Couscous Chicken Salad

It's so darned hot right now.  We've had several days of 100+ degree weather.  It's hard to get excited about preparing a big meal, let alone eating one.  It seems like all we want for dinner is salad.  Fresh veggies to cool us off.  But I can only serve so many salads with grilled chicken sliced on top.  The natives are getting restless, and Summer heat is relentless.  Time for some new material!  Couscous is such a versatile ingredient to cook with.  The little balls made from semolina wheat work in a recipe much like rice or pasta.  It is common in Middle Eastern and Greek cooking, and makes a great addition to this main dish salad.  The combination of chicken, cherry tomatoes, and other vegetables blend together to create a light, but filling salad that is dressy enough for company, and perfect for lunch or dinner.



Yum!  A light, refreshing meal!

Happy 4th of July!

Independence Day provides Americans the opportunity to remember its birthday and reflect on its freedoms.  On July 4, 2011, our great nation will celebrate its 235th birthday.  While you enjoy your hot dogs, fireworks and time off from work with family and friends this weekend, don't forget the real reason for this holiday.  Take time to thank a military member for keeping us safe and affording us the freedoms we hold so dear. 



Happy 4th of July from Baby Ruth!
While she may not be entirely
thrilled with her patriotic accessories,
she wanted to wish all of you
a wonderful holiday weekend.





A Fourth of July Foodie Fun Fact:
Over 1 in 3- The odds that one of your side dishes
will be baked beans.
That's what we're having!
You can find the recipe
HERE.

Here's what we'll be enjoying this weeked:

Overnight Slow Cooker Brisket Sandwiches.  With homemade BBQ sauce.  You can find my brisket recipe HERE.  It makes the most flavorful, tender brisket I've ever had.  And it literally shreds itself.  Baked Beans (isn't everybody?).  Dill Potato Salad.  It's creamy, yummy and delicious.  Dill adds such a cool, refreshing flavor.  You can find that recipe HERE.  For dessert I'm making the All-American Flag Cake.  I'm fudging a little and using a pre-made pound cake, blueberry pie filling and fresh strawberries.  It's easy, but tasty and patriotic!  Mr. Devilish Dish is playing in a 3-Day golf tournament.  I thought he and his golf buddies might appreciate a little snack after their rounds of golf.  The "Crack Corn" Popcorn recipe is the ultimate addicting snack food.  I added red and blue sprinkles for some 4th of July fun.  You can find that recipe HERE.  Finally, I'll be cooling my guests off with Mojito Popsicles and Vodka Slushes.  Don't be afraid of the name, the slushes are the most fantastical summer drink you will ever try.  I make it every 4th of July.  A holiday day tradition.  Cool your guests off too!  You can find the recipe HERE.

Vodka Slushes = My Favorite Summer Beverage!

It was years and years ago my good friend Michaela from An Affair from the Heart shared this recipe.  It quickly became a summer tradition at our house, especially on the 4th of July.  For many summers I made this recipe, for the lake, for pool parties, whenever friends came over.  Then we got the Ninja Slushi frozen drink maker and became obsessed with creating our own unique frozen cocktails.  But this year, when July 4th rolled around I remembered old faithful.  I even keep a plastic ice cream bucket around for making these.  Nothing is more refreshing in the hot Oklahoma sun than something cold and citrusy.  And it can be made ahead, making entertaining a breeze.  Summertime, fireworks, cook-outs and good times with good friends - That means tasty beverages must be flowing.  Topping your glass off with Sprite or 7UP definitely makes such a delicious drink.  I've found over the years I like them even more with club soda or sparkling water.  Even a lime-flavored sparkling water is so delicious in this.  Don't be turned off by the name, they aren't that strong.  But a word of warning, they might sneak up on ya if you have too many!

So refreshing!
And colorful.

Just a few ingredients combined together.

Freeze in a large container,
then scoop into a glass
using an ice cream scoop.

