Street Corn is my offering for this week’s Good Friends Good Food cooking group. Peggy selected corn for this week and I immediately thought of Street Corn. It’s been a favorite since the first time I tasted it at a local Mexican restaurant. However, I was surprised to learn the secret ingredient was mayonnaise.
Corn is a vegetable that most people will eat, including children. However, I am afraid that my grandchildren would not appreciate what I did to it. It’s pretty spicy, but doesn’t have to be if you omit the cayenne. The cool thing about making this dish is that the ingredients are commonly on hand. Feta or Cotija cheese can be substituted and different spices can be used.
I planned to use fresh corn, but to my surprise they were totally out of it in the two grocery stores I visited. So, frozen had to do. I had to improvise cooking time, but it worked out okay.
Street Corn Topping Ingredients
Street Corn Ingredients
3 Ears of Corn , shucked (fresh or frozen and thawed)
Olive Oil (sprayed or brushed on corn)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Topping:
1/3 c. Mayonnaise
1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp Lemon or Lime Juice
1 tsp Lemon or Lime Zest
1/3 tsp Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
1/4 tsp Penzy’s Northwoods Seasoning
Cilantro for garnish
Directions
Ready to Air Fry
Because fresh corn was not available, I used frozen corn that had been thawed.
Firstly, set the air fryer at 380 degrees for 15 minutes, arrange the corn in the fryer, and brush with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste and begin cooking.
Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together. When three minutes are remaining on cooking time, check the corn. It should be beginning to brown a little and look similar to the photo below. However, if it is not beginning to brown, further cooking is needed before adding the topping.
Corn is beginning to brown
After that, spread the topping evenly over the corn. During the final three minutes in the air fryer, cook with the topping on the corn.
Lastly, remove from fryer and garnish corn with cilantro.
Corn is ready to enjoy
Good Friends Good Food
Most importantly, look to see what others in the group are doing with corn.
Hunting Island State Park is a beautiful park with so much to offer. Some highlights are gorgeous beaches, a historic lighthouse, incredible marshlands, and a comfortable campground. We were there for four nights with our Southeastern T@Bs, T@Gs, and Friends group. There was a very large turnout and we really enjoy the people in this group. Consequently, we had a great time!
Getting There Via Harvest Hosts
The campground was a seven hour drive for us, per Google Maps. So, it was realistically at least nine hours with stops along the way. Therefore, we planned a one-night stopover with our first Harvest Host, Lane Orchards near Macon, Georgia. It was a good experience, overall because the store was unique and our lunch was good. Lane Orchards is on a beautiful piece of property. The only negative was a substantial amount of highway noise.
Lane Southern Orchards
Hunting Island Campground
This was our first trip to Hunting Island. We had a nice, large spot in the campground near several of our friends from the SE group. Sites are equipped with electric and water. The biggest negative was virtually no garbage cans anywhere in the park except for dumpsters at the exit. This was also the case at the Florida campgrounds we visited last month. It was very inconvenient, but a sign of the times.
Site # 199
A little bird visited the campsites and seemed to have no fear of humans. He would get very close. He was a brave, little cutie!
A friendly little bird
This was the second camping trip for our puppy, Sophie. She is adapting well to the campground environment. Her trainer has us walking with her using cheese as an incentive. It was working great, but not all the time. She is very excitable.
Camping with Sophie
Raccoon Invasion
After time around a campfire with our friends, we were walking back to our site when I noticed movement near our car. Suspecting raccoons, I walked to the other side and shone my flashlight around. To my shock, a raccoon was inside our car! Inexplicably, I released a blood-curdling scream that was heard back where the group was assembled. A couple of our friends came to check on us. (It’s so good to know there are people who will look out you.)
We opened the car doors and the raccoon emerged. He was able to get into the car because my husband had left the windows cracked because of a seafood smell that was in the car earlier. The raccoon left footprints all over our interior and had unzipped a bag with some dog food. He urinated on the seat and there was a wild animal smell.
