Do you have that go to recipe that you seem to always have the ingredients on hand for? Well, for me that is greek style salad. That is why I am naming it Graddick Greek Salad because the Graddick household is always prepared to whip this up! Staples in our pantry and fridge almost always include the ingredients needed for this salad, including the dressing. I use this dressing for other salads too and the easiest part is, I never follow exacts. I just kind of throw stuff in a bowl and mix it up and BAM salad dressing for our salad. 9 times out of 10 at our house, we are using some type of homemade dressing and for the most part it is just some type of olive oil and vinegar blend. No worries though, I measured this recipe out for you so you don't have to go around guessing. 

As for the salad, just do what you like. If you don't like certain ingredients listed, leave them out. If you want to add something not listed, add it. I usually just go with what I have on hand. This recipe would be awesome with chicken or even some quinoa mixed it. Keep reading and do yourself a favor, grab the ingredients to make this ASAP, it is so, so good!

GRADDICK GREEK SALAD

( no exact measurements here, just use however much of each item you want)

-About 2 handfuls of spring mix {{per person}}

- red onion (diced)

- artichoke hearts ( I don't like the sliminess of the marinated ones. I buy just the plain ones in water)

-cucumber (diced)

-mixed cherry tomatoes

-chickpeas/garbanzo beans (rinsed) {{ for two people I use about half the can}}

-capers (with juiced drained off)

-kalamata olives

-peppadew peppers

-feta cheese, lots of feta cheese

(I would have put pepperocinis on here but I was out)

Mix desired amount of toppings with the spring mix and top with Dijon-Greek dressing. Serve with grilled shrimp or chicken. 

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DIJON GREEK DRESSING

-1 tsp dried Basil

-1 tsp dried Oregano

- 1 tsp Garlic Powder

-1/2 tsp Onion Powder

-1/2 tsp salt

-few cracks of fresh cracked pepper

-juice of half a lemon

-1 TBLSP Dijon Mustard

-1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

-1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Combine all items in glass jar. Vigorously mix with a fork. (or shake if you have a lidded container)

This saves well in the refrigerator.  

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GRILLED DILL-LEMON SHRIMP

-Raw large shrimp,  peeled (I get about 5-6 shrimp per person)

-1/4 cup filled with half Extra Virgin Olive Oil and half Red Wine Vinegar

-1/2 tsp dried Dill (I sometimes use more because I really love dill)

-1/2 tsp Flavor God Lemon Garlic Seasoning ( you could probably just use garlic powder here if you don't have the seasoning mentioned)

-juice of 1/2 a lemon

- pinch of salt

Combine all items in bowl. Be sure to coat shrimp well with marinade. Allow to sit and marinate for atleast 15 minutes or more. 

Place shrimp on skewers

Grill until desired doneness

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Graddick Greek Salad served with Dijon Greek Dressing and Grilled Lemon-Dill Shrimp

ENJOY!

Do you have a recipe you would like for me to share? Comment below and let me know!

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Tomato Topping

Did you know that cilantro taste like soap to some people? It has everything to do with your genes. If you have no clue what I am talking about, here is an article to explain it: Cilantro Taste like Soap for some . Luckily for me, my parents did NOT give me that gene. I LOVE cilantro,like eat it off the plant, just for the taste kind of love. This is a recipe for Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Topping. These things can be made completely separate and used, but I think I like the combo of the two. The Avocado mixture would be really good on some fresh fish I think. In fact, I have done something similar with some Cobia my dad caught and gave me.


 

 

CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN

-Chicken breast or chicken tenders ( 1 breast per person or 3 tenders per person, unless you have a really hungry husband, friend, child)

-l garlic clove (smashed and then cut up into small pieces)

-handful of cilantro leaves (roughly chopped)

-juice from one lime

-drizzle of olive oil

-sprinkle of FlavorGod taco seasoning or if you don't have this just use a sprinkle of cumin 

-pinch of salt

Combine all items in bag or bowl. Marinate for atleast 15 minutes. You could definitely marinate overnight if you have the time.

Grill or cook in pan on stove top until done.

 

AVOCADO-TOMATO TOPPING

-handful of cilantro (roughly chopped)

-1/2 red onion (diced)

-juice of 1/2 a lime

- 1 avocado (halved-then diced)

- 1 clove of garlic ( chopped finely)

- 1 vine ripe tomato or about 8-10 grape tomatoes halved or quartered

-drizzle of olive oil

-splash of red wine vinegar

-salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients together. Add in avocado last to keep from mashing it too much. Serve on top of chicken from recipe above.

There you have it. Healthy, fresh dinner! Seriously this chicken marinade is so good. 

Happy Hump Day! I hope the rest of y'alls week is filled with many blessings. Thanks for stopping by! I hope to most another recipe sometime this week!

