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Grace

The BEST Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup!

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Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup in a white bowl

At the time I write this, it is winter, and a large part of the mid West is suffering from extreme temperatures due to a Polar Vortex. Here in San Antonio we'll be in the 50's over the next couple of days. This is t-shirt weather compared to up North! I'm really praying that our neighbors in the mid West suffering through this weather stay safe and warm!! One soup that is guaranteed to warm you up anytime is this Spicy Broccoli and Cheddar Soup!

Cold winter days call for warming soups and stews. I've been cooking quite a few of these lately, and one of my favorites is also quite spicy, which ups the "warming" factor.

The BEST Spicy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
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Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

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Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan on a plate with a fork

I love vegetables in all forms, however roasting vegetables brings out the most amazing flavors in them and this is true especially with broccoli.

Simple Is Best

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan is simplicity at its best. This highly nutritious vegetable is simply tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper, and roasted until tender and gently browned.

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

The added parmesan cheese gives it a lovely salty flavor boost. When roasting broccoli, the sweetness of the vegetable shines through and the addition of the saltiness from the parmesan is a fantastic combo that can't be beat!

Roasted broccoli is beautiful. Serve this as a healthy and delicious side dish with your next meal.

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Oh...and I think cheese makes most anything taste better, so enjoy a liberal amount of parmesan with your broccoli!

Here is my taste tester, Toby, taste testing my Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan. 🙂

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts

Okinawan Carrots

Okinawan Carrots

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Cheers!

Grace

Roasted Broccoli With Shredded Parmesan

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Grace
Delicious on its own, or added to pasta.  Simple roasted broccoli is a delight!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish
Servings 4 people as a side dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large broccoli crown (or 2 small crowns)
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • parmesan cheese shredded or grated

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 450F
  • Cut up your broccoli into small bite sized pieces and place in a bowl
    Cut up broccoli florets on top of a yellow spoon
  • Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to your broccoli, and mix well
    broccoli florets seasoned with salt and pepper
  • Place your broccoli on a roasting pan, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Roast for approximately 10-15min.  If your broccoli is cut very small roast for 10...larger pieces roast for 15 or until tender and gently browned.  
  • Remove at the end of the roasting time, add parmesan cheese (amount to your liking), and place back in the oven for 1-2 minutes to allow the cheese to melt
    Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

Notes

Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan is simplicity at its best!  In addition to the florets, the bottom part of the crown is delicious roasted too!  
Keyword broccoli
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Ft. Worth Long Weekend Getaway

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Ft. Worth Water Gardens

One of my great joys is traveling with our dog, Toby. Toby absolutely loves car journeys and exploring...perhaps more than we do!

We recently took a trip to the Ft. Worth area over New Year's, and stayed at "The Bunkhouse," a cozy guest cottage that we found on Airbnb. A Ft. Worth long weekend getaway was absolutely delightful!

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Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings!

Delaware Chicken and Slippery Dumplings Soup

Delaware is a mid-Atlantic state that is pretty much surrounded by water. Therefore it has miles of beautiful beaches and many coastal towns to explore.  It is known as "The First State,"due to it being the first of the original 13 states to ratify the US Constitution.  

I wanted to cook a dish inspired by the state of Delaware, so did some research.

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Polish Kluski Noodles With Sauerkraut

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Polish Kluski Noodles With Sauerkraut!

Polish Kluski Noodes and Polish Kielbasa
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Recently we selected for our Sunday movie night "The Zookeeper's Wife", a film based on a non-fiction book which tells the story of Jan and Antonina Zabinski, who were the owners and keepers of the Warsaw zoo. Amazingly they helped save hundreds of Polish Jews during the WWII German occupation of Poland, and their bravery under the most dire of circumstances was truly awe inspiring.

On movie nights I'll cook a meal that has something to do with the film we are watching, so for this evening we dined on Polish Kluski Noodles with Sauerkraut, and Polish Kielbasa.

If you haven't tried Kluski noodles before, then you're in for a treat. They are delicious and fun to cook! Noodles and sausage are also generally very budget friendly, so I hope you'll give this a try!

Polish Kluski Noodes and Polish Kielbasa
Polish Kluski Noodles with Sauerkraut

I had never cooked with Kluski noodles before, so these were a revelation to me and I can't wait to try them out in a soup one day!

Sauerkraut

This dish includes sauerkraut, which is one of the 1,000 Foods to Eat listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. It is #13 on my quest to eat and/or prepare each of the foods listed in the book.

Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage, and is of course sour in taste. In Germany, it is often flavored with caraway seeds or juniper berries, and other regional varieties exist.

It has associated health benefits including probiotics and many nutrients, which in turn may help to give a boost to your immune system.

What To Serve With Polish Kluski Noodles With Sauerkraut

I recommend you serve this with some Polish Kielbasa, and a side salad for a delicious meal. Enjoy this taste of Poland!

Polish Kluski Noodles With Sauerkraut and slices of kielbasa

Another Recipe With Sauerkraut That You Will Enjoy

If you love sauerkraut, also try the New York Style Hot Dog. Laden with spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut, these are a snap to prepare and so delicious!

New York Style Hot Dog

If you'd like to follow along and be a part of the 1,000 Foods Project, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 🙂

If you have any suggestions or comments, please share them below!

Polish Kluski Noodes and Polish Kielbasa

Polish Kluski Noodles With Sauerkraut

I recommend you serve this with some Polish Kielbasa, and a side salad for a delicious meal. Enjoy this taste of Poland!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Pasta
Cuisine Polish
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz Kluski noodles (or 12 oz wide egg noodles)
  • 1 small onion diced finely
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 8 oz sauerkraut
  • 2 chilies if you want a little spice – purely optional
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoon sour cream plus additional to top with
  • 3 green onions sliced for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Melt butter in a skillet over med heat and then saute the onion and the garlic for approximately 3 minutes
  • Add the sauerkraut and ½ cup chicken broth and mix well and then bring to the boil
  • Lower the heat and simmer for around 5 minutes or so, or until the broth is mostly boiled off (leave a little broth)
  • Meanwhile, prepare the Kluski noodles according to package directions;  Once the noodles are done, add them to the sauerkraut, onion, and garlic mixture and mix well
    Kluski Noodles
  • Add salt and pepper to taste then add 3 tablespoon of sour cream to your dish and mix well
  • Garnish with chopped green onion, and more sour cream!

Notes

Garnish with green onions and top with lots more sour cream if you desire!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Thai Red Curry With Chicken

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about delicious Thai Red Curry With Chicken!

Thai red curry with chicken

I absolutely love dishes that are colorful and spicy! Thai red curry fits the bill, and is one of my favorite meals.

This recipe utilizes ready made red curry paste, so you can cook up this curry quickly and easily.

There are many types of ready made red curry pastes available, but the one I have been using is by Mae Ploy, which I pick up at my local Asian market. Just look at the ingredients of the paste:

  • Garlic
  • Dried red chili
  • Lemongrass
  • Shallot
  • Salt
  • Galangal
  • Shrimp paste
  • Kaffir lime peel
  • Pepper
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How To Make Navajo Taco with Indian Fry Bread!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about the Amazing Navajo Taco With Indian Fry Bread!

Navajo Taco
Navajo Taco

Road 66 Road Trip

Many years ago, my husband and I took a road trip that mostly included traveling on the Historic Route 66 through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  We veered off the Route to get to Grand Canyon National Park, which was absolutely awe inspiring. 

We had an outstanding meal at a restaurant close to the park, which is one of my favorite memories. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but boy do I remember the meal!  It was a Navajo Taco, and it was enormous!! 

The Navajo Taco With Indian Fry Bread

An Arizona Republic newspaper poll in 1995 voted the Navajo Taco the State Dish of Arizona. The taco ingredients sit on top of an Indian Fry Bread, which has some very sad history behind it. 

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Awesomely Delicious and Super Easy Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps!

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The popularity of Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps just keeps growing, and it is easy to see and taste why! They are so delicious, and you'll be pleased to know you can easily make restaurant style quality wraps at home!

This recipe is so tasty and very budget friendly as well. I hope you will enjoy it and make this your go to recipe for fast, easy, and awesome tasting Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps!

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How To Make Refreshing And Easy Thai Cucumber Salad!

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an easy and authentic Thai Cucumber Salad Recipe which makes a perfect side dish!

Thai cucumber salad in a white bowl the salad has cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes and green onion
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A MUST Try Recipe!

If you love food with BOLD and INCREDIBLE flavors, then you MUST make this authentic Thai salad recipe! This recipe is:

  • Delicious! Just like you would enjoy at your favorite Thai restaurants!
  • Super easy!
  • Quick - only takes 10 minutes!
  • Only requires 7 simple ingredients!
  • The perfect accompaniment to your Thai favorite main dishes!
  • Mild (not spicy) with AMAZING flavors!

