Friends, we’ve made these recipes over and over, and I know you have too in your kitchen this past year. Thank you for your support of RE, and enjoy Our 20 Most Popular Recipes of 2020!

Our 20 Most Popular Recipes of 2020

Starting with No. 20, I’ll work my way up to the top of the list. Which one haven’t you tried yet? And what will be the first on your list? From easy chicken recipes to The Big Board ideas, there are easy desserts, too. (more…)

The post Our 20 Most Popular Recipes of 2020 appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

My husband and recently ate at this cool restaurant, Porque no?, in Portland, Oregon, in the Mississippi District. The food was A-Mazing and we’re definitely going back.

Oh, and look at the simple garnish on the plate (above) … a radish!

Today for my Friday RE Round-Up I want to highlight radishes. I personally love the taste–the crunch, the spice, the color, the mystery–of a radish, and I asked my husband to please add them to add them to my “garden list” this year! We’ll see … :)

Here are some fabulous radish recipes!

Classic Green Garden Goddess Dressing and Wedge Salad by Geez Louise

Roasted Radish and Greens Salad by White on Rice

Asparagus and Radish Salad by The Meaning of Pie

Radish, Boursin, and Chive Tartines by TheKitchn

Cucumber and Radish Salad with Feta, Red Wine Vinegar, and Buttermilk Dressing by Kalyn’s Kitchen

Radishes with Sweet Butter and Chive-Sage Salt by Dana Treat

Radish Truffle Butter by Savory Sweet Life

Radish Sweet Pea Salad by Eating Richly

Sweet Pickled Daikon Radish by Serious Eats

Sweet Radish and Brussels Sprout Slaw by Life as a Plate

Black Radish and Grapefruit Salad by A Thought for Food

Pesto, Radish, and Sea Salt Crostini by Real Simple

I realize that you either love radishes or you hate them.

Whatever your preference, would you share how you love to eat them, or why you don’t like them?

Happy Weekend, Friends! :)

The post RE Friday Round-Up: Radish Love! appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

A big plate of Caesar salad is an excellent summer meal that’s delicious and comforting. It automatically puts you in a place of “comfort” and I’m not really sure why? Maybe it’s the heavier salad dressing and croutons and cheese, or have you ever thought about how food tastes better when you’re eating with people you enjoy being with?

Since we all have a salad decision to make when we go out to dinner, house or Caesar, I’d love to take a poll and see which is more popular nation-wide.

I think of it as the choice between “fresh” or “comfort.” My husband almost always chooses Caesar, and I pick the house salad.

Either way, I’m happy to feature some yummy deliciousness here at RE today! Decide for yourself which Caesar looks good to you!

So in asking my readers today, do you normally choose a Caesar or House salad when you eat out?

Food for my Family: Grilled Romaine with Blue Cheese Vinaigrette and Bacon Crumbles

Boy Meets Food: Panko Crusted Tuna Steak Caesar Salad

Eat 2 Gather (Formally Luvs Strawberry Cake): Caesar Chicken Noodle Salad

My friend Myrna’s HAIL CAESAR SALAD that I served at this dinner party.

Tasty Kitchen: Caesar Salad Lettuce Wraps

Pink Parsley: Caesar Salad Tartlets with Roasted Garlic Crusts

Simple Comfort Food: Classic Caesar with Egg Yolks and Anchovies

Simple Bites: Grilled Caesar Salad

Dinner with Julie: Shrimp Caesar Salad

Farm Flavor: Salmon Caesar Wraps

Great Bar Food at Home: Santa Fe-Caesar Crema

Tammy’s Recipes: Caesar Fish Salad

Hun … What’s For Dinner: Caesar Salad Bread

The post RE Friday Round-Up: Caesar Salad is a Comfort Food appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Having overnight guests can be stressful or fun, depending on your perspective. I’ve found the more I prepare, especially when it comes to cooking, the more I enjoy my guests.

Last year I wrote about keeping our guests’ dietary needs in mind, which can be tricky, but it also feels good to pamper and to make our guests feel special!

