Teak Dog Tuesday!

We're at the beach this week!  Yay! :)

Teak loves the sweet denim couch at the beach house.

Pimento Cheese

There was a big article in our newspaper's food section yesterday on how pimento cheese is the hot food trend of 2011.  My parents have always liked it, but the looks of it always scared me off.  So orange.  Somewhat creamy but lumpy.  Specks of red.  I never wanted any part of that.

I'll tell you, though, that it's really good--definitely better than any store-bought pimento cheese.  I'm glad I branched out.  My dad recommends eating it on white bread with a slice of tomato, but it's great as a dip with some crackers.  If you like it creamier, add a couple more tablespoons of mayo.  Try it yourself!

Pimento Cheese

1 lb sharp cheddar, grated
1 (4oz) jar diced pimentos, drained
4 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/2 Tbsp mustard
2 Tsbp cider vinegar
1 Tbsp sugar

Combine all ingredients.  Refrigerate at least an hour before serving. 

Teak Dog Tuesday!

Apple Bread

This is a tasty apple bread recipe.  My goal is to start making more fruity breakfast breads, so hopefully I'll get on that shortly.  It's great with a pat of honey butter, or you can indulge yourself and eat it with a smear of cream cheese.  Very good!

Apple Bread

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup applesauce
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 apple, peeled, cored, and roughly chopped
1/2 cup broken walnuts

Preheat oven to 350.  In a bowl, mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the applesauce, sugar, egg, vanilla, and apples.  Stir into flour mixture; add walnuts and mix.  Pour mixture into greased 8"x4" bread pan, and bake for 35-45 minutes or until done.  Cool on cooling rack for 10 minutes before removing from pan. 

Teak Dog Tuesday!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls

I can assure you that this is not on the pre-wedding diet. 

This bread is just sinful.  It is SO good.  You should make it right away; I just recommend that you make it when several other people are around.  Otherwise, it would be too easy to pull off all the pieces and eat it all by yourself.

Thank you, Steph at Plain Chicken, for your amazing recipe!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pulls

1 round, unsliced loaf sourdough bread
8 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded
3 oz bag Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits (or crumbled cooked bacon)
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 Tbsp Ranch dressing mix

Preheat oven to 350.  Using a sharp bread knife, cut the bread in both directions, but don't cut through the bottom crust.  Sprinkle the cheese and bacon bits in between the cuts.  Mix together the butter and Ranch dressing mix, and pour it over the bread.  Wrap in foil and bake for 15 minutes.  Unwrap bread, and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted. 

Teak Dog Tuesday!

Here is Teak trying to wedge himself in between the table and a chair on the back porch.

Cracker Salad

Happy 4th of July!

This is my mom's recipe, and it has become a favorite at my family's get-togethers. It's so fast and easy to make, and it's especially great if you're using homegrown tomatoes.  I admit that I left out the hardboiled egg the recipe calls for(I didn't want the kitchen to smell bad), and I couldn't taste a difference.  It's also nice that you can put everything together as early as you need to, and just add the crushed crackers at the very end. 

This is a very tasty and easy side dish.  You'll like it!

Cracker Salad

2-3 medium tomatoes, finely diced
4 green onions, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups low fat mayonnaise
1 hardboiled egg, chopped
1 sleeve saltine crackers, crushed
Salt and pepper

Combine the diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, mayonnaise, and hardboiled egg in a casserole dish.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Immediately before serving, pour the crushed cracker crumbs on top of the tomato mixture.