Beat The Heat With This Refreshing Authentic Thai Cucumber Salad!

Thai cuisine is absolutely one of my favorites!! And one of my favorite Thai dishes is the Thai cucumber salad which is superb for summer months!

"Cool as a cucumber" is a well known phrase. It actually refers to being calm and composed rather than low in temperature. However the phrase comes from the cool traits of the cucumber! From the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: "This phrase may have originated from the fact that even in hot weather, the inside of cucumbers are approximately 20 degrees cooler than the outside air." Pretty cool!

Thai cucumber salad in a white bowl the salad has cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes and green onion

This Thai Cucumber Salad is so refreshing and will definitely help you beat the heat! It is the perfect summer side dish!

What Vegetables Are In This Cool Cucumber Salad?

Sliced red onion, sliced green onion, half of a yellow onion, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes cut in half, cucumber with skin peeled off in intervals

The vegetables in this salad include fresh cucumbers, green onions, onion, and cherry tomatoes.

Feel free to use yellow or red onion in this easy Thai cucumber salad recipe.

For visual appeal, it's super fun to peel the cucumber in stripes as pictured above. To prep the vegetables, slice the cucumber into thin slices. Then slice the onion, cut the green onion on the bias, and finally cut the cherry tomatoes into halves. Now you're ready to add the Thai Cucumber salad dressing!

What Is In The Thai Cucumber Salad Dressing?

The sauce is comprised of just 3 ingredients! They are:

Cucumber, bottles of fish sauce and rice vinegar, green onion, cherry tomatoes, red onion, yellow onion, and sugar in a glass bowl

My favorite fish sauce is the Three Crabs Brand. I am including a link to Amazon for Three Crabs Brand Fish Sauce for convenience if you would like to purchase on Amazon. Or you should be able to find this and the rice vinegar at your local grocery store or Asian market.

Instructions

It's so easy to make this authentic Thai cucumber salad recipe!

Begin by adding the 2 teaspoons of sugar, 6 teaspoons of fish sauce, and 2 tablespoons of tangy rice vinegar to a small bowl. Next, add your prepped veggies to a large bowl.

Then simply combine the sliced cucumbers and other prepped veggies and the sauce and voila! Your Thai Cucumber Salad is ready in about 10 minutes!

cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, onions, and green onions making up a thai cucumber salad

A Mild (Not Spicy) Thai Dish!

Not every Thai dish is spicy! This simple recipe for Thai Cucumber Salad has a mild flavor and is absolutely delicious! No Thai chiles are required for this recipe!

There are 5 flavors of Thai cuisine: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, and bitter. To get it just right, you try to find the right balance of flavors in the dishes, and the end result is complex and amazing. It is my understanding that you need at least 2 of these flavors in a Thai dish in order for it to taste right. In this dish you will taste a bit of sour, some sweet, and also wonderful salt!

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of cucumber should I use for this recipe?

Use regular or English cucumbers for this dish!

Can I eat this salad right away?

Yes! As soon as it's ready you can eat it. I do recommend giving it a couple of hours in the fridge for the flavors to infuse though if you have time!

How long will this Thai cucumber salad keep in the refrigerator?

This salad is best consumed within a day or two.

What can I sub for Rice Vinegar?

If you don't have rice vinegar, you could sub apple cider vinegar, seasoned rice vinegar, or white wine vinegar.

This Delicious Salad May Become One Of Your Favorite Recipes!

This authentic Thai cucumber salad may just become one of your favorites! Cool and crisp cucumbers with this fab Thai tangy dressing makes for such a great side dish!

Thai cucumber salad in a white bowl the salad has cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes and green onion

Take it to your next potluck. I can guarantee that people will ask you for your Asian cucumber salad recipe!

Other Thai Recipes You May Enjoy

You may also enjoy these recipes if you like Thai food!

Spicy Thai Chicken With Basil

Chicken With Thai Basil served with rice in a white bowl with a pair of purple chopsticks on the side

Thai Red Curry With Chicken

Thai red curry with chicken

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

If you'd like to come along on this food journey with me, please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here. 😊

Cheers!

