Berry Poppy Seed Salad

Summer is here and a sweet salad is the perfect accompaniment to any barbque.
Make the most of fresh in season fruits and vegetables by mixing them and tossing with a light dressing.

Salad
1 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
2 large handfulls baby spinach
raspberries
blueberries
cashews
finely sliced sweet onion, like Vadallia or Walla Walla

Dressing
2/3 c apple juice
2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 Tbs poppy seeds

Toss and chill before serving.

Zuppa tascana

With fresh chard and herbs in the garden, it is time to make the perfect soup!
 There are many variations to this dish, this is mine.
For 4 servings
In large pot, Peel and chop 6 potatoes
                    peel and chop 3 carrots
                    chop 1 med onion
1/2  pound of sausage links. I use a chicken sausage from Sam's club. You can also use prepared ground sausage balls, you have browned previously.
Add 3quarts of water and 2-3 bullion cubes
 I use Knorr chicken - see photo below. I think these have the best taste. You can use homemade broth or canned also.
 Add salt and pepper to taste along with fresh herbs. You may use dried when fresh is not available.
 I add a small bunch of each
Thyme
Oregano
1 sprig of rosemary
After simmering 1/2 hour
add 1 or 2 large handfuls of chopped chard or kale.
Finish simmering until vegetables are tender and sausage is cooked through.

* to taste
add garlic when seasoning ( I would usually but this sausage has so much seasoning I hold back a little)
add cream to finished soup

S'mores Bars

Quicker than a campfire s'more bars!
 1 bag mini marshmallows (set aside 1 cup)
 5 Tbs butter
 1 bag of chocolate chips (I used two half bags, one milk and one white)
 1 box Golden Graham's cereal (smaller size)


Chill your chocolate chips 1 hour in the refrigerator or freeze 20 minutes before making bars
Melt the butter in a large pot and add marshmallows- reserve 1 cup of marshmallows for later
When melted pour over cereal in a large bowl and mix well. Stir in remaining marshmallows and chocolate chips, spray 9x13 pan and spray your hands to help keep mix from sticking to you, press into pan and  allow to set.

Apple Angel Cake

 Quick
Easy
Sweet!
2 ingredients is all you need to make this fast super sweet dessert.
Mix 1 package angel food cake mix with 1 can of apple pie filling. Add no liquid.
I first placed the apples in the bowl and chopped them into finer pieces with a kitchen scissors. Then added the mix until well combined.

Spread in a 9 X 13 sprayed pan and bake for 20-30 minutes. I used a stone baking pan and it took about 27 minutes. Do not overbake, cake will be browned on top and edges but will appear as thought it is not completely set. This is when it is done.
Bake at 350
Now....if you use a glass pan, my grandma always said for angel food lower the oven temp to 325.  If I were you I would listen to her.

I also sprinkled on some cinnamon and sugar before baking, this is optional, it is a very sweet dessert so this could put it over the top for you.  Too sweet does not exist for me so I also drizzled on a little caramel topping. We ate it cooled but warm with ice cream would be divine!