Apple Slaw

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I preface this with: you do not have to love fruit in savory dishes to be into this slaw. It’s a touch mustardy, not creamy, and the apple makes it. I love it with broccoli slaw but cabbage works too!

You know slaws mean you have to make it in advance. It is not as eaten immediately. Give it at least an hour in the fridge – which, you’ll likely round down, so >30 minutes. Mine usually gets the whole workday to hang out.

Apple Slaw
Ingredients: (serves 4-6)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
pinch black pepper
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
1 apple
1 package broccoli slaw

Directions:
Mix up or shake together the dressing of the oil, mustard, vinegar, honey, pepper, and red pepper if using.

Chop the apple into sticks similarly sized to the slaw.
Mix together the slaw, apple, and dressing.

Refrigerate for an hour, or at least 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

It is great as a side dish with anything. It is really great with barbecue flavors, or pulled pork, and it holds up for a few days if using broccoli slaw.

Summer low-cook/no-cook dinner ideas

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This point of August has me wondering what day it is, what camps are happening, who goes where, how many popsicles has everyone had, and what do we still want to do before school starts!  If you share in wanting some meal ideas for variety that aren’t complicated and won’t heat up the kitchen, here we go.

I did a round-up in 2022 of summer dinners which still work but it always seems to be time to refocus and consider what else sounds right.

Caesar Chickpea Wraps
Flavored chickpeas, lettuce, dressing, and croutons get wrapped up. This includes cooking with a skillet and is fast, easy, nutritious, and could be warm or cool.

The Three Bite Rule - Caesar Chickpea Wrap


Mexican chicken salad
Chicken taco night gets a refresh with NO cooking. It is cool, transports well, and is scooped with chips or a tortilla. Serve on top of salad or greens for a flavorful dinner. This uses leftover grilled chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Thanks Costco!


Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries
These tried and true flavors can go into a toaster oven, air fryer, or could go on a grill! These might need a fork.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Loaded Fries


Corn Quesadillas in herb butter
Use those farmer’s market finds into a veggie quesadilla. The herb butter makes it and the whole thing only uses a skillet or griddle. Swap the corn off the cobb with zucchini or tomatoes.

The Three Bite Rule - Corn Quesadilla with Cilantro Butter

We will head to the beach and have some home days for swimming and finishing our bucket list now that camps are winding down. Our meals could use some inspiration – and maybe a veggie other than the many tomatoes we grow (and love). If this is your time to forget about dinner, come back another time – I feel you.

Turkey Sandwich with Sandwich Sauce

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This sauce or dressing is so good – it is a take on donkey sauce (Guy says if you don’t put it on both sides you’re a jack____). It is strong on the mustard, some creaminess from the mayo, and alive from the herbs. It is perfect and goes with anything.

Sandwich Sauce
Ingredients: (serves ~4)
2 tablespoons mayo
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon deli dressing (or mix up red wine vinegar, olive oil, Italian seasoning)
salt & pepper
sandwich to dress – turkey, arugula, tomato on a soft bun

Directions:
Add mayo, mustard, worcestershire sauce, deli dressing, salt & pepper to a bowl.

Whisk together and chill until assembling sandwiches.
Serve with turkey, tomato, and arugula on s soft bun.
Enjoy!

This is so flavorful and would be great with crispy chicken or a pressed ham & cheese! Stir some on roasted chicken to be a chicken salad with a punch. It works as a dip too! The true donkey sauce would have roasted garlic so add or skip as you wish.

July 2024 Recap

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Summer is such a whirlwind. July 1 is the true start of summer according to work. We ate a bunch of good food and have fit in a lot of fun things – a party in Maine, going to the movies, a new-to-us-beach (with waves!), and a lot of swimming.

I was so happy with this breakfast guacamole with bagel chips – it is fun, filling, flavorful, and a good way to start the day.


Pasta salad is better when it is a twist with chicken caesar.


Blueberry smoothies are my fav so this one is flavored with a classic pairing of blueberry & lemonade.


Buffalo chicken burritos joined my favorite flavors with a better-than-typical format.

