BUT you MUST try this!!!

Green Bean Bundles

'Dressed up' green beans for Easter dinner... easy AND make ahead! ( I did NOT say anything about healthy - just yummy!)



Green Bean Bundles

2 cans whole green beans

bacon, uncooked

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup butter, melted

3/4 teaspoon minced garlic

salt & pepper to taste



Wrap 8 to 10 green beans in a bundle with 1/3 strip of bacon. (Secure with toothpick, if necessary.) Place bundles in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over bundles. Marinate overnight in the refrigerator. (Or cook immediately.) Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Easter Activity for Children

Teach your children the REAL meaning of Easter. What better way to explain the resurrection?

JESUS IN THE TOMB - SUNDAY: Jesus promised that He would rise from the dead on the third day. He rose on the third day, Easter Sunday.

Supplies: Crescent rolls, marshmallows, cinnamon, margarine

Directions: Take one marshmallow and dip it in melted butter or margarine. Then roll the marshmallow in cinnamon. Have the children place the marshmallow in the center of the triangle of dough. Have them fold the dough around the marshmallow, so that the Marshmallow is "buried" in its tomb. Bake the crescent roll according to the directions on the package. Have the children take the role of the guards at Jesus's tomb. Have them stand guard at the oven. Take the roll out of the tomb (oven) and let it cool. The marshmallow will be gone; just like Jesus's body was gone!

Strawberry Muffins

Quick, easy and YUMMY - What more could you ask for??? Try different fruit/yogurt combinations: Blueberries & lemon yogurt or blueberry yogurt or Bananas & strawberry/banana yogurt or Peaches & peach yogurt.... get the picture?

Strawberry Muffins
2 cups Bisquick
1/2 cup sugar
1 carton strawberry yogurt
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chopped strawberries
grated orange zest, optional

Combine ingredients; stir to mix. Spoon into greased muffin pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes. Cool in muffin pans 10 minutes. Yield: 12 muffins. (These are vey moist muffins!)

Sweet and Sour Beef Stew

Don't let the name fool you.. this beef stew is different, but delicious! If you like BBQ, you'll like this. Give it a try.. its easy to make and will literally cook itself after you get it going.

Sweet and Sour Beef Stew
1 pound beef stew meat, browned in 1 tablespoon oil
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
4 teaspoons cornstarch
Hot cooked egg noodles

Brown stew meat in oil in large Dutch oven. Add remaining ingredients except cornstarch and noodles. Bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and simmer for 2 hours. (Or put in crock pot on LOW for 8 hours.) Add cornstarch and cook until mixture thickens. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles.