Tuna Salad ~ Yummy Yummy

This is what I made for lunch today ~

Barbie's Tuna Salad  

{Tuna salad served on a multi-grain Wasa cracker - I love Wasa Crackers, only 45 calories!}

I found this recipe on allrecipes.com doing a Google search. 

This is such a yummy twist on boring tuna salad.  

I loved the dill and curry with the salad.

I didn't follow the recipe exactly... 

I used two 5 oz cans of white tuna in water.

I used 1/3  less mayonnaise (light),

I also used a little diced red onion instead of minced onion flakes.
  

Here is the recipe by Janaquil

on allrecipes.com:

Ingredients

• 1 (7 ounce) can white tuna, drained and flaked
• 6 tablespoons mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
• 1/8 teaspoon dried minced onion flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
• 1 pinch garlic powder

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the tuna, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, 

and onion flakes. Season with curry powder, parsley, dill and garlic powder.  

Mix well and serve with crackers or on a sandwich.

{Yummy and healthy served over a bed of fresh baby spinach}

This recipe was so simple.  So good.

I'll be sharing this recipe at these great parties:

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

Tried & True Tuesday ~ Naan Pizza made with Artichoke Asiago Spread, Baby Spinach and Bruschetta {Wegmans' Recipe}

I was visiting family in Buffalo over Memorial Day weekend...we had the best time with our family!  On our way out of town, I had to stop at my favorite grocery store, one that TOPS all others, WEGMANS!!!  If you've never been, I'm so sorry.  If you have one in your town, LUCKY YOU, you know what I'm talking about!  I was lucky (or unlucky - because now I know what I'm missing) enough to live in Buffalo my first year of marriage, and I have missed that grocery store ever since we moved.  

Whenever I visit Buffalo, I always try to stop at Wegmans and grab a few things.  This time I grabbed ingredients to make a Wegmans' recipe I stumbled upon a while ago - "Grilled Naan Pizza".  This pizza is made with an artichoke asiago dip/spread, baby spinach, bruschetta and mozzarella.  YUM!!!   

For the Wegmans' pizza, I changed a few things.  I used 1 teaspoon of garlic olive oil with the baby spinach and cooked it for a few minutes in a pan before making the pizza.  I also used a bag of shredded mozzarella, approximately 1 cup, instead of using bocconcini.   I opted for cooking it in the oven at 400 degrees F for 12 minutes instead of using the grill. 

Click here for the page to Wegmans' "Grilled Naan Pizza" recipe.

You can easily use your own Artichoke Asiago Recipe if you don't have a Wegmans near you.  Same goes for the Bruschetta - you can make your own or buy some at your local store.  Click here for a great Artichoke Asiago Dip Recipe from Sweet Sugar Bean.  Click here for a great Bruschetta recipe by Azriel on allrecipes.com.

This Pizza is to die for!  

It would make a great appetizer too!

Here is Wegmans' "Grilled Naan Pizza" Recipe:

Ingredients:

1/4 of 6 oz pkg Food You Feel Good About Baby Spinach (about 2 cups), divided 

1 tsp Wegmans Pure Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pkg (2 loaves) Traditional Naan
4 Tbsp Wegmans Artichoke Asiago Dip (Cheese Shop), divided
6 Tbsp Wegmans Bruschetta Topping (Cheese Shop), all extra liquid drained, divided
4 balls bocconcini (Mediterranean Bar), sliced into fifths, divided 

Directions

*You'll Need: Grill foil; non-stick cooking spray

Preheat grill on MEDIUM-HIGH

In a bowl, Toss spinach with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Spread each naan with about 2 Tbsp artichoke dip. Next top with 1/2 of the spinach, 1/2 of bruschetta and mozzarella slices.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Next, spray foil with nonstick spray; place on grill. Reduce heat to MEDIUM. Place naan pizzas on foil and close grill.  Cook for about 7-9 min, occasionally checking -be sure to watch for flare-ups.  Cook until toasted, making sure not to burn the pizza.   Cut &  serve while hot.  Enjoy!

You can probably already tell from a few of my recipes, I LOVE NAAN PIZZAS!

Here are two more Naan Pizza recipes from previous posts:

Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil 

with a Sweet Balsamic Drizzle 

Individual Greek Pizza made with Naan  

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheers!

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Avocado Cilantro Egg Salad with Lemon-Lime Mayo

I finally made an Avocado Egg Salad!  I used all the same ingredients as my Cilantro Lemon-Lime Egg Salad. I just doubled the recipe and added an avocado.

This salad is great ~ I love the avocado added!

    

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

12 Large Hard Boiled Eggs Chopped (6 whole eggs - 6 eggs without the yolks)

1 Avocado (1/2 diced, the other half mashed)

1/4 cup fresh Cilantro chopped

2 Tablespoons Red Onion diced

2 Tablespoons Green Onion diced

2 Tablespoons Mayo (light, reg - Not Miracle Whip)

2 teaspoons Lime Juice

2 teaspoons Lemon Juice

Fresh Crack Pepper to Taste

Salt to taste (I used Sea Salt)

Directions

For the lemon-lime mayo, in a small bowl, mash 1/2 of an avocado.  Next, add mayonnaise, lemon and lime juice.  Mix until smooth.  Set aside.

In a medium size bowl, add chopped eggs, 1/2 of the diced avocado, onions and cilantro. Add the lemon-lime mayonnaise and fold/mix into salad.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Chill in fridge.  Serve over a bed of lettuce, with crackers or make a sandwich. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers! 

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Inspiration Cafe

What is Inspiration Cafe?

We are 5 bloggers who have joined 
together to create Inspiration Cafe.  

