Best Tuna Salad

Hello everybody! Anyone have any great news to tell me about how they won their chili cook-off?? :) Well, the minute I conquer ours, I will be sure to let you all know so we can celebrate all our victories together! 

Today I've got a couple of different things for you... but first things first- let's make tuna salad! Not gross, airport pre-made sandwich tuna salad. Not store bought in a tub, super mayonnaise-y tuna salad. We're going to make a healthy, good to have in the fridge all the time tuna salad! Let's make it now and you can have it for lunch! It's really that quick.... so here we go:

• 3 cans chunked albacore tuna in water- drain and put in a big mixing bowl.
• 1 can whole kernel corn and 1 can sweet peas- drain and add in with the tuna.

• slice up some grapes and throw 'em on top- I like to use chopped up, sweet hot pickles too but James can't stand them so I add them after the fact to each of my servings :)

(c'mon, doesn't that already look SO delicious? I could dive in)

• Add in 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise... in the scheme of how LARGE this bowl of tuna will be, 2 tablespoons is actually not a lot. So I personally never feel bad about this. HOWEVER, because I don't like using a lot of mayonnaise, it gets a little dry so i like to drizzle in extra virgin olive oil as well... if you prefer, totally replace the mayonnaise with olive oil and that will be totally tasty as well.
• Sprinkle a generous amount of season salt all over the top and stir well.

Now THAT is a gorgeous bowl of tuna salad! I like to eat it all by itself. James likes to melt a little slice of white cheddar cheese on top and stuff it in a pita. Or you can take a few pieces of grainy good toast and slice a thin little piece of cheese over the top and broil it for 5 minutes... glorious! ENJOY!

(my lunch James just made me while I'm writing this) ;)

NOW, just a few fun side notes.... 

Last night I received a text from my "might as well be" sister, Taylor. She asked me about some ingredients for my chicken pot pie (and I'm thinking... "could it be? is she making it?!"). The next thing I know, she's sending me photos of her process making it at home for dinner that night! So I'm VERY PROUD to show you all (Tay, I hope you don't mind!) Taylor's home made chicken pot pie! She even sent me a photo JUST of the scratch made crust!

(how perfect!)

YUM!!! Taylor way to go!! Keith, you lucky dog! That's inspiring you guys... for me and hopefully for you too!

Last, but not least, I wanted to share with you a fun little twist on a previous recipe post. James and I went out for dinner with our dear friends Nolan & Nicole last night. We decided we'd do dessert and coffee back at our place later so yesterday I was scheming.... "what to do with the ingredients I already have?" (I was comfortably snuggled in my pjs next to the fireplace and I was NOT about to go to the grocery store) After rummaging through my cupboards and recipes, I realized I had ALL the ingredients for my trusty ultimate brownies AND I had an open can of pumpkin. So what did I make? Pumpkin Ultimate Brownies.... and they were TO DIE FOR. I know, I know... pumpkin and chocolate, gross. But, no... NOT gross... very FAR from gross.... AWESOME. Adding the pumpkin made the brownies SO MOIST and perfect plus, it added this really fun, mild fall flavor to the very chocolaty treats! So if you're looking for a different recipe to take to your next office party or neighborhood gathering, give this a try... 

Make the ultimate brownies recipe just as is but before you get to adding the flour, vanilla and salt, add in 1/2 heaping cup of pumpkin and 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and blend with the electric mixer. Then proceed as normal, adding the flour, vanilla, salt and so on! YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM. They were so, SO great and Nolan & Nicole loved them. JAMES even loved them (not a big brownie lover), better than the originals actually because he LOVED their new consistency. So I'm telling you, it's a win win.

(yeah, there's only 3 left... that's a good sign)

Well, today's post has been all over the place but it's been fun! I've enjoyed it and I hope you have as well... keep sending me photos of your food ventures and if you have any questions about some of these recipes, please e-mail me and let me know! I'm happy to help you on your way! 

sidney@lovegrows.org

LOTS OF LOVE!