Homemade Lemonade (Women's Day)

I made this the other day and it was so good. Tart! So if you like it sweet you may want to add more sugar. 

 Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (from about 10 lemons)
• 2 lemons

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer (do not stir) until the sugar dissolves, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

2. In a large pitcher, combine the lemon juice, cooled sugar syrup and 4 cups cold water. Taste the lemonade for tartness: If it’s too tart, add 1 to 2 cups more cold water (keep in mind that you’ll want to add ice, which will dilute the lemonade). Refrigerate until chilled.

3. Just before serving, thinly slice the lemons or cut into wedges, stir them into the lemonade and add ice.

Bunny Bread

It has become a tradition in our family that my dad and my kids make "bunny bread."  I hope this will continue over the years. So cute. 

2009

2011

Making pizza, a blast from the past.

I just found these old pics of Sienna and Eli making pizza for the first time. Wow, time goes by too quickly. This was so much fun. They had a blast making their little pizzas. I love my little cooks. :)

 Sissy perfecting her sauce technique. :)

 Eli making his little pizza. Seriously, can it get any cuter?

 Sienna could hardly wait until the pizza came out.

 Soooooooooooooo good!

Sienna waiting for me to cut it up for her. ;)

Grilled Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing (For the Love of Cooking)

Ingredients:

• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• 2 ripe avocado
• 1 can of corn
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

 Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro. Add corn.


In another bowl mix Honey Lime Dressing.

Honey Lime Dressing:

• Juice of 1 lime
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp honey
• Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Dash of cayenne pepper

Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Add to corn and avocado mixture,  be careful not to mash the avocados. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle. Enjoy.

Menu Plan July 6, 2011 - July 19, 2011

Breakfast:

French Toast Sticks

Streusel-Topped Blueberry Muffins http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/05/streusel-topped-blueberry-muffins-our.html

Bagels

Cereal

Oatmeal

Lunch:

Pepperoni Pizza Cups http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/pepperoni-pizza-cups-for-love-of.html

Mac and Cheese

Nuggets

Southwestern Grilled Chicken Salad (recipe to come)

Quesadillas

Deli/Tuna Sandwiches

Dinner:

6/6 - Southwestern Roasted Chicken http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/southwestern-roasted-chicken-for-love.html/ green beans/ Parmesan Roasted Potatoes http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/parmesan-roasted-potatoes-for-love-of.html

6/7 - Coconut Shrimp Curry http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/coconut-shrimp-curry-open-pantry.html/rice

6/8 - Barbecue Chicken Pizza http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/barbecue-chicken-pizza-for-love-of.html

6/9 - Paula Deen's Sloppy Joes http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/05/paula-deens-sloppy-joes.html/baked beans/broccoli

6/10 - Shredded Beef Taco's http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/shredded-beef-soft-tacos-for-love-of.html/corn avocado salad http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/grilled-corn-avocado-and-tomato-salad.html

6/11 - Panko Crusted Chicken Stuffed with Ricotta, Tomatoes, Spinach and Basil http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/panko-crusted-chicken-stuffed-with.html/ rice/ salad

6/12 - Mom's Meatloaf/Paula Deen's Mac and Cheese/ green beans

6/13 - Baked Halibut with Zucchini, Dill and Feta http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/07/baked-halibut-topped-with-zucchini.html/rice/veg

6/14 - Leftovers

6/15 - French Dips with Attitude http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/02/french-dip-with-italian-attitude-this.html

6/16 - DATE NIGHT!

6/17 - Chicken Enchiladas/Mexican Rice/corn

6/18 - Hudson's Baked Tilapia http://lovetocookagain.blogspot.com/2011/03/hudsons-baked-tilapia.html

6/19 - Rigatoni pasta with meatballs/salad/bread

Barbecue Chicken Pizza (For the Love of Cooking)

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• Corn meal
• 1 pizza dough
• 1 container of pizza sauce
• Mozzarella cheese (not pictured)
• Leftover roasted chicken
• Barbecue sauce
• Red onions, sliced thinly
• Low fat feta cheese
• Tomato, diced
• Green onions, sliced (not pictured)

Remove the dough from the bag and let it sit on a floured counter for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Coat a pizza tray with cooking spray and a bit of corn meal sprinkled all over the top of the tray.

Place the leftover chicken on a cutting board and drizzle with barbecue sauce; chop the chicken and mix well with the barbecue sauce so it's evenly coated on the chicken.

Flatten the pizza dough onto the prepared pizza tray. Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the top of the dough then sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Top the cheese with the barbecue chicken, red onions, and feta cheese.

Place into the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Top the pizza with diced tomato and green onions. Enjoy.

Baked Halibut Topped with Zucchini, Tomato, Dill, and Feta (For the Love of Cooking)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs of halibut, cut into three portions
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 large zucchini, diced
• 1/4 small sweet yellow onion, diced
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 3-4 roma tomatoes, diced
• 1-2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
• 4 tbsp feta cheese
• Sea salt and freshly cracked lemon pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Coat a glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion to the hot skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes then add the zucchini, cook for an additional 2 minutes; add the minced garlic and sauté, stirring constantly for 45 seconds. Remove from heat and let cool.

Gently mix the tomato, 3 tablespoons of feta cheese, and fresh dill in a small bowl. Add the zucchini mixture and mix. Season with sea salt and freshly cracked lemon pepper, to taste.

Cut the halibut into three pieces then season with sea salt and freshly cracked lemon pepper on both sides. Place the halibut in the baking dish then spoon the tomato mixture over the top of each piece of fish. Sprinkle the last tablespoon of feta cheese equally over the fish.

Place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately. Enjoy.