Onion baked rice is one of my favorite sides to make. It's so easy. I always have the ingredients on hand. Everyone in the family loves it and it pairs nicely with just about anything; chicken, pork, beef, fish, even Mexican inspired dishes like these easy weeknight chicken  fajitas and these kid friendly oven baked tacos. 

Any long grain white rice will work. I used Jasmine rice in the baked rice pictured above. 

Make this simple, elevated onion baked rice next time you crave a cozy side. Bonus...it's also budget friendly. 

1 Tbsp. butter
1 sweet onion, diced
2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cups long grain white rice 
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Salt to taste


Directions
1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2.  In an ovenproof skillet or dutch oven, saute the onion in butter until softened and lightly caramelized.  Add the rice and olive oil and lightly brown the rice.  
3.  Bring the broth to a boil in a separate pan, then pour over the rice, be careful because this can create hot steam. 
4.  Bake covered for 30 to 40 minutes, until rice is tender and fluffy.  
5. Salt to taste, if needed.

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It's been a busy weekend with soccer games, a 4-H meeting, and a birthday party for our 13 year old so this post is a couple of days late. Prices are good until Tuesday September 27th. Happy homemaking! There are lots of great recipes in this week's post! 

I am a regular Kroger and Aldi shopper. I usually go to both stores weekly with some stops in my local Walmart as needed. I drive 25 minutes to get to Kroger and Aldi so I plan my shopping trips to stock up on the things we need and save our family money. Kroger prices do vary by region so make sure to check your local ad before heading to the store. I live in southern IL so the prices I post are accurate for my area. (This is not a sponsored post, I am just sharing because I am happy with my experience of shopping at Kroger.) 

With the increasing costs of groceries, I decided to start sharing what I think are the best deals at Kroger each week. I do most of my grocery shopping at Kroger. I probably buy more groceries than most families since I am feeding four growing boys (I have a high-schooler with a bottomless stomach, lol) and you may not need the things that I purchase, but hopefully you will find something useful.

Here are some of this week's good deals. Screamin' Sicilian frozen pizza is $4.99 with the digital coupon. We love their thin crust pizza! Progresso soup is $1.49 when you buy 8. This is a stock up price. Kroger crunchy butterfly shrimp 2 lb. bag is $7.99 with the digital coupon. 
​

Ballpark beef hot dogs are $3.49 with digital coupon which you can use up to 5 times. I bought Uncured Angus beef franks which are usually $6.49 each to stock the freezer. Considering the steep price of eggs right now, these 18 count Eggland's Best eggs for $3.49 with digital coupon are actually a pretty good deal. 

Favorite egg recipes:
Migas
​​Bacon, Mushroom and Spinach Quiche
​BLT Egg Sliders
​Savory Dutch Baby
​Dutch Baby
​
If you are feeling festive for Halloween season you might like these easy Mummy Dogs.
​

I had a digital coupon for $5.00 off 2 Burt's Bees toothpastes so bought 2 for $4.99 each minus $5 making them 2 for $4.98. Their is a digital coupon for Schick razors which makes these $5.99 each. Apparently, I had two more digital coupons on my Kroger card which took another $4.00 off each razor making them only $1.99 each. 

I bought a bag of 99 cents reduced onions since we go through a lot of onions quickly in our house. Our favorite Panera blue cheese dressing was half price and I found these goli supplements in the clearance bins marked down to $1.99 each from $14.99 each. 

Gala apples or Bartlett pears are 99 cents a pound with Kroger card this week. Yoplait yogurt cups are 10 for $8 with card plus there is a digital coupon for $3 off 10 making them 10 for $5. I actually had another 50 cents off digital coupon making them 10 for $4.50 or 45 cents each. The kids thought these were a big treat. 
​

Favorite apple recipes:
Fried Apples (so easy)
Dehydrating Pears and Apples in my Instant pot duo crisp
​Apple Slab Pie
​Apple Crisp
​Homemade Applesauce
​

There is a really good stock up deal on cheese this week. With the weekly deal digital coupons you can buy 5 packages of Kroger sliced cheese and 5 packages of Kroger shredded cheese for $1.49 each. You will need to load both digital coupons to your Kroger card.