Grace

Thai cucumber salad in a white bowl the salad has cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes and green onion

Thai Cucumber Salad

Grace
This delicious Thai cucumber salad is so easy to prepare!  If you have time, allow the flavors to infuse for a few hours in the fridge.  Enjoy!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4 people
Calories 30 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cucumber peeled in stripes (see photo) and sliced thinly
  • ¼ yellow or red onion sliced thinly
  • 1 green onion cut on the bias
  • 6 cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 2 ts white sugar
  • 2 tablespoon thai fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

Instructions
 

  • Add all prepped vegetables to a bowl.
    sliced cucumbers, onions, cherry tomatoes, and green onions in a glass bowl
  • In a separate bowl mix the sugar, fish sauce, and rice wine vinegar.
    Cucumber salad veggies in a glass bowl with a bottle of fish sauce and a bowl of Thai Cucumber salad sauce with a spoon
  • Add the sugar, fish sauce, and rice wine vinegar to the vegetables and mix well.
  • Taste! You should be able to taste a mixture of sweet (sugar), salty (fish sauce), and sour (vinegar).
    Thai Cucumber Salad

Notes

Eat immediately or better yet, allow the flavors to infuse the vegetables for a couple of hours in the fridge. My preference is letting it marinade for several hours as I think it tastes better that way.
Enjoy!!

Nutrition

Calories: 30kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 712mgPotassium: 202mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 210IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
Keyword cucumber salad, easy salad, thai cucumber salad
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Alabama Inspired Fried Green Tomatillos

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post raves about Fried Green Tomatillos!

Do you remember the film called Fried Green Tomatoes?  This film was based on a book by Fannie Flag called Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.  The setting was Whistle Stop, Alabama, and from here comes our Alabama inspired recipe...delicious fried green tomatillos!! 

Tomatillos?!?! I tried so hard to find green tomatoes at my local grocery stores but had no luck, so I figured tomatillos, which are green and look like a tomato, might be a good substitute for green tomatoes! Tomatillos are called "tomate verde" in Mexico. This means green tomato, so that's good enough for me! Alabama is known for fried green tomatoes, and you can find it at most restaurants and diners in Alabama. Hence we will give all credit to Alabama for inspiring this delicious dish.

green tomatillos and flour egg and corn meal mixtures

If you are ever in the Birmingham, Alabama area, it would be fun to stop at the Irondale Cafe in Irondale, Alabama.  The Irondale Cafe (which opened as a hot dog stand in 1928) was the inspiration for Fannie Flag's book, and was the original Whistle Stop Cafe.  Dining at the Irondale is definitely on my list of things to do if I ever visit the Birmingham area. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Y2LFllf9p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

To conclude, there's nothing like down-home Southern cooking! I hope you will find that the Mexican twist on this dish is just as good. 🙂

Some Other Dishes You May Enjoy!

North Carolina Okra Fries

Okra Fries

Utah Inspired Potato Tots - Tatchos

Tatchos Potato Tots
fried green tomatillos with garlic mayo

Alabama Inspired Fried Green Tomatillos

Grace
Enjoy these fried green tomatillos and give a nod to the great Southern State of Alabama which inspired this dish!
4.34 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 3 people

Ingredients
  

  • 3-4 green tomatillos very firm and sliced thickly
  • 2 eggs beaten lightly
  • 2 tablespoon milk
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup corn meal
  • ½ ts salt
  • ½ ts pepper
  • ½ ts cayenne
  • ½ ts garlic powder
  • 1.5 cups vegetable oil

Garlic Mayo

  • ½ cup mayo
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Make the garlic mayo by combining all ingredients and refrigerating until ready to use. 
  • Slice the tomatillos thickly and season both sides with salt and pepper.
    green tomatillos and flour egg and corn meal mixtures
  • Set up 3 different containers. One will contain the flour and spices, one the egg and milk, and the other the corn meal.
  • Add salt, pepper, cayenne and garlic powder to the flour and mix.  Lightly beat the eggs with the 2 tablespoons milk. Dredge the tomatillos in the flour mixture. Dip the tomatillo slices into the beaten eggs. Let the excess egg run off the tomatillo. Dredge the tomatillo in the corn meal.
  • Get the vegetable oil nice and hot in a heavy skillet.  Fry for 2-3 minutes each side until nice and brown, and place on paper towels to absorb the excess oil.

Notes

Serve these fried green tomatillos with lots of garlic mayo!  These can be a great addition to hamburgers as well!
Keyword Tomatillo
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