C is for Chicken Pasta Grape Salad

Happy Monday to my already-followers, new followers, crusaders and A-Z challengers!! Welcome to Mood Munchies Monday at The QoP ~ :)

And sticking with the A-Z challenge letter "C", my recipe today is for a great, springy, picnic pasta salad that in my humble opinion, is DE-LISH!

Here you go:

Chicken Pasta Grape Salad

Ingredients:
1 box bow tie pasta
chicken breast, cut up bite-size
red-seedless grapes
2 bunches green onions
small can cashew pieces
1 bottle Hidden Valley ranch coleslaw dressing
1 bottle Kraft coleslaw dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
sugar

Cook the pasta as instructed.  While pasta is cooking, combine the 2 bottles of coleslaw dressing, the mayo and a sprinkle of sugar and mix well.  Add the cooked chicken pieces (I'd say about 2 cups), the sliced up green onions, the sliced up grapes (as many as looks good to you - 1-2 cups), and 1/2 to full can of cashew pieces.  Drain pasta, cool with cold water, drain well.  Add to dressing mix.  Let sit in refrigerator for at least an hour.  Mix and serve!!

So, what does this recipe have to do with writing?  Well...not much.  Except that it's so yummy that after eating it, you'll likely feel so euphoric that pure genius will flow right from your fingertips!  Worth a try, right?  :)

Need a Writing Snack? J.K. suggests potato crisps...

So, as I was considering recipes for today's Mood Munchies Monday ~ I wondered what foods some of my favorite authors turned to when they get those nagging tummy rumbles.

I think J.K. Rowling had a great explanation for one of her go-to snack foods when writing.  I found a quote about it HERE.

"“When I write, sophisticated foods are difficult to eat one-handed. Crisps (potato chips) are good,” she said.


Now, I suppose you could just run to the store and pick up some of these:

But, I wonder if Ms. Rowling had something more like this in mind:

(source)

Depends on if I feel like cooking or not - but, either yummy option can be eaten with one hand.  But, if you'd like to begin one creative venture by dabbling in another (cooking IS an art form!!), here's a recipe for Herbed Potato Crisps:

Ingredients:

- 3 large potatoes
- 2 T. oil
- 1/2 t. fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 t. oregano
- 1/2 t. thyme
- 1/2 t. sage
- 1/2 t. rosemary
- celery and garlic salt to taste

What you do:

*Preheat oven to high temp.  Clean and cut unpeeled potatoes into thin slices.  Place on well-oiled cookie sheets.  Brush all slices well with oil and mixed herbs.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are well-browned and crisp.  Sprinkle with combined salts (if desired) and serve.  OR eat one-handed as you write... :)

Who knows...?  The next time you're hunkered down writing, pop of few chips/potato crisps in your mouth.  What you write as you eat just might be the next world-wide sensation to hit print!  (Never hurts to try....right?)

What's your favorite writing snack? 

Happy Writing!

Balls!! Of the popcorn persuasion....

(*disclaimer: the recipes you may find here from time to time on Mood Munchies Mondays will by no means be healthy.  So, if you're trying to trim the fat, cut carbs, be fit, eat more veggies, etc...oh, heck!  Stick around.  You've got "cheat" days, don't you?)

Happy Monday, everyone!!  So, today's post will be short and sweet - literally!  A super easy recipe and a sure-fire sugar fix!  I give you:

Popcorn Balls

Here's what you'll need:

1 cube margarine/butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 t. vanilla (I add a bit more)
1/2 cup white corn syrup
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2-3 packages movie theater buttery microwave popcorn OR 6 qts. natural air-popped pop corn (I go with the microwaveable bags w/extra butter...umm, yeah...)

Here's what you do:

In a heavy sauce pan, bring all ingredients (less the popcorn) to a boil, boil for 3 minutes.  Take off heat and stir, stir, stir to a smooth consistency.  Pour over your popcorn.  Stir well to coat.  *You can either eat it straight out of the bowl or form into popcorn balls.  Wetting hands with water helps in the forming of balls.

And then you eat them, of course!!!  Soooo yum.

*But, how does this tie to writing, you ask?  Simple.  If you ever need to mindlessly mull over an idea, a problem spot, an edit, a choice...this delicious, addicting treat is a silent friend  you can gnaw on with one hand as you let your mind wander.  If your WiP is really giving you trouble?  You can also throw a popcorn ball.  It will likely stick to a wall, which - let's face it.  That's just good fun.  :)  And don't forget - this nummy treat you're enjoying?  Just like your initial idea, your little kernel of a story - it didn't really get good until you applied a little heat and popped it open and layered it with some sweet plots and deliciously delightful characters.

Happy writing today!