Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

Under 5 ingredients with great flavor and little work, this simple salmon supper is perfect for any day of the week.

We served ours with rice and butter, along with steamed green beans.

Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

Recipe from All Recipes

4 6oz. boneless salmon fillets

1/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 Tbsp. dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

Season salmon with salt and pepper and arrange in shallow baking dish.

Whisk together brown sugar and dijon and spoon evenly over salmon fillets.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Serve with rice and steamed veggies.

Caprese Pasta Salad

This is everything a summer salad should be - light, flavorful and easy to make.  Even though this isn't your classic caprese cheese ingredient (I use parmesan instead of mozzarella), these flavors blend perfectly with the balsamic dressing.

The original recipe included chicken, which I omitted.  Feel free to add that if you are looking more for a full meal in itself.  I left it out because I happen to think this salad pairs perfectly with garlic balsamic crusted pork loin, and I wanted a meatless addition.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Recipe modified from Taste of Home

3 c. uncooked bowtie pasta

2 c. chopped tomatoes

1/2 c. chopped green onions

1/4 c. fresh minced basil

1/4 c. olive oil

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 c. parmesan cheese

Cook pasta al dente and drain.

Meanwhile, chop tomatoes, green onions and basil add to a large salad bowl.

Combine oil, vinegar, sugar, garlic and salt and pepper and whisk to combine.

Add cooked noodles to salad bowl.

Pour dressing over noodles and stir to coat.

Sprinkle cheese over everything and stir to combine.

Serve at room temperature.

Ham and Egg Salad Sammy

This is a great grown up version of egg salad and is filling enough for dinner, which I love.  If you are a mayo-free spirit, like my husband, thick sliced hard boiled eggs make an excellent substitution for the egg salad.

Ham and Egg Salad Sammy

Recipe from The Pioneer Woman

6 hard boiled eggs

1/4 c. mayo

1.5 Tbsp. dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

dash worchestershire sauce

6 thick slices baked ham

6 slices cheese (I used pepperjack)

sliced red onion

sliced avocado

slices tomato

spinach (or lettuce of choice)

6 sandwich buns or rolls

Prepare egg salad by chopping hard boiled eggs.

Add mayo, dijon, salt, pepper and worchestershire to taste.

Layer cheese, ham, tomato, egg salad, onions, spinach and avocado between each sandwich bun.

Fruit Fly Killer

If your house is anything like mine in the summertime it is swarming with fresh produce.  As a result, fruit flies are seemingly always present in my kitchen.  This simple recipe is a perfect attraction and trap for them.  Obviously not the prettiest, but I set a jar of this out of sight and dump it down the sink once it has served its purpose.

Fruit Fly Killer

Small glass jar

apple cider vinegar

2 drops liquid dish soap

Fill glass jar 1/4 - 1/2 full of apple cider vinegar.

Add 2 drops of liquid dish soap and mix thoroughly.

Sit out in an area where fruit flies are present.

Citrus Water {Punch}

This simple citrus drink is the perfect solution for pretty much any event.  Not overly sweet, but definitely stepping up a notch from your average water with lemon.  I view this as a somewhat mellow lemonade; perfect for kids and adults.

Citrus Water

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

2 Tbsp. citric acid

5 quarts water

2 c. sugar

2 Tbsp. pure lemon extract

3 sliced lemons

3 sliced limes

crushed ice

In a large punch bowl, stir water, sugar, citric acid and lemon extract together.

Add sliced citrus and ice.

**Leaving the lemon and lime slices in the punch will make an overly sour, acidic taste.  If you have leftovers, remove them from the punch before storing.

Breakfast Stuffed Peppers

Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorites, and these colorful stuffed peppers are no exception.

I modified this recipe; adding potatoes, onions and cheese, and subbing swiss chard for spinach.  Feel free to switch around ingredients to suit your tastes.

Breakfast Stuffed Peppers

Recipe modified from Stupid Easy Paleo

6 bell peppers

1 large baking potato

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 lb. hot italian sausage links

2 c. chopped swiss chard (or kale)

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 c. chopped cheddar cheese

6 eggs

Cube potato and place in frying pan with 1/4 c. water.

Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to medium and cook while prepping other ingredients.

Slice tops off peppers.

Remove stems, and chop remaining top portions into pieces.

Place peppers in a casserole dish and put in oven while it preheats to 400 degrees.

Remove lid from pan and add sausage, onions and pepper pieces.

When sausage is cooked, add in swiss chard, salt and pepper, and heat through.

Remove peppers from oven, and stuff evenly with sausage mixture.

Top with cheese, and crack and egg into each pepper.

Return to the oven for 20 minutes, or until eggs are set.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

I've made my own laundry detergent for just about 6 years now.  For the first 4 1/2, I used this liquid laundry detergent recipe.  I decided last September to try this powdered version.  Most of the ingredients are the same, this recipe just seemed to be a bit easier.

I think the best part is that I am still going on the same batch I made 7 months ago.  I'm about half way through it.  This stuff lasts forever!  And it works great, obviously, since I am still using it.  If you don't want to make a years supply all at once, I've included the measurements, so you can half or quarter the recipe below.

I opted out of using the fabric softener, which the original recipe calls for.  I have quiet a few articles of clothing that aren't recommended to wash with liquid softeners.  I don't miss it.  I think it ups the price and I find it unnecessary.

As far as grating the soap goes; I've found it easiest to just put it in my blender with the other powdered ingredients.  It pulses everything better than grating could, which makes it dissolve easier and saves a load of time.  I have a blendtec... not sure how this would work in a regular blender.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

Recipe modified from How Does She?

4 lb 12oz box of Borax (9 c.)

3 lb 7oz box Super Washing Soda (6 c.)

3 lb container OxyClean (5 c.)

2 (14oz) bars Zote Soap

4 lb box Baking Soda (8 c.)

Cut soap bars into 4-6 pieces.

Put a few soap pieces in the blender and fill with powdered ingredients (to about 4 cups).

Blend until smooth.

Pour into large bucket.

Repeat with remaining soap chunks and powdered ingredients.

Stir everything together in bucket to incorporate all ingredients.

Use 2 Tbsp. per large load of laundry.