It was very fortunate that we discovered the raccoon before we went to bed. A park ranger told my husband that a raccoon got into a car through a sunroof the prior year and could not get out. It completely tore up the seats of the vehicle and the headliner.
Hunting Island Attractions
There is so much to do on the island! Trails abound for hiking and biking. Several of our friends biked the island trails. It has the only South Carolina lighthouse that visitors can climb. I climbed it and was rewarded by spectacular views. Though there are about 170 steps, many platforms with information about the lighthouse break up the effort.
The Lighthouse
Hunting Island LighthouseFriendly Volunteer snapped our photo
The Atlantic Ocean
It was just a short walk to the beach and it is a really great beach for two reasons. Firstly, it was not at all crowded. The area is a bit remote and I believe that part of the beach is just for the campground. Secondly, a portion of the beach allows dogs. So, it was a special treat for our pup.
The beachPath to the BeachOur puppy’s first beach experience
Marshland
The island has an abundance of marshland, which has its on special beauty. The boardwalk was a really nice trail and we saw several birds.
The the boardwalkGreat Blue Herons on the Boardwalk
Boneyard Beach
Because Hunting is a barrier island, its landscape is subject to many changes. Boneyard beach is an area of forest that has been reclaimed by the sea. It is a very haunting reminder of what a force of nature the sea can be.
Boneyard BeachA walk among the “bones”
Creekfire RV Resort
South Carolina was a fairly long drive for us, so we tacked on a stop in nearby Savannah on our way home. We camped at Creekfire RV Resort for three nights. It is a very nice campground! One thing that was especially nice was the concrete pad—no rocks for our pup to put in her mouth and no digging.
Creekfire Resort Site # 54
The resort has some awesome amenities. For instance, it has a heated pool, hot tub, store, gym, and sauna. There is also a lazy River. However, it was not currently operating. We spent an afternoon at the pool and sauna and ended it with ice cream from the store. So relaxing for a warm, sunny day in early March!
Enjoying the pool
Savannah was just a short drive away. So, on one afternoon, we took our pup and had lunch with outdoor seating at Vic’s on the Waterfront. It was another beautiful, sunny day. Vic’s was amazing—delicious food and great service. They were also very sweet to our pup. On the way back to the campground, we purchased macaroons from a downtown store. It was a very good day!
In Conclusion
This trip had so many wonderful things. The campgrounds were stellar and we had the opportunity to spend time with friends. Our pup was still a handful, but is adapting well to camping. We are so fortunate to have experienced this trip! Lastly, if you would like to read another post about South Carolina camping, check out South Carolina Camping, First T@B 400 Trip.
Winter in Florida, what could be better? Early last year, I booked five weeks at three of our favorite Florida State Parks. At the time, we did not have to consider a pandemic or a puppy in our plans. However, because of the pandemic and the puppy, we completely cancelled two weeks at Topsail and the first week at Tomoka State Park. Our puppy was very new to us and we did not think such a long trip was a good idea.
We had a one-night stopover at Eastbank COE, just over the Florida state line and four stops at Florida campgrounds. The campgrounds were predictable because each stop was at a campground we have previously visited and loved.
Our travel route
Tomoka State Park
Our longest stop was eight nights at Tomoka State Park and a couple of friends were there with us for several days. We loved seeing them, but it was bitter cold and windy for most of their stay. The pandemic made it a problem for inside visiting, so we did not get to socialize in a normal manner. However, it was wonderful to see them.
Site 67 at Tomoka State Park
The gorgeous natural canopy at Tomoka protected us from the high winds and our awning was a great space to escape the rain.
Hanging out under the awning
Because of the weather, puppy, and pandemic, we spent a lot of time walking through the campground. Fortunately, it is a beautiful place with live oak trees and Spanish Moss. The beauty of it made the challenges somewhat easier.
Tomoka campground road
Our puppy loved seeing all the people and their dogs. It was a great opportunity for socialization for her.
