Potato Salad with Bacon, Olives, and Radishes

Ingredients

• 5 potatoes
• 1 pound bacon
• 2 stalks celery
• 4 small green onions
• 12 stuffed green olives
• 5 radishes
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

1. Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 10 minutes.
2. Slice the bacon into small pieces and cook over medium high heat in a large, deep skillet until evenly brown. Do not overcook.
3. Chop the celery, green onions, stuffed olives and radishes into small pieces and put into a large bowl. Add the potatoes and bacon and mix together. Add the mayonnaise and lemon juice to taste, stir, and place in the refrigerator for a few hours to chill before serving.  ENJOY!!!

I really enjoyed this potato salad! The crispy bacon gave the dish a nice crunch!

xoxox, Amy

Caldo de Res (beef stew)

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef shank, with bone
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 3 cups beef broth
• 4 cups water
• 2 medium carrot, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 potato, quartered
• 2 ears corn, husked and cut into thirds
• 2 chayotes, quartered
• 1 medium head cabbage, cored and cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup sliced pickled jalapenos
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 limes, cut into wedges
• 4 radishes, quartered-YES I USED RADISHES :)

Directions

1. Cut the meat from the beef bones into about 1/2 inch pieces, leaving some on the bones.
2. Heat a heavy soup pot over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the oil, tilting the pan to coat the bottom. Add the meat and bones, and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until thoroughly browned.
3. Add 1 onion, and cook until onion is also lightly browned. Stir in the tomatoes and broth. The liquid should cover the bones by 1/2 inch. If not, add enough water to compensate. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour with the lid on loosely. If meat is not tender, continue cooking for another 10 minutes or so.
4. Pour in the water, and return to a simmer. Add the carrot and 1/4 cup cilantro, and cook for 10 minutes, then stir in the potato, corn and chayote. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Push the cabbage wedges into the soup, and cook for about 10 more minutes.

Ladle soup into large bowls, including meat vegetables and bones. Garnish with jalapenos, minced onion, and additional cilantro. Squeeze lime juice over all, and serve with radishes.

This was delicious and I learned a lot about making soups as this was a very detailed and time consuming soup. But, it was all worth as my husband and I both enjoyed it with tortilla chips, mexican cheese and lime.

xoxox, Amy

Radishes.. What am I going to do with them?

These funny little red roots are quite a mystery to me. Growing up, my dad would grow them in the garden but I never really understood why people appreciated them. I would eat them in salads here and there, but never, on God's green earth, would I imagine buying them. So, when my husband decided we should grow radishes in our garden this year, I was a little worried. So, like I did with mint, I want to learn to appreciate this vegetable by trying out some new recipes. In the next few weeks, or whenever I find a little free time, I am going to try making the following dishes.

1. Radishes Simmered With Thyme
2. Radish Cucumber Salad
3. Asian Salmon Salad With Radishes
4. Potato Salad With Bacon, Olives, and Radishes
5. Mexican Ceviche

Fun Frames!

I painted these awhile back, BUT I just couldn't get them to look perfect in our dining room. Finally after some time, I was able to put them up to look just right:)

This makes my dining room look really nice! All of the colors match the colors of my dishes! Since we can't paint our apartment walls, we have to be creative in terms of decorating :)

So I got a LOT done!! :)

Finish up my co-workers scrapbook for her daughter, Lindsay. I will post pictures of some of my favorite pages I do.

Clean/organize the laundry room

BEFORE (I KNOW SO MESSY YUCK)

         

AFTER: MUCH BETTER :)

Clean/organize under the sink

BEFORE (OK THIS IS REALLY EMBARRASSING)

AFTER (Yes, i scrubbed for a long time)

Buy new stove burner thinggys (not sure what these are called?)

OLD YUCK

NEW and SHINY :)

Garden: There was so much weeding to do, but I am happy to say that everything is growing!! :)

I had a great weekend! Got a lot done, but also enjoyed doing it!!

More fun posts coming this week!!!

Amy

Wow, has this month flown by!

I am sorry I have not posted in awhile. June has been one of the busiest, craziest months ever! My husband graduated and got 2 jobs and is working 50 hours a week, his family was in town, then my family came into town, then I was out of town 2 weekends for work.... needless to say, I have not blogged, scrap booked, or done anything crafty or creative the entire month! So, this weekend I have 4 days of free time and I wanted to share with you all my to-do lists that I am excited to complete!

1. Finish up my co-workers scrapbook for her daughter, Lindsay. I will post pictures of some of my favorite pages I do.
2. Upload and develop pictures from Orlando's graduation!
3. Clean the house:
1. Clean/organize the laundry room
2. Clean/organize under the sink
3. Buy a new welcome mat for the front door
4. Buy new stove burner thinggys (not sure what these are called?)
4. Garden:
1. Buy a garden hula hoe
2. Weed the garden
3. Put miracle grow on my plants
4. Take pictures to track the progress
5. Finish my online photo books:
1. Finish my Grandma's 80th birthday photo book and submit
2. Finish my wedding photo book and submit
6. Work on children's meeting proposal to re-do the entire children's meeting area.
7. Make my husband lots of yummy food and take it to him at work as he will be working Friday Day, Friday Night, and Saturday all day! Thank you baby for working so hard for our family!
8. Take old stuff to goodwill
9. Buy a new pair of workout shoes.. (my old ones finally hit the crapper and broke)

TAKE A NAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So here is my to-do list everyone! I will try to post pictures of my progress on each "to-do"

xoxox Amy

Mint-Day 5

Tomato, Cucumber and Red Onion salad with Mint

2 large cucumbers - halved lengthwise, seeded and sliced

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 large tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped

2/3 cup coarsely chopped red onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves

3 tablespoons olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, toss together the cucumbers, vinegar, sugar and salt. Let stand at room temperature for an hour, stirring occasionally.

Add tomatoes, onion, mint and oil to cucumbers and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

This was delicious and so full of color. I will make again.

So while I am only posting 5 days of mint here, I will definitely be searching for recipes containing this herb. I love the color and delicate flavor that it added to every dish. I am definitely a fan.

Hope you enjoyed my "5 days of Mint"....

xoxoxo Amy