• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Lifestyle Blog

  • About
    • Work With Me
      • Delightful Life Media
    • Privacy Policy & Disclosures
  • Taste
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches
    • Dinner
      • Grilled
      • Sides
      • Pasta
      • Rice
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
      • Cocktails
      • Non-Alcoholic
    • Snacks
  • Travel
    • United States
      • Kansas
      • Missouri
      • Nevada
      • Nebraska
      • New York
      • Oklahoma
      • Texas
      • Wisconsin
    • Mexico
  • DIY
    • Projects
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

tomato

DIY: Dowel Rod Tomato Cages

July 9, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com. 

Nothing is more rewarding for this city girl than growing my own food. I did it! I actually harvested homegrown tomatoes from container pots and I barely spent any money to do it. Look at those beauties below!

Jet Star tomatoes

I made inexpensive dowel rod tomato cages instead of buying the plastic-coated or metal variety. Here’s the awesome, cost-saving breakdown:

Because I bought the Jet Set tomato plant for $1, vegetable soil $6, and three dowel rods per pot $.80 each, I’d say that’s pretty inexpensive since I’m still harvesting tomatoes and it’s only mid-July. Since I split the bag of vegetable soil between two large pots, I spent about $6 per container pot.

After you add new soil and a tomato plant, you will need the following items purchased from a local hardware store to make DIY: Dowel Rod Tomato Cages. 

dowel-rod-tomato-cages

1 DIY Dowel Rod Tomato Cage:

  • 3 dowel rods cut to the length you need
  • 1 rubber band
  • jute twine

First, I used a handsaw to cut each dowel rod down to the length taller than each plant to allow for growth. Second, I inserted each dowel rod around the circumference of the container pots interior as if I was building a teepee. Third, I used a rubber band to bring together the tops of the dowel rods. I recommend using an extra-strong rubber band like the ones that come with your store-bought broccoli if you’ve got one in the kitchen junk drawer.

Lastly, to give the tomato leaves something to grow around and to enhance the strength of the dowel rods, I wrapped twine tightly around the outside of each cage in two places.

dowel-rod-tomato-cageThat’s it! I’ve been pleasantly surprised that I haven’t needed to reposition the dowel rods or twine even after moving the pots several times. I think you’ll agree that this do-it-yourself method for building a tomato cage is not only inexpensive but incredibly easy to do.

tomato cage

Now, if you’ll excuse me. A platter of Caprese salad made from homegrown tomatoes and basil with mozzarella and drizzled with balsamic and olive oil is calling my name.

caprese salad

Someone recently told me that their favorite summer fruit is…the tomato. I don’t blame them! Yep, it’s actually a fruit. It’s such a versatile ingredient whether used fresh like in a salad or stewed in a pasta sauce like my Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce. 

If you’re in love with tomatoes this season, peel the skin and juice them to create a Michelada with Lime (think Bloody Mary made with Mexican beer) or used stewed and diced tomatoes inside Lone Star Turkey Chili with Sour Cream and Chives for tonight’s family dinner.

Happy tomato harvesting to you! I hope your container garden yields dozens of tomatoes this season. Let me know what DIY outdoor project you’re working on in the comments section below. Since you love to garden, so be sure to also check out How to Grow an Indoor Garden and How to Properly Fill a Raised Garden Bed!

tomato cage

 

 

Filed Under: DIY Tagged With: container garden, container pots, DIY, dowel rod, gardening, homegrown, tomato, tomato cage, tomatoes, urban farming, vegetable

Lone Star Turkey Chili with Sour Cream and Chives

June 11, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Looks yummy, doesn’t it?

When you’d rather get dinner on the table so you enjoy time with the family outside, this is your new go-to meal. Chili is not just a winter meal. It’s a versatile dish with many options for eating it: layered on top of a grilled hotdog, poured over bowtie pasta, inside an empanada or as the base of Frito pie.

I prefer a thick tomato based chili served as the base for a multitude of toppings. Lone Star Turkey Chili with Sour Cream and Chives is not a overly spiced chili, but if you want more heat you can add a couple smoked ancho peppers (that will crank up the heat!) to the pot or top a bowl of chili with fresh sliced jalapenos. Because people like their chili with different levels of heat, I keep it simple and provide options for toppings, like a “buffet o’ heat” ranging from bottled sriracha to sliced peppers. The sour cream cools of the heat and balances the acidic tomato flavor.