August will include some no/low cook dinners, a slaw redo, and a week at the beach. Our bucket list still has a few fun things we’ll try to fit in. C will turn 6!

The Big Kid:
Camps have mostly been good – he’s a bit over one that used to be his favorite. It is incredibly hard to explain that back in January, when we had to register, this past one had been fun but he’s outgrown it I guess. He filled in at a baseball tournament one day – it just happened to be the very hottest day ever but he had fun and we were happy to see it…once. His new favorite lunch is a BLT.

The Little One:
She’s a fish! She flipped a switch and went from not wanting her face wet, to jumping into the shallow end, to going underwater, to jumping in off the diving board! We cannot believe it. Adjusting to camps went well. She’s trying to eat more to bump up to the next carseat and eagerly awaits her bday.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I got a tee shirt from Etsy – vote like Ruth sent you
More meatless meals: ehh. I may have missed this.
sandwiches and salads: I got a new salad spinner and we had caesar more often.
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time:
redo photos – not this month
what I’m reading: I read Meet the Benedettos which is a modern Pride & Prejudice. Then I read a Boston historical fiction Small Mercies. I then read Meet me at the Lake as a palate cleanser and was the best of this author. I read Just for the Summer and thought it was perfectly balanced with some cute and enough storyline.

Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie

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Blueberry based smoothies are my fav – and perfect for greens. The blueberries, yogurt, and greens makes it a really delicious way to get fruit, veggies, fiber, and a little protein. Add a banana to make it more creamy, swap for Greek yogurt for more protein, or any other add ins.


Blueberry Lemonade Smoothie
Ingredients: (serves 2 small, or 1 meal)
1 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup spinach
3/4 cup yogurt
3/4 cup lemonade
zest from 1/2 lemon

Directions:
Add blueberries, spinach, yogurt, and lemonade to a blender. Blend well.


Serve with extra lemon zest.
Enjoy!

It is perfectly summery from the lemonade.

June 2024 Recap

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There’s so much in June for the kids’ end of school festivities and with my work fiscal year-end. We finished strong but I’m also really looking forward to a little more relaxed July! My bffs celebrated our birthdays with a long weekend to Charleston and that included tons of good food, drinks, and a lot of walking. Mr. J didn’t get the greatest birthday or Father’s day celebrations but agreed to a burger and his one gift he wanted.

The Hawaiian Burger was the star this month. It was so juicy and the pineapple slaw was a great addition.


I gave this strawberry lemonade smoothie a refresh from 2015. The extra became popsicles and were fantastic that way.


Lastly, I loaded up Cranberry Nut Chicken Salad and loved it.

July means lots of day camps for both kids this year, which also means packing anything they’ll agree to eat as lunches. I picture more pool time. I have a bfast idea I can’t wait to try out! We are probably overdue for apps for dinner so I’ll have to make that happen.

The Big Kid:
He’s done with 3rd grade! It was a really great year and I love to see him grow up in so many ways. He’s Celtics obsessed and went to the parade. He picked friends instead of the whole class for his end of year party and they are a nice group. He got to see his big cousins play all the sports as their seasons ended.

The Little One:
She had a great time having field day for the first time. She also hosted her first ever end of year party with her class and dance friends. It felt a little sad for kindergarten to be over but I think she’ll feel very comfortable joining the elementary school and with kids who are more used to being at school than in kindergarten. She grumbles about swim lessons but does everything and we can see such growth in her strength.

Goals for this year:
Year of small businesses/artisans/writers: I picked cute earrings in Charleston
More meatless meals: hmmm. Maybe not a lot
sandwiches and salads: I made cranberry nut chicken salad!
a focus on going to new or places we don’t get to all the time: I had margaritas with the moms’ night out group at El Centro and was reminded to get there soon.
redo photos – this strawberry lemonade smoothie a refresh from 2015
what I’m reading: I read Banyan Moon and was really into it. Then, my fav author had a new book: Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xohchitl Gonzalez had so much to it. I also read Mad Honey which is one I’ll remember forever and wasn’t expecting. It was a really good reading month.