Top with Sprite, 7UP or sparkling water.

Enjoy on a hot day.

So refreshing.

A Fourth of July Tradition

Perfect for the pool...

VODKA SLUSHES

2 large cans frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 large can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 cups vodka
1/2 cup granulated sugar
6 juice cans of water

Combine all ingredients together in a freezer-safe container until frozen.  (Mixture will not freeze solid, just slushy.)  Scoop slush mixture into glasses with ice cream scoop.  Top with chilled 7-UP or Sprite. (OR club soda or sparkling water if you want it less sweet.)

Enjoy!

NOTE: This post was first published on 7/1/11 and updated on 7/23/26

Crack Corn: The Recipe That Inspired My Blog

If you've ever wondered why I decided to name my blog The Devilish Dish, there are a couple of reasons behind the inspiration.  First of all, I thought "Devilish" would not only imply the spicy food that I love to cook, but also rich, sinful desserts that none of you could resist.  "Dish" would symbolize not only a plate of food, but "the dish" as in The Gossip, The Scoop.  If you've ever seen the skit on Saturday Night Live that is a parody of NPR's The Splendid Table, then you know they call their radio show, "The Delicious Dish."  I thought The Devilish Dish would be a nice homage to Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer.  I love listening to The Splendid Table, but I love the SNL version better.  Why the catch phrase, "So good it tastes like Jesus made it?"  A dear friend in Nebraska gave me this recipe.  It's simple, and addicting.  I mean really.  Like crack addicting.  And she should know, because they really love their corn up in Nebraska.  So I got hooked on the popcorn.  And I got everyone I know hooked on the popcorn.  I made "Oklahoma Sooners Bowl Bags" for Christmas gifts one year.  You know:  chips, salsa, popcorn.  Everything you need snack on while watching a bowl game.  I received a thank-you note from a friend that simply said, "That popcorn was so good, it tastes like Jesus made it." She's right.  It is sweet, salty and so simple to make.  

THE Popcorn.  Careful, it's addicting!



4 ingredients. 
It doesn't get any easier than that!



Combine almond bark and vegetable oil.



Microwave until smooth and pourable.



Remove any popped kernels from the popcorn.



Pour melted almond bark over popcorn. 
I like to put the popcorn in a paper sack.
Then you can just shake it really well to combine.
I usually make this popcorn in triple batches,
so the sack makes things easy.



Add sprinkles if desired. 
Let popcorn "dry" before serving.



So good it tastes like Jesus made it.



Crack Popcorn:   A.K.A. The Popcorn So Good It Tastes Like Jesus Made It

2 bags microwave popcorn, popped
3 squares white almond bark
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
sprinkles, optional

Pop the popcorn and sort out any unpopped kernels.  Melt the almond bark and vegetable oil together in the microwave until smooth.  Pour over popcorn and stir/shake until evenly coated.  Add sprinkles if desired.  Let popcorn "dry" before serving.

Prep Time:  Approximately 10 minutes     Cook Time:  0

NOTE:  You can use any kind of microwave popcorn that you like, butter/no butter, salt/no salt.  I like it with butter and salt because it is the perfect combination with the sweet white bark.  You can change the colors of sprinkles for holidays, sports teams etc...This makes a great gift packaged in a cute bag too!

Blue Cheese Potato Salad

Nothing is more American than potato salad.  Perfect all Summer long from Memorial Day to Labor Day and every cook out in between.  With all of those occasions to get together, it's time you had some new material.  Not that there is anything wrong with traditional potato salad.  This one just happens to be a nice variation.  The crisp green onions and celery are a great complement to the tangy blue cheese.  Try it for your next backyard bonanza!

