Retro salad turned dip!

  If you've been to a potluck, you've seen that broccoli salad with raisins, red onions, sunflower seeds and a tangy mayonnaise dressing. It's not for everyone though. Just like some people pass on the ambrosia salad laden with coconut. The crunchy broccoli salad was my go-to for luncheons when I taught in the classroom. I would plunk down my pink Pyrex full of the crunchy stuff, and only have to take home the bowl and the spoon. People like it! It's weird! Bitter broccoli, sweet raisins, crunchy sunflower seeds, and a sauce of mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar coats every nook and cranny.  

When Southern Living featured an updated twist to this retro dish, I knew I'd like it. The dip features Greek yogurt with the mayo, the same raw broccoli, but broken down in the food processor. Adding cream cheese, cheddar and bacon to the old school salad line up makes this dip sooo good! 

My husband does NOT like raw onion or broccoli, but he approved! 

http://www.myrecipes.com/m/recipe/broccoli-salad-dip

Trisha Yearwood's recipe mirrors the one my Mom passed down to me. I've eaten this for countless holidays. Try this traditional version.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/trisha-yearwood/broccoli-salad-recipe.html

Redneck panini press

I wanted crunchy, melty and cheesy. A panini it was. I didn't want a huge ciabatta loaf in the house, so I opted for a smaller Tuscan loaf studded with roasted garlic cloves. One roasted chicken breast provided all the meat for two huge sandwiches.  A slather of store-bought pesto, salted tomatoes, sliced fontina cheese and the chicken were ready for the cast iron. I have about every kitchen tool known to man. But I don't have a blender, waffle maker or panini press. No reason really. I just don't have them. But I do have the redneck panini press...

Two cast iron pans. Easier to clean than a panini press, I guarantee. I buttered the outside of the sandwich and placed the largest side down first. My smaller cast iron skillet went on top, and I gave it a good shove. After it shrunk in size, I flipped the monster. This was restaurant quality. A mid-week treat.