Whoo Hoo! We just finished putting together our new Chicken House! Tractor Supply has this on sale over the 4th of July weekend and we splurged. Everything was perfect except we "almost made a mistake". We built it under the big carport for the shade and coolness and then we couldn't move it an inch! Yep that thing is HEAVY! Oh goodness!! Well the hubby always solves our little dilemmas like this. He used his car moving dollies and with the help of our trusty Polaris Ranger, (Gus) we placed it exactly where I wanted it. Our ladies are loving it especially this Lady. Happy wife happy life, the hubby says!
Our garden is in HIGH Production right now and we are canning, pickling and dehydrating as much as we can. Also I'm digging into all my fresh veggie recipes to enjoy as much as we can fresh! We've had loads of rain and the grasshopper pressure is as low as it has been in quite a few years. So the garden is ahead of the game this year. My cucumbers are exploding! I still have pickle relish from last year, so most of them are being pickled. If anyone has a great pickle recipe, please share it! I would love to try several different flavors of pickles.
New on the Blog:
This Italian Grinder Chopped Salad has all the flavors of the popular Italian Grinder Sandwich but is a healthier and lower carb version. With the grinder salad ingredients of fresh vegetables, protein, and creamy Italian dressing this grinder salad recipe will soon be one of your faves.
Garden/ Farmers Market Produce Recipes
These Marinaded Cucumbers are not like pickling or even refrigerator pickling. Fresh cucumbers are peeled and sliced and placed in a brine of vinegar and sugar. There is no cooking involved and these cucumbers retain their fresh crunchy texture.
Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil make for the perfect summer dish. A delicious twist to this classic Caprese salad is topping it with Balsamic Pearls. These Balsamic Pearls are created from 8-month aged balsamic vinegar. They go through a special process to be transformed into small jelly balls with a thin outer layer and a juicy core. In this way, vinegar returns to its initial shape; to grapes’ rounded shape, that bursts in your mouth releasing its unique flavor. And these Balsamic upgrades our gorgeous caprese salad with a unique flavor and colorful beauty.
Looking for a crowd-pleasing summer side dish? Look no further! This Squash Casserole with Green Chile has the perfect balance of flavors and crunch. We are making a few of these squash casseroles and freezing them. We love freezer meals and enjoying a bubbling pan of summer squash would be a treat this winter when the garden is gone.
When we eat out, one of my most favorite appetizers is zucchini fries. And I will order them first each and every time whenever the opportunity arises. But did you know that you can make these delicious zucchini appetizers right at home? Well, you can and it’s not that hard. So today we will be showing you how to make oven fried Zucchini Fries with a delish Zucchini Dipping sauce that we are sure you will love.
On the Grill!
Cedar Planked Smoked Salmon is our all-time favorite way to cook a gorgeous salmon fillet. It’s quick and easy and we can have a healthy dinner on the table in no time at all. Smoked salmon can be on the pricey side but if you have a few little tricks up your sleeve, your family can enjoy this gourmet dish for a fraction of the cost. Topped with Mango Salsa!!!
These Barbecue Skewers will be the hit at any of your summer cookouts. They are made with white meat chicken, pineapple, onion, and red bell pepper. They can be assembled ahead of time which gives you more time with your guests or for an easier dinner choice.
Grilled Huli Huli chicken drumsticks recipe that can be grilled on an indoor grill. The drumsticks are slathered with a homemade Huli Huli bbq sauce as they are grilled. Life is too short for boring chicken. Try these mouthwatering Huli Huli Chicken Drumsticks and thank us later.
The sweetness of the veggies emerge as they char and the smoke from the grill just adds all the flavor they need. There are so many variations for Grilled Veggie Kabobs with a wide range of selection, asparagus, eggplant, Brussel sprouts, cherry tomatoes and corn are just a few more to try. I just added a little salt and pepper to these so the natural flavors came through but feel free to add your favorite seasonings.
These Shrimp and Pineapple Skewers are so delicious with this easy marinade. They have both the flavors of chili and lime and the grilled pineapple is so sweet and adds an amazing contrast. An could also be used if the weather outside prevents you from grilling these Pineapple Shrimp Skewers outside.
Have a wonderful week.