My recipe gets its name from using Texas Jet Lone Star Chili Seasoning, a packet of spices brought home by my boyfriend after a trip to Houston. However, you can make your own chili seasoning with this Taste of Home recipe, if you need it.

Saute the garlic and onions in a tablespoon of melted butter until soft before adding a pound of ground turkey. Over medium heat to medium-high heat, stir the meat with the garlic and onions continuously until it is cooked thoroughly, Because there is no grease to drain (healthier!), you can then add the canned ingredients, mix well, cover and allow to cook on a medium-low simmer until the chili reaches the consistency you prefer for serving (typically about 30 minutes).

Remember to provide options for toppings for your chili fans. I grow fresh herbs in container pots so adding fresh chive was as easy as chopping some and sprinkling them on top of added sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Chives are super simple to grow as long as you provide them partial sun, maintain moist soil, and give them drainage.

This dinner recipe will serve about 6-8 bowls of chili. If cooking for two people, like me, you will have a couple days of leftovers available to pack for lunches or freeze for later use. By preparing Lone Star Turkey Chili with Sour Cream and Chives for dinner tonight, you’ll free yourself from worrying about future meals because you’ll have extra servings on-the-ready when you’re ready to heat and eat. Free up yourself from the confines of the kitchen this summer by making a big batch of this yummy, stovetop chili to feed your family for days!

(no affiliates in this post)

onedelightfullife.com

6-8 bowls

Lone Star Turkey Chili with Sour Cream and Chives

Chili is a hearty, make-ahead meal that helps keep dinnertime chaos-free for you and your family.

20 minPrep Time

30 minCook Time

50 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves chopped garlic
  • 1 chopped white or yellow onion
  • 1 T butter
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1.5 oz (half a package) Texas Jet Lone Star Chili Seasoning
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1 can chili-ready canned beans (or pinto beans) undrained
  • 1 can chili-ready diced canned tomatoes undrained
  • 1 cup water (optional, if you think the chili is too thick)

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, melt butter and then add onions and garlic over medium heat. Stir continuously until garlic and onions are softened. Add in ground turkey and continue stirring until cooked thoroughly. Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and allow the chili to simmer at least 30 minutes. Serve in bowls garnished with sour cream, cheddar cheese and chives.

Notes

Crank up the heat by adding a pinch of red pepper flake or sriracha while the chile is simmering.

7.8.1.2
76
https://onedelightfullife.com/lone-star-turkey-chili-with-sour-cream-and-chives/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

177 cal

Fat

12 g

Carbs

18 g

Protein

2 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
ESHA Logo

Filed Under: Dinner, Taste Tagged With: ancho chiles, beans, bowl, canned, cheddar, cheese, chili, chili-ready, chives, dinner, garlic, ground turkey, hearty, heat, herbs, jalapenos, leftovers, lone star, make-ahead, meat, onions, seasoning, smoked, sour cream, spices, spicy, sriracha, stovetop, summer, taste of home, Texas, tomato

Tequila Lime Chicken with Pico de Gallo and Fresh Guacamole

May 20, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

I have no problem pretending that some days of the week are food holidays as an excuse to make celebratory food. Life is short. I don’t need rules that say it can’t be just like Super Bowl Sunday or St. Patrick’s Day.

In fact, I declare today a Cinco de Mayo again just so you can make an excuse to prepare Tequila Lime Chicken with Homemade Pico de Gallo and Fresh Guacamole. Grab a cold Tecate and your sombrero because you’ve got some serious kitchen cooking to do!

Topped with homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, and crushed tortilla chips for crunch, Pioneer Woman’s Tequila Lime Chicken goes well with a chilled Mexican beer or my Grilled Pineapple Peach Margarita made with silver tequila.

This grilled chicken dinner is multi-step but worth every moment. Seriously, have you ever purchased store bought guacamole or tried to find pico de gallo on a grocery store’s salad bar? The guacamole tastes artificial and tends to have a mouse-like texture and salad bar pico de gallo is incredibly watery. Fresh is best so don’t hesitate from making homemade guacamole and pico de gallo because the freshness of each one elevates the flavor of this dish.

First, prepare the pico de gallo in advance. Combine equal amounts of diced tomato, white onion, cilantro, and one seeded jalapeno. (Leave the seeds and pulp inside the jalapeno if you prefer more heat.) Once mixed, squeeze a half of a lime into the bowl and mix again to incorporate the juice well.

