::WOOT WOOT:: Start of Farmers Market Season!

It was a gorgeous Sunday here in Chi-town to kick off Farmers Market season. 

I gotta say, it's incredibly easy to find inspiration when you are strolling around, checking out the fresh foods, baked goods, flowers, greens, etc. 

I could have taken pictures all day along.  Oh, and a little shout out to one of our most loyal readers who I happened to see at market today--Ann, can I get a woot woot?

I do love when a friend makes a comment to me that makes me realize *someone* out there actually reads our blog.  You know like, "hey, love the new banner!"

The mushrooms stopped me dead in my tracks.  

Can you say Giada's wild mushroom and pea risotto?

This picture goes without saying.  Seriously?  

These *might* be as pretty as my wedding day flowers.  Might.

I'm always on the hunt for local fare.  Could be in the form of the Mexican paletas down at the lake front, the Wisconsin cheese curds, OR possibly fish straight from Lake Michigan.  I am dying to try the walleye.

The gentleman farmer.  Does he wear bow ties and seersucker suits?

Which, btw, I totally bought my hub a seersucker suit shortly after we were married.  Like, maybe the week we got home from our honeymoon?

Jake's Country Meats had some serious homemade ham/pork jerky.

Can I just assume that it's healthy because it's labeled gluten free?

Now, the peonies were $5/bunch.  A steal, right?  The problem, see, is that we were short on cash from a fun night the night before.  So.......it was the peonies or the Vietnamese spring rolls and iced coffee?  Food won out.  Is that bad?

I mean, would you have turned these bad boys down?

Or, as the hubby always says, "She can eat crackers in my bed."

Ruh-roh.  The toy store by the farmers market had Ugly Dolls.

Suckahhhhhhhh.

God Bless the farmers market and the sun and time with the fam.  Even if it means an ugly doll in exchange for no complaints.

::RECIPE:: Flann's Antipasto Salad

I'm this close (see me pinching my fore finger and thumb together?) to taking The 100 Days of Real Food Pledge.  Have you heard about this?  We went through a phase last year where we ate really, really clean.  No sugar, nothing white, whole grain everything, high in proteins, green, etc.  (That means you Mr. Twizzlers and Ms. Starburst Jelly Beans.  

So now I am feeling kinda sorta settled from our move which means it's kinda sorta time to rethink about the I-am-in-the-process-of-a-move-so-I-can-eat-whatever-I-want diet.  You know the one, right?  The one that pops at the holidays, summer vacation, etc.

This is Day 1 of getting back on the horse.  Or, at least beginning the I-am-almost-ready-to-take-the-100-day-challenge lifestyle change. Is white wine a clean food?

Flann's Antipasto Salad

(I'm no purist, so don't expect authentic, just good.)

1 green pepper, chopped

1 cucumber, peeled & chopped

1 small jar of marinated artichokes, chopped

1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted & chopped

1/2 cup grape tomatoes

1 small shallot, diced

1/2 cup salami

1/4 cup parmesan, shaved 

(just use a veggie peeler if you don't have a cheese shaver thingymajig)

1/4 cup basil, cut in a chiffonade

Mix all of your veggies together with the salami.

Drizzle with any vinaigrette you want (balsamic or red wine vinegar will do), any amount you are willing to consume. 

Honestly, though, the ingredients do some serious talking for themselves so it doesn't need a lot of dressing.

Top with basil & parmesan.

And definitely feel free to overdo it on the parmesan.  I mean, cheese is a protein, right?

Seriously?  It takes next to no dishes, tons of protein and veggies and loaded with flavor and color.  Isn't it pretty?

Oh, and substitute with what you've got in your fridge & pantry.  Some other ideas would be: red onion, red pepper, green olives, different cheeses like feta or goat.  Ooohhh...what about some other herbs like mint?  

Enjoy!

Easiest Appetizer Ever: Bacon Wrapped Dates

Let's face it, anything wrapped in bacon is a crowd pleaser. :) And, in honor of Super Bowl Sunday, I wanted to share with ya'll my favorite appetizer recipe: Bacon Wrapped Dates. These are ALWAYS a hit - I promise! The best part about them (other than the bacon)!? You only have to buy two ingredients!

Photo courtesy of RecipeBridge

Ingredients:
1 package of bacon (I use turkey bacon!)
1 package of pitted dates
toothpicks


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut each piece of bacon in half. Wrap each date with a half slice of bacon. Secure bacon with a toothpick & place on cookie sheet. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until bacon is slightly crispy. Serve immediately with ketchup, BBQ sauce, & mustard! **If you are feeling adventurous, you can stuff the dates (prior to baking) with blue cheese - YUM!

Gobble, Gobble

Our friend Tracie over at Cleverly Inspired is doing a Thanksgiving Recipe link party.  Anyone want to join in the fun?!  I have two recipes to share.  The first comes from my grandmother: Gram's Turkey Casserole.  It's total down-home, stick-a-butta, stick to your ribs goodness.  It's what we always have day after Thanksgiving!


Here I am last Thanksgiving with Gram and a bun in the oven (and possibly too much turkey goodness).





Gram's Turkey Casserole
1 can cream of mushroom soup

8 ounce package, Pepperidge Farms stuffing

1 pint sour cream

1/4 lb. butter melted (1 stick)

1 cup chicken broth

4 cups chicken or turkey

Preheat oven to 350. Combine sour cream and soup and mix well. Stir in meat. On stove, melt butter and add broth. Stir into stuffing. Stuffing should be moist. Put chicken mixture into casserole dish. Top with stuffing. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until bubbly.


******
Now my next recipe to share comes from my husband's side of the family: Sally B's Cornbread Dressing.  Can you say delish?!  It's wonderful.  But take note: don't go buy the store-made cornbread on this one; that cornbread is entirely too sweet.  Take the time to make this cornbread from scratch!


Sally B's Cornbread Dressing
3 cups cornmeal
3 cups flour

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp baking powder

3 eggs

3 cups milk (with 1/4 to 1/2 water)

1/3 cup oil

9 x13 baking pan

Preheat over to 450. In a bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Mix eggs and milk together, then mix with dry ingredients. Heat oil in baking pan.  when piping hot, pour in batter and bake at 450 for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

1 pan cornbread

2 green peppers, diced (can do 1 red and 1 green)

3 stalks celery, diced

1 large onion, diced

4 tbsp butter

black pepper

sage

1 ltr Knorr’s Caldo de Pollo (chicken stock/bouillion)

Preheat oven to 350. Cut cornbread into small cubes and put in large mixing bowl.  Saute green pepper, celery, and onion in butter, then dump in mixing bowl. Pour sufficiently caldo de pollo over to moisten but not to soggy level. Season with black pepper and sage. Place mixture in baking dish and bake at 250 until brown top.


Bon Appetit friends!


This post is linking to the following link party.

Nothing says "Christmas" like...

Seven Layer Bars!  

These are a Shaughnessy favorite.  Many people have been asking me for this recipe, so here it is!

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 1/3 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt butter in microwave.  Pour into 13 x 9 inch pan and swirl to coat bottom and sides.  Spread crumbs evenly over bottom of pan.  Layer chips and nuts over crumbs.  Pour milk over nuts.  Sprinkle coconut over the top.  Bake until edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes.  Enjoy!

-Molly