Tay’s Balsamic Watermelon Strawberry Salsa – And, a few ideas for it! Including EASY & HEALTHY Pizzas!

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1/2c Strawberries, chopped
1c Watermelon, cubed small
1 can Basil Oregano Garlic Diced Tomatoes, DRAINED
1/2c Sweet Mini Bell Peppers, chopped
2tsp Balsamic Vinegar
2tsp Green Onions, minced
1/4tsp Sea Salt
1/2tsp Garlic Powder
2-3T Red Onions (I did 2.5T)
1/2tsp Lemon Juice (100% Fridge Kind)
1/4tsp Dried Mint
1tsp Fresh Cilantro, minced (Try WITHOUT FIRST, then add)

– Optional (I skipped. Forgot.):
1tsp Jalapeno, deseed Minced
1/2c Goat Cheese or Crumbled Feta (Optional, I skip for Pizza)

Toss all. Allow to Marinade 20 minutes.
Ideas for Use: Salsa for Chips. Salsa for Sweetened Shells (Fry Soft Shell in Butter. Toss in Sugar and Cinnamon.) Serve as Topping for Wrap, Sandwich, Balsamic Burgers, or Quesadillas. Or, as we did… MAKE Taco Shell Pizza.
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Tay’s Chicken/Bacon w/ Balsamic Watermelon/Strawberry Salsa Pizzas:
Chicken (I marinaded in White Vinegar and McCormick’s Montreal Steak)
Bacon
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Shredded Cheese of Choice
Grated Parmesan Cheese (Store shelf kind)
Tay’s Balsamic Watermelon and Strawberry Salsa
Soft Shells
Pepper, Dried Oregano (Oregano Optional)

I marinaded Chicken 1hr. Cut up. I added Avocado Oil to skillet. Cooked Chicken, if excess juices- Drain it, to help crispify (Especially, for Bacon). Add in Bacon to Chicken. Cook all (Draining excess juices, if needed). Cut up all to smaller pieces. Or toss all in Oven, Bake.
Butter Flavor Cooking Spray Baking Pan. Lay in Soft Shells (Optional to Butter Spray OUTSIDE Edges, to help brown). Top with Chicken, then Bacon. Top with Salsa. Top with Cheeses of Choice (I used Moz., then sprinkle of Pepperjack.+Jalapeno, then, a small sprinkle of Cheddar). Sprinkle Tops with Grated Parmesan (Be sure to get the outside Edge nicely), Pepper, and Dried Oregano (Optional)
Bake, uncovered, at 450 for about 8 minutes.

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Ballsy Pig Pies (DELICIOUS Balsamic Bacon N Berry Pizza)

AMAZING Pizza! A favorite in our house… Kids included!

Soft Flour Taco Shells (I used Baja Cafe Burritos)
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Pizza Sauce:
2T Balsamic Vinegar
1/2T Sweet Chili Thai Sauce
1/16tsp Garlic Powder
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Toppings:
Baked Bacon, cut to pieces
Shredded Mozzarella
Red Onions, sliced thin
Spinach, rough chop
Dried Sweetened Cranberries *See Notes
Grated Parmesan Cheese (Store shelf kind)
Dried Parsley

Bake Bacon on foil in pan at 450 (Preheat not needed) for about 12-15minutes.
Heat up a Sauce-Pan on stove top. Pour in Balsamic Vinegar. Cook down some. (Mine was quick to cook down!). Turn off heat. Add in Chili Sauce and Garlic. Stir, gettin all that Balsamic.
BUTTER FLAVOR COOKING SPRAY Baking Pan. Lay on Taco Shells in pan.
LIGHTLY/Barely brush sauce onto Soft Shell. Top with Shredd. Cheese. Top with Onions, Spinach, Bacon, and Cranberries (See Notes). Sprinkle with Grated Parm. Cheese and Parsley. Bake 450 for about 8 minutes.

*NOTES: You can choose to use Fresh Strawberry Slices in place of Cranberries. Strawberry Jam can be “Tried” in place of Sweet Thai Chili Sauce (I suggest trying chili, tho!) This recipe made two Burrito Shell Size Pizzas worth. Regular Pizza Crust can be used. I chose shells to cut calories and carbohydrates.
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Bacon Berry Smoothered Chicks (Chicken topped with Balsamic Strawberry and Bacon Glaze) Chicken

Chicken Breasts, thawed

CHICKEN Marinade (4 hours):
2T Soy Sauce
1tsp Sesame Seed Oil
1/2tsp TO 3/4tsp Cumin
1/8tsp Ginger
1tsp Onion Flakes
1/8tsp Sea Salt

Balsamic Bacon & Strawberry Glaze:
1/3T Butter
1c (Plumply filled) Strawberries, sliced
1/8tsp Vanilla (Optional)
1/8tsp TO 1/4tsp Brown Sugar (Optional)
2.5T Balsamic Vinegar
2-3 Bacon Sliced, baked and crumbled

Mix marinade in ziploc bag. Add in desired amount of chicken. (We did “About’ 2lb./3 good sized breasts). Mix around occasionally. Marinade about 4 hours. CHARCOAL GRILL chicken (It’s best that way). Top with Glaze.
Glaze: I bake bacon in foil (450 for 15minutes- No need to preheat). Cool, crumble.
In pan, heat butter. Add in Balsamic Vinegar. Bring to boil for 1 minute, stirring. Add in rest. Cook down some. Top over cooked chicken.

