Wednesday, Salad and bean recipe!

     We spent the last couple of days in Mc Call with daughter and grandsons.  It took us about 2.5 hours to drive there and we immediately went to the hotel, which was very nice, with an indoor pool for the kids and a great hot tub for the grandma!

     Daughter had secured ice bumper cars for us at the local ice rink. Hubs and I being from the warmer desert part of the state showed up in Mc Call in short sleeves, and sandals.  It is much higher there and we actually live below sea level.  SO now we are in a colder climate in an ice rink which has to be kept refrigerated.  We had a blast on the bumper cars but it was cold.

     Then daughter had rented skates for the family.  The 3 year old was not having it and Hubs and I although we skated a lot when we were younger, declined.  Hubs due to his balance issues , me due to fear of injury with my arthritis.  If I break or damage something, then I have to go off my meds and that is always a disaster.  Drat aging it takes some of the fun out of life.  So daughter and eldest skated while we walked the 3 year old around town,

     In the small towns in Idaho that have a highway running through them, they cannot afford to put a stop light at every intersection so they opt for flags.  Bright orange or lime colored flags are attached to every corner.  You pull out a flag and carry it in front of you to stop traffic. The flag is then replaced on the other side.  This is redneck traffic control at its best and works very well.  Out of staters think it is weird, but it is a cheap fix. and well enforced. Our grandson loved picking out a flag and getting across the street.

     I had the family go to a couple of second hand stores with me and let me tell you these resort towns have the best stuff.  All very high end.  But alas I needed nothing so we just looked.  I did find a penny at an arcade on main street so that was a plus.

     Tuesday afternoon we left daughter to her conference and then we brought the boys home.  So far so good with the youngest who has never been away from his mom or dad.  But he has big brother and that always helps.

     I came home and harvested two huge heads of lettuce from the garden and it is all washed and packed in the fridge.

     Here are a couple of our stand buy recipes for summer and well for any time.  Inexpensive, filling, lots of fiber.

Bean hot dish

1lb ground beef
1 onion
3 cans pork and beans
several other cans of any style beans.  We love garbanzo, kidney, navy, butter, and black.
salt/pepper

Brown onion in oil
add beef and brown until done
add beans and stir
salt and pepper to taste.

You can also add bacon and more beef.  This can be made larger by adding more of everything.  My kids called this bean goulash and ate it with salad and ww bread.

You can also take a 1/2 cup of different dried beans and soak over night.  I always get my canned beans when there is a good sale. >50 or less a can, I stock up.  I also keep large quantities of dried beans in storage. But I always use canned pork and beans for the flavor.

Broccoli/bacon salad

broccoli
bacon
 red onion
sunflower seeds
raisins
mayo
vinegar
sugar
salt/pepper

Chop broccoli into small pieces, you will have a lot of just fiber, it is okay.  Chop 1/2 a red onion fine.  You can also use any onions, I just like the color.

fry up several slices of bacon until crisp, cut into small pieces.

add 1/2 a cup of sunflower seeds and 1/2 cup raisins

add 1/4 cup vinegar,1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup mayo

Mix all together and salt and pepper to taste.

To make this low carb add sweet and low instead of sugar and you can omit raisins.

This salad can be made very large by adding more quantities to taste.  Also craisins can be added instead of raisins.

Broccoli slaw
  This salad is not super inexpensive unless you watch the sales

Winco has a 32 oz. bag of broccoli slaw for $2.99 it goes on sale sometimes.  But $1.50 a pound for the work being done is a good deal.

32 oz bag of broccoli slaw
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
sunflower seeds
slaw dressing  equal parts sugar and vinegar, 1/2 cup mayo

ranch dressing I make my own or use bottled, 1/2 cup
salt and pepper

chop all peppers into 1/4 inch cubes add to broccoli mix add 1/2 cup sunflower seeds and  toss with dressings.  salt/pepper to taste.

All three of these dishes can be made larger or smaller.  They are great for feeding a large crowd.

The last broccoli slaw is the most expensive coming out at about 8 dollars for a large bowl.  But for a family gathering or a dish to bring not a bad price.

I always pick up sunflowers seeds, raisin, craisins and mayo when they are on sale. Seeds have a short shelf life so store in refrigerator or freezer and use within a month.  Mayo can be put in the fridge as it approaches it shelf life and has not been opened. I have two jars of mayo in the downstairs fridge right now that are about to expire.  We eat a lot of salads in the summer so I do not worry about it getting used.
 
So if you have any gatherings try one of these. Let me know if you like them or you have an adaption that is yummy.

I need to go a dress the baby.  Actually not a baby but he is their baby.

I was changing his pants at a rest stop yesterday and he was spelling out all the letters on the child seats.  U S E Use, T H E S E these in his little voice.  He could name all the letters, and pronounce the smaller words.  I told him any one who is three and starting to read should be potty trained. He is his mother's son.  She was reading  full books at 4.  Such a strange child.  Also not potty trained until late 3's.  She did not want to be bothered.

Have a great and productive day staying positive while you are in the negative.

Kim