Easy Ranch Dressing...

Ranch dressing! Do you like ranch dressing better at a restaurant than the ranch dressing that you get in the salad dressing aisle at the grocery store? Yep, me too....it is because it is made just with fresh ingredients  and it does not have weird, hard to pronounce preservatives....

super easy to make and you probably have all the ingredients in the refrigerator right now. 

mayonnaise

lemon

sour cream

milk, half and half, or buttermilk...you choose

salt and pepper

powdered garlic

dried dill weed

don't let me down here... don't measure, you can eyeball this easily. about a cup of mayonnaise, a cup of the sour cream, a quarter cup of half and half, a tsp of garlic powder, a tablespoon of dill weed, a half of tsp of the salt and pepper and juice of half a lemon.... that's it! whisk it all together.

It is ready to use right now or you can make days ahead...It will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks....

Great on a salad or as a dip, for a whole bag of chips, late at night before bed, when no one is watching, and your brains fall out....

Cheers to Happy  !!

Asian Pork lettuce wraps...

These are so easy and so stinkin' good! I made them the other day for a cater out at the restaurant, I got to decide what to make for a client.....on the chance that there would be someone out there that liked to eat like I did, I made lettuce wraps. They are light, flavorful and a bonus? lowfat....oh and they were the hit of the party! Yay!

Just a few ingredients: cooked chopped pork, mild onions, cucumber, cilantro, and teriyaki sauce...

You start with a couple pounds of pork tenderloin, you marinate it in either a homemade teriyaki sauce or a one premade from the grocery store...I went premade...slice the meat in 1 inch slices and the marinate in a dish covered with the sauce for at least 2 hours or overnight....BBQ on the grill until done and has lots of charred edges...put in the fridge until cold...all this can be done the day before...then chop the pork until very small about 1/2 inch squares...you will be tempted to eat all the charred pieces as you go but try to refrain....they are so good, you can't stop at one...I speak from experience....

this is not measured out, just eye balled...about 2 cups of pork, 1 cup of  loosely chopped, peeled and seeded cucumber, 1 cup of green onion, 1 cup of chopped cilantro....now ready for the dressing...

I added a spoon of minced ginger and a tsp of dried chili peppers....I like both of those flavors, but if you don't you can omit it....add a 1/4 cup of the teriyaki sauce and stir...add to the meat mixture...you want just enough to lightly coat the mixture....and that is it!

These are so good. The are flavorful and crisp and light.  Great for an appetizer or an entree! You can make them with chicken using the same procedure or with shrimp....enjoy!

Cheers to Happy !!!

Lavender Hill Farm...

How do you get to take such a beautiful picture of a lavender field? 

You take a 20 minute ferry ride to an island and drive a short distance to a fantastic Lavender Farm!

Called Lavender Hill Farm!...click to find out more information...the beautiful 6 bedroom house is available for rent...

they have a little shop with all things lavender in it!

in the potting shed you can stop for some lavender lemonade...

during the summer you can 'you cut' your own lavender....or they can cut for you...

just below the house there are a few different species of lavender and then...

further below the house is a HUGE field that you can cut your own...

they give you clippers and briefly tell you about the different kinds of lavender and away you go to cut away

the view is so picturesque...it is amazing!

you are welcome to sit in the wooden chairs and take in the smells and the view...

Lots of happy harmless bee's

You get ribbon and get to tie your flowers into a bundle.

then you bring it home and get to decide what to do with it.. potpourri? yes that is a great idea! or put a nice bowl of it in your room, another great idea...

This is NOT a good idea..do not make ice cream out of it! You waste all that cream and sugar and eggs...It tastes like soap...seriously. But do go visit the Lavender Farm and smell the heady smells in the fresh sea air!

Cheers to Happy  !!

Cilantro cream sauce...

My friend Correen  made this sauce recently when I went to her house....it is so good! You will love it! it is so easy to make! and it makes your entree so special when you add this flavorful sauce!!!

cilantro cream sauce

very easy to put together,  it is great with chicken or fish...or as a dip for chips!

Cilantro Cream Sauce

1- 8 ounce package cream cheese softened

1 tablespoon sour cream

1 (7 ounce)can tomatillio sauce

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp celery seed

1/2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp garlic powder

1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor, blend until smooth...

I made halibut tacos...and it was perfect, the sauce gave the tacos that kick and flavor that is so special  !!!

Cheers to Happy  !!!

Corn Fritters...

corn fritters

These are ridiculously simple to make and they cook very fast...this recipe is very basic...you can use this  recipe for zucchini cakes, just use shredded zucchini, or russet potatoes for potato pancakes, also....these would also be good if you had a small can of chopped clams and added them....the corn is delicious!

just cut the kearnels off of a couple of ears of corn, about a cup..put in a bowl...add about 3 tsp finely minced onion...one beaten egg...a handful of fresh chopped parsley...3 tablespoons flour...(can use gluten free all purpose flour) and salt and pepper....stir up very well...and get out your heaviest skillet, cast iron is good...

put about a 1/4 of and inch of bacon fat...um, I mean vegetable oil in the skillet and heat up at about medium high heat....spoon the mix in the hot grease to desired size... 

and fry approximately 2 minutes until crisp and then flip and cook another 2 minutes on the other side...

drain on paper towels until finished cooking....

I had mine with just shrimp and a simple cream sauce...They are so good! But they would be great with butter or even with syrup...

Cheers to Happy  !!