Strawberry Bread

I have always been a huge fan of strawberries. I am so happy that summer is here and strawberries are widely available. This recipe for strawberry bread ironically uses frozen strawberries which is wonderful because it means you can enjoy the fabulous fruit year-round!!!

From JustCookAlready

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, beaten

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 10-oz. packages frozen strawberries, thawed, with the juice (reserve 1/2 cup for topping)

DIRECTIONS:

Mix oil, sugar and eggs. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and strawberries with juice. Mix well until thoroughly blended. Pour into 2 loaf pans, greased and sugared or lined with wax paper. Bake for 335 degrees for 1 hour. (Check at 50 minutes for doneness.) Serve warm or cold slices topped with butter and reserved berries. Sinfully delightful.

Homemade Whipped Cream

Ah, whipped cream. That magical concoction that adds an element of heaven to almost any already delicious dessert. Fresh fruit, cakes, pies, ice cream, cookies, hot cocoa, milkshakes...the possibilities are endless. Since I typically strive for healthy options, I prefer my whipped cream with fruit (mangoes pictured here). 

Also, do you know how easy it is to make your own whipped cream? You just need to be a little patient holding your electric beaters. (If you have a stand mixer, there is really no excuse.) I don't think I'll ever buy Cool Whip again. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever purchased Cool Whip, but you get what I'm saying, right? 

From AllRecipes.com

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon confectioner's sugar (granulated sugar works great too)

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks are just about to form. Add vanilla and sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to overbeat as cream will then become lumpy.

Serve with anything sweet, or dip your finger in and lick right off your finger.

Grilled Nectarine Summer Salad

When summer comes around, there is a lot of talk about grilling. I love it. There's nothing like a fresh meal that has been cooked outside in the open air. BUT...grills are for boys. BIG tools, BIG fire, and BIG slabs of meat. So, my feminine touch on grilling ironically involves a very masculine man...George Foreman. The George Foreman grill is perfect for small bites. Easy clean up. And you can use it year-round. This recipe, of course, can also be done outside--a great option if you're already heating up that fire-breathing bad boy.

INGREDIENTS:

(for the dressing--adapted from organicauthority.com):

1 nectarine, peeled and pitted

3 Tablespoons olive oil

3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 Tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (slightly less if you have a mild palette)

(for the salad):

6-10 oz. fresh greens (spinach, spring mix, or butter lettuce would all work well)

1-2 oz. fresh goat cheese (or fresh feta cheese)

2 firm, but ripe, nectarines, pitted

1-2 Tablespoons pine nuts (can also substitute almonds or pistachios)

DIRECTIONS:

Make the dressing. Blend all dressing ingredients together in a blender or food processor. Pour into a serving dish, cover, and let chill in refrigerator.

Prepare the salad ingredients. Slice each nectarine into 8 pieces. On a well-oiled grill (or George Foreman ;) ), place the nectarine slices. Let cook for about 2 minutes and flip, using tongs. Cook about one more minute. Set aside on a plate and let cool. 

Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add pine nuts. Let sit for a minute and stir around. Once toasted, remove pine nuts from heat and let cool.

Once pine nuts and nectarines are cool, mix all ingredients together and let the summer sizzling begin!

SERVING SUGGESTION:

For a more filling alternative, serve with sliced grilled chicken or blackened chicken on top.