Taking care of puppy
We did have a few days with warmer weather, but rain was a frequent visitor. This was very different from our visit last year to Tomoka.
Fort Clinch State Park
Fort Clinch is an awesome park, but our site was not the best. Just dirt with no gravel. It had been raining and there were muddy areas. The dirt proved to be a challenge, but we did have some good weather during our four-night stay.
Fort Clinch Site #49
There is a fabulous beach in the park. It was so peaceful and satisfying to walk on it with the gentle sea breeze blowing.
The Beach at Fort Clinch
There were nesting birds on a section of the beach. I have never seen so many congregated at a single spot. Evidently, this is a normal occurrence because there was a sign asking that they not be disturbed.
Nesting Birds
The photo below is a path that leads to a lookout over marshland with a lighthouse in the distance. It was a nice little walk through some lovely vegetation.
Path to View of the Lighthouse
Our only real sightseeing we did outside out of the campgrounds was a visit to Kingsley Plantation. It is Florida’s oldest standing plantation. An audio tour could be accessed via a smartphone for loads of details about life on the plantation and circumstances experienced by its inhabitants. The plantation is part of the National Park Service.
Kingsley Plantation
Coastline RV
Sadly, I did not get very many photos at Coastline RV. That is a shame because it is a wonderful campground. Check out our previous post, Camping in Relative Luxury if you would like to see lots of photos showing how nice it is.
We met our friends there for a couple of days on our way home. They were there for a month, but we were only there a couple of nights. It was great seeing them and the weather was not bad during this stop.
Walking the puppy at Coastline
Winter in Florida Food
We had most meals in our camper, but did get to enjoy some local cuisine. At Tomoka, we had takeout from Hulls Seafood and Alfie’s Restaurant. Both were excellent. We also had carry out pizza with our friends while they were at Tomoka. The pizza was good and the company was great.
While at Fort Clinch, we had a wonderful outdoor lunch at The Sandollar. On the way to our campground, we picked up a delicious lunch at Fancy Sushi.
Lastly, when visiting our friends at Coastline, we had two nice meals at restaurants with outside seating . That was really special, food I didn’t cook and conversation with good friends. There has not been much of that in the last year. That drink below was mine—a margarita with strawberries and jalapeño peppers. It was awesome!
Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita
This was not one of our best trips because of the challenges of COVID-19, bad weather, and new puppy accommodations. Even so, it was better than staying at home and we made some progress at camping with a pet. Looking forward to getting out again soon!
We took a camping trip with a brand new puppy after traveling for four years without any pet and after having no dog for decades. We have a precious goldendoodle, Sophie, who was three months old when we begin our two-week trip. This major change will certainly have a big impact on how we experience camping.
Sophie, our sweet new puppy
Sophie is such a smart girl. She is progressing well on potty training and has learned basic commands such as sit, down, stay, and leave it. But, she can be quite a handful. Biting and nipping, standard puppy behavior, is a challenge every day. So, it will be interesting how she adapts to a camping environment.
Paraphernalia and Limited Space
Our T@B 400 is a wonderful camper, but space is definitely limited. We chose a doodle predicted to top out between 35-45 pounds. She will not require a lot of room in the camper, but when you add all her stuff, it will have an impact.
Undoubtedly, the biggest use of space is her crate. We have an interim crate that is smaller than what she would need if fully grown, but it certainly takes up our dining space.
Sophie and her crate
We also brought a variety of items including toys, bully sticks, a brush and comb, harnesses and leashes. I packed those in a covered box. Lastly, we needed food for the two weeks and her bowls. Whew, camping has become much more complicated!
Riding in the Car
Sophie has previously taken a couple of short trips (45 minutes one way), so we believed she would be okay riding in the car. However, we didn’t know how she would do on a much longer trip. I am delighted to say that she was a real trooper. Mostly, she slept in her crate. We made frequent stops to stretch her legs and for potty breaks. She was such a good girl in the car!
