Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad

Summertime...or what seems to be a close resemblence to it finally.  Pasta salads were always around when I was growing up.  I decided to use ramen noodles instead of the normal shells for fun. Just throw out the nasty flavor packet. 

Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad

2 - 3 oz package of ramen noodles

1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, diced

1 cup peas

1/4 cup celery, sliced

1 - 15 oz jar Miracle Whip or mayo

2 tbsp onions, minced

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 pinch of sea salt

Cook the ramen noodles for 3 minutes in boiling water, drain and cool.  In a large bowl, combine the noodles, chicken, peas, celery, onions, cheese and spices.  Fold in the Miracle Whip or mayo.  Keep refrigerated.

Boursin Mashed Potatoes

The ultimate comfort food with the hint of cream cheese, herbs and garlic...that's what these easy to make potatoes remind you of.  I've tried using this before with spaghetti squash but the results weren't as tasty.

Boursin Mashed Potatoes

3# potatoes, I used Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2" cubes
6.5 oz Boursin Garlic and Herb Cheese
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp milk

Cook the potatoes in salted water until tender.  Drain and mashed until smooth.  Melt in butter and stir in Boursin cheese and milk.  

Blackberry BBQ Sauce

Here is the BBQ sauce I promised a little over a week ago using blackberries. I'm glad that all my berry bushes are coming up nicely since my freezer is almost empty at the moment. Nautrally I couldn't resist adding a little heat to compliment the berry flavor ~

Blackberry BBQ Sauce

2 cups blackberries, fresh or frozen

1 cup chicken broth

3/4 cup ketchup

1/4 dark brown sugar

2 tbsp raspberry vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ground ancho chili pepper

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

Cook the berries in the chicken broth until tender.  Remove the berries from the pan and strain to remove the seeds.  Add the juice and pulp back into the saucepan and add the remainder of the ingredients.  Simmer until it thickens slightly.  

Mini S'Mores

No dessert says summer more than a S'More.  I made little bite size ones this morning before a day of sunshine and grilling starts

Mini S'Mores

4 tbsp butter, melted
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 dash nutmeg
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
9 marshmallows, cut in half
4 - 1.55 oz Hershey's bars, melted

Melt the butter in a small saucepan.  Stir in cinnamon, nutmeg and graham cracker crumbs.  Place a tablespoon of cracker mixture in a greased mini muffin tin and press down for the crust.  Bake at 350° for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and top with a half a marshmallow.  Return to oven for another couple of minutes.  Remove and allow to cool completely.  In another small saucepan or microwave safe bowl, melt the Hershey's bars.  Spoon over cooled marshmallow.  Place in refrigerator until chocolate hardens.

Makes 18

Orange Honey Glazed Pork Chops

You would think with honey as one of the main ingredients of the glaze that these pork chops would turn out sweet.  That's not the case.  The orange juice and ground ancho chili pepper take out the sweet flavor and give it the right combination of orange and a mild heat.  Plus you can make this marinade after work, let it sit in the refrigerator for a half hour and it's ready for the grill, oven or frying pan.

Orange Honey Glazed Pork Chops

1/3 cup orange juice (I used the juice from one large orange)
1 tsp orange zest
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp ground ancho chili pepper
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix all the ingredients in a large sealable plastic bag.  Add in 2-6 pork chops and allow to marinade in the refrigerator for at least a half hour.  Remove from marinade and shake off any excess.  Cook with your preferred method.  You can save some extra marinade (before you add in the pork chops) to brush on chops if you desire.

Chili Rum BBQ Sauce

I was watching a news broadcast the other week and the reporters were interviewing on site at a rooftop restaurant in Minneapolis and they were using a chili rum BBQ sauce.  I thought I have chili sauce and rum...game on.  I also conveniently happened to have pineapple juice on hand so here is what I created from what was in my refrigerator and I will be making again.

Chili Rum BBQ Sauce

1/2 cup chili sauce
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tbsp pineapple juice
1/3 cup rum
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Combine all the ingredients in a medium sauce pan.  Bring to a simmer and cook down for an hour.  Use what you need and refrigerate the leftovers.

Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread

A misty Sunday morning requires a little bit of pampering for breakfast.  Combining banana bread with my favorite streusel seemed like the perfect start to the day.

Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread

Banana Bread

1/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cups flour
3 ripe bananas, mashed

Streusel

1/4 cup cold unsalted butter
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt

In a small bowl, use a pastry blender to combine the cold butter, dark brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.  Mix until combined and then set aside.

Banana bread ~ cream together butter and sugar.  Add in eggs and mashed bananas.  Gradually add in dry ingredients.  Place 1/2 of banana bread mixture in a greased loaf pan.  Sprinkle 1/2 of the streusel on top.  top with the remaining banana bread.  Sprinkle the remaining streusel on top and bake for 1 hour at 325°.