Any Cooking Going on Around Here?

So no new exciting dinners lately... sort of sticking with the old standbys (roasted chicken, chicken tenders, ribs, black beans, etc.) but we have tried out a couple new recipes that are worth mentioning:

Scintillating Sangria
From TheCitySisters.com (http://www.thecitysisters.com/entertaining/scintillating-sangria)
1 12-oz can frozen lime concentrate
1 12-oz can frozen orange concentrate
1 bottle Cabernet
2 liter bottle grapefruit soda

Mix the first 3 ingredients well and put in freezer. When ready to serve, pour in pitcher and add the grapefruit soda. Surprisingly tasty.


Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Salad
This has been a staple in our house for a couple of years. It is such a great summer salad, great for pot-lucks, surprisingly fresh tasting (one of those dishes that the sum of the parts tastes better than you'd expect from the list of ingredients)
2 cups fresh grilled corn
1 diced avocado
1 pint halved cherry tomatoes (or a couple chopped up larger tomatoes works just fine)
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 T olive oil
1 T lime juice
1/2 tsp lime zest (just grate the zest from one lime)
1/4 tsp salt

Combine corn through cilantro in a large bowl. Mix olive oil, lime juice, salt and zest in a small bowl. Add to corn, avocado, tomato mixture. Serve.


Fruit on the Bottom Baked Oatmeal
From Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen

1 1/2 cups fresh fruit (thinly sliced if something like apples, etc.) (I use 2 cups)
1/2 cups milk
2/3 cups maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup butter, divided
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
2 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
4 T raw sugar
1/3 cup sliced almonds (I've left these out many times and it works fine without them)

Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter, pour 1/4 cup into the bottom of a 9-inch square baking dish. Arrange sliced fruit on top of the butter and sprinkle with 2 T raw sugar. Set aside. (When I've made with berries of any sort, I've not put in the melted butter and I've added some cinnamon sugar)

In a medium bowl, mix together milk, maple syrup, eggs, remaining butter and vanilla.

In a large bowl, whisk together oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well. Pour over the fruit and smooth the top. Sprinkle with almonds and remaining 2 T raw sugar.

Bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes or until browned on top and fruit is bubbly. Allow to cool slightly. Serve with milk, cream or vanilla sauce.