On a personal note, I’m really looking forward to this weekend with our guests from out of town. I’ll be making a loaf of this Blackberry Spelt Bread Recipe!

I’m going to try to set aside my “to do” list and revel in God’s creational rhythms that nourish and restore our bodies, souls and relationships. Sometimes setting our agendas aside, simply relaxing and being present with others, especially in the “busy” days that we live in, is a true gift.

Being with people, loving them, getting to know them more, is really a beautiful thing and is what we are created for. The gift of enjoying one another.

Blackberry Spelt Bread Recipe

So keeping our guests’ needs in mind (wheat-free diet) this weekend, I whipped up a blackberry loaf of bread with Spelt flour, baked and cooled it, then wrapped and froze so it would stay fresh before our friends arrived.

Earlier this week I spotted a patch of blackberries when I was out for a run, so I drove back and picked a bucket full. I love summer delights like warm blackberries on the vine. I did eat as I picked, but that’s when they taste the best. :) Even though they were hanging over the fence, I went around onto our neighbors’ property, reaching up high and picking the “big ones,” and their front door opened. Caught! But it all turned out okay.

Depending on how long our guests stay, it’s always good to be prepared.

Do you worry about dietary needs when you have guests into your home?

Now for the delicious taste of when applesauce (mine was home-canned) and blackberries come together …

Print

Blackberry Spelt Bread Recipe

Delightfulness of blackberries and applesauce coming together in a warm loaf of bread.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 4 T. butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups spelt flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups fresh blackberries

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a large loaf pan. In a large bowl, cream together butter or oil and sugar. Stir in applesauce, eggs, orange juice and vanilla.
• In a second large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir flour mixture into butter-egg mixture until just combined. Gently stir in blackberries.
• Spoon batter into pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.

Now to highlight some other fabulous blackberry recipes … ENJOY!

Two Peas and Their Pod: Lemon Ricotta Blackberry Muffins

Steamy Kitchen: Salmon with Blackberry Brandy Sauce

Add a Pinch: Blackberry Tartlets

How Sweet It Is: Blackberry Cobbler Waffles

Happy Yolks: Blackberry Brownies

Luna Cafe: Summer Tomato, Sweet Onion, & Blackberry Salad with Basil Mint Crema

Give Me Some Oven: Spinach Berry Salad with Blackberry Vinaigrette

And, if you didn’t see my post earlier this week: Berry Nutella Bruschetta

The post Out of Town Guests Breakfast: Blackberry Spelt Bread Recipe appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

One of my early childhood memories was hanging out at my grandparents’ home while my Mom helped Grandma can and work in the garden.

I remember the green Jadite Fire King dishes that Grandma used, the smell of coffee permeating the house, and then a very special treat.

Sweet cantaloupe and ice cream.

The treat would be small beautiful melons just picked from the garden, sliced in half–seeds removed– and filled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

It’s funny the things we remember from our childhoods but this was one of my favorite things about summer at Grandma’s farm.

A few weeks ago, I made the same dessert for my family.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy cantaloupe in the summertime?

Here’s my round-up for the week … fantastic cantaloupe recipes!

Farmhouse Table: Melon and Cucumber Salad

Seafield Farm: Avocado and Cantaloupe Salad

Daydreamer Desserts: Cantaloupe Martinis

The Domestic Gourmet: Prosciutto Wrapped Melon with Sage

Chasing Delicious: Cantaloupe Ice Cream

New York Times: Crab and Cantaloupe Salad with Ginger and Mint Dressing

Crafty Glutton: Cold Cantaloupe Soup

Dishing Up: Grilled Cantaloupe

Our Life in the Kitchen: Cantaloupe Sorbet

The post RE Friday Round-Up: Sweet Cantaloupe Love appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

We love green beans in our home. And I still remember the smell and freshness of them when I was little as my Mom always gave me the job of snapping off the ends. I used a little paring knife when I got older, or when I was in a hurry.

