KerriansKitchen

KNR, p. 175 “Kerrian’s Summer Salad Platter”

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We do a lot of grilling when the temperature rises, but every once in a while, it’s too hot to even turn on the grill. Who wants to stand over hot coals when the heat index is over 100 degrees? Not me, thanks.

So we came up with a sure-fire, never fail summer salad platter. It takes about 10 minutes for the prep, requires no cooking and it’s pretty tasty. And, it’s a definite plus when there are no bodies found on the deck because of the heat.

 

"Kerrian's Favorite Summer Salad Platter"
Author: 
Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1 serving
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups mix of red and green butter lettuces
  • Whole large tomato - it should fill your hand
  • One 5 oz. can tuna, Albacore or Tongol packed in water
  • 1/3 cup diced celery
  • 1/4 cup Hellman’s mayo
  • One small yellow squash - washed, but not peeled
  • One small zucchini - washed, but not peeled
  • English seedless cucumber, washed and peeled
  • Slices of yellow and red bell peppers
  • Russian, Thousand Island, or Ranch salad dressing
Instructions
  1. Arrange the lettuce leaves on a dinner plate, covering the entire plate.
  2. Core the tomato, then slice it from top to bottom into eight sections - not quite cutting through, so that the sections are still attached at the bottom. Place in center of plate.
  3. Thoroughly mix tuna, celery and mayo together and place in center of the tomato.
  4. Slice yellow squash and place on dinner plate.
  5. Slice zucchini and place on dinner plate.
  6. Cut cucumber into bite-sized chunks and place on dinner plate.
  7. Cut red and yellow bell peppers into bite-sized pieces and place on dinner plate.

 

Serve with your favorite salad dressing and stay cool.

SummerSaladPlatterIMG_5542_2
The recipe is for one hearty appetite, but can serve two if you add bread to the menu.  🙂

 

*Photos by Patti Phillips

 

 

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KNR, p. 96 “Chocolaty Chocolate Banana Muffins”

 

WChocChocMuffins

Sheila tried out a new muffin recipe. I thought she was making cupcakes for dessert because of the mouth-watering chocolate smell in the air, but she said that these were going to be for breakfast instead. There’s less sugar than a cupcake, and they have fruit in them, so that qualifies as a breakfast treat. Works either way for me!

 

Chocolaty Chocolate Banana Muffins

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Standing mixer

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 jumbo egg (or 2 large eggs)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat flour, stone ground
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose, unbleached flour (King Arthur works nicely)
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/3 cup Ghirardelli cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1.5 cups)
  • 1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 375.
  • Set standing mixer at slowest speed.
  • Cream oil and sugar.
  • Add egg(s) and vanilla and beat until smooth.
  • Add flours, baking powder, and baking soda a little at a time and beat until smooth.
  • Add cocoa powder and salt and beat until smooth.
  • Add mashed bananas and mix thoroughly.
  • Add chocolate chips and stir until blended.
  • Divide mix evenly among greased, floured muffin tins (or use baking cup papers)
  • Bake 20-25 minutes in center of oven or until toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Notes

*Photo by Patti Phillips

 

 

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KNR, p. 257 “Jalapeno Tex-Mex Cheese Bread”

 

 

 

During the pandemic, we’ve tried a few quick bread recipes, because yeast cannot be found anywhere. This bread is so creamy and moist that it’s going to be on the menu at the Kerrian house long after Covid19 has left the planet. Sheila played around with the balance of peppers, and finally decided to leave out habanero pepper, since that one is harder to find in the average grocery store. We can toast the cheesy bread for breakfast or serve it for lunch/dinner with chili.

 

"Jalapeno Mexican Cheese Bread"
Author: 
Recipe type: bread
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
  • 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon powdered garlic
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 6 ounces (1 package) shredded Mexican 3 or 4 cheese mix
  • 1/4 cup drained, diced jalapeno peppers (canned Old El Paso works well)
  • 2 Tablespoons diced fresh red bell pepper
  • 1 extra large egg
  • 1 cup 2 % milk
  • 3 Tablespoons melted margarine
Instructions
  1. Thoroughly whisk dry ingredients together in large bowl.
  2. Add shredded cheese, jalapeno peppers, and red bell pepper, and stir.
  3. Combine milk, egg, and butter in small bowl and beat lightly with a fork.
  4. Make a well in the center of the cheese/flour combination and pour the liquid into the well. Blend dry and wet ingredients together with a large spoon, being careful to spread the peppers throughout.
  5. Pour the mixture into a greased and floured 9”x5” bread pan.
  6. Bake for 45+ minutes in 350 degree oven until golden brown on top and done in the center - skewer inserted in center will come out clean. Edges of the loaf should pull away from the sides of the pan in final five minutes of baking.
  7. Cool in the pan on a rack. Slice, serve and enjoy.

 

First and foremost, the listed ingredients have been easy to find at the store. We make extra every time and pass it around to the neighbors. Give it a try.  🙂

 

* Photos taken in the Kerrian Kitchen

 

 

 

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