holiday bean salad
Posted: December 25, 2017 Filed under: salads, sides | Tags: celery, green beans, green onions, italian salad dressing mix, lettuce cups, lima beans, pimiento Leave a comment
Flanked by turkey and stuffing this bean salad brightened my Christmas Day plate!
I’m not sure “beans” come top of mind when thinking of the holidays but when the word “holiday” is in the name, we had to make this salad for Christmas Day feasting.
But before we dive into this hearty dish, let’s chat a little more about beans. Whether it’s bean dip, refried beans, chili with beans, baked beans, pork and beans, or pinto beans — I think we can all agree that beans are a part of everyday living.
My Dad loved the movie Blazing Saddles and let’s look at a slice from the movie that has direct ties to beans and making music, so to speak. I can still hear my Dad laughing!
Distinct parts of my family have a fondness for, shall we call it, “bathroom humor!” I can remember shortly after my college graduation scoring this amazing Santa who has more skills than a (breaking) wind symphony!
foodie tip
❤ While we were in a scurry preparing the holiday festivities we forgot to enjoy this salad from lettuce cups. Doh! The note below says to decorate the tops of the salad with tiny star-shaped pimientos. Save yourself some frustration and use some tiny cookie cutters to do the work for you!
i. ingredients
1 package | italian salad dressing mix
4 packages | whole or cut green beans, frozen
2 packages | ford hook lima beans
2 | green onions, thinly sliced
¼ cup | celery, thinly sliced
¼ cup | pimiento strips
to serve | lettuce cups
ii. what to do
1. Prepare the Italian salad dressing and set it aside to marry.
2. Cook the green beans and the limas according to package directions. When both types of beans are done, cool, drain, and set them aside.
3. In a large bowl add the beans, limas, onions, celery, pimiento strips and 1 cup of the prepared salad dressing. Gently toss everything together then chill 2 – 3 hours in the fridge, occasionally turning in the dressing to help things marinate.
4. You can serve the bean salad solo but the original recipe (below) calls for the bean salad to be served in lettuce cups with cutout stars of pimiento.
Yields 10-12 servings. Time to dig in!
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
PS ~ Enjoy these vintage classics below!
A Scan Of Mom’s Holiday Bean Salad Recipe PLUS A Few Extra Recipes From Santa To You!
picadillo
Posted: April 3, 2014 Filed under: appetizers, casseroles and one-dish meals, meats poultry and fish | Tags: almonds, doritos, garlic, ground round, jalapeño, mushrooms, oregano, pimiento, raisins, sherry, taco shells, tomato sauce, tomatoes, tortilla chips, tortillas, tostitos scoops, water chestnuts Leave a comment
Picadillo Is My Pillow
In March 2014 my awesome Cousin Julie gifted me the recipe for this ole time family favorite.
What a great gift! I remember Mom talking about “picadillo” but the recipe wasn’t in her cookbook. Luckily, it was in her sister Delores’ cookbook that Julie has in her care!
Totally flexible, this Cuban-inspired dish made its way to San Antonio kitchens before the days of the internet … and into my heart 4ever. A foodie’s BFF.
Foodie Tips ~
♥ The original recipe scan below makes mountains of this delicious stuff. My Cousin Julie said the portions were large because her Mom, “Delores,” would often serve this dish at parties. I divided the recipe down, down, dowwwwwn into 6ths below. And yet after Joe and I ate it all, we wanted more.
♥ Cousin Julie was very specific – unless you don’t mind soggy almonds, sprinkle the almonds on top just before serving; or set them aside in a serving bowl with a spoon.
♥ Cousin Julie also said this picadillo freezes well. Sweet! If you freeze or refrigerate it overnight, add more dry sherry when reheating. It’s the honest thing to do.
♥ You can serve picadillo many ways – on top of scrambled eggs, breakfast tacos, nacho chips or inside tacos. This stuff is so good I even ate some with a shovel-spoon or two… :)
i. ingredients
to marinate:
1 pound | ground round
⅓ cup | dry sherry
1 teaspoon | salt
⅓ teaspoon | pepper
3 | japaleños, chopped
the mixture:
1 clove | garlic, chopped
splash | oil
4.8 ounces | canned tomatoes
⅔ cup | tomato sauce
2 tablespoons | pimiento
to taste | raisins
⅓ teaspoon | oregano
½ cup | water chestnuts, sliced
⅔ cup | canned mushrooms, sliced
when serving:
flour or corn tortillas
doritos
taco shells
tostitos brand scoops
⅓ cup | salted almonds, diced
ii. what to do
1. In a medium-sized pan over medium heat, bring the first 5 ingredients (see “marinate”) to a happy sauté.
2. Add “the mixture” ingredients (the 9 ingredients) above and simmer, covered, about 1 hour. Stir occasionally.
3. Uncover and stir until “mushy.”
4. Serve with your preferred foodie accents and style (above). And smile. :)
Delicious!
turkey stove top
Posted: November 22, 2013 Filed under: casseroles and one-dish meals, sides | Tags: asparagus, cream of celery soup, parsley, pimiento, rice, turkey, worcestershire sauce Leave a comment
Easy As 1, 2, Turkey
Green, white and red make this colorful all-in-one dish a hearty way to satisfy your meat, veggie and carb craving in every bite.
