Pretty Vegetable Bean Salad Recipe

"Easy and Elegant"  is my mother-in-law's mantra and I have resolved to follow it with my own family and friends.   Who wants to be in the kitchen the entire time?  This easy recipe mainly focuses on pantry items and is about as simple as it gets.  It's the perfect salad for a potluck, game day tailgating, or a summer get together because it can be made ahead and can be served at room temperature.   You could also serve this dish as a dip with chips for an easy healthy appetizer.  

I like this recipe because it serves a crowd (12-14 people), but it also it uses our Pretty Peppers, which imparts a nice tang to this dish.  

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Cider Vinegar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon (tsp.) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp.) pepper
• 1 Tablespoon water
• 15 oz. can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
• 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 15 oz. can white shoe peg corn, drained and rinsed (could use fresh corn)
• 1/2 jar Cherchies® Pretty Peppers
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup of celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

Preparation

Mix the Cider Vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, pepper, and water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Cool completely.

In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients and then add the vinagrette.- refrigerate and serve with a slotted spoon (you may want to pour off some marinade before serving).  Serves 12-14.  Enjoy!

Pretty Vegetable Bean Salad Recipe

Whole Note Gluten Free Baking Mixes

More and more people are switching to a gluten-free diet, some by choice, many by necessity.  Our family has joined the gluten-free bandwagon out of necessity.  My husband was recently diagnosed with a Gluten Intolerance, which in a way was a blessing, but also a new challenge for me, especially someone who loves to cook.  

Now that I have embraced a Gluten free diet, I have been experimenting with different products and came across these baking mixes from  Whole Note All-Natural & Gluten-Free Baking Mixes. Whole Note Baking Mixes are fast and easy to prepare, nutritious, gluten-free and most of all...delicious.  Try the fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes MIx, the savory pizza mix, and the decadent Cappuccino and Chocolate Muffins. Perfect to have on hand for quick baking.  We would love to hear your recipes.

Apple Butter and Egg Croissant Recipe

Apple Butter and Egg Croissant Recipe

This is a crazy sandwich recipe, with crazy ingredients, but it works really well, as it uses our apple butter spread as one of the main ingredients.

 Ingredients

• 1 croissant, sliced lengthwise

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread (could substitute Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, Cherchies® Cherry Butter, or Cherchies® Strawberry Butter)

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Mayonnaise

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) sweet pickle relish

• 1 slice of onion

• 1 slice of tomato

• 3 slices of a hard boiled egg

• 1 slice of ham

• 1 slice of swiss cheese (or favorite cheese)

• shredded lettuce 

Preparation

Spread one croissant half (in this case, I used mini croissants from Sam's Club) with Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread and the other half with mayonnaise.  Next spread the pickle relish on one half of the croissant.  

Place tomato, onion, egg, ham, cheese, and lettuce (I didn't have lettuce at the time of the photograph) on one half and cover to serve.

Volia!  A crazy easy sandwich recipe.  Increase the recipe with each additional recipe, and you'll have a party!

Cooking Tip: Saucy Solutions for Tomatoes

How to use tomatoes from the garden you ask and not waste your precious bounty?  This is an easy cooking tip...Make sauce!  I am so happy...my garden is incredible this year.  I have a plethora of tomatoes, with more coming every day. Aside from setting up a produce stand (not a bad idea...my daughter would love that), and giving to neighbors, I am freezing for a later date...to make tomato sauce.  

My mother used to can vegetables when I was younger.  Some swear by this practice, but I have yet to tackle this lost art (I promise I will...that would be a nice family activity...I could just see my pre-teen and teens canning with me in canning bliss...ha!).  

To freeze the tomatoes, simply wash and dry the tomatoes (the riper the better) and place in a resealable plastic bag and place in the freezer for a later date (for when your family wants to help you can).  When you are ready to use your wonderful summer tomatoes, pull them out of the freezer, run them under warm water to easily remove the skins, and starts "saucing" :)