Blue Cheese and Walnut Vegetable Slaw

July 13, 2013July 10, 2013Carroll 1 Comment

Blue cheese and walnuts, what a wonderful combination! We have been eating a lot of salads lately and try to keep from getting tired of the waste shrinking meals. Cheeses, nuts, fruits, crunchy things keep the variety coming to the table. I steered away salad greens last week and dove into slaws, which can go much further than the standard sweet cream Cole slaw.

I took this dish from a long time favorite restaurant in Charleston, SC, Vickery’s lead and added in blue cheese to traditional Cole slaw, and then because I think nuts are supreme, but some of them in too.

Dirty minds….

Ingredients

2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoon reduce fat mayonnaise, or regular, or nonfat, which ever your preference
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
12 ounces julienned vegetables, cabbage, broccoli, ect, pre bought or cut yourself
4 tablespoon reduce fat blue cheese, or regular
4 tablespoon toasted walnut pieces

In a mixing bowl add the first five ingredients and whisk well until combined. Add in the vegetables and toss well until lightly coated. Sprinkle the cheese and the walnuts and fold evenly. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

The longer the slaw sits, the more water leaches out of the vegetables. If you make the day before, reserve the blue cheese until you are ready to serve and give the slaw another toss so the dressing gets mixed again.

I know most people would say that I missed a very important ingredient…. Add the chopped bacon if you want, I know it is calling for a couple of tablespoons. Or maybe on a pork belly slider…

My Father’s Specialty- Doughboys!

June 17, 2012Carroll 4 Comments

Growing up my Mom was the one in the kitchen most days making dinner for the family, but my Father did have a few specialties. Some good, and some just fun to remember! He made great burritos, I still make them the same exact way at home for my family. He also made great pancakes and held his own as the grillmaster. He did make spaghetti one time, and I’ll just say it was only once, and Sir Ryan and I are still talking about it. There are a few other traditional things my Dad makes during the holiday season, Nut Bread and Mincemeat Pie. Now- the nut bread always disappeared within the same afternoon, but the mincemeat pie lasted a bit longer, it wasn’t our favorite.

But with the mincemeat pie came something we loved…Doughboys, made out of the pie shell scraps. A little cinnamon and sugar sprinkled and then baked, brought us to the kitchen like little dogs, begging for scraps. Gone in minutes.

My Dad was the only one that made them right!

With all the pies being baked in the kitchen over holidays, I think the Doughboys were the saving grace, from having one of us sneak a slice before dessert was served.

Dough Boys

1 pie dough
1/8 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
flour
1/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped fine ( These are optional, and any nut could be used)

Roll the pie dough on floured surface a little bit thinner then you would a regular pie shell. Combine the sugar and the cinnamon, mixing well. Sprinkle the mixture over the pie dough and spread the nuts evenly. Cut the dough into thin triangles and roll into small croissants. I took half of the dough and rolled in a tube, threw it in the freezer for 10 minutes and then sliced it to make wheels. Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake in an oven, set at 425 for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool and hide one for yourself before they are all gone.

Scooby Snacks

Of all the meals and treats my Dad ever made, this was my favorite, this was something that only came around once or twice a year but they were heavenly.

My Dad’s Famous Doughboys!

He has many talents, a couple of them in the kitchen, a few on the golf course, a lot in the business world but what he is best at, is being a Dad!

Filled with Good Memories!

Thanks Dad for being a loving Father and a trusted compass!

Happy Father’s Day!

June 19, 2011Carroll Leave a comment

Sending all of you incredible, supportive and loving fathers, stepfathers and fatherlike friends out there a huge thank you! Without my own father, Grandpappy, I would lost in life, as he has served and continues to be my compass in life! One day a year is not enough to show my appreciation!

Have an amazing day Fathers!