Sunday, August 5, 2012

Crouton Salad....saved the day!


Update.....I'm so happy, I found another salad in the offerings for August that I can make. Since I have limited cooking supplies in our cabin, I thought I might be out of luck.
Today I'm going to be making~~~~Crouton Salad!
Let's go.....
  • 1 cup tiny croutons fried in butter
  • 2 hard cooked eggs~chopped
  • 2 firm tomatoes, diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped sweet pepper
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • Mayonnaise to blend
  • Olives
  • Lettuce or cress

Combine the salad ingredients, which should be chilled, in the order given,
and served heaped in nests of the lettuce. Garnish with olives!

Now....for my review....I will come up with a standard review system soon, but for now, this will work. This salad was very easy and quick to make, especially if you happen to have some hard boiled eggs already on hand. And....I used a little chopper machine I keep on hand to make the dicing very easy.

  • The salad was very refreshing ......but I felt it lacked a little spice. Next time I make this I will combine some chopped up green olives into the mix, instead of just putting them on top for a garnish. I'm also watching....our salt intake....so I did use some another salt free spice to add just a hint of flavor.
  • Since we already had flavored croutons, I didn't take the time to fry them in butter, but I think I would use plain ones next time and try frying them.
  • Overall a nice salad and my hubby liked it too.


Off, to a ......bad start!


Good afternoon....
I kinda....feel like a baby.....for giving up on my first salad attempt.....I was so....excited to make my first salad, until....I opened up the book and looked at the page for August salads...this morning.
Home-made cottage cheese was the first one....It calls for clabbered milk....what in the "heck" is that??? Then only 3 more ingredients....salt, paprika and melted butter. Then comes this warning...
Do not attempt to make this with less than 2 quarts of milk, which should be turned, but not bitter. Place the utensil containing it in a pan of hot water and heat until the curd separates. If the water becomes too hot, the cheese will be tough. When well separated, strain through cheesecloth and season the curd with salt, paprika and melted butter....
So.....needless to say, this gal, is going to find another recipe to try instead. I don't know if I will find the ingredients I need up in our cabin, so I may have to start my journey when I get back home.
ta...ta...for now! Luv....this cute kewpie doll from my collection. She holding a darling vintage baby rattle I found up in Big Bear....
Kathy Renee

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Let's be honest.....I don't cook....


Bonjour~
I must confess.....I have never liked to cook. My interests have always taken me down a different path......one that utilizes my creative side. When I was little.....I dabbled in cooking.....a bit.....but those stories are for another day.
I've always....luved vintage papier....items. I came across this beautiful art deco cook book...years ago. I didn't buy it for the recipes, but for the beautiful artwork. I packed it away for safe keeping.
I've been on a huge reorganizing kick lately....when I came upon this beauty. It gave me an idea. Why not learn how to cook....at 58 years old! I decided to make all of the salads in the book, until I looked at some of the ingredients~ick....is all I can say!
I guess they used a lot of strange ingredients back in those days. So....I will pick a few each week to make and share with you.
I bought myself a cute apron, actually a few, which I will also share...and... of, course, I will post other goodies from time to time. I hope you will join me on this journey....according to this book....salads are ...The Perfect Health Food.......
ta...ta...for now! Kathy Renee