Did you know that you can easily freeze shredded cheese? I always buy it on sale and freeze to have on hand for recipes. It will thaw quickly, plus you can add frozen shredded cheese to a recipe as long as you can break up the cheese. Just freeze shredded cheese in the original package. 

Some of our favorite recipes that use shredded cheese:
​Low Carb Italian Spaghetti Squash and Sausage Bake
​Baked Cauliflower "Mac & Cheese"
Broccoli, Chicken, and Cauliflower "Rice" Casserole
​Bacon, Mushroom, and Spinach Quiche
​
​We also love these hot ham sandwiches which I make with sliced provolone cheese. Perfect for parties and potlucks. I made these for my sons birthday party last weekend. 

​Select varieties of Arm and Hammer Laundry detergent are just $2.99 with the weekly deal digital coupon. 

My Kroger store was sold out of the deal on pork Boston butt for $1.29 lb. with card when I was there on Friday. If your store has this, it's a great deal. I make these yummy pork carnitas with pork Boston butt (pork shoulder) which is always great for a party. I also made pork carnitas for my son's birthday party last weekend using a pork shoulder we already had in the freezer from a pig we raised and some beef brisket. I just cooked both meat cuts together using my pork carnitas recipe. It was delicious. I served with tortillas, salsa, lettuce, shredded cheese, sweet corn and black bean salad and I offered buns and BBQ sauce for kids who would rather have a BBQ sandwich. Everyone seemed to enjoy the party buffet. 

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Since we have lots of fresh sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, and onions from the garden and it's 96 degrees outside, we have really been enjoying this fresh corn and black bean salad. It goes perfectly with chicken, fish or pork as a delicious side and is so good leftover right out of the fridge. I made a lettuce salad for lunch today and topped it with fresh corn and black bean salad. It is so good! My son made nachos after school and used it as a salsa. Salad or salsa, it's delicious anyway you serve it. 

This fresh corn and black bean salad is so easy to make. It only takes a few minutes to prep the veggies then combine and you're done. You can use fresh corn right off the cob, but I use leftover steamed corn on the cob or microwave it for a couple of minutes before cutting it off the cob. 

​So flavorful, so fresh and absolutely delicious!

Fresh sweet corn and Black bean salad:

1 can 15 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed
2 ears sweet corn
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
3-4 medium tomatoes, diced
1 small bell pepper, diced (any color)
Handful of chopped fresh cilantro
Juice of 1/2 lime or 1 Tbsp. bottled lime juice (can add more to taste)
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
Pinch up to 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (depending on desired heat)
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. Salt
Pepper (optional) to taste

1. Cut the corn off of the cob and place it in a mixing bowl.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine.

This can be made a few hours before serving and refrigerated until needed. Leftovers are also great for 2-3 days when refrigerated. 

Looking for a great salsa recipe? This is our favorite salsa which I make from canned tomatoes in the food processor. 

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​I am a regular Kroger and Aldi shopper. I usually go to both stores weekly with some stops in my local Walmart as needed. I drive 25 minutes to get to Kroger and Aldi so I plan my shopping trips to stock up on the things we need and save our family money. Kroger prices do vary by region so make sure to check your local ad before heading to the store. I live in southern IL so the prices I post are accurate for my area. (This is not a sponsored post, I am just sharing because I am happy with my experience of shopping at Kroger.) 

With the increasing costs of groceries, I decided to start sharing what I think are the best deals at Kroger each week. I do most of my grocery shopping at Kroger. I probably buy more groceries than most families since I am feeding four growing boys (I have a high-schooler with a bottomless stomach, lol) and you may not need the things that I purchase, but hopefully you will find something useful.
​

To learn more about how to use the Kroger card and digital coupons follow the link below. ​

The Kroger weekly ad priced whole seedless watermelons at $2.99, but in my store I found they were actually only $2.00. In fact it rang up $1.99. We are about to have another hot week here in southern IL, so cold watermelon will sound really good. (no e-coupon needed for this deal, just your Kroger card)
​