We serve beans a little different now, by leaving the stems on! My favorite way is to lightly steam them, add thinly sliced onion and fresh bacon bits, and then a little bit of pesto, salt and pepper! Then the next step is to barbecue them. Delicious!

Now it’s time to share some yummy recipes from my friends in blog-land, and many I’ve met in real life. I love real life because you really get to know the person behind the blog. :)

Gourmande in the Kitchen: String Bean and Pea Pasta with Spinach Pesto

With Style and Grace: Green Beans and Pickled Shallots

Kalyn’s Kitchen: Spicy Roasted Green Beans and Shrimp

Recipe Girl: Pickled Green Beans

Two Peas and Their Pod: Green Beans, Lemon and Feta Cheese

Dana Treat: Green Bean Salad with Mustard Seeds and Tarragon

Aggie’s Kitchen: Three-Bean and Vidalia Onion Salad

Sunset Magazine: Summertime Recipes for Green Beans

And my favorite … because we love grilling our green beans, too.

Michael Ruhlman: Grilled Green Beans

What’s your favorite way to serve or cook fresh green beans?

Print

Fresh Green Beans

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 -10

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

• 1/4  prepared pesto
• 1 small sweet onion sliced
• 1 Tbsp. lemon zest
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
• 32 oz. Fresh French green beans
• 2 shallots finely chopped
• Bacon Bits optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• In a medium frying pan, heat the pesto, saute the onion for 2-3 minutes. Add the green beans and cook for additional 3-4 minutes.
• Add in the lemon zest, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, shallots, bacon bits (optional), and mix together.
• Spread the green bean mixture on an even layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until tender.

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The post RE Friday Round-Up: Fresh Green Beans appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Thanks for joining me today for my Round-Up on S’mores. It’s just the time of year for pulling out the ingredients for these delicious summer treats.

And then all you need is a fire, the roasting sticks, and the people.

The people.

The people are really what make S’mores tasty, in my opinion. It’s fun to hear the “oohs” and “ahhhs” and “mm-m-ms” that come when eating these glorious little treats!

Today I’m sharing some of my friend’s creative inventions with S’mores, so sit back and enjoy!

White Chocolate S’mores Gooey Cake Bars: Picky Palate

Smashing S’mores: How Sweet It Is

S’mores Mousse Tart: Food + Words

S’more Cupcakes: Brown Eyed Baker

No Bake S’mores Pie: Cheeky Kitchen

S’mores Cookies: The Girl Who Ate Everything

S’mores Brownies: Recipe Girl

S’mores Bread Pudding: Mission: Food

And I’ll end with this amazing treat from my friend, Amanda, from Kevin and Amanda. S’mores Ice Cream.

Oh, boy!

Happy Friday, Friends!

What’s your favorite way of eating S’mores?

The post RE Friday Round-Up: You’ve Got to Love S’mores appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Caprese Salad is summer, to me.

Warm tomatoes fresh from the garden.

Trying to notice something new every day. The beautiful colors, shapes, the design of a tomato.

Noticing what food tastes like.

The fresh smells of the herb bed and an abundance of basil.

The sound of a gurgling bottle of balsamic, drizzled over a beautiful platter of Caprese Salad.

And then … hearing the sounds of your guests as they rave over the garden freshness.

Yes, summer is Caprese Salad.

More ways to serve Caprese Salad:

Flip Cookbook: Caprese on a Stick

Winterwheat: Italian Caprese Wrap

How Sweet it Is: Creamy Caprese Pasta

Love and Olive Oil: Heirloom Tomato Caprese Sandwiches

The Parsley Thief: Caprese Burger

Authentic Suburban Gourmet: Caprese Bites

A Cozy Kitchen: Roasted Caprese Salad

And a beautiful step-by-step guide by The Pioneer Woman: Caprese Salad

Thanks for joining my RE Friday Round-Up today!

Have a great weekend! Come back and let me know if you make Caprese Salad!? :)

What is your favorite way to serve Caprese Salad?

The post RE Friday Round-Up: Caprese Salad Served Many Ways appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.