Notes: Vanilla and sugar is optional. Maybe you want to skip the extra sweetness. Adults like it skipped, kids like it with. Also, adding 1/4tsp bacon grease to glaze cooking, is optional. We skip.
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Strawberry Chicken Bacon Salad

With the LOADS of Strawberries grown in the garden… We’ve been finding ways to use them, outside our pies, shortcakes, rolls, etc.  Salad it is!

1 Chicken per Salad (Charcoal grill chicken. Once chicken is just about done on grill. LIGHTLY brush a very little Lemon Juice on each side.)
Bacon (Place foil on baking dish. Bake in UN PREHEATED oven at 425 for 12-15minutes)

Salad:
Spinach (Optional)
Red Romaine Lettuce
Reg. Lettuce
Red Onion, sliced
CHIPOTLE Cheese, cubed
Strawberries, halved

Dressing: 
We used WISHBONE Ranch. Your Preference. TRY Tay’s DEVINE Balsamic Dressing or Poppyseed Dressing.

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EASY DIY Plant Tower

I love saving money! I love getting many uses of things. This is a Crate Tower… You’ve seen those wonderful plant towers, strawberry hanging towers (The Topsy Turvy types) … Well, here’s one with crates.
2-3 Crates. Line with Weed Paper. Optional: Make holes bigger or use larger holed crates, etc. Fill with good dirt. Razor some holes. Plant FLOWERS, STRAWBERRIES, or BOTH!, Etc.  It will fill in nicely! Will even cover the crates,  looking like a Beautiful Flower Tower!  This will, also, protect strawberries from the diseases they get from the ground!

Note: I wouldn’t stack too high, unless you have a metal pole through center and into ground for support. Also, WATERING. Take a PVC that will fit through crate holes. Cap off bottom. Drill holes. Fill with water. (Or intertwine drip hose). ENDLESS OPTIONS!

Ohh the Many Bakes of Cakes

For the kiddos Birthdays, I’m always trying out combos. One of our favorites for YEARS is the Chocolate and Strawberry. But, as the years go on, the kiddos and I put our heads together to create a cake, JUST FOR THEM! Frosting flavor/color was picked by the kiddos. They did an amazing job!
Here are some mixes we have tried:


– Strawberry Lemonade:
In two separate bowls!
Bowl #1 Lemon Cake Box w/ LEMONADE to REPLACE WATER it calls for.
Bowl #2 Strawberry Cake Box w/ Strawberry Milk to REPLACE Water
PLUS, 1c Strawberries, Chopped, added to Strawberry Bowl.
DIRECTIONS: In a pan (Spray/Butter if it calls for it), Zig Zag cake mixes, alternating! Til each is gone. Carefully, without shaking a lot, place it into Oven, Bake according to instructions (I always use the high/longer time). FROSTING IS OPTIONAL… Whip Cream/Ice Cream can be used!

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– Strawberry Chocolate:
In two separate bowls!
Bowl #1: Favorite Chocolate Cake Box. REPLACE WATER it calls for WITH CHOCOLATE MILK! Add rest of ingredients (Except water) it calls for.
Bowl #2: Favorite Strawberry Cake Box. REPLACE WATER it calls for WITH STRAWBERRY MILK! Add rest of ingredients (Except water) it calls for.
DIRECTIONS: In a pan (Spray/Butter if it calls for it), Zig Zag cake mixes, alternating! Til each is gone. Carefully, without shaking a lot, place it into Oven, Bake according to instructions (I always use the high/longer time).

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– Banana That Split Cake (Banana Split Cake)
1 Mix Vanilla Cake Mix
+ add Ingredients boxed cake calls for (Eggs, oil, Replace Water with Milk, that the boxed cake calls for*)
1 can Crushed Pineapple, drained as much as you can.
1 can Strawberry Pie Filling
2-3 Bananas
Whipped Cream
Chocolate Fudge Syrup (Optional)

Preheat oven according to boxed cake mix. Mix cake mix, eggs, oil, milk, mashed bananas. Butter cake pan. Spread out pineapple to cover bottom. Spoon on strawberry filling to cover bottom. Evenly distribute cake mix over that. Bake accordingly. Top each serving with whipping cream and a little swirl of chocolate fudge.
*Try Vanilla Milk, or flavored milk, instead!

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Banana Chocolate Cake
1 Box Favorite Chocolate Cake (I believe we used Chocolate Fudge)
1 Nicely Ripe Banana
Ingredients box cake calls for (Use milk instead of Water- Chocolate Milk is optional)

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*** PLUS, MORE TO COME!!! So, keep checking back! ***

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