Puppy and First Night Camping
Out trip consisted of three different campgrounds with a one night stopover at a Corps of Engineers campground. This would let us know how she would adapt to new surroundings and sleeping in the camper.
Sophie’s First Night in the Camper
She slept wonderfully well in our camper, just like at home. I think she was a bit tired from the long drive, but she was a good little camper.
Three Campgrounds
We stayed at three campgrounds, Tomoka State Park for eight nights, Fort Clinch State Park for four, and Coastline for two. The awning and rug helped with the sandy site at Tomoka and the dirt site at Fort Clinch.
Hanging out on the rug at Tomoka State Park
I wish I could say that she stayed on the rug most of the time and played, but she did not. She discovered digging! So it was sand at Tomoka and dirt at Fort Clinch and it made quite the mess!
She was so sweet to have as a campsite buddy though. The potty training continued to go well and she was mostly a nice companion.
Happy puppy
However, she would not leave sticks and Spanish Moss alone. We were constantly taking them away from her.
Campground Environments
It rained a lot at Fort Clinch and because the sites were dirt only, we had a horrible, muddy mess.
Dirty Campsite at Fort Clinch
We have dealt with wet campsites before, but kept our trekking in and out to a minimum. But, that was not an option with a puppy who had to go out often.
Our last campsite was a dream for puppy camping though. Coastline RV was all bricks, concrete, and gravel.
Walking with Sophie
Sometimes, it was easy to walk Sophie. She would stay close and not pull. I began working with her to heel. At times, she did an amazing job. At other times, she became a crazy puppy. She would bite on her leash, jump upon us, and nip at our hand and clothes. It was like a switch was flipped. That part was not fun!
Difficult Puppy
One thing she really loved about walking was encountering other dogs and people. She loved them and tried to go see everyone near her. That tail would be wagging like crazy! It was a joy to see all that puppy happy.
First Visit to a Restaurant
We had a very delicious lunch at Sandollar, a restaurant with outside seating on the water. It is a very dog-friendly establishment. Our server was very responsive to Sophie and gave her a big bowl of water. You can’t really tell by the picture below, but Sophie was really good. She just didn’t want to pose for a picture.
First Restaurant Visit
Puppy Camping Conclusion
So, our new puppy is a great little traveler. The issues we had with her, such as the biting and not behaving on the leash are issues we had at home as well. I hope she will outgrow those tendencies with proper training. The downside is that our small camper is much tighter with the three of us. We may have to get a bigger camper at some point in the future.
Mushrooms are the vegetable for this weeks’s Good Friends Good Food cooking group. My husband and I are on a two-week camping trip, so my dish was prepared in our small teardrop camper. The only real concession was that I used my Instant Pot for its sauté function because I didn’t have a large skillet.
This is a very simple recipe for Portabella Mushrooms and Pasta that is easy to make and more delicious than you would expect. The recipe was obtained many years ago from a friend. This version has goat cheese, but the original was for feta. However, both work well in the dish.
Recipe
Ingredients
1 c. Chicken Broth
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Garlic Cloves
6 oz (2 large) Portabella Mushrooms, sliced
1 jar Roasted Red Pepper, cut into slices
8 oz. Fettuccine or Spaghetti, cooked
6 oz. Goat or Feta Cheese
Directions
Bring 3/4 c. broth, garlic, and butter in a large skillet. Next, add mushrooms and cook on high heat until tender and liquid is reduced by half.
Add red pepper to mushroom mixture and heat through. Next, add pasta and remaining broth and toss until coated.
Lastly, serve with cheese evenly placed over top.
Mushrooms and Pasta cooked in Instant Pot
This Version
This was my first time to serve this dish with goat cheese. We were shopping for ingredients in a small, gourmet market that did not have feta cheese, so I substituted the goat. It was delicious! Though there is no meat in this dish, my husband, a serious carnivore, loved it. It was also quite fancy camping food.
