Pleasantly Pleased and Pickled Pink - Chicken Tostadas

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...The Silver Fox and I are heading to Seattle and I'm tickled pickled pink to be on the road again. The Austin branch of the family is heading to the San Juan Islands and we are joining them for a day of sight seeing and hugs before they ferry to the islands. We haven't seen our older grandsons in a year, and it will be nice, to say the least, to touch base with them and see how they have grown. The recipe I'm reprising today is one that makes a great summer treat, but, to be honest, I chose it for the rosy color of those onions. They match my disposition today. I know you will enjoy this simple and inexpensive concoction and, if you have not already tried these, I hope you soon will. The recipe for Chicken Tostadas with Pink Pickled Onions can be found, here. Enjoy!

Putting By My Favorite Refrigerator Dill Pickles

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Most summers, I spend a good deal of time canning and freezing produce that I know my family especially enjoys. I've never viewed it as a chore, and I must admit that my pioneer spirit, rather than economics, first drew, and then kept me at the canning kettle. Things are a bit different this year. We moved to smaller quarters this past spring and the size of my new kitchen precludes marathon canning sessions. Now, while I should completely eliminate the process, I still sneak in a jam or pickle when time permits. Habits are hard to break, and to completely eliminate putting by the summer's harvest would break my connection to the soil and end the sense of satisfaction that comes with pantry shelves lined with jars that I've personally filled and preserved. While those shelves no longer groan with the weight they bear, they still hold a jar or two that bears my name, and tonight I added pickles to their burden. I returned from the lake today, with cucumbers as green as my sunburned nose is red, and I've just finished a batch of my favorite refrigerator pickles. They are simple to make and so delicious that they are addicting. The recipe is one of the most popular on my blog and it has been viewed over a half a million times. While many of you have already seen and tried the pickles, they are so good that I want to make them available to newcomers and those who might have overlooked them first time around. You can find the recipe for Refrigerator Dill Pickles, here.

Menu for the Week of July 20, 2014

Weekly Menu at One Perfect Bite... 

Frugal Foodie Friday - Chili-Cheese Sandwich Rolls for a Crowd

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Those who work with, or entertain, teens will find this recipe helpful. It makes sandwiches that are different, delicious and easy on the pocketbook. The warm hoagies are easy to prepare but they do require advance planning, as they must be refrigerated for at least two hours before they are baked. The base recipe will make a sandwich with only moderate heat, so if you like your sandwiches spicy, add jalapenos to the filling before the sandwiches are baked. We had these last weekend at a large, multi age barbecue. The sandwiches were meant to be fillers or meal extenders, as our hostess was unsure of the number of people she would be entertaining. As it turned out, she had a crowd and needed them to stretch the chicken and sausage she had on the grill. It was the first time I had this sandwich and I liked it well enough to ask for the recipe. I thought those of you who work with youth groups or regularly have grandchildren at the table might work these sandwiches into your meal plans. Here is how they are made.