Now, let’s make the fresh guacamole. Learn how to pick out the perfect avocado here. Take your knife around the outside of each avocado and carefully remove the pit of each one. There’s a new trend called Avocado Hand. Don’t let it happen to you. Be careful! Use a knife to carefully a circle around the outside of the avocado and then cut each half into diced squares so you can scoop the avocado meat out with a spoon into the bowl. Once you’ve added the avocado to the a large bowl, add enough of the pico de gallo to the bowl and mix it gently so you leave it chunky.

Cover the guacamole bowl with plastic wrap and make sure to press the plastic against the guacamole to form a tight seal. This method, and the lime juice in the guacamole, will keep it from browning too dark and it will keep for 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Extra guacamole is a good thing. Serve with tortilla scoops chips and a fresh lime wedge.

Finally, let’s tackle the main entree Tequila Lime Chicken. Full disclosure here: this is not my recipe but instead Ree Drummond’s (Pioneer Woman’s) recipe. Her recipe requires you to use a food processor to prepare a creamy tequila based marinade and pour it into a Ziplock bag and then refrigerating it for several hours. You could also use a blender in a pinch.

While you could certainly use a mesquite flavored tequila like Jose Cuervo, I prefer a lighter silver tequila. I can thank college for that preference.

Add all marinade ingredients into a food processor.

Combine marinade ingredients in a food processor and blend well. You don’t want garlic chunks.

Add chicken breasts to marinade.

The alcohol will cook out of the marinade once the chicken is grilled but the flavor will linger. Later, you’ll remove the chicken from the bag and and grill it over medium high heat 4-5 minutes per side until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Remove the chicken from the grill and allow it to rest a couple of minutes before serving it topped with sprinkled taco cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and a sprig of fresh cilantro. Crumble tortilla chips in your hand add sprinkle them on top for added crunch. Don’t forget a wedge of lime on the side to squeeze on top of the entire plate!

Optional sides could include warmed black beans and Mexican rice with folded flour tortillas. Use some of that extra tequila to make my recipe for Grilled Pineapple and Peach Tequila Cocktail.

Mexican food is one of the best culinary experiences that people can have. -Karla Souza

Let me know what you think of these recipes in the comments section below. Happy Cinco de Mayo. Again.

 

Filed Under: Dinner, Taste Tagged With: alcohol, avocado, blender, cheese, chicken breasts, cilantro, Cinco de Mayo, cocktail, condiments, corn tortilla, Cuervo, Cuisinart, fiesta, food processor, garlic, grill, grilled, grilling, guacamole, herbs, hispanic, holiday, jalapeno, lime, lime juice, lime wedge, margarita, marinade, mexican, olive oil, onion, peach, pepper, pico de gallo, pineapple, pioneer woman, plastic wrap, salt and pepper, tequila, tomato, vegetables

Michelada with Lime

February 19, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

I used to think that people who ordered tomato juice with their beer were crazy. Why would you ruin a perfectly good beer with juice?

Then, I tried a Michelada.

I always enjoyed a spicy Blood Mary in a glass filled to the brim with towering veggies so honestly, it’s no surprise that I fell hard for Micheladas.  You will too!

Great served during the hot summer months, the Mexican cocktail also compliments taco night or burgers off the grill equally. We tend to drink a few while cheering on our team on Sunday afternoons. Lighter in flavor intensity, it’s an more approachable than a Bloody Mary.

Always prepared using a Mexican lager, I recommend Modelo, Dos Equis, or Corona as go-to brews.

Like a Bloody Mary you can add spicy flavor to a Michelada as well. I suggest swapping Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix for plain tomato juice. Don’t forget to squeeze a lime wedge into it before serving! It makes all the difference. The citrus flavor cuts the spicy tomato flavor and gives a tangy finish, which I prefer over the flavor of a lemon wedge.Let me know what you think of my Michelada recipe below! If you have the ultimate beer cocktail recipe of your own, please share it so I can add it to my recipe box.

Cheers!

onedelightfullife.com

1 cocktail

Serves 20 oz

Michelada with Lime

Amp up your red beer with a fiesta of ingredients.

10 minPrep Time

10 minTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 3 oz. tomato juice ( I prefer Clamato or Zing Zang)
  • 2 dashes Maggi
  • 2 dashes worcestershire
  • 1 dash Tobasco
  • 12 oz. can Mexican beer
  • lime wedge
  • celery salt

Instructions

  1. Rim a 20 oz beer glass in lime juice using the lime wedge
  2. Rim the glass in celery salt
  3. Pour tomato juice in glass
  4. Add remaining ingredients
  5. Finish squeezing lime wedge into Michelada

Notes

If you like a spicier drink, add more Tobasco or opt for Zing Zang in place of tomato juice.

