NAKANO Seasoned Rice Vinegar GIVEAWAY!

I am doing a NAKANO seasoned rice vinegar giveaway prize package over on my family blog.   I hope you will come over and enter to win.

The prize package includes a $25 visa card, a NAKANO seasoned rice vinegar and a coupon booklet with coupons and recipes.

Enter Here

Summer Pasta

Note:    Who can be hungry when it is so hot?  Apparently my guys.    I just don't know how.  This 105 heat has zapped all my energy and appetite, but they keep saying, "What's for lunch/supper?"     I put together a bunch of salads tonight and put them in the refrigerator so that I know the boys aren't starving, but so I don't have to actually cook.      My guys love pasta salad so I made this one up to put with the tuna salad and ham salad.    If you need me I'll be standing in front of the freezer!

Summer Pasta

Ingredients

2 packets italian dressing mix
1/2 c. vinegar
6 Tablespoons water
1 c. oil
16 oz. garden rotini pasta (cooked)
1 c. mozzarella cheese (shredded)



Directions

Mix dressing according to package using vinegar, water and oil. In a large bowl combine dressing, pasta, and cheese, and onion. Chill.

Cheesy Broiled Fish

Note:    I found this recipe on a blog and wrote it down.   I wish I could remember which blog I found it on so I could give them credit.     If you know where it comes from please let me know!!    My guys love fish and this is delicious and so quick.   


Cheesy Broiled Fish

Ingredients
2 pounds fresh fish (we like tilapia)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (fresh or from a Kraft jar)

1/4 cup butter,softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon salt

dash of hot sauce

Directions
Preheat oven on broil.   Place fish in a single layer on a broiler pan lined with parchment paper.  Brush lemon juice over the fish.   Broil on high for 4-6 minutes or until fish flakes easily.   While fish is cooking, combine Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, salt, and hot sauce if desired in a small bowl. When fish is done, spread cheese mixture over the tops of the fish and broil for an additional 30 seconds or until cheese is brown and bubbly.

TMTT: Fruit Tea Punch

Note:   Baby, it's HOT outside!!    It is 101 in the shade and that isn't even including the heat index.     The weathermen are eating popsicles while telling people to stay inside and drink lots of water.     We are all babying our air conditioners and running fans in every room to help keep the air moving.     This fruit tea punch just sounded sooooo good.     Why?    Because it is served really COLD!
Fruit Tea Punch

Ingredients
Pineapple Juice
Pineapple Orange Banana Juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2-3 cups of sugar
fresh pot of fresh steeped tea
2 liter ginger ale

Ingredients
While the fresh pot of tea is still pot, add the sugar and stir to completely dissolve.     Allow the tea to cool to at least room temperature.     Add the fruit juices and lemon juices.     Put in the freezer until slushy.    Put the ginger ale in the freezer at the same time so it will become slushy as well.      Open slightly before freezing so it won't explode!     When you are ready to serve mix in your serving container.    You mix 3/4 fruit juice to 1/4 ginger ale.     

It makes a lot, but won't last long on these hot August days!

Join me over at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday for more heat beating recipes.

Cucumber Dip

Note:   I can't believe summer is almost over and I haven't made cucumber dip.    I am solving that today.    Cucumber dip is one of my favorites.     So simple, so refreshing, so addicting.    
Cucumber Dip

Ingredients
3-4 cucumbers (firm not soft)
2 8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 Tbsp mayonnaise
Garlic salt, to taste

Directions
Peel your cucumbers and cut them in half.    Take a spoon and scoop out the seeds.    Take paper towels and pat down your cucumbers really well to absorb the moisture.    Don't skip this step or you will have soggy dip.     Chop your cucumbers into bite sized pieces.    Sprinkle with salt.     Place softened cream cheese in a medium bowl and sprinkle with a little salt.    Add mayo and garlic salt.   Mix until creamy.     Fold in cucumber pieces.    

Yummy served with baquettes, Wheat Thins or on bread for a sandwich.

12 Bones Blueberry Chipotle BBQ Ribs

Note:   Everyone said we had to eat at 12 Bones while we were in Asheville.   They have won all kinds of awards for their ribs... specifically their blueberry chipotle bbq ribs.     We went and gave them a try and they were as delicious as everyone said.    Good Morning America recently had a "best bites" contest and they won.    I found their recipe on the GMA website.

Blueberry Chipotle BBQ Ribs


Ingredients:
2.5 lbs. blueberries (Dole or similar quality product)
8 7oz. cans chipotle peppers
2 cups honey
2 qts. tomato bbq sauce (any brand)
1Tblsp. ginger powder

Procedure:
Puree chipotles and blueberries. Combine all ingredients and slather on ribs.   Cook!

Tomato, White Bean and Shrimp Salad

Note:   Another great restaurant in the Asheville area is the Early Girl Eatery.    This is southern food at its best.   Biscuits with tomato gravy.    Peanut butter pie.    Apple stack cake.   Grilled pimento cheese sandwiches.      This is a southern girl's food heaven!

Tomato, White Bean and Shrimp Salad

Ingredients

2 Cups White beans (cooked)
2 Large tomatoes (sliced)
15 Large shrimpv
2 Stalks celery (fined diced)
2 Carrots (fined diced)
1 Red pepper (fine diced)
2 Tbs Fresh Basil
3 Bay leaves
2 Tsp Paprika
1 Tbs Olive oil
Salt
White pepper
Mixed greens


Directions
Poach shrimp in pot of boiling water with the bay leaves and paprika. Drain and cool. In mixing bowl combine white beans, celery, carrots, red peppers, salt, white pepper and olive oil. Add shrimp and basil and finish tossing. To set up plate, put down bed of mixed greens, topped with tomato slices and white bean and shrimp mixture.