A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That…

What a fun and crazy day. Spent the day at the mall with the kids to get some last minute school clothes, met the new teacher tonight and went to see Mama Mia with some ladies. I love how it was 99% women in the theatre! As it should have been, the music and dancing would have driven my husband and probably most other husbands’ nuts !

There are some people who truly have a knack for writing and I found someone named Susan who wrote an article on Gather.com all about Picky Palate. I was so surprised and touched that this person, who I do not know, would write such wonderful things about my recipes. Susan, if you happen to read this, I want you to know that I really appreciate the time you took to write such a beautiful article about me and Picky Palate. If I’m ever having a bad day, I’ll just read your article and get cheered right up. Thank you, really.

This is kind of a hodge podge post, but some really tasty recipes that needed to get posted. Hope you’ll find some inspiration to cook something tasty and healthy!

Pancetta Sauteed Haricot Vert with Cherry Tomatoes and Feta

½ lb washed and trimmed Haricot Vert
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 thin slices pancetta, diced
Salt and Pepper
1 ½ Cups Cherry tomatoes
¼ Cup Feta Cheese

1. Heat olive oil into a large sauté pan. When hot, add pancetta; cook and stir until browned. Add haricot vert, pinch of salt and pepper, and cherry tomatoes. Cook for 3-5 minutes or until beans are crisp tender. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with Feta Cheese.

This cucumber salad is soooo good. It’s cool, refreshing, healthy and completely tasty!

Fresh Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad

2 medium cucumbers, cut in half and sliced
5 oz container of greek plain yogurt
¼ Cup sour cream
¼ Cup fresh dill weed finely chopped
Pinch of salt, pepper and garlic salt
Squeeze of lemon juice

1. Place cucumbers into a large bowl. Combine yogurt, sour cream, dill, salt, pepper, garlic salt and lemon juice into a bowl until combined. Pour over cucumbers and stir to coat. Serve or refrigerate until serving.

Ahhh, can one ever go wrong with potato cakes? Especially parmesan crusted smoked cheddar ones! Use up those left over mashed potatoes in a very good way!

Parmesan Crusted Smoked Cheddar Potato Cakes

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 Cups cooked mashed potatoes, firm and cold
1 Cup smoked cheddar cheese, Tillamook preferred
¾ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
¼ Cup flour

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir together the mashed potatoes and smoked cheddar then scoop about ¼ Cup mashed potatoes and form into equal size small patties. Combine parmesan cheese and flour into a shallow dish and press potato patties into mixture. In batches, place patties into hot skillet and cook for 2-4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate. Serve warm with ranch dressing if desired.

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Thanks to Angela from Creative Homemakers for the Brilliante Weblog award!! She has an awesome site, do check it out. And to Aggie’s Kitchen for a music meme, I’ll have to think about that one, how do you pick just 5 songs!!?

Coming up next is a very special cookie recipe you won’t want to miss! Have a great weekend!

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30 Responses
  1. Satisfying my Sweet Tooth

    You honestly have such good recipes all the time! We have about 100 cucumbers growing in our garden and none of us even like them all that much. But, since we have dill too, I’m going to try out that salad. Looks so good!

  2. hot garlic

    I love haricots verts, those look so, SO good. The potatoes look and sound delish too. My mouth is watering!

    The article was great, how flattering! And congrats on the award.

  3. Karyn

    Thanks for your comment on my blog. I really like reading yours. You have some fabulous recipes! Thanks so much for sharing with all of us.

  4. Peko Peko

    Hello, I just happened upon your site. Nice!

    Those parmesan crusted smoked cheddar potato cakes sound and look wonderful. I just love the name. I am getting hungry for some.

    KyotoFoodieのPeko

  5. The Harris Family Daily Chat

    Jen, I made a cucumber salad this week as well.
    Cucumbers
    Red Onion
    Salt
    Pepper
    Dill
    White Balsamic Vinegar
    Feta

    YUM!

  6. Emiline

    I can’t tell you how much I love potato cakes! I really can’t resist them.

    Congrats on the write up.

    School seems to be starting earlier and earlier every year, doesn’t it? Have a good day!

  7. Prudy

    That’s all I’d want for dinner. Skip the meat and just give me the gorgeous veggies and stack them high on those potato cakes!

  8. Lore

    The cucumber salad it’s just like the Greek tzatziki without mincing the cucumber. I believe tzatziki is the most refreshing sauce out there! And with souvlaki and gyros it’s incredibly delicious…*DROOL* 😀
    Love the potato cakes and you’re right: there’s no way someone could ever go wrong with serving them as kids and adults adore them!