Weekend Roundup

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend. This weekend was pretty relaxed for us. We didn't have anything we had to do so, it was nice to just relax and do whatever. Here are a few scenes from my weekend.


 On Friday after work I stopped by my favorite beer store to pick up a few craft beers. I had been on a white wine kick for a few weeks but, I was ready for some good craft brews! Being that it was the weekend, I wanted something good and "springy" so , I picked up a few things. Barbara had the horses saddled up when I got home. I went and played with them for a little while and they may or may not have wanted to drink some of my beer.

 

Early Saturday morning, Thomas and I headed to Soda City on Main Street Columbia. We haven't had a chance to go lately and the nice weather had me itching to spend some time outside. I grabbed up some empanadas (to DIE for, do yourself a favor and go on a saturday just to get these!) and a juice from Gin's Juice. I love that they make the juice fresh when you order it and they are mobile!

  

I love seeing all the dogs at Soda City and our girl Darcy loves eating all the popcorn people have dropped on the ground from the kettle corn people!

 

  

 The best deal at Soda City is from Livingston Farms. They have boxes and you can fill them up with the produce they have for only $10. I meant to take a picture but totally forget. We filled our box with mushrooms, brussels sprouts, okra, beets, onions,  zucchini, squash, kale and sweet potatoes. I normally like to get some tomatoes from them but, I had just bought a bunch a few days before. I also like to pick up micro greens from City Roots while we are there. They are better priced than the two grocery stores locally I know that sell them. I also picked up some organic basil and as soon as I got home I whipped up some fresh pesto.

I used the fresh pesto, microgreens and the tomatoes I had from earlier in the week to make up a BMTP (Bacon, Microgreen, Tomatoe,Pesto)  sandwich for lunch that day.  When it is nice out I could eat a sandwich like this everyday...if only it was as good without the toasty bread. 

 

This little cutie and her mama stopped by later in the day on Saturday. She had a cute little smocked top on, but she was playing in the dirt, so we took it off of her and she looked like a true little Southern country girl. She plopped down in the leaves and her mama made me come take her picture. She was loving the sunshine and the dirt, definitely loving the dirt.

 Caprese Salad topped with fresh pesto.

 On Sunday we had planned to go to church, but Thomas was feeling pretty sick. I spent the day around the house washing clothes and making some food for this week. I had this almond pound cake mix so, I decided to whip it up. I topped a piece with some fresh strawberries and DANG it was good.

 I spent the day going between washing clothes and making a bunch of things in the kitchen. I made quinoa, chimichurri ( the world's best condiment coming at a close tie with tzatziki sauce)- recipe coming soon , bruschetta, homemade salsa ( my husband eats salsa EVERY single day), kale with lemon tahini dressing and pickled cucumber and onions. I plan to use these things to help make dinner making this week a bit more simple.

 

My favorite Beer guy at SAMS liquor, in Lexington, recommended this Gose to me after they didn't have the one I was looking for.  Gose style beer is not for everyone but, I really like it. It has a sour taste yet this one is balanced out well with the cactus and grapefruit. It is a good play on a summer spritzer I think!

 

I cook A LOT and often I am critical of my food but sometimes I will make a dinner that leaves me going DANGGGG, that was good. This was one of those. I love earthy tasting foods. My husband said this meal was a perfect combo of some of our favorite "earthy toned foods." I made grassfed burgers, seasoned with Flavor God's zesty italian seasoning and a little bit of burger dust from a place in Hendersonville, NC.  We topped our burgers with sauteed mushrooms, feta cheese, homemade pesto mayo, microgreens and some pickled cucumbers and onions. Served the burger with a the lemon tahini kale I had prepared earlier in the day with some quinoa and sundried tomatoes mixed in. I also made okra "fries". I plan to make these again later in the week and will post a very easy recipe for you lovelies!

 

I hope y'all have a wonderful week. Try not to let Monday get the best of you. I will leave you with this little encouragement that I posted on my Instagram this morning. 

 

Friday Favorites

It is FINALLY Friday. I have been looking forward to the weekend since.. oh you know, LAST WEEKEND. We finally have a weekend without a mile long to do list, aside from desperately needing to wash a million clothes. I am so sad the weather looks like it is going to be a drab, but we will make do.

For Friday Favorites, I want to share a few of my favorite things. This will be either things I am currently loving or currently lusting ( and they won't all be food related)  For today, these are all tested and approved by me. So let's get started shall we?

 This is hands down my favorite candle. I am embarrassed to say I have about 6 of things around my tiny little house. These are made by the company DW HOME. You can buy this brand in their online store but you can also get lucky and find them at TJ Maxx and Home Goods. The Sandalwood Myrrh is my absolute favorite scent but Warm Tobacco Pipe comes in at a close favorite.

