Author: RefreshHer

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Olive Garden’s Salad at Home

RefreshHer8 Comments

Feeling like Italian for dinner tonight but don’t have the funds to make it out to Olive Garden? Too bad, especially because their salad is so delicious. Oh, but wait! I have found a copycat recipe that is “just as good!” (said my husband)! Now you can stay at home and enjoy that endless salad from the comfort of your own kitchen table!wpid-wp-1437854443311

I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone who hated Olive Garden’s Salad. If you’re that one person, I’m so sorry. What’s not to love? It has

  • Crispy Lettuce
  • Crunchy, garlic croutons
  • Black olives
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Italian Dressing!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I decided on tossed salad for our recent Apples of Gold class, I decided I’d go with making the copycat recipe for Olive Garden’s dressing. I found it where I find all good things…Pinterest! First, here’s how to  put the salad together

Olive Garden Salad

Ingredients

1 (12-ounce) bag Dole American Blend Salad
4 or 5 slices red onion (about 1/2 onion)
4 to 6 pitted black olives
2 to 4 pepperoncini (if you like sweet pepper, use banana peppers)
1/2 cup croutons
1 small tomato, quartered
Freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese (optional)
Copy Cat Olive Garden Salad Dressing (recipe to follow)
Instructions

Chill your salad bowl in the freezer for at least 30 minutes. Empty the bag of salad into the bowl. Top the salad with the onion, olives, pepperoncini, croutons, and tomatoes, and croutons. Add some freshly grated cheese, if you like. Add dressing and serve immediately.

Olive Garden Salad Dressing (from Dessert Now Dinner Later)
Yield: 1½ cups dressing

Ingredients

1 packet Good Seasonings Italian Dressing Mix – I used the Wishbone because it was on sale, tasted great.
¾ cup oil (vegetable/canola)
¼ cup plus 2 Tbsp white vinegar
¼ cup water
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
¼ tsp garlic powder
½ Tbsp mayonnaise (not miracle whip)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Whisk briskly so that there are no clumps of mayo. Keep refrigerated.

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So here’s for staying home for an Italian dinner tonight!!!!!!

What’s been cooking in your kitchen this week?

With love from my country kitchen,

organization

The Easiest Way to Tidy a Drawer

RefreshHer11 Comments

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I have a confession. I have the hardest time keeping drawers neat and tidy! I mentioned it here in the “Meet Denise” section of my home page. It’s true and very sad. But I have recently found a simple solution for the drawers that have things made of fabric in them! I have to share this simple solution with you!

I have one drawer in my kitchen that is designated for kitchen linens – towels and dish cloths. However, the drawer I reserved for those linens isn’t very deep and when I folded them as I was accustomed to doing, I had trouble making room for them all without the drawer getting jammed! Do you ever deal with that? The towels wad up and then the drawer won’t open and you have to fish your hand up in there to retrieve the fabric that got hung. Grrr. I know I could have saved one of the deep drawers for that, but there are certain kitchen utensils that will only fit in those deep spaces.

Then one day when I was trying to come up with a solution, I remembered a picture I had seen for packing lots of clothes in a suitcase. They recommended rolling up your clothes. That doesn’t appeal to me when I’m traveling, because of wrinkles, but that would work just fine with towels! Sooooo, I started rolling up each one and when I was finished I had easily fit in fourteen towels, seven dish cloths and one extra drying mat!

wpid-wp-1437685523249Problem solved! The drawer now stays nice and tidy!!! I love it. I may even just walk in the kitchen and open the drawer and stare at its beauty!

This will also work in a drawer of underclothes, tee shirts or athletic clothing. You’ll have room for everything AND it will stay neat!

Perhaps I can now change that one fact about myself in my bio! I may have just made a life change! =)

Anyone else have a difficult time keeping drawers tidy? If so, try this and let me know how it works for you!

Stay refreshed,

grilling

A Peek from My Porch – What I’ve Been Up to this Week

RefreshHer5 Comments

Here’s a look at my week:

What I’m growing…
wpid-wp-1437508732852 - CopyWe have 7 cantaloupe growing in our raised beds! I’m so excited and am praying they keep growing until they’re ready to eat!

What I’m crafting…

wpid-wp-1437508898443 - CopyI got the green basket for $5 when we were on vacation in May and tucked it away, waiting until after the July 4th wreath was taken down to hang it. I purchased flowers when they were 50% off at Hobby Lobby and put the arrangement inside. I should have shut the inside door so you could see it better, but trust me, the coral door really makes the green pop!

What we celebrated…

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National Ice Cream Day was Sunday! We came home after church and dished up Vanilla Bean and topped it with fresh fruit and a cinnamon Crisp. It was so refreshing! I’m all for celebrating ice cream every day. Wish I could! It’s my favorite dessert!

What I’m grilling…wpid-wp-1437508742292

Among other things, we grilled my recipe for Herb and Cheese Stuffed Burgers; they’re my favorite hamburger recipe! I also cut a couple sweet potatoes into fries and roasted them in the oven with salt and a little brown sugar.

