Here you have it, folks—a summer salad that's bursting with flavors and textures. The combination of lettuce,  crispy bacon, and blue cheese creates a harmony of tastes that will make your taste buds sing with delight. I also like to change it a bit by adding nuts and apples.  Whip up this salad for your next backyard barbecue, potluck, or a refreshing weeknight dinner. It's the perfect way to celebrate summer's bounty and savor the sunny season. So, go ahead, grab your salad bowl, and enjoy this scrumptious creation. Happy summer salad-ing!

Ingredients

Iceberg lettuce - if you're not a fan of wedge salad, just chop your own it's so much fresher than bagged

.5 lb. of thick sliced bacon

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries - totally optional

1 large smith apple, chopped.  Honeycrisp never disappoint, again optional

Chopped egg (optional

1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, and the final optional ingredient, just to mix it up a bit

I like lots of blue cheese on this, but cheddar works too if you aren't a fan of blue cheese

I'm going to give you two options for dressing, of course Blue Cheese Dressing is the classic, but if you don't care for it, the Sweet Balsamic is ahhh-mazing...

Classic Blue Cheese Dressing

4 ounces blue cheese crumbles

1/3 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon parsley chopped

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Steps

In a small bowl add the blue cheese crumbles and buttermilk. Mash the crumbles with a fork.

Add in the sour cream, mayonnaise, parsley, garlic powder, and salt and pepper and whisk. Add in more buttermilk if you want a thinner consistency.

Sweet Balsamic Dressing

1/2 cup canola oil*

1/3 cup sugar or more to taste

4 tablespoons good balsamic vinegar

1/8 teaspoon dry mustard (I actually prefer a squeeze of yellow or Grey Poupon mustard)

Few twists of fresh cracked pepper, always use fresh cracked, the flavor just zings

Directions

Put all of the ingredients in a jar, put on the lid and shake until blended. 

*I use canola oil instead of olive oil so that I can refrigerate what I have left.  Olive oil congeals in the fridge, canola oil doesn't.

I added OXO links.  I'm really loving this smaller size salad spinner this summer.  Why?  Because you can wash your lettuce, spin it dry and put the whole container in the fridge.  Works for me and I'm such a fan of OXO products, they never disappoint...

#SummerSaladInspiration

#CheeseLoversDelight

#FreshAndFlavorful

#SaladGoals

#SummerEats

#SaladPerfection

#CrunchyGoodness

#CheeseObsession

#SavorTheFlavors

#SummerSensations

#TastyAndTangy

#SaladAddict

#FoodieFaves

#SaladTime

#jancooks

#jancooksrealfood

Are you ready to indulge in a decadent dessert that will satisfy all your sweet cravings? Look no further than a delicious strawberry cheesecake. This creamy, velvety dessert is a classic favorite for a reason, with its rich flavor and smooth texture that is perfect for any occasion. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a delicious treat to enjoy with friends and family, a decadent strawberry cheesecake is the perfect choice. 🍓
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This is a the kind of pie, when you take one bite, you say ahhhhhhh, and your eyes roll back in your head. I've shared this before, DEFINITELY worth repeating for the lemon pie lovers that read this blog. Go ahead, just take an hour and make this. It's SO good warm or room temperature or chilled if there is any left. 

Tis the season, cough, cough, hack, hack. If only there was an all natural cough syrup that actually worked.

This pie is adapted by a recipe from Trisha Yearwood. It's so easy, goes together in minutes, but her recipe didn't have enough apples, so I doubled it to two cans and simmered them a bit before putting in the pie shell and baking it. Seriously yummy with little effort. 

 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick) 

1/2 cup light brown sugar 

2 refrigerated rolled pie crusts, such as Pillsbury 

Two 21-ounce cans apple pie filling, simmered for a few minutes

2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar 1 tablespoon for melted butter for top. 

 Directions: 

Melt the 1/2 stick of butter in a 9-inch cast iron skillet. Then add the brown sugar and melt them together on medium heat, about 2 minutes. Add the apple pie filling, remove from the heat and set aside while preparing the crust.  

Unroll the crusts and put one in the bottom of the black iron skillet.  Pour the apple pie filling over the crust and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar. Use the second pie crust to cover the filling. Brush the top with the 1 tablespoon of the melted butter, then evenly sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar on top. 

Cut vents in the middle of the pie. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Who says you don't have time to make soup?  Just dump, heat and eat.  It doesn't get easier than this and it's really good soup.  Bonus points for being under 200 calories per serving, too without the optional toppings...

