Simple Tomato Salad

The leftovers demonstrate what epople choose so lets take a look at testing a dish and how to come to a consensus. To me this means listen carefully to the consumers (those you are serving) and look at the bowl following the meal to see what is left over. These two simple measuremenbts are key in recipe development. They have been a great guide for decades. It just works!

I am always reminded of a time we wer on the way to a pot luck at our son’s school. Everyone brought fancy salads, some of which were hard to recognize what was in them. Over initial protests from my honey, I  was allowed to bring a large bowl of mashed potatoes. Next to all the fancy dishes at the party, it may have seemed a bit plain. The truth was revealed at the end of the dinner party bya simple comparison of a bowl that is completely empty next to some that have barely been touched. It was easy to see that this was the most popular dish of all. That Mashed potato bowl scraped clean, and I mean really clean.

Now I love to use this measuring method when I make a new dish Such is the case with this Simple Tomato Salad. The bowl returns empty, and the guests are oh so pleased. I think  you will be too. Enjoy!

Tomato Salad by Charley Carlin

Simple and Popular Tomato Salad

Ingredients

A Pile of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
A couple clove garlic, finely minced
A splash of olive oil
A splash of seasoned rice vinegar
A small pile of minced cilantro
A dash of salt
Possibly a pinch of pepper
Oh Yes, I liked to add a couple minced scallions too!

Mix it all and chill and serve!
Make it in the Morning and you have one dish for dinner completed!
Way to easy.

Charley Carlin - Blogger!

Charley Carlin

About The Chef

Charley Carlin loves to scan recipes on the internet and put them in the blender of his mind to create combinations that come from the ingredients he typically has in his kitchen. Flavor and colorful presentation are paro pf the joy of cooling.

Brocolli Salad

Broccoli Salad by Charley Carlin
Broccoli Salad – Yummie!

This dish is a constant favorite at our house.  Again and again the platter returns empty. So lets get to It! This one you can make in the morning and chill for dinner. It’s quick (after you get the water boiling) and fun!
Get a couple pounds of broccoli with stems is good. trim the small leaves from the stems and a bit of the end of the stem. Cut the Broccoli so the individual flowerettes have a long piece of stem with them. I just rotate the broccoli and trim off the piece that gives me a full little head of broccoli with a chunk of stem.
Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 5 minutes – Drain the broccoli and put cold water on the broccoli to stop the cooking process.

Charley Carlin Cooks Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad Setup
  • 1.5 tablespoons peanut oil
  • 1 table spoon sesame seed oil
  • mince 4 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of soy
  • mince 3-4 scallions

Mix it all together and add a couple tablespoons of sesame seeds into the mix. Stir gently then pour this mixture on the broccoli and roll the whole mess around until the broccoli is coated with the sauce.arrange the pieces on a platter and put it in the refrigerator for an least an hour or more. Enjoy Thanks go to Ken Hom and his book Chinese Cookery – He is a starting point for many of my Chinese / California-ized Recipes or use this link to get to Ken on You Tube for a bunch or recipes!!


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Summer Bean Salad

The Summer Bean Salad is very simple, easy to create, and tastes so nice. It has been a favorite for many of our guests and for me it is a good lunch now and then.
Just Chop, gently mix and chill! The number and types of beans can be varied to suit your tastes or what is in the pantry. I love to mix for color and presentation, although I do have my favorites types. The recipe really is this easy.

Ingredients

1 – can – 15 1/2 ozs black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 – can – 16 ozs butter beans beans (rinsed and drained)
1 – can – 16 ozs pinto beans (rinsed and drained)
(red kidney beans would also work well and they add color)
2 jalapenos seeded and minced
1/2 red bell pepper (minced)
1/2 red onion (minced)
2 stalk celery (finely chopped)
1/2 a bunch of cilantro leaves (finely chopped)
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin


Recipes and more by Charley CarlinAbout The Chef – Charley loves to cook for a group, whether the group is six or twenty. Creating new concoctions from others recipes by altering quantities, leaving out some parts and adding other parts creates his personal style.  All of his recipes are available for everyone to use.

Charley’s Kitchen – Six Bean Salad

6 Bean Salad by Charley Carlin

The has been a real hit at our table.

Here in Charley’s Kitchen I took my Summer Bean Recipe and modified it for a larger batch and added a few twists. This recipe can be modified at will. For instance Anet does not care for the butter beans, so I simply do not put them in that batch. Each batch is a bit different abd they all are simple, easy, and taste so nice.

A real raving favorite for some of our guests! Just Chop, mix and chill! It really is that easy.

Charley’s Kitchen – Ingredients

Charley's Kitchen - Creating is easy - By Charley Carlin

Simple and Straightforward


Charley's Kitchen - Good Food Starts Here!- By Charley Carlin

Fresh Red Bell Peppers are so sweet!


Charley's Kitchen - Good food and Great Fun By Charley Carlin

Seeded and Minced the jalapeno is a mild addition to the salad (optional)

1 can – 15 oz black beans (rinsed thoroughly and drained)
1 can – 15 oz butter beans beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz pinto beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz red kidney beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz pinquito beans (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz white kidney beans (cannellini beans) (thoroughly rinsed and drained)
1 can – 15 oz diced tomatoes (juice and all) Continue reading