What made me smile and cry all at the same time…

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Hearing my son-in-law share about his call to the ministry. He was in the sixth grade and was at junior camp at The Wilds when he knew God wanted him to be a preacher. He never questioned God’s call on his life and began from that day on to prepare to serve the Lord full-time. As I sat and listened to him share that Sunday night, I thought about all the times I had prayed for my girls’ mates as they were growing up. God has answered that prayer and given them both godly men who love the Lord. My heart is full.

You moms of young ones, pray, pray, pray for the one your child will marry! Pray for their salvation, for their purity, for their protection and their submission to God’s will. There’s nothing better than seeing your children walking in Truth, is there?!

How’s your week been? Anyone else celebrate National Ice Cream Day? Whose gardens are growing and giving good things? Tell me all about it!

With love from my country porch,

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Brunch in the Country

RefreshHer2 Comments
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I enjoy setting the tables differently each week. I used vintage half aprons on the backs of the chairs. They made a pretty slipcover and added a touch of whimsy.

I’ve shared here about Apples of Gold, a mentoring ministry that revolves around the Scriptures and cooking instruction. The Lord has opened the opportunity to begin our second group of young women. (Happy Cheer!!!) We have had two lessons so far, and it’s been such a blessing. My heart is always so full when they’re here! It’s the joy of seeing this longtime dream and vision come true. Proverbs 13:19 says, Desire accomplished is sweet to the soul. How true that is!

At our first session we had a brunch menu. I taught them to:

  • make their own frozen hash browns
  • make a quiche
  • Make an egg casserole
  • Bake English muffins
  • Bake Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-ups

So much to cover, but we got it all in! Then the last hour we got to indulge and eat it! Here was the menu:

 Breakfast Sausage Casserole
Bacon and Cheddar Grits Quiche
Hash Browns
English Muffins
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-ups
Orange Julius

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Breakfast Sausage Casserole (from Cooking Light)

Ingredients

Cooking spray
1 (16-ounce) package frozen turkey sausage, thawed (such as Louis Rich)
8 (1 1/2-ounce) slices sourdough bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
2/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided
1 cup egg substitute
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed 30% reduced-sodium, 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

Preparation

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage to pan; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring well to crumble.

Arrange bread in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top evenly with cooked turkey sausage and cheddar cheese. Combine 2 1/2 cups milk, egg substitute, and Dijon mustard, stirring with a whisk. Pour over bread mixture in dish. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Uncover casserole. Combine remaining 1/2 cup milk and cream of mushroom soup, stirring with a whisk. Pour over bread mixture. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

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This quiche is OUTSTANDING! The cheddar grits crust substitutes the normal pastry crust and is soooo good! The egg mixture is light and fluffy – a perfect start to a great day!!!!

Bacon and Cheddar Grits Quiche –
From Southern Living

Ingredients

6 thick bacon slices
2 1/4 cups milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup uncooked stone-ground grits
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided
6 large eggs
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sliced green onions

Preparation –

My Notes:  I did steps 1-3 a day in advance. This simplified the process greatly!

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon; drain and crumble. Transfer 2 tsp. bacon drippings to a saucepan.

2. Bring drippings, milk, and butter to a boil over medium heat. Gradually whisk in grits, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper; cook, whisking constantly, 15 minutes or until very thick. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1 cup cheese; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in 1 egg; spread in a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray.

3. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until set and browned. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese over warm grits, spreading to edges. Let stand 15 minutes.

4. Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Combine half-and-half, cream, onions, and remaining 5 eggs, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Pour over grits; sprinkle with crumbled bacon. Place pan on a foil-lined baking sheet.

5. Bake at 325° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until lightly browned and just set. Let stand 20 minutes. Run a sharp knife around edges of quiche; remove sides of pan.

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These Cinnamon Cream cheese roll-ups served as a little appetizer when the ladies arrived. They’d make a great dessert, appetizer or snack! They are inexpensive, easy and a great treat!
 
Cinnamon Cream Cheese Roll-ups

Ingredients
  • 1 loaf of thin, white bread
  • ⅔ bar of cream cheese (8 oz. bar), softened
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ cups sugar
  • 1 TB cinnamon
  • ½ cup butter, melted
Instructions
  1. Cut off the crust of the bread.
  2. With a rolling pin, flatten bread.
  3. In a small bowl combine cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended.
  4. In a separate bowl combine sugar and cinnamon – set aside.
  5. Spread 1 – 1½ tablespoons of cream cheese mixture onto each flattened bread piece and roll up.
  6. Dip each rolled bread into melted butter and then into the cinnamon and sugar mix.
  7. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
  8. Repeat for remaining pieces of bread.
  9. Bake at 350 for 16-20 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm.

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This was not a low-calorie meal, but it was a mixture of things to introduce the ladies to different kinds of recipes, different cooking techniques, and prepping ahead. Brunch can be a fun meal to prepare, and then you won’t need lunch, so that makes the splurge a little less guilt ridden!

I hope you’ll try some of these recipes. It’ll start your day of with a happy tummy!

With love from my country kitchen,