Sorry, Grandma – This Is My New Favorite Now

When it comes to summer picnic salads I would have to say that potato is my favorite. Now, my husband, on the other hand, is quite smitten by macaroni salad. When we host a picnic I try to make both. Typically, my potato salad is made using a traditional or classic recipe. You know the one! It usually contains hard-boiled eggs, celery, mustard, and mayo. Am I forgetting something? Oh, yes! And potatoes! LOL Anyway, this recipe is for Creole potato salad and it sure is good!

If you take a look at the ingredient list, there really aren’t too many differences between this potato salad recipe and a classic recipe. However, the flavor is completely different and so much better than any I’ve ever tried! This is a salad that is not just good for picnics – I intend to serve this for Thanksgiving and pretty much any family gathering we end up going to.

If you like your tater salad with a bit of a kick then consider making this recipe. You can also use your favorite, regular mustard for this, and then just add some Creole seasoning (instead of using Creole mustard). Enjoy!

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Quick Tip: This salad is a great way to use up those leftover potatoes!

Have you ever found that one recipe you love so much, you just cannot get enough of? It is just something you cannot imagine living without, you make almost every day (or maybe just make a huge batch over the weekend to last all week!) and then you have it at every meal? I mean, sometimes you realize you are going a little over the top and think maybe you should stop making it every single day, but after thinking about it a little more you think “nahhh, it’s just too good to pass up!”

Yeah, that is how I feel about this recipe. My neighbor Anne called me over a couple of months ago to help her prepare all the side dishes for her family BBQ the next day. She was having family from all over the country flying in and staying in her house and she wanted to have all the food prepared and ready to go so she could spend quality time with them as they arrived – and also not have such a mess all around her kitchen as she was feeding her family. She wanted everything to be grab and go for everyone, and I totally get it!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Yellowbliss Road.

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Quick Tip: Add hard boiled eggs if you’d like.

I absolutely love cooking from my heritage. I am a second generation Cuban. My mom was born here in the states from Cuban parents and my dad was born in Cuba. Both families left at the time Castro took control of the country and they were beginning to lose everything from their homes to all their freedom. They barely had food and all their money was being taken away from them. I hear all the stories and I hurt for my family. One day they just said goodbye to everyone they knew and came to the states and have been here ever since (50 plus years!).

Well, even after many years here, they are still proud of who they are. We love our Cuban heritage and hurt for those still in bondage there. One thing we do to remind ourselves of where we came from is cook our delicious Cuban food. One of my favorite dishes that my grandma makes excellently and my mom makes even better is Picadillo. It is basically ground beef in a tomato sauce, but does not taste like pasta sauce. It is so well seasoned it has a totally different flavor that regular ol’ ground beef recipes.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Laylita’s Recipes.

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Quick Tip: Sprinkle a bit of hot sauce over it if you like some heat.

Festive Flavors And Lean Ingredients Make This A Superb Dinner!

I have to be completely honest with you. I really love meat; whether it’s pork, beef or chicken, if it’s cooked to perfection it is something that makes my mouth water.

I do enjoy vegetables as well, and I always try to include them on every meal. This dish combines both and that’s why it is one of my favorite meals ever! The ingredients are rather simple and very lean, so you can enjoy your dinner without having to worry about your calorie intake!

I have a tip for all of you who like to keep an eye on how much you spend on food. These days when a bag of groceries seems to get more and more expensive all the time, it’s good to pay attention to when and what you’re buying. The root vegetables in this dish are great for the winter season; that’s when they are most inexpensive and they stay fresh for a long time. I also like to buy a large batch of meat whenever it’s on sale, then I divide and freeze it for later use.

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Quick Tip: Cooking times may vary, depending on the size of the brisket piece. Keep an eye on it and keep checking between 4 and 6 hours.

On a rainy summer afternoon, I wasn’t feeling up to spending so much time in the kitchen crafting a recipe to delight on such a gloomy day.  Instead, I was craving a hearty soup filled with comforting flavors of summer to make that gloomy day bright again.  And this soup absolutely did that.  It did not disappoint.

My husband and I enjoyed this soup on a lovely evening in and then had left overs for the next day.  This soup serves approximately 4-6 people.  After that, I divided it into portions and froze it and it was still just as delicious when I thawed it out and enjoyed it a few days later!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Sophia Inza.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO THE NEXT PAGE FOR A LIST OF INGREDIENTS.

Quick Tip: Add unsalted chicken stock to keep the salt factor in your hands throughout.