I always use Barilla Protein Plus for all my pasta dishes. It tastes much like regular pasta, but has more protein and fiber. I especially like it for a vegetarian dish such as this.
Pinto beans are the focus of my dish for this week’s Good Friends Good Food offering. The category is fresh shelled beans. I needed a way to use ingredients on hand and this dish served that function.
My search for a new way to prepare shelled beans found this recipe, which hails from Epicurious, Baja’s Best Pinto Beans.
I made a few modifications, many based on recipe comments.
Recipe
The recipe that follows includes my modifications which were soaking the beans overnight, reducing the brown sugar, and adding a bay leaf.
Ingredients
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Medium Onion, chopped
4 Garlic Cloves, chopped
Large Jalapeño Pepper with Seeds, cut in half lengthwise
1 Tbsp Dried Oregano
1 tsp Ground Cumin
5 c. Water (9 1/2 cups if not presoaked)
1 lb. Dried Pinto Beans, rinsed and soaked overnight
Large Bay Leaf
1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 tsp Salt
Directions
Firstly, heat oil in large pot over medium-high hear. Next sauté onion till translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add garlic, jalapeño pepper, oregano, and cumin. Cook for one more minute.
Add water, beans, and bay leaf. Stir, cover, and cook over medium-low heat for 1 hour. Remove jalapeño and bay leaf. Add the salt and sugar. Cook uncovered on medium-low heat for approximately 30 minutes or until beans are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Remove from heat and coarsely mash most of the beans using a potato masher. Season with additional salt if desired.
Cool slightly and refrigerate until cold. Rewarm in nonstick saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently.
Results
The beans were slightly spicy and flavorful. I served them on a tostada shell with cheese, avocado, and chunks of browned andouille sausage. It was quite tasty.
Pinto Beans on a tostada
I plan to serve leftovers as a dip, topped by cheese, sour cream, green onions, tomatoes, and peppers.
Good Friends Good Food Posts
Be sure to check out other ways to prepare shelled beans prepared by members of the group. My page, Vegetables with Good Friends,Good Food, has links to other vegetables.
Greens are the vegetable for this week’s Good Friends Good Food and I prepared turnip greens. It was my choice and I actually cooked them on New Year’s Day.
I really enjoy greens, turnip and collard greens in particular. However, I really don’t prepare them very often. They are like the forgotten vegetable at our house. They always pop into my memory around New Year’s Day. According to tradition, they represent paper money. It is very important to eat all the right foods for luck in the new year, especially if you are from the South.
Because they are so easy and nutritious, I plan to serve them more this year. Who knows, maybe the luck can extend to other days.
This rendition is just a random concoction of mine. Every time I prepare greens, I just add ingredients intuitively and have never documented quantities. I liked this version, but my husband wanted more sugar added. Pepper sauce added to individual servings and cornbread to accompany are a must!
Recipe
Ingredients
4 Tbsp Butter
I Medium Onion, diced
2 c. Water
3 Medium Turnips, peeled and diced
Large Bag Turnip Greens, Washed
1 Tbsp Horseradish
1 Tbsp Sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
Directions
Firstly, combine all ingredients in a large pan. Next, bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Lastly, serve with pepper sauce and cornbread.
Carrots are this week’s Good Friends Good Food vegetable. I love them because they are so versatile. This recipe is a favorite way to prepare them for me. Though this is certainly a carrot dish, the caramelized onions are what makes it special.
It does take some time to prepare this side dish because the onions have to cook slowly to caramelize. However, it is quick and easy to assemble. While it has to cook close to an hour, it just requires stirring occasionally.
Carrots and onions simmering
Carrots with Caramelized Onions Recipe
Ingredients
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/4 tsp Fennel Seeds
3 Tbsp Butter
2 Large Onions, peeled, cut into six pieces with stem end intact (approx 2 c.)
Carrots, peeled and cut into 2 inch pieces, 16 oz.