This week you can buy boneless chuck roast Buy 1 Get 1 free of equal or lesser value. They are priced at $6.99 a pound so if you buy two similarly priced roasts and the second roast is free, you will spend around $3.49 a pound which is really good for beef roasts right now making it a good time to stock the freezer. ​(no e-coupon needed for this deal, just your Kroger card)
​

This is a really good deal on Perdue chicken drumsticks or thighs, 5 lb. bag for $5. I have been buying these chicken thighs and they are really good. You just can't beat $1 a pound for chicken thighs. We have been enjoying lots of grilled chicken thighs (easy recipe coming soon). I actually prefer chicken thighs over chicken breasts because they have more fat and consequently more flavor. ​(no e-coupon needed for this deal, just your Kroger card)

Some of our favorite chicken recipes:
Balsamic Roasted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
​Easy One Pot Slow Cooker Chicken Dinner
Chicken Noodle Soup (with bone-in chicken)
​

Kroger breakfast sausage links or patties (12 oz.) are $1.99 this week. This is a weekly digital deal so you will need to load the e-coupon to your Kroger card which can be used up to 5 times in one transaction. Weekly sale price without e-coupon is $2.49 each with card. This is a great stock-up price. I stashed a few of these in the freezer for easy breakfasts. 

We love this recipe for buttermilk biscuits.
And this recipe for sausage gravy, although I usually use a roll of sausage to make it, you could crumble the patties to make sausage gravy. 
​

Johnsonville smoked sausage is just $3.49 this week with the (use up to 5 times) digital coupon. (This is a weekly digital deal). Great for an easy dinner on the grill or some delicious Shrimp and sausage gumbo. Another good recipe to use shrimp if you took advantage of last week's shrimp deal. 
​

There is a good deal on Progresso soup this week. Only $1.49 each when you buy 8 or more in the same transaction with your Kroger card. (no e-coupon needed) My boys love Progresso soup so I stocked up. My high schooler likes to make himself a can of soup for a snack or lunch.

​Last night, my husband had a school board meeting, my oldest had an away football game and my third son had a one hour soccer practice which is 30 minutes away so we had an easy dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches and canned tomato soup. What are your go-to busy night dinners?
​

Tillamook cheese is one of my favorite cheeses, but it is usually more expensive. This week it is buy 1, get 1 free with your Kroger card (no digital coupon needed) making it a good stock up price. 

Did you know that you can easily freeze shredded cheese? I always buy it on sale and freeze to have on hand for recipes. It will thaw quickly, plus you can add frozen shredded cheese to a recipe as long as you can break up the cheese. Just freeze shredded cheese in the original package. 

Some of our favorite recipes that use shredded cheese:
​Low Carb Italian Spaghetti Squash and Sausage Bake
​Baked Cauliflower "Mac & Cheese"
Broccoli, Chicken, and Cauliflower "Rice" Casserole
​Bacon, Mushroom, and Spinach Quiche
​Slow Cooker Lasagne
​

Koger 1/2 milk gallons are on sale this week for 99 cents each with a weekly digital deal coupon. You can use this coupon up to 5 times in one transaction. I usually buy milk at Aldi for a better price than Kroger, but this week the Kroger price is better so I bought 5 half-gallons. The boys go through it pretty quickly. There is also a weekly digital coupon for 99 cents Kroger apple juice and one for $1.49 18 count Kroger eggs. I haven't bought eggs in a long time since we have chickens, but this is a good deal if you need eggs. You can see our sweet chickens on my instagram reel here and follow me on instagram while you are there for a glimpse into our little homestead. 

Favorite recipes that use milk: 
​Coconut Oil Waffles
Dutch Baby
Baked Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oatmeal
​

I don't normally buy these, but for the price I did since they will be a treat for the kids. These are $3.29 each, but I had a digital coupon on my Kroger card for $5.50 off three making them $9.87-$5.50=$4.37 or $1.45 each. If this is something you would buy, check your Kroger card to see if you can clip the digital coupon. 
​

Mom's Best cereal is on sale this week for $2.49 a box. Plus there is a digital coupon you can load to your Kroger card for $1.00 off which you can use up to 5 times making the cereal $1.49 a box. Good time to stock up especially if you have kids. 
​

Private Selection Ice Cream is $2.99 this week with a digital coupon that you can use up to five times.
​ 

I found a few clearance items we will use this week. The babyganics sunscreen spray was marked down to $2.99. A bag of onions for 99 cents in the produce markdowns. Since I like to cook, we go through a lot of onions. And I found some mandarin oranges for half price. The kids love mandarin oranges. 
​
What were your best grocery shopping deals this week?
​

There is a bonus fuel points coupon in this week's ad or you can load it to your card in the coupon section in the Kroger app. Fuel points add up quickly when there are bonuses like this. I filled my minivan up last week and had 700 points on my card so I saved 70 cents a gallon at the pump. 

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Peach crisp is one of my favorite late summer treats. Deliciously sweet and so easy to make. This peach crisp is sweetened with honey and I use almond flour to make the crisp topping.

Since we harvest our own raw honey, I like to experiment with using it in recipes. You could use brown sugar in this recipe instead of honey, you would just use more since honey tastes sweeter than sugar. Brown sugar makes the topping more crispy than if using honey, but this recipe made with honey is still quite tasty. 

You can use fresh or frozen peaches. Line the pan with a layer of sliced peaches then make the topping and spread over the top to bake. 

Honey Sweetened Wheat-free Peach Crisp
Serves 6

Ingredients:
4-5 medium peaches sliced or about 3-4 cups frozen sliced peaches 
1/2 C. oats (I like old-fashioned, but you could use quick-cooking)
1/4 C. almond flour (or all-purpose)
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Dash of salt
1/4 C. butter (1/2 stick)
1/3 C. honey (or 1/2 C. brown sugar)

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

2. Wash and slice the peaches, then line a 9 X 9 square baking pan with the peaches. 

3. Stir together oats, almond flour, cinnamon and salt in a mixing bowl. (If using brown sugar instead of honey, add it here.)

4. Using a Pastry blender (affiliate link), cut the butter into the dry ingredients until crumbly.

5. Stir the honey into the dry ingredient mixture. 

6. Then spread the oats and honey mixture over the peaches. 

7. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until golden brown. 

Delicious served warm with fresh whipped cream or ice cream. 

Cover leftovers and refrigerate. 

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​I am a regular Kroger and Aldi shopper. I usually go to both stores weekly with some stops in my local Walmart as needed. I drive 25 minutes to get to Kroger and Aldi so I plan my shopping trips to stock up on the things we need and save our family money. (This is not a sponsored post, I am just sharing because I am happy with my experience of shopping at Kroger.) 

With the increasing costs of groceries, I decided to start sharing what I think are the best deals at Kroger each week. I probably buy more groceries than most families since I am feeding four growing boys (I have a high-schooler with a bottomless stomach, lol) and you may not need the things that I purchase, but hopefully you will find something useful. Each sale ad runs from Wednesday through the next Tuesday. ​Here are the best deals for this week.

I use the Kroger app on my phone to see the weekly ad and upload coupons to my Kroger card. To take advantage of most of the sales at Kroger, you need to have a Kroger card. To purchase the weekly deals at the best prices, you need to go into your Kroger account on the app or on a computer and upload the coupons to your Kroger card. I always sit down with my list and first go through the weekly ad (writing things down on my list) and then I go to savings and upload the coupons that I need. You can't upload all the coupons in the app, so pick and choose the ones you think you will actually use. ​I think my Kroger card will hold around 145 coupons so probably way more than you'll ever actually use.

​The special weekly deal coupons can be used up to 5 times. You load the coupon once, but then you can purchase the item up to 5 times in one transaction at the weekly deal price. For example if sliced cheese is a weekly deal of $1.49 a package, you can purchase 5 packages at $1.49 each with the e-coupon loaded to your card. Sometimes there is even a free e-coupon for something I regularly buy like cheese or tortilla chips! I also receive a mailer on occasion with coupons for things I already buy and usually a free coupon. ​
​

Kroger has a designated clearance section so be sure to check the clearance bins. You never know what bargains you will find. I am stashing these in the party drawer for upcoming birthday parties.  They have marked down produce and bakery items too (on a designated shelf), which is hit or miss. Sometimes I find a great deal like a bag of apples or avocados for 99 cents. 
​

