Tag Archive for Sour cream

Pasta Salad is Always a Hit

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Pasta Salad - The Surprised Gourmet

Pasta Salad is a hit anytime of the year

If your family is anything like ours, then pasta salad is always a hit no matter what time of year it is.

For some it seems pasta salads are only served during the summer when a cool dish is needed. But pasta salads are a delicious dish no matter what the weather is outside. In fact, a pasta salad can be a refreshing treat in the winter when most meals are hearty and hot.

Begin this salad by cooking a 16 ounce box of Rotini noodles according to the package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, seed and dice two Roma tomatoes and chop up broccoli florets making 2 cups. In a small bowl mix two packages of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix with 16 ounces of sour cream and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of milk. Mix well until completely smooth.

When the pasta is done, drain, rinse with cold water, drain again and place in a large bowl. Add the chopped tomatoes, chopped broccoli and 5 ounces of cooked bacon pieces. Pour over the prepared dressing mix and combine well.

Tasty Pasta Salad - The Surprised Gourmet

Enjoy Pasta Salad even in cold weather

The pasta salad can be served immediately while still warm or refrigerated. It stores well in the refrigerator for several days when kept in an airtight container.

This tasty dish can be a meal all on its own or served as an accompaniment to a main course.

Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy pasta salad year-round or only in the summer? What do you like in your pasta salad?

Cucina Felice!

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Pasta Salad is Always a Hit

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Serves: 6-8 servings

It doesn't have to be hot to enjoy this salad
Ingredients
  • 16 Ounce box Rotini noodles
  • 2 Roma tomatoes (seeded and diced)
  • 2 Cup chopped broccoli florets
  • 2 Packages Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
  • 16 Ounces sour cream
  • ¼ Cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
  • 5 Ounces cooked bacon pieces
Instructions
  1. Begin this salad by cooking a 16 ounce box of Rotini noodles according to the package directions.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, seed and dice two Roma tomatoes and chop up broccoli florets making 2 cups. In a small bowl mix two packages of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix with 16 ounces of sour cream and ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons of milk. Mix well until completely smooth.
  3. When the pasta is done, drain, rinse with cold water, drain again and place in a large bowl. Add the chopped tomatoes, chopped broccoli and 5 ounces of cooked bacon pieces. Pour over the prepared dressing mix and combine well.
  4. The pasta salad can be served immediately while still warm or refrigerated. It stores well in the refrigerator for several days when kept in an airtight container.

 

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Enjoy A Burrito

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Easy Burritos - The Surprised Gourmet

Burritos are a quick and easy meal that is filled with loads of goodness

It’s the second day of October already, a good time to slow down your pace and enjoy a burrito.

The wonderful thing about burritos is you can use such a vast array of ingredients to fill them. Traditionally when you hear burrito you might think meat (usually ground beef) and refried beans as the filling along with some lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and sour cream. But you can also use rice, salsa, guacamole, chili peppers, well you get the picture.

You can even change things up and make the burrito for breakfast. These can include such fillings as scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, onions, and basically anything you want.

Burrito ingredients - The Surprised Gourmet

Fillings for burritos can be anything you like

I made a simple burrito the other night using a few ingredients we always have in the refrigerator. I heated the tortilla shells in the microwave for about 7 seconds just to make them easier to roll.

I put about a tablespoon of sour cream on each of the four tortilla shells and smoothed it out. Then I generously layered spinach (about a cup) over the sour cream. I followed that with slices of deli-style ham (three slices to a shell). I topped it off by sprinkling shredded Mexican Blend cheese (1/4 cup per shell) and putting a layer of thinly-sliced mushrooms down the center. I used one mushroom per shell saving several slices for the top. After rolling up the burritos, I added a little more sour cream, shredded cheese and the remaining slices of mushroom to the top of each.

Burritos on a plate - The Surprised Gourmet

Make your burritos simple or complicated

Burritos can be simple or as complicated as you want them to be. They’re a quick, easy and fun meal that can be filled with lots of tasty ingredients. You can load’em down so you have to use a fork to eat them or keep it simple so you can pick them up to eat. Either way, have fun with your food and add your favorite ingredients.

Stay traditional or think outside the box adding ingredients you’ve never had in a burrito before. There’s nothing set in stone that says you have to have things a certain way. Experimenting with food is one of the joys of cooking. You’ll be surprised sometimes by the wonderful dishes you create when you let your imagination take over.

