Meet Luna

My daughter's new parakeet. :-)

Daisy had to meet her of course.

It looks like Daisy's thinking, "But, I thought I was the only animal that got to come inside!" :-)

~In N Out Burger~

In N Out Burgers  have been around since 1948, 

but our family did not discover them until our 

trip to California in 2011. :-)

I recently discovered a copycat version that you can make at home!

The secret sauce is the key ingredient.

You combine the following -

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons ketchup

1 tablespoon white vinegar

2 teaspoons pickle relish

2 teaspoons onion, finely minced

2 teaspoons sugar

While Mr. H. grilled the burgers,

I baked some french fries.

Use some good buns

and be sure to butter and toast them!

and assemble your burger In N Out style.

Spread some sauce over the bottom bun.

Add your lettuce and tomato.

Then your patty,

cheese if you wish,

a slice of onion,

and more sauce.

Dig in!

If you are able to visit an In N Out Burger restaurant,

this list :-)

might come in handy! 

Skillet Corn

Summer southern comfort food at it's finest…skillet corn.  :-)

You'll need -

5 ears of corn

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

2 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 cups water

Remove husk and silk from corn.

Using a knife slice kernels off of corn; set aside.

Combine flour, sugar, salt and pepper.

Add water and whisk until smooth.

Melt butter in pan.

Add corn and flour mixture to pan.

Cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes or until corn is tender 

and sauce is thickened.

Enjoy!

Makes 8 servings.

Menu Plan Monday

Supper Menus

July 14th-20th

Monday

bbq chicken, skillet corn, fried okra, ranch style beans, biscuits
  

Tuesday

copycat in-n-out burgers, french fries

Wednesday

crockpot mexican chicken, guacamole, tortilla chips

Thursday

philly cheesesteak sandwiches, potato chips

Friday

roasted red peper pasta, green salad, garlic breadsticks

Saturday

grilled steaks, fresh green beans and new potatoes, corn on the cob, lettuce and tomato salad, texas toast

Sunday

dinner - pot roast, lettuce and tomato salad, dinner rolls
supper - hamburgers, potato chips, strawberry eclair cake

Linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan Monday

Supper Menus

July 7th-13th

Monday

summer sub sandwich

Tuesday

blackened tilapia, rice, sautéed vegetables

Wednesday

soft tacos, spanish rice, pinto beans

Thursday

lettuce wraps, spicy green beans, orange chicken, rice

Friday

gnocchi with pesto, garlic breadsticks, olive garden salad

Saturday

grilled steaks and corn on the cob, sautéed broccoli, buttered new potatoes, lettuce and tomato salad, bakery asiago cheese bread

Sunday

out for supper

Linked to Menu Plan Monday at I'm An Organizing Junkie.

I love the 4th of July! :-)

The 4th of July is one of my very favorite holidays to celebrate.

I've always wanted to make one of these fruit flags - so this year I did!

I've been enjoying these red, white and blue daisies all week long.

Ready to BBQ!

Mr. H. manned the grill.

Just couldn't resist these little salt and pepper shakers when I saw them at the store.

Could. Not. :-)

These were fun. :-)

Don't forget the nanner puddin'! 

We had fireworks pops...

and a fireworks show. :-)

Happy birthday America!

We went a little Hawaiian at supper tonight...

with coconut lime chicken

and hawaiian rice salad.

I used a fresh mango in the rice, instead of the dried that the recipe called for.  

The rice was also tossed with

 coconut oil, macadamia nuts, pineapple juice, cilantro, salt and pepper. 

And it was delicious! 

We had some more grilled pineapple, too.

Because it's just so good and easy. :-)

Aloha! 

Menu Plan Monday

Supper Menus

June 30th - July 6th

Monday

grilled coconut lime chicken, grilled pineapple, Hawaiian rice salad

Tuesday

out for supper

Wednesday

creamy ceasar chicken lasagna, green salad

Thursday
cheese enchiladas, spanish rice, pinto beans

Friday

4th of July cookout

Saturday

leftovers

Sunday
sandwiches

Linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Tortellini and Garden Vegetable Bake

Tortellini and Garden Vegetable Bake from Better Homes and Gardens 

made for a yummy Sunday dinner today.

I made it last night and then popped it in the oven as soon as we got home 

from worship this morning.

My family was preoccupied watching a world cup game,

and didn't mind waiting a bit for this dish to get warm and bubbly in the oven. :-)

It is a wonderful recipe to use up any chicken and vegetables you have leftover at the end of the week.

I used the rest of the grilled chicken from Friday's meal, and the vegetables that the recipe called for

plus a half of an onion I had.

The sauce is really simple, but very tasty. 

And, of course, this is technically a casserole.

But Mr. H. doesn't eat casseroles.

So we don't call it a casserole... ;-)

Summertime = new recipes!

I really enjoy having extra time during the summer

to try out new recipes. 

I'll tell you while I was making supper tonight,

Mr. H. kept saying the kitchen had never smelled so good. :-)

I was making the creamy green chili, tomatillo, and avocado sauce

to go over the chicken he was grilling.

The recipe calls for fresh tomatillos, which I had never cooked with before.

After you husk them,

they look like little green tomatoes. :-)

To make the sauce you broil a poblano pepper, a jalapeño pepper, some garlic and onion,

and the tomatillos.

This is what was smelling so good!

You combine the broiled vegetables with some lime juice,

greek yogurt, cilantro, and avocado.

It was really good with the grilled chicken.

We also had grilled pineapple and quinoa and black bean salad.

(With fresh corn cooked in the microwave of course!)

It was all super yummy.  

I sure do love to cook new things during the summertime!

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients needed -

1 head fresh broccoli, chopped

1 carton grape tomatoes

1 purple onion, sliced

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups orzo pasta

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400°. 

Place broccoli, tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings in a bowl.

Toss to combine and pour out onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Turn oven to broil and broil vegetables for several minutes.  Watch carefully!

Meanwhile cook orzo according to package directions.

Drain orzo and return to pot.

Add chicken broth and parmesan to orzo and stir until cheese is melted.

Add roasted vegetables to pot and serve.

Makes 4 servings.

Blackened Tilapia Yum!

This blackened tilapia was a huge hit at supper tonight.  

And so easy!

You'll need -

2 tablespoons paprika

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons lemon pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon onion salt

1/2 cup butter, divided

5 fresh tilapia fillets

Combine spices in a bowl; set aside.

In a separate bowl, melt 5 tablespoons butter.

Dip each fillet into butter and then coat with spices.

Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a pan over medium heat.

Cook fillets on one side for 3 minutes.

Turn and cook on the other side for 5 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Enjoy!