  9. The Curtis Family

    Jenny – are you a reader? I just finished a book you must read if you haven't already:
    Garlic & Sapphires by Ruth Reichl (I think that's how you spell it).

    She was the restaurant critic for the New York Times for several years, and I think she's currently Editor in Chief at Gourmet mag. Her descriptions are mouthwatering.

    I thought about you and my foodie sister the whole time I was reading it. Your cucumber dill salad reminded me of one of the chapters you'd totally relate to.

    Anyway, just thought I'd throw out that recommendation and say hi. Did you happen to see that Mason and Fisher are in the same class this year? Too bad homemade treats are verboten :).

    Katie

  10. Aggie

    What a great article Jenny!

    Love everything on your hodge podge post…but especially that cucumber salad. It just looks so good and refreshing.

    Sounds like you had a busy day! Enjoy your weekend!

  11. Birdie

    I just bought some of the beans from our Sam’s, haven’t made them yet but this looks like a good start!

  12. Jenny

    Thanks for the comment Mary Ann!

    Ryan, Jilly, Spencer,
    I should have mentioned that in my post. I found the greek yogurt at Walmart by the other yogurt’s and the brand is Oikos. If you can’t find it you can substitute normal plain yogurt. Enjoy!

    Thanks so much Patsy!
    I look forward to seeing what’s cooking in your kitchen as well!

    Thanks for visiting Sara!

    Hi Deborah,
    Don’t you love the crazy cravings? You’ll have plenty more too! Hope you are feeling well!

  13. Deborah

    I don’t mind a hodge podge post, because all of the recipes look amazing! Especially those potatoes, and I’ve been craving potatoes!!

  14. Sara

    Oh my…these veggie dishes look great. I love your blog, and look forward to checking it every day.

  15. Patsyk

    Jenny – EVERY time I come to see what you’ve made I have even MORE recipes to star in my google reader! I want to make each one from this post!

    That article is really wonderful, and completely true! You know I’ve been visiting for quite awhile now and I’m always looking forward to what new recipes you’ve created!

  16. Ryan, Jilly, Spencer

    Ok, maybe I’m an idiot, but what is greek yogurt, and where can I get it? If I can’t find it, what can I substitute instead?

  17. Jenny

    Hi Emaline,
    Yes, way to late tonight! Hope you enjoy those crazy treats!

    Thanks Barbara,
    I think the same about yours!

    Rita,
    You are way too nice! I’m a huge sucker for potato cakes, especially with ranch dressing!

    Thanks Shelby,
    Yah, the potatoes are hard not to love.

    I’m so jealous Kuckie!
    I want a garden so badly! Enjoy!

    I need to get to the Farmer’s market too, hope you enjoy Sarah!

    Sorry Kristie,
    It was way too late last night when I was posting. I just edited the recipe for the potato cakes. Yes, the smoked cheddar gets stirred into the cold mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

    Hi Lori,
    I think it’s great that your hubby would enjoy Mama Mia! It is so much fun to watch. I bet your kids look so cute in their new school clothes!

  18. RecipeGirl

    We school shopped yesterday too 🙂 I think I’m the only Mom around here who makes his son wear a collared shirt to school. Oh well, he loved helping to pick out his clothes.

    My hubby is one of those rare ones who would enjoy Mama Mia.

    All of your food looks so bright and wonderful. I never think to use up mashed potatoes in such a creative way!

  19. Kristie

    Maybe I’m not understanding the potatoe cakes recipe … can you tell me where the cheddar cheese goes? I assume mixed with the potatoes??
    Thanks!

  20. Sarah

    I am hoping to pick up some cucumbers at the farmers market this weekend and now that I have a new found love for greek yogurt, that salad looks like it will be in my belly sometime this weekend! 🙂

  21. Kuckie

    Ooooo, I’m so excited for these recipes! I just picked 10 quarts of green beans out of my garden, as well as cherry tomatoes and cucumbers! Perfect recipes for today, Jenny! Thanks!

  22. Clumbsy Cookie

    That’s what I say, you’re really becoming famous! Beautiful recipes as usual but those potato cakes oh my oh my! I LOVE the way they look, I want to make them as soon as I can!

  23. Emaline

    Jenny you must be a late night blogger too! My little elf (the hub) and I are making your rice crispy treat recipe for our family reunion! I can’t wait to see how they turn out! Your rice crispy brownies look sooooo good too!

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