Did somebody say carbs? ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
foodie tip ~
♥ Turkey stove top will make great use of Thanksgiving turkey leftovers (sliced or cubed).
i. ingredients
10 ounces | frozen cut asparagus tips and pieces
1 can | campbell’s cream of celery soup
1 ⅓ cups | water
1 ½ cups | diced cooked turkey
½ teaspoon | salt
¼ teaspoon | worcestershire sauce
dash | fresh cracked pepper
1 ⅓ cups | minute rice
3 tablespoons | pimiento, diced
to garnish | parsley
ii. what to do
1. Prepare asparagus according to package directions. Now drain.
2. In a large saucepan combine the asparagus, soup, water, turkey, salt, worcestershire sauce and pepper.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in rice, cover and simmer or 10 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
4. Stir in pimiento and garnish with parsley.
Yields: 4 servings
sweet and sour slaw
Posted: July 7, 2013 Filed under: sides | Tags: bean sprouts, cabbage, lemon juice, mayonnaise, onion, pimiento, pineapple juice, water chestnuts Leave a comment
‘Twas 1976
I was just a tot of 9 when this recipe was published.
Not that I remember or should remember, but I’ve developed a sixth sense affectionately termed “internet stalking.” Rather than use my acquired skills for ill will, I use my skills for the betterment of nostalgic foodie-ism. Which brings me to this recipe.
I really had no reason to turn over the “sweet and sour slaw” recipe (see the two-sided scan below) Mom had apparently torn from a magazine. But “curious me” did turn it over!
Reading the recipe’s back revealed an authors name “James Farrell.” And his book, “The Dunne Family.” In two clicks I found the book’s publish year of 1976, our nation’s bicentennial. Keying in a few words from the article – specifically “james farrell 1976 it was late afternoon when we picked up our boat in Newton Falls” and I was taken to this. A scan of the article which revealed it was from the May 2, 1976 issue of FAMILY WEEKLY.
I then found this black and white of the original cover that was from Florida (I think each city just printed their name on the front). Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert was on the cover with her two Moms. Melissa was a kid-time favorite of mine – bonnet and all. <– Shakes head, but true!
This recipe was a great find! It’s a kissing-cousin of cole slaw and the dressing is what makes it truly unique. Pineapple and lemon juice are the key dressing ingredients that make this crunchy salad a reacquired family favorite.
Hopefully this story reminds us all that sometimes things are greater than their initial face value. Turning over a stone here and there can be a good thing. In this case, I discovered another publication my Mom read when I was too young to take notice … plus I was able to reignite fond memories of a childhood friend … in just a few clicks.
foodie tips ~
♥ Unless you’re feeding a small village or love cabbage, I’d suggest easily “halving” this recipe! There were easily 15-25 servings based on the original recipe. I was eating slaw for days! The hips do not lie.
♥ This stored extremely well in the fridge. I think the flavors were able to buddy-up and become BFFs. At least that’s what my taste buds say.
♥ Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients vs. canned – in this case use fresh bean sprouts as I’ve never seen fresh water chestnuts.
i. ingredients
2 ½ pounds | cabbage, shredded
2 cans (16 ounces) | bean sprouts, drained
2 cans (8.5 ounces) | water chestnuts, drained and thinly sliced
1 ½ cups | mayonnaise
6 tablespoons | lemon juice
⅔ cups | unsweetened pineapple juice
2 teaspoons | salt
1 ½ cups | onion, finely chopped
2 cans (4 ounces) | pimiento, drained and diced
ii. what to do
1. In a large bowl mix cabbage, sprouts and chestnuts. Cover and chill in the fridge.
2. Combine mayo, pineapple juice, lemon juice, salt and onion.
3. Pour dressing over the chilled veggies and toss until well coated.
4. Stir in the pimientos and serve!
Yields: 4 Quarts. QUARTS!
souper chicken casserole
Posted: January 16, 2012 Filed under: casseroles and one-dish meals, meats poultry and fish | Tags: bread crumbs, chicken, cream of celery soup, egg noodles, lima beans, milk, pimiento Leave a comment
Sustenance.
The 70s taught us all how to eat efficiently while having fun in the process. While the fare wasn’t “Cooking with Clara,” 1970s food was more about function than today’s fanciful foodie forms.
But practical dishes like “Souper Chicken Casserole” didn’t stop mom from putting TLC into everything she made.