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 can petite diced tomatoes, 15 ounces (if you want more kick swap this out for a 15 ounce can of Rotel Tomatoes)

1 bag frozen corn, 15 ounces

1 can Black Beans, rinsed and drained,  15 ounces

1 can Pinto Beans, rinsed and drained, 15 ounces

1 can Cream of Chicken Soup 10 ¾ ounce

1 can Chicken, I don't drain mine, I put in the broth) 12 ounces

1 can Green Enchilada Sauce 10 ounces

1 can Chicken Broth 15 ounces

1 Packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning

Optional Toppings:

Green Onions

Grated Mexican Cheese

Sliced Olives 

Diced Avocado 

Sour Cream

Tortilla Strips

Lime Wedges

In a large pot add the diced tomatoes, corn, black beans, pinto beans, cream of chicken, chicken breast, green enchilada sauce, chicken broth, and taco seasoning.

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer over medium heat. Let simmer for 5 minutes and serve with desired toppings.

You can also put this in the slow cooker for a couple of hours on low

Hot chicken  is an institution here in Nashville and here's a great variation with the addition of hot honey.  Hot honey, if you've never had it is amazing.  This recipe is baked not fried, it's easy and more calorie friendly...

Ingredients

6 cups Panko Crumbs, you can substitute cornflake crumbs or bread crumbs, but nothing beats the crunch of Panko in my opinion
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoons paprika,  smoked paprika is best
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons Frank's Red Hot Sauce, there are so many other hot sauces out there you just can't beat  Frank's 
2 pounds chicken, I prefer boneless breasts, some people like thighs

HOT HONEY:

There are options here.  Go slow, taste and if you need more heat add it.  It's much easier to add heat than it is to take it away.

1/2 cup honey
2-3 tablespoons Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper, go easy with this it gets hot really fast
1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder

Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a food processor, combine the crumbs, parmesan, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Pulse this mixture until you have the desired crumb consistency

Beat the eggs in a bowl, take a deep breath and add the hot sauce and chicken, and toss well to coat.

Dredge the chicken through the crumbs, I prefer doing this in a plastic zip lock bag so you get everything coated.. Place on the prepared baking sheet. You can do a double dip if you want more coating, just repeat the process,  dip the chicken back through the eggs, then the crumbs.  You may need more crumbs if you double dip.  Place on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until chicken is crisp and reads an internal degrees of 160 with a probe thermometer.

While the chicken is baking, make the sauce. In a sauce pot, warm together the honey, hot sauce, cayenne, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, plus a pinch of salt.

Taste once, taste twice, and taste once again for preferred heat.

Drizzle the warm sauce over the chicken.   If it cools and gets thick before you drizzle, just warm a bit.

This Southern girl loves biscuits and gravy, I grew up eating it and I know my way around a skillet making it.   Dolly's recipe is seriously good, knock your socks off gravy.  This gravy thickens quickly and smells amazing from the thyme and pepper.   Don't be tempted to omit the thyme, trust me, it's what takes it over the top.  It's subtle, not overpowering.  

Ingredients

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2½ cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream*

Biscuits sausage patties and bacon for serving

Steps

In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, thyme and pepper. Gradually whisk in milk and cream until smooth.

Pour the mixture into skillet or saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes, or until thickened.

Serve over biscuits and sausage patties.

*If you want to reduce the calories use Half & Half or Fat Free Half & Half, that works well, also.

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🥕 I absolutely loved this salad and they took it off the menu.  I've searched the web, looking for the "authentic" salad and found it on their website.  Chick-fil-A was kind enough to share if after they discontinued it.  This is so easy to make, and it's just SO good. 🥕

4 1/2 cups shredded carrots
1 (8oz) can or 2/3 cups crushed, unstrained pineapple
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/4 tablespoons fresh, unstrained lemon juice (no seeds)

Makes 13-14 servings

Simply mix all ingredients together and enjoy!  How easy is this.  

Note:  Finely shredded carrots do work the best for this recipe.  It's a little elbow grease, but use your box grater on the fine setting, turn on some music and start grating... 

They even give us a link to download a recipe card, what a great company this is.  Here's the click

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It doesn't get any easier than this, it's a dump, stir and pour loaf of pure yummy deliciousness.  Grab your ingredients, get ready, set, go and voila you have a loaf of hot fudge brownie bread.  You can thank me later 😁

Ingredients

1 box of Brownie Mix, my favorite is Ghiradelli
1-11 oz. jar of Hot Fudge Sauce, Smuckers is great, so is Mrs. Richardson
3 large Eggs
1/3 cup Canola Oil

9x5 Loaf Pan

Steps

In a med bowl combine all of the ingredients, mix until smooth.

Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray and fill about 3/4 of the way up.  Bake it at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes, or until it’s cooked all the way through.  Test at 45 minutes and if it isn't done and it looks like it's getting too brown, poke holes in foil, make a tent and put over it loosely to finish cooking.

Note:  I'm a big believer in parchment paper slings, because your bread will lift right out.  Just spray the pan, take parchment paper, and fit lengthwise in the pan with the sides hanging up at the top, spray the parchment paper and your bread will lift right out.  Just let it cool about 10 minutes and go for it.  Here is an example for you.  Trust me, best tip EVER!

Serve it warm and gooey with a cold glass of milk or a cup of coffee.  SO . GOOD ! 

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