STUFFED AVOCADOS

 When avocados were on sale at Aldi's this week for $.39 a piece,
I bought 6.

I found this recipe on Facebook.

STUFFED AVOCADOS

2 avocados, halved and pitted, then cubed

8 cherry tomatoes, halved

2 T. red onion, finely chopped

10 black olives, halved

1/2 cucumber, diced

1/4 c. feta, crumbled

2 T. olive oil

1 t. dried dill

1 T. lemon juice

1 t. kosher salt

1/2 t. ground pepper

Combine all ingredients and refill.  Can be made in the morning and ready for dinner.



CLERGY DINNER PICTURES

Every other year at church, the Knights and Ladies Auxiliary puts on a very elegant dinner for our clergy. We spend 2 days prepping for this event.  Everything is homemade.

Here are some of the pictures from set up. 

The appetizer table was my responsibility. We served fresh shrimp, boursin cheese dip, salmon mousse, antipasto platter with pesto tortellini, goat cheese and fig spread and assorted crackers.

Our amazing floral designer at the church came up with beautiful displays.

Garnishes always tease the palate.

After the appetizers, the clergy were served prime rib, rice pilaf, roasted autumn vegetables and for dessert-vanilla cake roll filled with white chocolate mousse and flourless chocolate cake.   If anyone left hungry, it was of their own choosing.

It was a thrill to treat our clergy to such a fine dinner.



2 MEALS FROM A ROTISSERE CHICKEN

Now that the cold days are upon us, I like to make soups to throw in the freezer.

While at Sam's, I picked up a rotisserie chicken.  I deboned the chicken putting all the dark meat into 1 pile=1 1/2 c. chicken.  All the white chicken amounted to about 3 cups of meat.

Here is the plan.  I am going to make a batch of Creamy Mushroom and Chicken Wild Rice Soup with the dark meat.  I'm going to make copycat Chick Salad Chick chicken salad with the white meat.  Down here in the south, chicken salad is big.  I love their chicken salad, so I researched and found a great recipe.

CREAMY MUSHROOM CHICKEN AND WILD RICE SOUP

4 T. butter, divided

1 lb. mushrooms, sliced

1 sweet onion, diced

2 stalks of celery, diced

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 t. dried thyme

1 1/2 c. dark meat from a rotisserie chicken

8 c. chicken broth

1 c. wild rice blend, cooked in 1 1/2 c. chicken broth

1 c. whipping cream

1 1/2 c. parmesan, grated

S&P to taste.

First, I cook the wild rice in the broth.  It takes much longer than the package says, so don't be dismayed. 

Then, melt 2 T. butter in a pan over medium heat and cook the mushrooms and onions until their liquids have evaporated, about 10-15 minutes. Set aside.

Melt 2 more T. butter and cook the carrots and celery until tender, about 10 minutes.

Mix in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about one minute.

Add the broth, rice, chicken, celery, carrots and mushrooms and reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Turn the heat to low and add the 1c.whipping cream and 1 1/2 c. grated parmesan. 

*I don't add S&P because I think the Parmesan gives it enough flavor.

Makes 3 quarts.  It freezes well.  I took a batch out of the freezer and served it with a side salad. 

What a great meal!

I found this copy cat chicken salad from Chick Salad Chick-a great restaurant here in the South.  All they serve is chicken salad. The creator of this restaurant named all of her chicken salad meals after the woman in her family.

Here is the recipe:

COPYCAT CHICK SALAD CHICK CHICKEN SALAD

3 c. white chicken-from a rotisserie chicken- ground in a food processor

2 t. dry Ranch dressing mix

1/2 c. mayonnaise

2 T. celery, finely minced

3 T. sour cream(this is my addition to make it creamier)

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. white pepper

Mix it all together and let it sit overnight for maximum flavor.

*I purchase the dry Ranch dressing mix at Aldi's since it costs only .49 a packet.  It is a lot cheaper than Hidden Ranch dressing, but I think the flavor is comparable.





Because this is a basic chicken salad mixture, you can jazz it up and add mandarin oranges and sliced almonds or dried cranberries and pecans.  It can be served on bread, or on a bed of lettuce or in a scooped out fresh tomato half.

This is one of my new favorite make ahead chicken salad dishes.



HAWAIIAN THEMED BRIDAL SHOWER

This past Thanksgiving, we celebrated in the Hawaiian spirit, wearing leis, with ukuleles playing in the background.  Many female relatives gathered for a bridal shower for Hillary, my nephew Kevin's fiancée.

My sister-in-law, Deb came up with the Hawaiian theme(they will be married in Hawaii in the spring) and came up with numerous ideas.  The sisters emailed back and forth and solidified an amazing bridal shower. It is incredible that with the Internet, an awesome party can be planned. We all had certain responsibilities to complete prior to the Thanksgiving weekend. Everything from music, favors, games, food, table decorations, a family recipe book compiled of family recipes and prizes made for a nice welcome for Hillary into our family. Deb did an outstanding job of leading this activity.  The sisters and nieces joined in on the morning of the shower decorating and making food.

All were welcomed with leis and Hawaiian music. Favors were set at the table with tropical napkins and centerpieces. 

For the menu, broiled bacon wrapped pineapple appetizers were assembled.

Florentine mini quiches were baked.

Cut pineapple

Belgian chocolate seashells.

Hawaiian fried rice made with Spam(a Hawaiian staple) and mimosas(sorry, I didn't get a picture!)

French toast casserole.

Since many of us had not met Hillary, Deb created a Getting to Know You Game.

My sister Merri was in charge of leading the game activity.

The game gift was a box of office supplies.

After the game, we settled down at the table for the delicious brunch.

We then watched Hillary open her presents.  Hillary and Kevin's wedding registry consisted of meals and activities that Kevin and Hillary could enjoy on their honeymoon.  We were instructed prior to the shower to purchase one of these registry items and wrap our present accordingly.

As a family tradition, ribbons were collected and made into Hillary's rehearsal bouquet.

A Pinterest cake.

Deb created the most amazing, delicious beach themed cake.  My sister Sharon made molded white chocolate shells to adorn the cake.

Hillary with her future mother-in-law Karen.

The aunts.

The cousins.

All the attendees.

Gift table.

Here are the recipes.

Deb and Sharon.

Kevin, my nephew holding Tucker, joined us at the end of the shower.

All of us are thrilled to welcome Hillary into the family.  Best wishes and love on your upcoming wedding.  We love you guys!