That looks delicious!!! I will have to try that sometime! My Go To recipe is Mac and Cheese. I make my own sauce (4 TBSP butter, 6 TBSP Flour, 3 cups milk, 1 cup of cheese, salt and pepper to taste) and add a little nutmeg for that little something extra…plus elbow macaroni cooks really fast! Perfect for those of us who have little ones underfoot. Have a great weekend!

This looks delish! Here’s my no. 1 Go To dish is “Greek Chicken”. Try it, and tell me what you think:

4 – 8 chicken breasts (or any preferred pieces)
1/2 C Lemon Juice
minced garlic to taste
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/3 C dijon mustard
1/3 C Olive Oil

Combine lemon juice, garlic, salt/pepper and mustard. Whisk or mix well. You can add a Tbls. dill if you like. Lastly, slowly drizzle in (while whisking) the oil to emulsify. Once mixed and thickened, pour over chicken pieces (I use a zip-lock baggie). Refrigerate for at least 30 min. (best is over night). You can grill, bake, slow cook in a crock pot, etc. This is guaranteed to bring compliments. I also have a greek salsa to be served with it that includes diced tomatoes, greek olives, feta, dill, cucumbers, etc. served at room temp. if you are interested. xo~M.

I actually have a new go to!
Southern Living June 2010. I know it was only last month, but you konw how many cook outs you go to in the summer…I’ve taken it to every single one of them!!

Green Beans with Goat Cheese,Tomoatoes, and Almonds
Makes 6-8 Hands on time 21 min Total time 27min
1/2 C sliced almonds
2lb haricits verts (Tiny green beans) trimmed…I have used regualr green beans
3 Tbs sherry vinegar (can use white wine vinegar)
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/3 C olive oil
1pt cherry tomoatoes halved
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 (4oz)goat cheese log, crumbled (but who am I kidding? 3/4 to a whole log is good for me!!)

1)Preheat oven to 350. Bake almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan 6-8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
2)Cook grean beans in boiling salted water to cover 6-8 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain. Plunge beans into ice water to stop the cooking process; drain.
3)Wisk together vinegar and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until blended and smooth. Add cherry tomoatoes, shallots, garlic and green beans; toss to coat
4) Top green bean mixture with crumbled goat cheese and toasted almonds.

YUMMY!!!! Enjoy!

1/2 ts

I have been using Orzo alot this last week so I think I will try your recipe tomorrow night! Sounds yummy.

What I do with orzo is saute up a bunch of finely diced celery, onion, zuchini, garlic, black olives and sundried tomatoes. I saute it in olive oil. Then I add it to the orzo that I cooked by cooking the Orzo in 1 box of beef broth to 1 box of Orzo.

I have never served where someone didn’t ask for the recipe!

Avocado-Feta Salsa
Prep: 20 min.

Make this salsa shortly before serving for best results. Avoid refrigerating it–the texture of the tomatoes will soften.

Ingredients
4 plum tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 avocados, chopped
Assorted tortilla chips

Preparation
Stir together first 9 ingredients. Gently stir in avocado just before serving. Serve with assorted tortilla chips (I like it with Stacy’s pita chips).

Yield
Makes 8 appetizer servings

Mmm, this looks delicious, can’t wait to give it a try! I have a spinach dip that I always bring to parties — it’s a hit every time and there are never any leftovers.

Hot Spinach Dip

1 package frozen spinach, thawed
1 block of cream cheese
1 bag of shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 tomato, chopped
1 onion, chopped

Dump all of the ingredients into a bowl. Microwave in 3-4 minute increments, stirring occasionally. It usually takes me about 8 minutes to get mine nice and gooey. Serve with crusty bread or tortilla chips.

Hey Emily…..I too have a recipe that I make whenever I have to bring a dish. Its quick and easy and most of the ingredients you would have at home.

TRI-COLOR ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

1 BOX TRI-COLOR ROTINI PASTA (I USE RONZONI OR BARILLA)
1 PACKAGE OF PEPPERONI SLICES (THEN CUT IN QUARTERS)
1 BOTTLE OF ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING
1 WEDGE OF PROVOLONE (CUBED)
1 BLOCK OF CHEDDAR
1 CONTAINER OF GRAPE TOMATOES (HALVED)
1 JAR OF OLIVES WITH PIMENTO (HALVED)
SALT/PEPPER

BOIL YOUR WATER
COOK PASTA
LET COOL A BIT
ADD 1/2 BOTTLE OF ITALIAN DRESSING
LET COOL SOME MORE
THROW IN YOUR OLIVES
THEN FOLLOW WITH THE CHEESES, AND PEPPERONI
ADD SALT/PEPPER TO TASTE.
PUT IN FRIDGE OR LET COOL ON COUNTER.

THAT’S IT….AND EVERYONE ALWAYS RAVES ABOUT IT AND ITS ALWAYS THE FIRST TRAY TO GO….

IM GOING TO TRY THE RECIPES YOU LADIES SUGGESTED AND BREAK OUT OF MY LITTLE ITALIAN BUBBLE. LOL

-MELANIE

OMG! I’ve actually made that recipe. When I took it to work for lunch all my co-workers were jealous at the sight of its yumminess! Thanks for the reminder

I love your Mediterranean Chicken Salad recipe! It is so yummy! I think I made it three times in a week when I first found this! I can’t ever settle on a “go to” recipe because I am always trying new recipes… an affliction of mine. : ) How about this Bruschetta recipe? It always disappears at gatherings.

Bruschetta by Your Truly (Angela Cole)
3 14.5 oz. Cans Petite Diced Tomatoes, Drained (or Fresh Tomatoes if in season.)
4 TBSP Red Onion, Diced
4 Lg. Cloves Garlic, Minced (Pressed)
5 Stalks of Fresh Basil, Chopped
2 – 3 TBSP Olive Oil
1 – TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
½ tsp. Salt
2 TBSP Parsley
¼ tsp. Pepper

Mix above ingredients in large bowl. Adjust vinegar, salt, and garlic to your personal preference. Cover and refrigerate. Best after at least 4 hrs, or overnight.

Serve on top of your favorite crusty bread, sliced thin and broiled on both sides.

Fresh Basil is what makes this recipe!

Yours Truly,
Angela M. Cole

[...] cannot say enough about this recipe!  It is wonderful!  Thank you to Emily at Jones Design Company for posting it on her blog and sharing her great find!  BTW, read her blog too while you are [...]

orzo 1/2 a lb
grape tomatoes ( halved)
crumbled feta
cilantro
2 cans of black beans (drained and rinsed)
green onions ( chopped)
Newman’s Family recipe Italian dressing

I like LOTS of feta and cilantro, so I say all to your taste.