Asian Style Barley Salad

In an effort to keep quick healthy meals readily available I'm trying to build up my arsenal of cold salads. This was my first attempt with barley and I'm really happy with it. This will definitely be a recurring item.

Coconut Chocolate Bars

You love coconut? You love chocolate? Well then, these are the treats for you!

 

Tequila Lime Chicken

I came up with this for a late summer camping trip, but we were so busy playing in the sun, and already had so much good food, that I never got around to making it.  In what might be an attempt to beat the gray winter days we've been keeping it light and fresh around our house lately and this certainly fit the bill. Pair it up with some Cilantro-Lime Rice or throw it in a tortilla with some grilled onions and peppers for fajitas, either way this is a keeper. It's good out of a pan and it will be spectacular on the grill.

Cilantro-Lime Rice

This is a simple and versitile side dish. Put it with anything you like, but I think it goes well with my Tequila Lime Chicken. 

Slow Cooker Lentils with Poached Egg

Ahhh.. Lentils. So good for you and so filling. This is a simple dish that lends itself to a nice warm breakfast or dinner. This isn't the most flattering picture, but it's really beautiful in person.

How to Poach an Egg

To poach eggs:

In a deep pan or skillet bring about 2 inches of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low. Break the egg into a measuring cup or small glass. Hold the cup close to the surface of the water and slip the egg into the water. Cook until egg whites are set but the centers are still soft, about 3-4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal No Bake Cookies

What the wha? Yeah, you heard me right, I said no bake cookies. If you need something that isn't going to take a lot of your time or you simply enjoy super soft peanut buttery goodness, this one is for you.

Cranberry Walnut Chocolate Chippers

This is a nice simple cookie. They are light and airy right out of the oven and if you can make them last long enough they become crisp outside and stay fairly soft inside. The flavors are understated so even though it sounds like there is a lot going on it this cookie, it works. This would be a fine addition to your holiday cookie collection.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

As I hurried through the grocery store in the early hours of Thanksgiving morning I accidentally grabbed a can of pumpkin pie mix instead of pumpkin puree. I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with it, but I wanted to use it up before it got lost in the back of the cupboard. Obviously it was time for some wonderfully moist, tasty, muffins.

Perfect Bacon

What's that you say? Well, yes, bacon is perfect just because it's bacon, but let's not argue semantics. Cooking bacon is a pain, sometimes on the hands and arms, sometimes in the face. If you've got an alternative idea about proper kitchen attire the array of painful possibilities that could arise from cooking bacon are truly endless.  I'm here to help. I will admit that I stole this from my brilliant husband, but I'm owning it, and legally what's his is mine. So here you go. Perfect Bacon.

Turkey (or Chicken) Pot Pie

That's right. Throw on your cleanest wife-beater, hike up those Daisy Duke's and slip off your shoes, it's time to make a pot pie!

Coconut Pumpkin Tapioca

 

The pumpkin theme has been going strong around here lately and apparently it hasn't gone unnoticed. One of my super fun, food loving, coworkers sent me a request for this so of course I had to make it. Not being a big tapioca fan I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, but it was actually quite good, I think the coconut milk really makes it. It can be served hot which gives it a delicious rice pudding feel or chilled for what I'm told is nearly perfect tapioca pudding.  I'll let you be the judge of that.