Hope's Mother's Day Meal

So maybe it's already after Mother's Day, but with Richard's wedding and my Johnson trip to Washington DC, I feel confident that I will be pardoned.

Here's the full menu with a tidbit about the story behind it:

 

1. BBQ Ribs
2.  Spinach Salad with Heath chips (Romney's)
3. Cowboy Caviar aka Mexican Bean Salsa- Love, love, love - my body craves this.  I make it year round, but it is a ward 4th of July tradition here in Cary 2nd ward (Younce Family) I got the recipe at an enrichment meeting a few years back from a woman who gardens and swears by easy and fresh foods.  I tasted it and never forgot how wonderful it was.
4. Angel Food cake with fresh sliced sugared Strawberries  - no recipe provided.  I think this has always been a favorite dessert of mine.   

For the BBQ Ribs - Outback Style

                 Baby Back Pork Ribs (get from Costco/Sams)

                 slather them BBQ sauce 

                  Bake in the oven  and cover with tinfoil.  Bake @ 350 for  30 minutes for 1 rack and 40 minutes for two.  Cook until barely done - don't over cook.

                  Heat up BBQ grill 

                 Remove tinfoil,  put meat on the hot BBQ grill.  Pour the juice from the oven pan over the ribs.  The point is to use the grill to carmelize the juices and give it   a BBQ flavor.   Cook until carmelized and black stripes are on the meat.  (about 5-10 minutes per side depending on several factors:  amount of juice, amount of BBQ sauce in your juice and the heat of your grill).     EAT!!!  

For the Spinach Salad with Heath chips, Strawberries & Poppyseed Dressing

 

Ingredients:

 Feeds:  8 generous servings

Salad:

·         1 bag washed spinach

·         1 head romaine lettuce

·         1 lb. strawberries sliced (works with less)

·         1 bag chocolate covered or regular  Heath Bits  (only used a small portion)

Dressing (Sweet):  (Makes 2 Cups worth - enough for 2-3 of the above salads)

·         1 cup light mayonnaise  (Heilmans has the best flavor)

·         ¾ cup milk (adjust to preferred consistency)

·         ½ cup sugar (more or less to taste)

·         ½ tsp. salt

·         1 tsp yellow mustard

·         1-2 Tbsp. rice vinegar  (I use 2)

·         1-2 tsp. poppy seeds    (I use 2)

Directions:

·         Mix the greens.  

·         Just before serving toss in the strawberries, dressing, and Heath Bits.

 

For the Cowboy Caviar  aka  Black Bean Salsa   2 15 oz. Cans of black beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup frozen corn kernels or one can corn, drained one large tomato, chopped ½ bunch cilantro, diced finely 8 green onions or  1/2 Cup purple onion chopped fine 4 Tbl. Fresh lime juice 2 Tbl. Balsamic vinegar ½ teas. Ground cumin ½ teas salt; pepper to taste.   If tastes bland, add more salt. Optional:  I clove garlic Mix together, chill and serve

--
Hope