7.8.1.2
69
https://onedelightfullife.com/michelada-with-lime/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

10 cal

Carbs

1 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
ESHA Logo

Filed Under: Cocktails, Drinks, Taste Tagged With: beer, brew, celery salt, Clamata, cocktail, Corona, Dos Eqius, juice, lime, Maggi, mexican, michelada, Modelo, red beer, tomato, worcestershire sauce, Zing Zang

Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce

January 29, 2017 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for information. 

Bolognese, or ragu, is a meaty tomato based pasta sauce that can be served on your preferred pasta. Often created with beef and some kind of sausage, it typically includes a tomato paste, chopped vegetables, and a liquid such as broth and/or wine.

When I began to make Cooking Light’s 2014 recipe for Beefy Bolognese over Penne Pasta, I quickly realized that I was out of red wine. The horror! So, I substituted more chicken stock in its place. Instead of using ground beef, I used ground turkey. The addition of chopped center cut bacon completed the meaty trilogy. Incorporating finely chopped onion, carrot, celery, tomatoes, and garlic elevated the flavors and was a sneaky way to include more vegetables into our dinner entree.

I think you’ll enjoy my Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce, a healthier, alcohol-free version of the Cooking Light recipe. Thick in consistency, it can be layered on top of freshly cooked pasta or nestled between lasagne noodles. The longer it simmers on the stove, the better it tastes at dinner time.

Top with shredded parmesan (optional) and more flat leaf parsley.

I like to organize my ingredients before starting the cooking process so I diced all vegetables and opened cans and jars before turning on the stovetop. This kind of preparation makes cooking much easier and enjoyable. You don’t feel rushed in a panic when preparing multi-step recipes like this one.

I chopped the raw bacon into small pieces before adding them to a medium-high dutch oven pot.

After cooking the bacon for about five minutes or until it reaches the crispness you prefer, add the ground turkey and Italian sausage. Cook six minutes or until brown. You will have to continually stir it to get it to crumble and cook evenly.

The Italian sausage leaves just enough grease in the pan once browned to cook the vegetables in the following steps but not enough grease to ruin the recipe.

After the meat has cooked thoroughly, remove it from the pan and set aside. Immediately add in the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic to saute for about five minutes.

Chopped your vegetables so that they are all the same size to guarantee that they cook evenly.

Add tomato paste and sauté while mixing one minute. Add stock and bring to a boil. Cook one minute, scraping the pot to loosen any browned bits.

Make sure to stir frequently.

Return the beef mixture to the pot and stir in the chopped tomatoes, pepper and salt. Cover and reduce heat to low and cook one hour. Make sure to stir the sauce several times to prevent it from sticking to the pot. Then, cook pasta according to package directions. Once the hour has expired, spoon the bolognese on top of your pasta of choice. Garnish with shredded parmesan and flat leaf parsley.

onedelightfullife.com

4 cups

Dutch Oven Bolognese Sauce

An even lighter version of Cooking Light's meat bolognese sauce. The perfect slow simmer Sunday dinner!

30 minPrep Time

1 hr, 30 Cook Time

2 hrTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe
My Recipes My Lists My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 3 chopped center-cut bacon slices
  • 8 oz lean ground turkey
  • 4 oz ground Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 c finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 c finely chopped carrot
  • 1 T. minced garlic
  • 1/4 c unsalted tomato paste
  • 1/2 c unsalted chicken stock
  • 1/3 c. dry red wine (I used more chicken stock)
  • 1 (14.5oz) can unsalted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 8 oz. pasta
  • chopped fresh flat leaf parsley (optional)
  • 1 T. shredded parmasen (optional)

Instructions

  1. Place bacon in a Dutch oven or deep pot with a lid over medium-high heat.
  2. Saute 5 minutes until crisp.
  3. Add ground turkey and ground sausage to pan and cook 6 minutes or until browned.
  4. Stir until it crumbles.
  5. Remove meat mixture from pan.
  6. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic; saute 1 minute.
  7. Add stock and bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
  8. Return meat mixture to pot; stir in tomatoes, pepper, and salt.
  9. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 1 hour, stirring several times.
  10. Cook pasta according to box directions. Serve bolognese on top of pasta and top with optional parmesan and chopped parsley.
7.8.1.2
66
https://onedelightfullife.com/dutch-oven-bolognese-sauce/
onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