1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
Directions
Firstly, combine salt, pepper, and seeds in a small bowl. In large, non-stick skillet, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Add onions and half of salt mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden, about 30-35 minutes. Add carrots and remaining butter and salt mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are softened and golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Lastly, stir in parsley and serve.
Good Friends Good Food
Be sure to also check out what other members of our cooking group have prepared this week. Below are links to their blogs.
It so happens that this recipe rolls out on the first day of 2021, a brand new year! Because 2020 was very challenging, I think just about everyone hopes that the new year brings a reset to better times. Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
Our year four of retirement began better than most of my adult life. In January and February we took two distinctly different trips, both of which were wonderful.
Phoenix
We were fortunate in January to spend several days in Phoenix, Phoenix, A Winter Getaway in the Desert. It was a outstanding winter trip! The weather was dry and warm and we were well entertained by local sights including the Arizona Capital Museum, Desert Botanical Garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Phoenix Art Museum. Our hotel, The Hilton, was in the heart of downtown and near some incredible restaurants. Our meals on this trip were outstanding, better than most of our travels.
However, we did not exclusively stay in the city. One day, we took the Metro to Scottsdale and on another an Uber to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home. I highly recommended both.
Downtown Scottsdale
Camping in Florida
For almost a year, we’ve had a winter trip planned along Florida’s coastline, with most stops at state parks. We met friends at several of the campgrounds, which greatly enhanced our trip. Highlights of our trip were Topsail State Park, the Florida Keys, and Everglades National Park. This was truly a dream trip!
Enjoying the beach at Topsail State ParkBiking at Collier Seminole State ParkThe beautiful Florida KeysEverglades National Park
COVID-19
Just after our winter travel, it became known that COVID-19 was a serious thing. Undoubtedly, 2020 will go down in infamy for its devastating impacts. It was horrific for many families with loss of life and livelihood. Some survived, but with lasting impacts to health. We actively strived to avoid exposure to the virus and it appears we have succeeded. The promise of a vaccine in a few months does much to brighten our hopes for next year.
Quarantine Activities
We spent much more time at home this year than our other retirement years. So, there was the search for things to keep me entertained and engaged. My husband is more comfortable than I just puttering around.
Sewing
I entertained myself by dusting off my limited 40 year-old sewing skills on a used machine I bought from a friend. I made many masks and altered a few of my clothes. It is good to have a working sewing machine again.
Masks are the new normal
Painting
Paint by Number kits helped me while away many hours and I found the painting to be quite relaxing. After completing one kit, I ordered a custom one using a personal photo. I think we are recognizable in the painting below.
Custom Paint By Number
My husband actually painted a kit too, but he was far more freestyle than I. I believe he has more actual talent.
My Husband’s Painting
Exercise
Lastly, as a person who had a regular routine at our local gym, I needed a way to continue my exercise. We had purchased a stationary bike before the pandemic and it helped immensely. However, a major part of my exercise regimen was Body Pump classes with weights. Just using hand weights was not doing it for me. I learned that Les Mills classes, including Body Pump, was available by subscription. So, I ordered weights and a bench and could do those classes I loved at home. I do miss seeing my friends at the gym though.
My exercise room upstairs
Pandemic Camping
When the pandemic lessened during the summer, we took several camping trips. The breaks really made it easier getting through the isolation. We felt that camping was relatively safe because we were social distancing.
The Midwest
We took an amazing five-week trip to the Midwest in the summer, Midwest Camping in a Pandemic. It was different camping for us however. We like to eat out a lot while camping. This trip we had a few outdoor meals that were great, but so many were in our car or camper. Museums and libraries that we would normally visit were closed, but we did get to visit the Lincoln Library. Masks and a reservation were required to limit the number of people. We also visited parks and gardens, which greatly enhanced our trip.
The Lincoln LibraryPappajohn Sculpture ParkNational World War I MuseumOur amazing lunch at Jack Stack in Kansas City
Camping With Friends
We met some friends at Myrtle Beach, Pandemic Camping with Friends .