We hope to provide you with weekly inspiration 

through great tutorials, gorgeous decor, 

awesome DIY & craft projects, delicious recipes

 and much more.  We will be introducing you to 

many other inspiring bloggers through guest 

posts and features while you are here.  

Grab your latte, make yourself comfy...

Click the coffee house above to visit the cafe!

______________

Hope to see you at the Cafe!

Don't forget to tell your friends!

 Check us out on Facebook!

xo,

Natalie, Mary, Danni,

 Heather & Mel  

Cilantro Lemon-Lime Egg Salad

This afternoon, I was craving more of the yummy Chickpea Avocado Salad I made this weekend, but I was out of chickpeas.  I had one avocado in the house, and remembered Martha Stewart's faviorite egg salad recipe I've been wanting to try.   I boiled my eggs the Martha Stewart way, and chopped them up.  Then cut into my avocado...it was brown and yucky.  I was so bummed!   I sat there thinking about the avocado chickpea salad, and how much I loved the cilantro and citrus together.  So I decided to throw similar flavors together with the eggs and see how it would taste.  Well...

IT'S MY NEW FAVORITE EGG SALAD!!!

So Simple.  So Good.

Here is the yummy recipe:

Ingredients

5 hard boiled eggs chopped

1 tablespoon of cilantro chopped

1 tablespoon diced green onions

1 tablespoon diced red onion

1 teaspoon lime juice

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon of Mayonnaise (any kind, light, reg - not Miracle Whip)

fresh cracked pepper to taste

salt to taste (I used sea salt)

Directions
Place all the ingredients in a bowl and lightly fold/mix everything together.  Serve on a bed of lettuce, favorite bread or crackers.  

I had the egg salad on a lightly toasted English muffin!  Mmm, mmm good!

I'll be sharing my recipe at these great parties:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheers!

My Tips For Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today is my 17th wedding anniversary 
to Cookie Monster!

What do I do to celebrate?

 I bake him a batch of chocolate chip cookies of course!

I have baked too many batches of chocolate chip cookies to count!  My husband and I tried to figure it out, we are guessing around 21,000, give or take a few. Yes, that many cookies. 99% of the time I use the Toll House recipe.  I can make them in my sleep.  I haven't had to look at the recipe for 20 years. I've been baking them since I was 11 years old.  I made them in jr. high, high school, and then in college, where I met my husband.  

My friends always ask how my cookies always turn out so thick, not flat, and remain so soft...so I decided to share how I make them, step by step.  I do a few different things ~ I add extra flour  (1/4 cup more), and bake them at 350 degrees F.  I mix everything by hand.  I use ONE large bowl.  I only use real butter softened at room temperature and always use fresh baking soda. Once you add the dry ingredients, it's important NOT TO OVER MIX!  

Click here for the Original Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

Prefect Chocolate Chip Cookies Every Time 

 (Toll House recipe slightly adapted):

Ingredients
2 sticks of Salted Butter/Softened at room temperature = 1 cup 
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar - press brown sugar down when measuring
3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
2 Large Eggs
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 1/2 cups of All-Purpose Flour (I use 1/4 cup more flour - Do Not Sift)
1 teaspoon Baking Soda (Make sure it's fresh- old baking soda can cause flat cookies)
1 teaspoon Salt
12 oz package of Nestle Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips 

Directions 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until they are smooth/creamy.  Next, add eggs and vanilla.  Blend well, until smooth/creamy.  Now add flour, then salt and baking soda on top - mix until all the dry ingredients are just blended - Do Not Over Mix! Last, add chocolate chips.  Fold the chocolate chips into the dough, until just blended.  Do not over mix the chocolate chips with the dough.  Place heaping round tablespoons of dough on a ungreased cookie sheet, approximately one inch apart.   I use The Pampered Chef's Medium size scooper for the dough, it's the perfect size and I never have to touch the dough ~ love that!  Place cookies in the oven on middle rack and bake for 9-11 minutes, depending on your oven.   Bake until cookies turn a light golden brown.   Remove, place cookies on rack to cool. Recipe makes about 3 1/2 dozen cookies.  ENJOY! 

Step by Step picture tutorial for the cookie dough:

Never flat, always soft....so good!

Off to grab a cold class of milk and enjoy a few cookies!

Thanks so much for Stopping by!
Cheers!

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Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich

I love chickpeas.  I love avocados.  I love this recipe.

I found this healthy, yummy recipe at Two Peas & Their Pod.  

I made it for dinner tonight ~ it was so good!  

My teenage daughter and her friends loved it too!

Click below for their recipe and other great shares:  

Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich 

{I had my salad on wheat with tomato, red onion and endive}

{The girls had their salad plain, on a sweet roll}

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers!

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Sweet Roll Slider with Honey Ham, Swiss Cheese & Hot Pepper Jelly

What do you get when you grill a 

King's Hawaiian Sweet Roll with Honey Ham, 

Swiss Cheese & Hot Pepper Jelly?

A darn good slider,

yummy in your tummy good! 

You might want to make a few extra!

Here's what you need:

King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls

Deli Honey Ham

Swiss Cheese

Hot Pepper Jelly (I used Reese brand) 

Butter

Sweet Roll Slider with Honey Ham, Swiss Cheese & Hot Pepper Jelly:

Directions

Cut your roll in half.   Spread pepper jelly on the top side of roll {use desired amount}. Next, add Swiss cheese and ham.  Lightly butter both sides of the roll.  Grill on medium heat until cheese melts and the roll turns a medium brown color.

The flavors go so well together!

So simple.  So Good.

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Color Me Happy!

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to
 remain an artist once we grow up."
~Pablo Picasso

I love seeing my driveway covered in chalk art... 
and bubbles and rainbows in the sky.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers