Balsamic Roasted Broccoli and Ranch Potato Salad

I've been in a huge cooking mood lately (and my checking account isn't happy with all the trips to Kroger I've been making). Anytime I get a new cookbook or pull out an old one, I always find myself flipping through until I get to the dessert section. I love to bake. I'm pretty sure everyone knows that about me though. I keep telling myself to work in the cooking department rather than the baking department for a while because man can't live off desserts alone, right? Or can they.....I suppose they can but maybe with a severe case of diabetes and major blood sugar problems. ANYWAYS I'm super bad at looking at food recipes in cookbooks and deciding if they'd be good or not so I just like playing with stuff and making my own recipes. Tonight I made a childhood favorite that mom still makes a lot, oven-bbq chicken. It's really easy. All you do is boil chicken until it's done, shred it, and mix in your favorite barbecue sauce. I haven't decided on my favorite recipe for bbq sauce so I just used Sweet Baby Rays. After you mix the sauce and shredded chicken, place it in a baking dish at about 400 degrees until the bbq caramelizes. It's yummy. But for my side dishes, I roasted broccoli and made a potato salad. Yall should try them. They're good ways to switch up your usual broccoli and potatoes.

I know I'm really bad about timing my food, but I promise I'll work on that!!

Balsamic Roasted Broccoli

(enough for 1 person. Easy to make for more than one though!)

4 oz. fresh broccoli

1 1/2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat to 400 degrees. Toss all ingredients in bowl. Place on cookie sheet and bake until tender.


Ranch Potato Salad

(enough for 2 people)

4 medium sized red potatoes, quartered

1 1/2 Tbsp. dry ranch dressing mix

3 Tbsp. mayo

1 t. prepared mustard

1 Tbsp. sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

Boil potatoes until tender when you poke them with a fork. Drain off all water and add the other ingredients. Combine well and serve!