Eggplant Parmesan

Summer is winding down, and we are all making the final harvests from our gardens.  Here is a quick and delicious recipe for eggplant, if you were brave enough to plant any, let alone eat it.  The typical response when I mention eggplant is an not a positive one, but unless you've tried it, please don't judge.  And if you didn't grow any eggplant this year, pick one up at the local farmer's market or farm stand, and give this recipe a try. 

Salad Dressing

In an effort to be more aware of the food that we eat, I have started making salad dressings instead of buying them at the store.  This way I have total control over the ingredients that I use, and I can avoid all of the nasty additives, including but not limited to MSG, preservatives, and my personal favorite high fructose corn syrup.  If you haven't looked at the ingredients list on your favorite dressing, take a gander, I'll bet you'll be surprised at how many you don't recognize.  Take the time to make you're own salad dressings... they are healthier for you, and the flavor is amazing!  Here are two new ones, Parmesan Peppercorn, and Buttermilk Ranch, and don't forget about my basic vinaigrette (click here for link).

Cabbage Salad

With our  beef brisket meal (click for link) last weekend, we also had a simple cabbage salad.  This recipe is quick and easy, and a good way to use fresh produce from the local farmer's market... cabbage, peppers, and carrots.  Make extra because this salad can be frozen and enjoyed again another day.

Beef Brisket

Here is a delicious recipe for beef brisket shared with me by my dear friend Shallin and her family.  Growing up on a beef farm, I never had brisket before, so I thought I had better try it.  This is a tougher piece of meat, so it needs to be cooked low and slow to tenderize it, and the homemade BBQ sauce adds incredible flavor.  This recipe isn't hard at all (and you can try out some of the homemade dry onion soup mix), but it takes some time so plan ahead.  Serve with some of Pioneer Woman's Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes (click for link), and this meal goes over the top.  Definitely one of my favorites!

Dry Onion Soup Mix

How many of your favorite recipes call for onion soup mix?  And how many of your would rather have a mix free of all of the additives and preservatives that are in the handy dandy packets?  Here is a recipe that I have found works great, and it is simply a mix of dried spices and some sugar.  I did adapt the recipe slightly from the original though... it called for beef bouillon, and if we use that we're right back to square one with the nasties in our food.  Instead of adding the dried bouillon to the mix, I simply add beef broth to my recipes in place of the water.