It was a wonderful time, but the weather could have been better. A couple of days were sunny, but there was a lot of wind and rain.
Ocean Lakes Campground at Myrtle Beach
We also met our SE T@B group for a couple of short trips, one at Vogel State Park and the other at Fort Mountain. While we made these two trips, we cancelled three others because the weather was colder and virus cases increased dramatically.
Camping at Vogel State Park
Family During Year Four of Retirement
Sadly, our time with family suffered during the pandemic. We were fortunate to spend several weeks with our son and his wife who stayed with us, but didn’t see the rest of the family very much. The photo below is our granddaughters and one of their friends who visited us once. Our visits with family members were mostly outdoors or limited time inside with masks. There were no birthday parties nor holidays gatherings. A very strange year indeed!
Visiting with grandchildren
We ventured out to a local restaurant for my husband’s birthday. It was a bit hot, but felt luxurious.
Birthday Lunch at Mugshots
Health
My lung issues escalated this year. This meant many rounds of antibiotics and steroids, plus a cough has not gone away. At one point, my doctor was recommending a hospital visit. I managed to stay home though. Using a nebulizer daily has become a part of my routine. I am happy that it has not prevented me from doing most things I enjoy and am grateful for that.
Using a nebulizer daily
I am delighted to say that my husband’s health has been good! The knee replacement is all healed and he is doing better than when we first retired.
Year Four Retirement and a New Family Member
We have considered getting a puppy for awhile, but were concerned it would limit our travel. It is still a concern, but we took the plunge. We picked up Sophie a week before Christmas. She is such a sweet pup, but despite our research, far more work than we realized. We are committed though to getting through the puppy stage.
Sophie, Our New Goldendoodle
In Conclusion
We were truly blessed this year, especially knowing that so many have died or suffered greatly with the virus. The economic toll that has been experienced by a large portion of our population is also heartbreaking. I hope that we can come together in 2021— physically and emotionally. Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year!
We are well into the Christmas season and Good Friends Good Food is cooking anything from the category of holiday green vegetables this week. So, I chose broccoli salad.
I have been making various versions of this broccoli salad during the holidays for many years. It is chocked full of vegetables and is not super rich. I like it because it offsets some of the very rich food that I typically serve during the holidays. However, it doesn’t appear often in our house. Therefore, it is usually a special occasion when we have it.
The recipe’s origin goes back to a popular restaurant in Birmingham many years ago, The Wild Root. The recipe appeared in the newspaper along with a picture of a friend who worked there. This version is different because I have been progressively changing it to reduce calories. If interested in something closer to the original recipe, simply increase the ratio of the dressing to the vegetables.
This is a super easy and quick dish to prepare. The vegetables are chopped and combined in one bowl. Similarly, the remaining ingredients are combined as a dressing. After that, the contents to both bowls are combined.
Vegetables for broccoli salad
Recipe
Ingredients
4 c. Fresh Broccoli, chopped
1/2 c. Crasins
1 c. Water Chestnuts, chopped
1/2 c. Red Onion, chopped
3/4 c. Cheddar Cheese, shredded
3/4 c. Mayonnaise
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tbsp Sugar
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Garlic Clove, minced
Directions
Firstly, combine broccoli, crasins, water chestnuts, and onion in a bowl. Secondly, combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl to make a dressing. Lastly, combine the dressing mixture with broccoli mixture.
This Version
Because I am making this dish for the cooking group, we had it for a regular weekday dinner. It was crispy and delicious! However, I am sad to say that we both ate too much. Perhaps it is because the dish is a holiday tradition where overeating is the norm.
Broccoli Salad
Above all, please check out other delicious recipes from Good Friends Good Food. Also, see my page Vegetables with Good Friends, Good Food and you will see links to other vegetables.
In conclusion, the next vegetable Good Friends Good Food is cooking is carrots. I’m sure there will be some creative offerings by those outstanding cooks.
I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year!
Good Friends Good Food Posts
