BIZZY BAKES

The photo is without the dressing. I bought crystallized ginger for a specific recipe.  I remember being pleased with the results and wondered why it took me so long to add this to my cupboard.  Unfortunately, I forgot about the ginger and have not used it enough.  When I made this salad which called for raisins, I decided that the crystallized ginger could only make it better.  Success. In the past, I have found cucumber salad can get very boring and I have tried different dressings to make it more interesting.  The little bit of ginger made a difference and next time, I would like to add a little bit more. Cucumber Salad with Crystallized Ginger Ingredients : 4 Persian Cucumbers, thin sliced 1 small red onion, thin sliced handful of yellow raisins 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger Dressing: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2  cup apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon ...

I have linked this to a wonderful  link-up  s   Cook-Your-Books  in found at the outstanding   Kitchen Flavours .  If you have cooked a recipe from any cookbook, you might want to go on over and link it up also. My husband returned home from out of town and I wanted to make him something special so I asked.  Not a giggle out of you guys, please.......... He asked for mac and cheese.  I am guessing he was eating a lot of meat while away.  I know that every time, I spoke with him, he was eating on the run or making food for his grandkids.  For a man who usually eats vegetables and dairy, I don't think he got too much of these. He asked for it so he got it but I made a delicious salad to enhance the pasta dish.  Please keep in mind, I had all kinds of exotic plans, for this meal. Since Ina Friday is this week and we are doing sides, I am using this dish as my Ina contribution.  The recipe is found on page 101 of H...

I was not particularly excited about making a cold soup.  I love hot soups and unless it is a fruit soup, I don't opt for cold.  I could have made just that, a delicious fruit soup, but I decided to try something new and since I had two English cukes in the refrigerator, cucumber soup is the soup of the day.  My alternate choice was a cold pumpkin soup which sounded too much like a smoothie to me. With the school year, coming to an end, quick and easy recipes, are the only kind, I have time for so this also filled the purpose of starting and finishing in only a few minutes.  If you are in a hurry, this is a perfect refreshing soup.  Mine needed more garlic and salt, both which my husband, does not use.  I would suggest a little cayenne pepper, as well. Cold Cucumber Soup 2 English cucumbers, cut into chunks 1 small clove garlic, minced (I used about 1/4 of the clove) 2 scallions, cut into pieces 2 cups plain yogurt (I suggest Greek) 1 small ...

I found this recipe at Allrecipes . com.  It appealed to me because it included a number of vegetables.  I had planned to make a stir fry but this persuaded me to make a salad.  I added additional honey since the consensus of opinion was that it needed toning down.  I had too much liquid for the amount, I made, and drained some out. Spicy Bok Choy Slaw (adapted) Ingredients: 1 head bok choy, finely shredded 1 cucumber, finely shredded 3 carrots, peeled and finely shredded 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup coarse-grain brown mustard 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons honey 1/8 teaspoon shredded ginger black pepper to taste Method:  Place the shredded bok choy, cucumber, carrots, and cherry peppers into a large salad bowl.  (I shredded the vegetables in my food processor.) Pour  the apple cider vinegar, brown mustard, soy sauce, and honey into a small bowl and mix well. Pour the dressing over the vegetables...

My husband's love with rice sends me running when I see an interesting recipe.  I found a number of good recipes in Family Circle and I think, I should look at it seriously, in the future.  It is hard to compete with Bon Appetit and Food Network and so many others but this month had a lot to interest me. Rice and Baby Spinach Salad Ingredients 2 cups cooked rice (any kind) 1/2 cup cooked chicken (or shrimp or beef) 8 cherry tomatoes, halved 8 slices seeded cucumber 1 cup baby spinach 8 Kalamata olives, pitted 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 teaspoon sherry vinegar I added 1 tablespoon soy sauce - the dressing is not on yet, in the above photo. Method Combine rice, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, spinach and olives in a bowl.  Drizzle in soy sauce, oil and vinegar and toss well.  The Busy Mom's Cookbook by Antonia Lofaso - published in the September 2012 issue of Family Circle magazine. This is linked to Food Friday   ...

A new blog to me is Ewe Creek Cottag e. I put it in the category of charming blogs. Not only did I find the site but also a recipe, I decided to make for lunch today. The main ingredients of the recipe are pasta, cucumber, zucchini, summer squash and goat cheese. Now take a look at the title of this recipe. Yep, that is the result of not having what I thought, I had, on hand. It is a comedy of errors. Get the cuke (Sure I had a long English cucumber, just waiting for me.) Not any more. Get the zucchini - Oops, I forgot, I used it in another dish. Summer squash, I knew I did not have any. Goat cheese - yes it is in the refrigerator, sealed closed. How could I use it when I have an opened package of feta? Wonderful salad at the Ewe Creek Cottage but only the dressing sort of matches the original recipe, which I still want to make. My apologies RaNae.   Please go over and get the fabulous original recipe while I share mine. Faux RaNae Salad Ingredients: 2 cups angel ...

 When we ate the salmon, in the previous recipe, we did not use much of the salsa.  Fortunately for me, I now had a great lunch.  It was not really enough to fill me up and my gut feeling is that I will be eating a few corn cakes to fill me up.  It was a good salad though and I am glad, I ate it, for lunch. Cucumber Salsa for Salmon or as a salad (adapted from T aste of Home ) Ingredients: 1 cup finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber 1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato 1/4 cup chopped onion 1 tablespoons minced fresh parsley 1/4 cup red pepper, seeded and chopped 1/4 cup garlic dip 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon lime juice 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used a citrus blend)   Method: In a small bowl, combine the cucumber, tomato, onion, parsley and red pepper. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin and seasoned salt.  Pour over cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediate...

Lady Behind the Curtain. Black-Eyed Pea Salad Recipe Ingredients: 6 ounces small pasta, cooked and drained (gluten-free small shells) 1 – 15 ounce can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained 1 cup sliced green onions 3/4 cup diced seeded peeled cucumber 3/4 cup diced green pepper 3/4 cup diced seeded tomato 1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped Directions Combine all ingredients. (note how difficult this is.  :)) Dressing Ingredients 3 tablespoons oil (I used only 1 tablespoon olive oil) 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce(I cut this down for hubby who does not appreciate hot stuff) 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt Directions Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well.  Pour over salad and stir to coat.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.  Serving 6