Garlic Onion Burgers

I'm pretty picky when it comes to burgers.  My personal favorite would be the greasy kind with fried onions.  You know, from a bowling alley snack bar?  The rest of the family likes them cooked outside on the grill.  To me, those burgers are always dry and too thick.  A little like a meatball on a bun.  No amount of mustard, ketchup or pickles can make up for a bad burger.  These garlic onion burgers pack a ton of flavor and make a really juicy burger.  I just ate my plain.  No cheese, no mayo.  I know, I'm weird.  Hubby ate his with the works and he was still going on about what a great burger it was at bedtime.  We have a winner.  I've found a tasty, juicy burger that I can enjoy without going to the bowling alley for dinner.

The Birthday Dinner Re-Cap

We had a birthday celebration for my mom, and her twin sister tonight.  Since I had my wreck in 2010, and subsequent surgery, the two of them have been so much help to me.  I wanted to reward them with a special meal.  Since my walking is limited, I put together a menu perfect for easy entertaining.  Lots of make-ahead ideas, that allowed me some time to rest my foot!  The menu included:  Spasagna, Caesar Salad, Crusty Bread with Roasted Garlic, and a Pecan Pie Trifle for dessert.  Everything turned out to be a success!

Here's the Birthday Girls! 
And they are still this cute, even at 70!

The entree was "Spasagna" which really was like a
spaghetti in alfredo sauce, covered in a meat sauce.
Once it was baked, the spaghetti thickened up and could
be cut into squares before serving.  It was truly the perfect
"company" dish.  A HUGE hit.  I doubled the recipe and made
TWO casseroles.  It was almost all gone!  If you'd like to make
Spasagna, please visit The Country Cook.  I love her blog.
She has many wonderful recipes.  I also follow her on Facebook. 
You can find the Spasagna recipe HERE.

I made a simple Caesar Salad to accompany the Spasagna.
Everyone loves a good Caesar Salad.  I prepared the dressing
ahead.  At meal time I simply had to toss together the lettuce,
croutons, dressing and Parmesan cheese.  Not a bite left!  You can
find my directions for making Caesar Salad HERE.

No Italian meal is complete without warm, crusty bread.
Brushed with melted butter and lightly toasted. 

I roasted a few heads of garlic to spread on the bread.
The flavor makes a wonderful addition to mashed
potatoes and dips.  But my favorite way to serve it
is just like this.  With a spreader and some toasted bread.
If you'd like to learn how to roast your own garlic,
I can show you HERE.

Instead of a traditional birthday cake, I chose to make a
Pecan Pie Trifle.  My mom and aunt both love
Pecan Pie.  This just sounded too perfect.  AND, it
all started with a frozen pecan pie.  Not only did my kitchen
stay cool from not baking a pie, this dessert went together
super quickly, and in advance.  I had the chance to rest my foot!
I found the recipe at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen. 
She is extremely witty, I just love her blog.  She has lots of
yummy recipes, including the Pecan Pie Trifle.  Layers of
pecan pie cubes, a fluffy cream cheese layer, hot fudge and caramel
topping.  That's it.  It wasn't rich or anything.  Not at all.

I made my trifle in this beautiful antique bowl that
belonged to my Grandmother Mary.  (Eat your heart out
Cousin Lindsey!)  The bowl is so big, I decided to add a layer
of whipped cream and pecans.  You know, just to top it off.
Because it wasn't rich enough already.  Everything needs
a little whipped cream.  And hey, it was a birthday party!



For their gifts, I made the them Tulle Fourth of July
Wreaths for their front doors.  You know that's coming up
right around the corner.  One of my favorite holidays to celebrate.
They love it too.  Summer birthdays just make me think
Red, White and Blue!  I found the original idea for the wreath
along with the instructions HERE.  The amount of
talent and imagination that people have always amazes me.
Please be sure to visit all of these wonderful bloggers!

I added some anti-bacterial hand soap
from Bath and Body Works.  You know how I love
a theme.  I couldn't resist throwing in the Apple Pie
and Blueberry Pancake soaps. 

Here they are.  Two wreaths.  I'm used to making two of
everything.  When you're lucky enough like me to have
"Two Moms" it's the natural thing to do!