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Warm Italian Panini Sandwich
August is National Sandwich Month! And August 11th is National Panini Day! Do you make paninis at home? It’s easy even if you don’t have a panini press! A classic Italian sub sandwich normally features a mixture of cured meats, such as salami, pepperoni or ham, and provolone cheese on an Italian-style roll. Onions, tomatoes, and crispy lettuce topped with copious amounts of Italian dressing are also standard. This version is similar, except it is on a super soft artisanal white bread without the dressing. It is also served warm. If you don’t have a dedicated Panini press at home – no problem. You can achieve similar results with a…
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Creamy Instant Pot® Rice Pudding
Today, August 9th is National Rice Pudding Day I remember having this dessert first when I was in kindergarten. It was usually part of our lunch and was mass-produced. LOL It was not my favorite thing — I was 5! Finally, as a teen, I was given a new version — one made in a home. Hmmm — it was quite tasty! So, it moved up my list of things I like to eat! This Creamy Instant Pot Rice Pudding recipe makes a really creamy version without much effort on your part! This creamy, custard-like rice pudding is so delicious and easy to make, it just might become your new…
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Watermelon Feta Salad with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
Happy National Watermelon Day! I grew up eating watermelon at my grandmother’s house during the summer. My family would buy one a couple of times a week — there were quite a few of us plowing through the watermelon. My cousins and I would spit the seeds out like machine gun bullets — this was before the rise in the seedless watermelon. Yes, I used t be good at spitting out seeds and making it entertaining. Now if I find a seed in my seedless watermelon, it’s horrible. I have gotten spoiled in my old age. But seedless watermelon does have its benefits. Like in this recipe Watermelon with Feta…
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Protect Your Eyes and Eyesight
August is Eye Exam Month and Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. This post will focus more on adult eye care. I plan to tweet about children’s eye health. On to the topic! Our eyes may be small, but they are mighty. They have an incredibly important job and we depend on our eyes far more than we probably realize. They don’t just give us the visual picture of what’s in front of us. They help us sense danger, bring vivid colors to our memories and they are instrumental how we respond to any given circumstance or situation. Have you ever cried watching a breathtakingly emotional scene in a movie? …
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Kid-Friendly Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches
I can’t believe it is already August! In keeping with all of the ice-cream specific days during the summer, today is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. It’s amazing how many wonderful ways there are to enjoy ice cream! Today’s tribute to this day is a Kid-friendly recipe for Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches. This quick and easy “semi-homemade” recipe is perfect for younger children who like to help out in the kitchen. For best results, use square or rectangle waffles* (vs. round) for this recipe (and plenty of sprinkles for decorating!) This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, as needed. You can make your own waffles to use in this…
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Greek Yogurt Berry Cheesecake Parfaits
It’s National Cheesecake Day! Today I am sharing THREE cheesecake recipes one in this post and 2 in the next post. Different flavors and different types. You should have enough choices to start your National Cheesecake Day celebration. This lead-off recipe — Greek Yogurt Berry Cheesecake Parfaits — is a no-cook cheesecake version. Perfect for the hot summer months. No oven necessary and filled with fresh fruit! Yum! It’s also very easy to pull together for a family dessert! Note: There are nuts in this recipe (in the crust). If you don’t like nuts, you can substitute a different crust recipe in the parfait.
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5-Cheese Meaty Lasagna
For the Lasagna lovers out there, today — July 29th — is National Lasagna Day! Lasagna is such a crowd-pleaser meal. It is hearty and feeds a crowd. And surprisingly, it’s not the hardest thing to make. So today, I present a recipe for a meaty, cheese version of the classic lasagna. And as a bonus, I have included a recipe for a meat sauce that you can use in this recipe. It’s a two-fer! 5-Cheese Meaty Lasagna To save time, prepare the meat sauce ahead of time or use your favorite store-bought sauce instead. Fortunately, the meat sauce recipe referred to below can be made in large batches that…
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Broiled Crème Brûlée
I love Crème Brûlée. I like the crunch and the cool smoothness that comes after that. This is just another food that I didn’t care for as a kid but absolutely love now. I was much thinner then too… hmmm LOL Today is National Crème Brûlée Day. Today’s recipe is a litte different in that there’s different way to make that crunchy carmelized top! An Alternative to the Kitchen Torch Normally, a small propane kitchen torch is used to create the coveted caramelized sugar topping that makes crème brûlée so popular. The broiling method described here is a nice alternative for those who either don’t have access to a kitchen…
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Classic Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing
The 4th week of July is National Salad Week. And ironically, July 4th is National Caesar Salad Day. Almost the last thing that is typically eaten on July 4th, right? As an adventurous (foolish) teen, I would eat Caesar Salad — although I was supposed to avoid the classic version — Fish allergy here. I was playing with fire… I did become older and wiser! But I still like the taste of the salad. So I am sharing a recipe for the classic version — anchovy paste and all. Enjoy!
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No-Churn Chocolate Toffee Ice Cream
Today, July 19th is National Ice Cream Day. It’s celebrated on the third Sunday in July. July is also National Ice Cream Month. Unlike many foods that I post about, ice cream is one thing that I loved as a kid and still love now. I remember both grandmothers making ice cream — typically vanilla — in those old fashioned ice cream makers. First, they would make the ice cream mix over the stove. I always asked for different flavors, which was met with frowns and reminders that I could just not eat what was being made… I usually shut up. Then, they would pour it into the machine and…
