The Dacula Cookbook: No More Wondering What’s for Dinner

Welcome to the first edition of the Dacula Cookbook. Your dinner worries end here. This is the hot new place to find and share great recipes with your Dacula friends and neighbors. We hope you enjoy, share and comment on this new weekly feature written especially for busy people like you.  

It only takes two words to peak any one's interest when it comes to putting dinner on the table this summer: simple and savings. These words are music to our ears. When it is 90+ degrees outside, spending hours in a hot kitchen sounds miserable. Making a nice dinner for you and your family should never be miserable, so keep it simple. This meal plan is super simple and inexpensive too. Each of the recipes in this meal plan have only a few ingredients. The recipes also share ingredients. This is a great way to make the most of every dollar you spend. Your family and your bank account will love this cool summer meal.

Simple Saucy Shrimp Tacos    
Tacos are a go to family favorite. These Simple Saucy Tacos put a cool summer twist on a classic family pleaser. With only seven ingredients and three simple steps dinner will be on the table in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon on olive oil
8 oz shrimp
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 cup chunky salsa
⅓  cup sour cream
8 6-inch flour or corn tortillas
1 cup coleslaw mix
salt and pepper to taste
* TIP: Do you have picky eaters that do not like shrimp? Try the recipe with roasted chicken.  

Preparation:
1. In a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Add shrimp and garlic. Cook 4 to 6 minutes or until shrimp are pink. Add salsa and sour cream. Stir until heated through.
2. Place tortillas on a microwave-safe plate in between two damp paper towels. Heat in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.
3. Fill the tortillas with desired amount of coleslaw mix and shrimp mixture.

Asian Slaw with a Crunch
Asian slaw is another refreshing summer twist on an old classic. It is a definite family favorite as well. The light dressing makes any adult happy, and kids love the added crunch of chow mien noodles. The recipe saves you money by using the rest of the coleslaw mix from the Simple Saucy Shrimp Tacos to make a side dish for the meal.

Ingredients:
2 cups coleslaw mix
⅓ cup chow mien noodles
¼  cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoons soy sauce
1 dash ground ginger
salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
1. Place coleslaw mixture, almonds and the chow mien noodles in a large bowl, and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix all of the remaining ingredients. Add to coleslaw mixture.
3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for all of the flavors to blend.

Haystack Cookies
A great summer meal would not be complete without dessert. And a great summer dessert is one that can be made without even turning on the oven. By using the leftover chow mien noodles, you save money and get a dessert too. This recipe is so simple that you can get the kids in the kitchen for this one. It is a bit messy, but it is a lot of yummy fun!

Ingredients:
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon butter
1 ½ cups chow mien noodles

Preparation:
1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.
2. Place chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe container. Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir, and repeat for 30 seconds if necessary, until chocolate is melted.
3. In a large bowl, combine chow mien needles and chocolate mixture. Stir until well-coated.
4. Make cookies by using a tablespoon and placing small stacks of the mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store at room temperature.

As the author of the new Dacula Cookbook I wanted to start by sharing one my family favorite meals. I hope you enjoy this simple summer meal. Now, I would love hear about your favorite recipes. This weekly feature is for you, so let me know what recipes you would like to share or see. Click here to email your favorite recipes and tell all of your Dacula friends about this great new feature. Until next week, keep living a life filled with food, friends and fun!