Weekend Round Up

Some of the week's best

 

This is my top rated recipe pick for the week 

Balsamic Grilled Cherry, Blueberry, Goat Cheese, and Candied Walnuts Salad. The recipe was adapted from twopeasandtheirpod.com 

It's festive perfect for your 4th of July celebration with red, white and blue and the sweet and savory flavors that work amazingly well together.  

Cook's notes: The cherries were pitted, tossed in a prepared dressing Newman's Own Lite Balsamic Dressing or another similar dressing and place on a grill pan. They were grilled until they were juicy and slightly charred about 5 minutes.  A good quality balsamic vinegar or black cherry balsamic can be substituted for the prepared dressing using  1 tablespoon. The cherries can also be roasted in oven at 400 degrees for 8 minutes on a rimmed pan lined with parchment paper. Be sure to place grilled cherries on a paper towel (they are juicy) before adding to salad. The recipe serves 4 .

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cherries, pitted and halved or substitute frozen pitted dark cherries
• 2 TB. Newman's Own Lite Balsamic Dressing or 1 TB. of a good quality balsamic vinegar or black cherry balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 cup prepackaged candied  walnuts or pecans
• 8-10 cups mixed salad greens
• 1 cup red onion, diced
• 1 pint blueberries, rinsed and patted dry on a paper towel
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
• Additional Newman's Own Lite Balsamic Dressing or a similar prepared dressing to finish off the salad or make own own balsamic dressing

Directions:

• Preheat grill to medium heat. Place cherries in a medium bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of balsamic dressing and toss well. Place cherries on a grill pan and grill until tender, about 5 minutes. Use a spatula to turn occasionally while cooking.
• In a large bowl, add greens, grilled cherries, blueberries, goat cheese, red onion and candied walnuts. Drizzle with additional balsamic dressing and serve immediately.

Banana Split Bites

Cook's notes: I was super excited to find this easy summer treat on a stick from ourfamilyofseven.com. Everything tastes better on a stick, right? Even kids can get in on the fun and make their own. Since the fruit is chilled, this treat is both tasty and refreshing. Perfect for hot summer days.

Ingredients:

• 3 bananas
• 1/4 lb cored pineapple
• 6 strawberries
• 1 cup melted dipping chocolate
• 1/3 cup chopped peanuts
• 12 Popsicle sticks (or skewers)

Directions:

• Cut strawberries in half.
• For each strawberry half, cut an equal size piece of banana and pineapple.
• Place pineapple on first, then banana and lastly strawberry.
• Line a tray with wax paper or parchment paper.
• Place skewered fruit on tray and freeze for 10 minutes.
• Put chopped nuts in small plate to use for dipping.
• Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and melt chocolate by heating in microwave for 30 seconds, stirring and repeating until melted and smooth.
• Dip cold fruit in chocolate, then into nuts, and place back on tray. Chill in refrigerator until serving.

Strawberry Banana-Mango Lava Flow

Check out this link for other Spring Smoothies
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/happy-smoothies#.mx2q2rP35
and last but certainly not least 120 Fourth of July recipes
http://www.browneyedbaker.com/fourth-of-july-recipes/
includes:7 drink recipes, 36 appetizers and snacks, 16 sides and over 60 desserts

What a round-up bonanza!

Watermelon Peach Slushies