I think you’ll find this a tasty dish that will not disappoint the tummy.
i. ingredients
1 can | cream of celery soup
1/2 cup | milk
1 can | swanson’s boned chicken or turkey
2 cups | cooked and drained noodles
1 cup | cooked and drained, lima beans
2 tablespoons | diced pimientos
¼ cup | buttered bread crumbs
ii. what to do
0. Preheat oven to 375°F.
1. In 1-1/2 quart casserole, blend soup with milk; fold in chicken (or turkey), noodles, lima beans, pimientos. Top with bread crumbs.
2. Bake about 25 minutes at 375°F.
3. How easy is this?
Serves 4. Or 2 “Me”s.
Enjoy!
Foodie Tips ~
♥ Love extra chicken, limas or bread crumbs? We do, too!
♥ Buttered bread crumbs? Or you can use Italian-seasoned crumbs from a can (they are “molto bene”).
♥ You might want to keep the defibrillators handy when shopping for the Swanson’s canned chicken. Ours cost $4/can from Kroger and we doubled the recipe. So next time we’ll be cooking our own chicken!
cold avocado soup
Posted: May 14, 2011 Filed under: soups | Tags: avocado, cayenne pepper, chicken stock, chives, egg white, green bell pepper, leek, madrilene, pimiento, sour cream, tomato 2 Comments
A Desperado For Avocado
This recipe held first position in the soups section of mom’s index card file, so undoubtedly it was a favorite. This was the first of mom’s recipes that I made, since I can’t locate the calabacita recipe just yet.
I don’t remember eating any avocados as a child. And despite my mom’s great culinary skills, I remember one night when a pairing of split pea soup and liver arrived in front of me at dinner, which almost ruined my love of green-colored foods (I’ve never liked liver). Hah! Regardless, now in my 40s, I’m a huge fan of avocados, so let’s eat up some avocado soup!
Wait! You didn’t think I’d jump right into the recipe makings without sharing my favorite avocado-inspired commercial with you. Whelp – here you go!
Foodie Tip ~
♥ I couldn’t find “madrilène” – canned or otherwise… even online – so I’m including extra info below for a recipe I found for making the consommé from scratch.
Overall, the avocado soup recipe would be much faster to make if canned madrilène was available. I’ll keep my eyes out for it and post an update here, if I ever find it. I wrote to Pepperidge Farm and they wrote me back saying they no longer made madrilène but I’m including a picture of it (below) that I found online.
i. soup ingredients
1 ½ | avocados
1 pint (2 cups) | sour cream
1 | chicken bouillon cube
10 ounces | water
1 can | madrilène (a tomato-flavored consommé. see recipe below)
to taste | cayenne pepper
to taste | salt
ii. what to do
1. Put all ingredients in a blender and blend, until smooth. That’s it! Well, almost…
2. Since you may have trouble finding madrilène, below are the tidbits for how to make it.
madrilène ingredients
6 | large tomatoes, peeled*, cored and diced
2 | green bell peppers, cored, seeded and quartered
1 | leek, trimmed and cut into chunks
4 | egg whites, lightly beaten
8 cups | chicken stock
to taste | salt & pepper
1 | small bunch chives, chopped
2 oz | pimiento, chopped
Foodie Tip ~
♥ For an easy way to remove the tomato peel, boil the tomatoes in water one-at-a-time for 1 minute. Remove tomato and plunge it in a cold water bath. Cut the tomato in ½ and you should be able to easily remove the peel. A presto!
madrilène : what to dos
1. In a large saucepan, add ⅔ of the tomatoes and the green peppers, leek and egg whites. Mix well.
2. Add chicken stock and season to taste with salt & pepper.
3. Place pan over medium-low heat and slowly bring to a boil, 5-10 minutes.
4. Strain the mixture through a sieve or strainer lined with cheesecloth or a linen towel.
5. Discard vegetables and refrigerate consomme until serving time.
6. Just before serving, mix the remaining ⅓ of the diced tomatoes with the chives and pimiento. You now have a garnish for the soup!
* To enjoy the consomme as “full-on” consommé ~ Place 1 or 2 tablespoons of the tomato mixture in the bottom of each soup bowl. Pour chilled consommé over the pimiento mixture and serve at once. The consommé Madrilène should be thick and syrupy, but not “set.”
** To use part of the consommé in Betty’s Avocado Soup recipe (above) ~ Add 1 ½ cups of the consommé into the blender along with a dash of diced tomatoes, chives and pimiento and blend away. You can garnish with more of the tomato mixture (shown above).
Buon appetito!
Betty’s Son
Founder and “Nostalgic Food Blogger” of Betty’s Cook Nook
A scan of Mom’s original recipe card – typeset with an old typewriter (circa 1950).
Betty's Cook Nook 