Two "Improvised" Salads

 Words we all need to read—and, yes, it's a poem, but don't panic! Take the time to read it as if it were a book . . .

Taken from an ad on Facebook

 

Sent to me by my daughter-in-law

And no, I don't know what city that is.

*****

On Friday, September 13, I posted the following to Facebook. Decided it was worth repeating on my blog:

Dictionary definitions for our time:

LIAR. A person who lies.
CONGENITAL LIAR. One who lies all the time.
MISOGYNIST. Woman-hater
RACIST. One who believes that one's own race is superior.
FASCIST. A person who is dictatorial or has extreme right-wing views.
MEGALOMANIAC. One who has a highly exaggerated or delusional concept of their own importance.

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TWO "IMPROVISED" SALADS

 Living alone, I rarely have an opportunity to make a big salad, but when that was my contribution to our Labor Day family gathering, I went all out, throwing in everything but the kitchen sink. Here is what I call . . .

Grace's "Everything" Salad

 No amounts are given as it depends entirely on how many you're feeding. I bought two containers of mixed greens (various types of arugula).

Mixed greens

Coarsely chopped pecans

Pine nuts

Dried cranberries (if refrigerated, take out early to warm up)

Diced cucumber (c. ½")

Red onion, sliced thin

Crumbled Feta Cheese w/garlic  & herb

Sliced green olives

Hard-boiled eggs, sliced (save 3 slices for topping)*

Fresh herbs - basil, oregano, thyme, mint**

Serve with a choice of salad dressings, (preferably without chemical preservatives!)

*I used 3 eggs.

**Those were all the herbs the Florida summer left me. Whatever herbs you can scrounge up are fine. Dried herbs only if you absolutely must.

***************

 There's a story behind the next salad. I tried a chicken recipe I saw on Facebook, and was disappointed that the sauce could barely be tasted. This may have been because the three chicken breasts I bought a Publix were ENORMOUS and did not fit the amounts in the original recipe. In any event, I needed to do something to make the two leftover chicken breasts more tasty. So . . . I took a single chicken breast and cubed it - resulting in a startling amount of meat. I had half a bag of frozen corn in the freezer. Nuked that until it was warm; then gently warmed up the leftover chicken. Added a bag of microwave rice I had on hand (ready in 90 seconds), then added a few more normal salad ingredients: fresh herbs, capers, sliced green olives. I then discovered I had enough for 2 or 3 meals for someone with a small appetite. So I loaded a generous helping into a SOUP bowl (as this was full-meal salad) and topped my warm mix with salad dressing. And guess what? It was fabulous! And I had leftovers to warm for the next night.

Come to think of it, this "salad" could also be made, using frozen ready-cooked chicken pieces.

Chicken/Corn/Rice Salad 

1-2 cooked chicken breasts, cubed

Frozen corn, warmed

1 pkg. of microwave rice, cooked (your choice of flavor)

Fresh herbs*

Capers

Sliced olives**

Serve warm with your choice of salad dressing.

*Whatever herbs you have available. Dried, if no other choice

**Green or black, your choice 

*************** 

Don't forget Blair's latest Gothic:  The Abandoned Daughter 

~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For Blair's Facebook Author Page, click here.*

*with new posts 

For recent blogs, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)   

 

Second Books in all 4 "Sale" series

From Facebook - No Captions Needed:

 

 REMINDER

On 99¢ sale through September 30 - at Amazon and most other online vendors

The Sometime Bride  (Regency Warrior Series)

Brides of Falconfell  (Regency Gothic Series)

Matthew Wolfe - The Adventures Begin (Matthew Wolfe Series)

Rebel Princess (Blue Moon Rising Series)

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Though not currently on sale, here's a peek at the second book in each series:

 

Regency Warrior Series - Book 2 of 6

On the night before the final battle in one of the most harrowing retreats in British Army history, a colonel wagers his only child in a game of cards. She is rescued by Major Nicholas Tarleton, who marries Julia Litchfield the next day, but only as he is dying. Julia, a hardy soul who has followed the drum all her life, takes over her husband's estate, becoming a heroine to Nicholas's tenant farmers, and is developing an interest in a new man when totally unexpected events plunge her into a conflict of love and honor that might have challenged Solomon himself.