Thanks for stopping by today. Are you a fan of burritos? What are your favorite ingredients? What’s the most unusual ingredient you’ve tried in a burrito? If you try this recipe, be sure to stop back by and let me know how you liked it or if you post it online include the tag #thesurprisedgourmet. Always like to know how the recipes turn out for you.

Cucina Felice!

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Enjoy A Burrito

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Total time: 

Serves: 2 servings

Burritos can be made with a vast array of ingredients making them quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
  • 4 Tortilla shells
  • 4 Tablespoons sour cream
  • 1 Cup spinach
  • 12 Slices deli-style ham
  • 1 Cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese
  • 4 Mushrooms, thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. Warm tortilla shells in microwave for 7 seconds to make them easier to roll.
  2. Put about a tablespoon of sour cream on each of the four tortilla shells and smooth it out. Generously layer spinach over the sour cream. Follow that with 3 slices of deli-style ham per shell. Top it off by sprinkling ¼ cup shredded Mexican Blend cheese per shell and add a layer of thinly-sliced mushrooms down the center. Use one mushroom per shell saving several slices for the top. After rolling up the burritos, add a little more sour cream, shredded cheese and the remaining slices of mushroom on top.

 

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Woohoo French Toast

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Making French Toast - The Surprised Gourmet

French toast is a delicious dish for breakfast

Let’s say, “Woohoo French toast.” Just about everyone has tried French toast and knows it’s one of the simplest dishes to prepare for breakfast.

French toast is known around the world by many names – “eggy bread, German toast, gypsy toast, or Spanish toast.” It’s a dish made by soaking bread in a mixture of beaten eggs and then fried.

It’s that egg mixture where people sometimes get carried away. You could add all sorts of ingredients to it. But to me, simple is always the best. I use 2 eggs, 1/4 cup of milk and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla flavoring. I blend these together in a deep dish using a battery operated frother like an immersion blender.

This makes enough mixture for 2 slices of bread – the bread I use is French bread (well, it is French toast after all). I cut 2 slices on the diagonal about an inch thick.

I dip each slice of bread in the mixture and then drop them in a hot non-stick skillet with a dab of butter and a splash of oil. Cooking on medium to medium-high, I turn the bread slices after about 3 to 4 minutes when they’re golden brown. Repeat on the other side and remove.

Instead of using syrup to top these off, I use a Cinnamon Sour Cream Topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

Slice of French Toast - The Surprised Gourmet

Yummy French toast with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar and Cinnamon Sour Cream topping

Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (this makes cinnamon sugar). Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of this sugar equally over the two slices of toast. Then add the remaining Cinnamon Sugar to 1/4 cup sour cream making Cinnamon Sour Cream that you spoon on top of the French toast.

Using French bread instead of regular loaf bread gives the egg mixture more texture to soak into without falling apart. Don’t you just hate picking up a slice of bread coated in eggs only to have it fall apart before you get it to the skillet. Try it with French bread, I think you’ll like the results.

This recipe for French toast isn’t real sweet, but it’s oh so tasty. The fluffiness of the eggs with the hint of cinnamon will have your mouth watering. If you give this a try, be sure to come back and let me know how it turned out for you or tag it with #thesurprisedgourmet if you post it. I’d love to know what you think of it

Cucina Felice!

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Woohoo French Toast

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Prep time: 

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Serves: 2

This delicious breakfast dish will bring the entire family to the table on the run
Ingredients
  • 2 Large eggs
  • 2 Slices of French bread
  • ¼ Cup milk
  • ¼ Teaspoon vanilla flavoring
  • Dab of butter
  • Splash of oil
  • CINNAMON SUGAR
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
  • CINNAMON SOUR CREAM TOPPING
  • 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon Sugar
  • ¼ Cup sour cream
Instructions
  1. Use 2 eggs, ¼ cup of milk and ¼ teaspoon of vanilla flavoring and blend together in a deep dish.
  2. This makes enough mixture for 2 slices of bread - using French bread (well, it is French toast after all). Cut 2 slices on the diagonal about an inch thick.
  3. Dip each slice of bread in the mixture and then drop them in a hot non-stick skillet with a dab of butter and a splash of oil. Cooking on medium to medium-high, turn the bread slices after about 3 to 4 minutes when they're golden brown. Repeat on the other side and remove.
  4. Instead of using syrup to top these off, use a Cinnamon Sour Cream Topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
  5. Combine 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon (this makes cinnamon sugar). Sprinkle a tablespoon of cinnamon sugar equally over the two slices of toast. Add ¼ cup sour cream to the remaining Cinnamon Sugar to make Cinnamon Sour Cream and spoon on the top.

 

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