Squash Pancakes

My friend Rachel gave me this recipe.  What a great way to get your kids to eat veggies! We eat these as a side with supper.

Squash Pancakes

4 cups shredded squash (zucchini and/or yellow squash are best)

1 cup shredded cheese (pick your favorite)

1/2 teaspoon salt

few dashes of pepper

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups Bisquick (GF also works!)

Stir all the ingredients together. (I pulled my veggies out of the freezer but fresh can certainly be used.)

I used Mexi-blend here.

Drop by scoopfuls onto hot griddle.

Cook until golden brown on the outsides and done on the inside.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

In one of my classes with Chef Gaby we talked about whole spices and grinding our own.  We put together rubs, vinegars, oils, and other dry spices. One was this, taco seasoning.  She threw together spices I would never have thought to put together for true "taco" seasoning.  This is nothing like those taco packets.  It's better!  Why?  First off, they are whole spices that are ground.  A WOW! Bam! Burst of flavor! Second, whatever combination this is, works!!  

I only took basic notes on the spices so I figured up measurements and we liked this combo. 

Taco Seasoning

1 small cinnamon stick (broken up a little)

1 Tablespoon whole cumin seed

1/2 Tablespoon whole coriander 

1/2 Tablespoon whole fennel seed

1 Tablespoon ground chili powder

1 Tablespoon ground paprika

Macaroni Salad with Peas

Quick and easy pasta dish ready in 30 minutes or less!  It's versatile so feel free to chance up the seasonings.

Macaroni Salad with Peas

5 ounces dry macaroni (I used GF)

1/2 cup mayonnaise (I used a canola based)

3 Tablespoons buttermilk

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1 teaspoon dill

1-1/2 cup frozen peas (more if you like)

Cook your pasta, drain, rinse under cool water to cool pasta.  Allow to drain while you mix other ingredients.

Mix mayonnaise, buttermilk, Parmesan, and dill together.  Add pasta.

Put your frozen peas in a strainer.  Run cool water over them until any ice crystals on them melt away.  This will also thaw your peas.  Stir into pasta. Enjoy!

If you do not eat it all in that sitting or make ahead to take someplace you will need add a little milk as the pasta will absorb liquid as it sits.