Reviews Excerpts:

"A real historical novel, TARLETON'S WIFE places the author in the ranks with Victoria Holt and a handful of other writers of romantic fiction that I have read, reread, and loved." Patricia White, Word Museum

"TARLETON'S WIFE . . . is filled with action and emotion, and with well drawn, realistic characters headed by a strong, admirable and totally likable heroine. The author has extraordinary ability to bring her characters to life and to create a real world around them." Lily Martin, Romance Communication

"Ms Bancroft has a clear voice and the potential to be another Mary Jo Putney or Mary Balogh." Kathe Robin, Romantic Times

"This is a very well written piece, painted with rich history and wonderfully drawn characters. We will be seeing much more from this brilliant author." April Redmon, Under the Covers 

Regency Gothic Series - Book 2 of 12

Penelope Ruth Ballantyne has lived at the tail of the army all her life, experiencing the rigors of life in India, followed by five years of war in Portugal and Spain. Not surprisingly, now that she is orphaned, she accepts the most challenging position available, companion to an invalid who lives on the edge of Exmoor in northern Devonshire. After years of constant travel, Penny longs to settle under one roof, find a true home. Instead, she encounters hysteria, mysterious deaths, a nasty rival, and the constant fear of dismissal as she attracts the attention of more than one young gentleman in the household. Though the only one she truly sees is Robert, Lord Exmere, heir to Moorhead Manor. Together, they face a startling dilemma worthy of the judgment of Solomon.

 

The Matthew Wolfe Series - Book 2 of 3

At the risk of being taken up by Bow Street, Matthew Wolfe returns to London, hoping to discover some clue to his heritage, which just might be royal. But, of course, almost nothing goes as he hoped. Not even the role he had eagerly anticipated as one of Harding's Hellions. Yet becoming an adventurer has some unanticipated benefits, such as acquiring an elegant mistress a decade older than he. And discovering his former fishing companion, Jocelyn, has grown into a beauty old enough to make her come-out.

But even as a partner in a newly formed private investigation business, life does not run smoothly for Matthew. Vast sums of gold and gems are being lost to a clever gang of thieves operating on both sides of the Channel, yet Matthew and his partner are unable to capture the villains. A problem that is also keeping Matthew too busy to explore that ever-tantalizing trail that might lead to royal relatives. And then, just as he is on the verge of combining his search for the thieves with the long-postponed search for his heritage, yet another dramatic problem crops up.

Warning: The Matthew Wolfe series is a return to an old tradition - one long story told in installments, each with a cliff-hanger ending. So do not expect Happily Ever After until the final book.

 

The Blue Moon Rising Series - Book 2 of 4*

 

Princess M'lani of the pacifist planet Psyclid, where almost everyone but M'lani is gifted with some kind of psychic ability, has agreed to marry Jagan Mondragon, the Sorcerer Prime. Jagan fled their planet when it was invaded by the Regulon Empire, but has now returned, supposedly to lead his people in rebellion against the Occupation. But he's been dragging his feet about it, and when he finally shows up, he has his mistress with him. If that weren't enough of a problem, M'lani develops a not-so-welcome psychic gift, and then there's that prickly long-time rebel leader, T'kal Killiri, and the antics of M'lani's younger brother, who speaks only through illusions. Freedom for the obscure, peace-loving planet of Psyclid seems a long way away.

* The spin-off, The Crucible Kingdom, makes 5.

~ * ~

Don't forget Blair's latest Gothic:  The Abandoned Daughter 

~ * ~

 For a link to Blair's website, click here. 

For Blair's Facebook Author Page, click here.*

*with new posts 

For recent blogs, scroll down. For Archives, see the menu on the right.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)