 

If you have ever browsed Instagram you have probably seen this company pop up. I would always pass by, but one day, I decided to read into what it was really about.  Here is a little info about this One man operation, yes you read that right. 

"My goal is to keep seasonings chemical and filler free, keeping low salt levels, and always staying true to the herbs and spices that I use. Sacrificing nutritional value has never been an option. The health of people and the foods we eat on a daily basis is what truly matters to me.

Shortly after I created these seasonings, I began selling them at local farmers markets. My seasonings are crafted with care and shipped to countries all over the world. I’m not a huge corporation. I’m one man with a dream and the support of the best team I could ever ask for. Our dream is to provide creative recipes and healthy seasonings everyone will always enjoy."

Let me be the one to tell you, these spices are AMAZING! I highly recommend checking them out. 

 I may or may not have a foundation addiction. At any given moment I have atleast 5 in rotation. My old faithful is ALWAYS this. It is just enough coverage and feels like you're just wearing a face cream. I am pale and so I appreciate the added benefit of the spf coverage in this. Right now, QVC ( who would have ever thought after all those years of giggling about my grandma and her QVC, I too would be shopping there) has a special on the deluxe size of this.

Oh La Croix ! I think a dream of mine would be an endless supply of these babies! The Cerise Limon flavor is my favorite, but grapefruit and Pomme Baya are close behind! I just saw where they released a new tangerine flavor and I am dying to get my hands on that one! LaCroix Sparkling Water is carbonated water which is sodium free and contains only natural flavors. These are awesome with a little vodka too..you know for a healthy summer cocktail and all!

I think we all need a little encouragement, each and every day. I am currently working on myself and really trying to only allow the things that bring me joy into my life. I think this quote rings so true. Often, I find myself looking at how things happened before that I lose sight of what could be ahead.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am planning on hitting up Soda City in the morning and possibly checking out some of the Soda City Suds week shenanigans going on. Oh, and at some point I will definitely be drowning in dirty laundry that needs to be done.  Blessings you beautiful people.

Dijon Parsley Salmon

I worked in the same restaurant for almost 9 years. We had a salmon dish on the menu that was hands down my favorite thing we had. It was different from the recipe I am about to share but, it did have dijon on it. My husband and I eat alot of chicken and red meat so having salmon is always a treat. Time and time again, I always go back to creating this recipe with little modifications here and there. 

{{ Dijon Parsley Salmon }}

Ingredients:

- (2) 6-8 oz Salmon fillets ( we usually buy one big piece and cut it in half)

- small handful of parsley 

-1/2 of a lemon 

-1/4 cup of Dijon Mustard ( if following the whole 30 be sure to use the dijon without white wine added)

-capers with juice strained off ( you can use anywhere from a teaspoon to a couple of teaspoons, I just throw some into the mixture until I think it looks good)

-salt and pepper to taste

-olive oil or cooking spray

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
 

-Drizzle a little olive oil in the bottom of a small baking dish. Place salmon fillets in dish. Place to side.

 -Roughly chop parsley and throw into separate bowl. Add dijon, lemon juice and capers to bowl. Add a pinch of salt and a couple good crackings( is that even a term?) of pepper. Mix ingredients in bowl all together.

-Salt and pepper salmon fillets. (I also sometimes sprinkle my EVERYTHING Flavor God's seasoning onto the fish at this point. This step is not necessary, but it does add a little extra flavor to the fish)

-Spread dijon mixture across salmon pieces.

-Place baking dish into the oven. Cook for 20-25 minutes. If your salmon fillets are thin you may need to cook for less time. If you like your fish extra done then, leave in for longer.  We eat ours at around medium.

-Once fish is cooked, remove from oven and plate! Viola! Dijon Parsley Salmon. 

(if the dijon flavor is too tangy for you, add a little bit of honey to the mustard mixture)

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(haricot verts recipe coming soon)

Also pictured in the plated photo is grilled portobello mushrooms. If you are looking for a simple but amazing side dish... these are SO easy. Just take portobellos and throw them in a ziploc bag with your favorite vinaigrette dressing (you can just use oil/vinegar/ and some seasonings too). Marinade for about 15 minutes (or longer) and place on grill. Grill until desired doneness. Slice to serve. These also make for an amazing sandwich idea. I will have to work on a recipe for y'all!

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Disclaimer: I am totally new to this recipe thing. I cook by taste and am horrible about measuring exact measurements. This is my best attempt to tell you the amounts of each item I use. I try and make recipes that don't require "exacts" when preparing them. If you don't like this recipe, I am sorry. Food is a lot of personal preference and my husband and I both enjoy the recipes I post.