1957 cal

Fat

61 g

Carbs

121 g

Protein

94 g
Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info
ESHA Logo

Shop red wine deals Shop now

Filed Under: Dinner, Taste Tagged With: bacon, bolognese, Cooking Light, dutch oven, ground turkey, Italian, pasta, penne, sauce, sausage, spaghetti sauce, tomato, wine

Shrimp Creole

June 19, 2016 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

I miss New Orleans. The people are some of the warmest, friendliest people I’ve ever met when in a big city. They don’t scowl at you or judge you for asking them questions as a tourist. Actually, they love tourists. They respect them because so much of the city relies upon tourism dollars. So, they put out the whitest of tablecloths, the freshest catch of the day, and the largest cocktail in the ultimate show of hospitality for their city’s guests. 

I still daydream of New Orleans food since our trip. My palette longs for flavorful po’ boys, blackened shrimp served bubbling hot with crusty bread, and savory etouffee. I knew I would miss the intense seasoning of the city’s dishes, so I bought River Road’s Blackened Shrimp Seasoning and grabbed this recipe from “Louisiana Cookin’: Authentic Cajun & Creole Cuisine” magazine and got busy in the kitchen. This tomato based rice dish is more like a thick stew and can be served with any shellfish. I regret not adding diced sausage to the pot while it simmered, but there’s always next time! Shimp Creole was a hit at dinner time in our house and it’s so easy to prep and prepare.

While this recipe isn't mine, it is delicious and reminds me of New Orleans. Recipe by Louisiana Cookin' magazine.

While this recipe isn’t mine, it is delicious and reminds me of New Orleans because of its intense Creole flavors. Recipe by Louisiana Cookin’ magazine.


Recipe by "Louisiana Cookin

Serves 4 servings

Creole Shrimp

The perfect high flavor entree for a lazy Sunday dinner when you have an hour to prepare dinner for the family.

10 minPrep Time

50 minCook Time

1 hrTotal Time

Save RecipeSave Recipe
Print Recipe

My Recipes
My Lists
My Calendar

Ingredients

  • 2 T. olive oil
  • 1 c. diced yellow onion
  • 3/4 c. diced green bell pepper
  • 3/4. c. diced celery
  • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, divided
  • 3 T. tomato puree
  • 1 1/2 T minced garlic
  • 3/4 c. dry white white
  • 1 28oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1 T. Worcestershire
  • 1 1/2 tsp Creole seasoning (River Road Blackened Shrimp Seasoning)
  • 1 lb. large fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined
  • 2 c. cooked white rice
  • Garnish: sliced green onions, fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. In a large Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Season with 1 tsp. salt, and cook until vegetables are slightly tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomato paste and garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add wine, and deglaze pan by using a wooden spoon to scrape browned bits from bottom of pan. Add tomatoes, Worcestershire, and Creole seasoning, stirring to combine. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Spread shrimp out on a paper towel lined platter. Season with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Add shrimp to pot and simmer 10-15 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat, and ladle into bowls. Serve topped with a scoop of hot cooked rice. Garnish with green onion and parsley, if desired.

Notes

If you want a thicker stew, add more shrimp and/or a spicy sausage. Serve with crusty bread.

7.8.1.2
10

https://onedelightfullife.com/shrimp-creole/

onedelightfullife.com

Nutrition

Calories

264 cal

Fat

8 g

Carbs

45 g

Protein

6 g

Click Here For Full Nutrition, Exchanges, and My Plate Info


ESHA Logo

Signature ODL 170x70px

Filed Under: Dinner, Rice Tagged With: Cajun, creole, Louisana, Mardi Gras, New Orleans, rice, roasted tomato, seafood, shrimp, tomato

Primary Sidebar

SEARCH

Ammar
Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

Archives

Contact Us

  • Email
    info@onedelightfullife.com

Popular Posts

Back to School Brain Breaks12K Total Shares
Going Underground in Historic Ellinwood, KansasGoing Underground in Historic Ellinwood, Kansas7K Total Shares
Weston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend VisitWeston, Missouri: Making the Most of a Weekend Visit2K Total Shares
Cucumber Lime Vodka SplashCucumber Lime Vodka Splash1K Total Shares
Sun Palace: A Couples-Only Resort in Cancun, MexicoSun Palace: A Couples-Only Resort in Cancun, Mexico522 Total Shares
  • About
  • Taste
  • Travel
  • DIY
  • Contact
  • Lifestyle
  • 100 Things to Do in Wichita Before You Die

© 2023 · onedelightfullife ·