If I have time, I'll scan the aisle I am in for clearance tags because sometimes you will find a really good deal on something you will use. This week, I found these cheese stuffed chicken bites marked down from $9.99 a bag to $2.50 a bag. 
​

What are your favorite ways to save money at Kroger?
​

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I am a regular Kroger and Aldi shopper. I usually go to both stores weekly with some stops in my local Walmart as needed. I drive 25 minutes to get to Kroger and Aldi so I plan my shopping trips to stock up on the things we need and save our family money. (This is not a sponsored post, I am just sharing because I am happy with my experience of shopping at Kroger.) 

With the increasing costs of groceries, I decided to start sharing what I think are the best deals at Kroger each week. I probably buy more groceries than most families since I am feeding four growing boys (I have a high-schooler with a bottomless stomach, lol) and you may not need the things that I purchase, but hopefully you will find something useful.

To learn more about how to use the Kroger card and digital coupons follow the link below. 

The deal for this shrimp is a 2 pound bag for $11.98. The sign says $17.98, but $6 will be subtracted at checkout making it $11.98. I don't think there was a coupon for this deal, I think it is just a deal with the Kroger card.

​I like this brand because it is already peeled and I prefer to buy raw shrimp. It is easier to cook without overcooking it. I like to keep shrimp on hand (in the freezer) for grilling when we have company. Frozen shrimp is great for busy weeknights too, simply quick thaw the shrimp in a colander under cold running water and it is ready to cook. 

Shrimp recipes you might like:
Linguine with Pesto and Shrimp
​​Honey Lime Shrimp with Sugar Snap Peas
​

I didn't buy any potatoes because we have new potatoes from the garden, but this is a good deal for petite gourmet potatoes. These are always more expensive than your typical russet potatoes, but at this price, you can add some variety to your menu. $1.79 for a 1 1/2 pound bag. There is a weekly deal coupon you will need to load to your card for this deal which you can use up to 5 times in one transaction. 
​

This is a weekly digital deal meaning you will need to load the coupon to your card which you can use up to 5 times in one transaction. Select Kelloggs large cereal boxes are $1.79 each! Great deal if you have a house full of kids like I do. 
​

There is a great weekly deal this week on Skinny Pop, Garden of Eatin tortilla chips and Terra chips. This is a weekly digital deal meaning you will need to load the coupon to your card which you can use up to 5 times in one transaction. There is a separate coupon for each brand of snacks, so you could buy up to 5 of any or all of them. The weekly deal price is $1.79 a bag!

I like to keep bacon on hand for recipes and BLT's etc. so I always keep some in the freezer. This week there is a weekly deal digital coupon for $3.99 lb. Smithfield bacon which you can use up to 5 times making it a good time to stock the freezer. 

Some of our favorite recipes with bacon:
Balsamic Roasted Chicken with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
​Low Carb Stuffed Jalapeños
​Bacon, Mushroom, and Spinach Quiche
​Bacon, Tomato, and Onion Summer Squash Pizza
​Low Carb Keto Crack Chicken
​

These private selection baby cucumbers are the best snack and would be perfect for lunch boxes and charcuterie boards. They are regularly priced at $3.99, but with the digital coupon which you can use up to 5 times, they are $1.49 this week. I wish I would have bought 5 because these are so good! 
​

This is not a special deal this week, but it was on clearance in my store for half price at $2.49 and since we always keep this on hand for chocolate malts and topping ice cream, I bought it. I always scan the aisle I am in for clearance, because you never know what you will find. There is also a designated clearance area which is worth checking. 
​

We love these peanut butter cookies so when I saw that they are on sale for $3 a box and I had a $1 off e-coupon, I bought a box for $2. When you load coupons to your card, see if you have an e-coupon for back to nature cookies or crackers to get this deal. It is not a 5X deal so you can only use it on one box. 
​

I happened to walk by and see one of my favorite cleaners on clearance so I stocked up on this Lemi-Shine cleaner. The bottles were marked down to $1 each from $3.99 and the disinfecting wipes were half price at $2.99 for the large container. 

