Nopales (Cactus) Salad

Credited to Raul d’Ablaing

I was reading my friend, Raul’s blog, he posted that he finished planting some items in his garden. Among all the tasty eats, he planted some nopales (cactus). Wow! It’s been a while since I had some cactus for dinner, …thinking; now there is a true healthy meal for anyone and everyone who likes to eat healthy and light. I use to eat it all the time when I was touring and we stayed with friends, very quick and easy to prepare.

Select 3 or 4 pads
4 Portobello Mushrooms – clean with a damp towel
2 eggs – boiled and cut into slices
lime juice
olive oil
seasonings – red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic powder, salt

(Make sure the Nopales pads you select are not wrinkled, soggy or too soft. Pads are modified branches, which range in color from pale to dark green. Pick the ones which good colour to them.)

Wear rubber or leather garden gloves when removing all needles with a sharp knife, sometimes I use a good vegetable peeler. Also, remove any nodules, the thick stem, and trim the edges off of the pads as well. After, wash each pad well with slightly warm to cool water.

Grill Cactus over medium high hot side of grill, brush each side with olive oil until tender and slightly browned (10 – 12 minutes each side). On the medium hot side of grill, grill Portobellos. Slice Portobellos and Cactus into stripes, add sliced eggs, and seasonings to taste; then drizzle with lime juice and olive oil. Can be served on top of a bed of lettuce. For added flavour, add diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, and grated cheese.

Nopales can be tightly wrapped and stored in a refrigerator up to one to two weeks.

Happy Eating!

Cheese Ball

Credit to Rhonda, this recipe is a crowd pleaser for any occasion.

2 – 8oz pkgs of cream cheese
1 pkg of Ranch Dip Mix (use half the pack, if making extra large balls – doubling batches, use the entire pack)
1 pack of finely shredded cheese – I used Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Monterrey Jack
2 cups nuts – your choice is fine I used pecans, walnuts, and sliced almonds.

Work cheeses and ranch dip all together until well incorporated and shape into a ball. Roll ball around until covered in the chopped nuts. Chill untill ready to serve on any favourite crackers of your liking… I served it with frybread chips; although Townhouse are real good too.

Happy Eating!

Sausage Balls

Credit Rhonda – Your guests will simply not get enough of these.

1 pound of sausage (mild or hot…both, can add other kinds of sausage; I added ½ pound of Chorizo) fried, drained, and cooled

Mix in a large bowl:

2 cups of Bisquick
1 jar of cheese whiz – 16 oz. (I’m for saving money to the masses, get the inexpensive brand; that way it’s two for the prize of one expensive brand with the same taste).

Add sausages to the bisquick and cheese whiz and mix together. Roll sausage mixture into a 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until golden brown. (note-watch closely, you don’t want the cheese to ooze out and burn).

Serves about 10 – 15 people depending

Happy Eating!

Layered Salad

Another holiday is upon us, most of us are frenetic trying to get last minutes things done before Father Christmas comes…to add to the chaos what to fix extra for those last of the Christmas parties. Well, one of my best and dearest friends, Rhonda, shares some of her recipe collection.

This one is one of my favourites; I prepared it for a side and appetizer for my cousin’s birthday party

Layered Salad

1 or 2 heads of lettuce (if you use the pre-bagged; rinse before serving)
2 cups of Miracle Whip – I suppose you could use Mayo if preferred.
1 pound of bacon- fried (less bacon if you preferred…or more or cubed tofu if you’re a vegetarian)
–it’s best fried the bacon first, so it can be cooled and drain before adding to the salad
1 cup green onions – chopped
1 cup each of blanched peas and carrots (this is what I added to it the second making; it’s the band’s favourite)
1 or 2 cups Cheddar cheese – finely shredded (I mixed the cheddar with ½ cup of each Mozzarella and Swiss)

Layer the salad accordingly and serve to your hungry guests, they’ll ask for more….mine did…again and again…..and again
You may have to make several platters.

Happy Eating!