Chickpea & Tuna Salad

chickpeasalad

I've been quite a fan of chickpeas (or garbanzo beans, as they're often called) since my dad accidentally brought chickpeas home rather than a can of kidney beans for the chili my mother was making back when I was just a kid. Rather than make my dad go back to the store for the correct ingredient my mom just added the chickpeas instead. Needless to say, the chickpeas were a hit and we still make that same chili recipe today. When in the truck and even at home I am always looking for good recipes that are healthy and

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The Dolly McMuffin

dollymcmuffin

Please don't tell McD's that I'm using their 'Mc' but I just couldn't help myself. Their McMuffin could never compare to Dolly's anyway. I know a lot of people eat at McDonalds. I however, try to avoid the place like the plague since their food is so over processed and I can make most of what they make in my kitchen. And, I will guarantee it tastes better and is better for everyone involved. Take their Egg McMuffin, I have been making these breakfast sandwiches in no time flat, and I would put them up against

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Truck Cooking PT3

Truck Cooking

Some days, I do things backwards. It's just who I am. I've shared a few meals that I've cooked while out trucking from the midwest to the southwest, as well as ideas, but I've never really shown you what I cook with. So, since I'm sitting here waiting for my produce to come out of the fields, and they are taking their very sweet time, I feel asleep while writing this, the produce finally came out of the field and I'm now home sweet home, but I thought I would gather my equipment and show you how I live in a truck,

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Cranberry Cake

Cranberry Cake

Happy Holidays everyone! I apologize for the quiet here--I've been swamped. I'm not a fruit person. Really, I won't touch the stuff unless Hubs forces me to eat it. In all honesty, I'd rather eat a raw potato than pick up an orange and peel it. And it's not that I dislike it, but it doesn't turn me on for sure. Unless that is, we are talking about cranberries. I love them. I dream of them and I hoard them... Maybe some of you are like me, in that you keep 5 pounds of fresh organic Wisconsin cranberries frozen

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Roast Chicken

roast chicken

I love providing good food for my Hubs, and anyone else who shows up at our place. I love to grow and eat every kind of vegetable (that is willing to grow in Southwestern Minnesota) under the sun. And, I also like to make from scratch everything I possibly can, if it means it will taste better, be better for us or most importantly I don't have to go into a grocery store! On one condition. It had better be easy, because in reality I'm lazy. There I said it. After a whirlwind weekend of partying nearly until the sun

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Parmesan & Herb Crackers

Wheat Crackers

One thing that really bothers me when buying store bought products is finding sugar (and the 10 other ingredients) that don't need to be in said product. I know some people will say it's added for flavor, but I disagree. As for the 10 other ingredients, I say it's because we are eating inferior crap and they have to make it taste good while lasting on the shelf for way too long. I could also go on about the fact that crackers are so cheap to make, why not make your own? Whatever your reasons, here is an easy

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The Best Squash Soup Ever

Squash Soup

I grew a TON of squash this year. I love squash baked with butter, salt and pepper or cubed up in different meals, however I do not enjoy most squash soups out there. For me and my taste buds, a meal that is meant to nourish, should be savory only. Since squash soups tends to ride a fine line on sweetness, verses savory I have never fallen in love... until now. The weather in Minnesota has grown cold and since I have all that squash to use up I decided that it was going to be a soup day yesterday. I finally

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No Knead Bread

Ready to Bake Bread

So I've been on a bread kick. I've actually been on this kick since midsummer and will be honest in that I was a little embarrassed to admit that I was knocking out homemade bread in 90 to 100 degree weather. Go ahead, call me crazy! Sometimes though, you just have to go with what you feel, and when I found this recipe via The New Your Times and it worked beautifully and most importantly it fit into MY schedule, all I can say is that I was hooked! Instantly. If you love homemade bread- real homemade

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Honey Lip Balm

Lip Balm

Some days, like today I feel as if I need to really take care of myself. I even prep for trips on the road a little differently, even more meticulously, making sure to have special things with me on the way. This especially happens in the late fall, when I know that winter is a stones throw away. Since it was a cold and rainy week I decided that I would make a small batch of lip balm. I wanted something special, that I made, not something I just went out and bought. This soothing lip balm combines my Calendula oil

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Panna Cotta

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Since the summer was so dang hot this year my cooking mojo was a bit on the iffy side. Of coarse I still whipped up meals like every other day I'm home, but I wasn't loving it like I have been the last couple of weeks. I'm happy to say it's back in FULL swing. The weather is cooling and I've been canning like a crazy woman and my mind has been on  what to bake, cook or can next, depending on the day. This past weekend I thought I would put on a nice Sunday meal to enjoy with Hubs and luckily we even got my

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