What were your best grocery shopping deals this week?

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If you are searching for ways to use up more zucchini, you have come to the right place. This creamy zucchini soup recipe is a winner!  

My neighbor generously gave us at least a dozen large zucchini plus we have some in our own garden so we have been making all things zucchini.

This recipe makes a lot since we have a big family, but you can easily halve the recipe if you want. 

Delicious and packed with nutrients, you will love this zucchini soup recipe! Plus if you cook gluten free or lower carb, you can use xanthan gum instead of flour to thicken the soup. I use xanthan gum as it is a great thickener. 

We also love this recipe for zucchini or summer squash pizza. It is so good, my husband and kids request it!

Creamy Zucchini Soup
Serves 8

1 sweet onion, diced
1 rib celery, sliced
2 cloves garlic minced
10 T. butter, divided
Splash cooking Sherry or white wine, (optional)
8-10 cups cubed zucchini (I peel the zucchini first)
6 Cups vegetable broth or a mix of vegetable and beef or chicken broth
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 tsp.salt
1/4 tsp. pepper 
½ tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. Creole seasoning, Tony Chacheres Creole Seasoning, (my favorite, affiliate link)
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
6 T. flour or 2 tsp. xanthan gum
1 1/2 Cups half and half

(Optional) You can serve with your favorite shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream and even a splash of extra Worcestershire sauce. 
 
1. Melt 4 T. butter in a Dutch oven (amazon referral link for the one I use) or large pot over medium heat. Saute onion, celery, garlic and zucchini until zucchini is partially tender. 
2. If you like, add a splash of cooking Sherry or white wine. Add vegetable broth, parsley, salt, pepper, basil, rosemary, thyme, Creole seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer covered for about 30 minutes. 
3. When soup has been simmering for awhile, melt 6 T. butter in a 2 qt. saucepan. Stir in 6 T. flour or 2 tsp. xanthan gum, then half and half and cook and stir over low to medium heat to make a thick white sauce. Remove from heat once thickened.
4. Blend soup with an immersion blender (amazon referral link for the one I use)
or transfer to a blender in batches. Then stir in the white sauce and continue to cook and stir until thickened. I like to blend it more with my immersion blender after adding the white sauce to make the soup extra creamy. 

​Serves 8

Check out these yummy zucchini chip cupcakes too. They are a family favorite!

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Disclosure:  I received products to facilitate this post. All opinions are honest and are my own. By posting this recipe I am entering a sponsored recipe contest and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. ​

​This creamy tomato Labneh dip is so rich and flavorful. It's great for when you want a healthy snack or appetizer.  If you are not familiar with Labneh, it's a delicious creamy middle eastern dip.

Whipped with fresh lemon zest and topped with a flavorful tomato olive oil compote, this Karoun Labne dip will delight your taste buds. 

Simply whisk zest of a lemon into 16 oz. of Karoun Mediterranean style Labne dip and spread. Then make the olive oil tomato compote and pour over the Labne dip. 

Serve with warm pita bread or fresh sliced vegetables for a delicious treat!

Creamy Tomato Labneh Dip

16 oz Karoun labne
Zest of one lemon
Fresh ground salt 
3 T. Extra virgin olive oil
1 T. Chili infused olive oil or regular EVO
1 clove garlic, minced
2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
1 teaspoon Za’atar seasoning
Pinch Crushed red pepper flakes

1. Whisk Karoun Labne with lemon zest and some fresh ground salt.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oils. 
3. Add the garlic, fresh thyme, cherry tomatoes, Za’atar seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Heat until the tomatoes start to pop and the garlic is fragrant. Add some fresh ground salt for flavor. 
4. Let the oil tomato mixture cool for a few minutes before pouring over the Labne.
5. Pour the olive oil, tomato mixture over the Labne and serve with warmed pita bread.  

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Disclosure:  I received products to facilitate this post. All opinions are honest and are my own. By posting this recipe I am entering a sponsored recipe contest and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. 

Summer and salads just go together! It doesn't get much better than fresh lettuce and tomatoes from the garden. Try something new with this delicious Mediterranean Salad with Crispy Paneer Cheese. 

To give your salad a Mediterranean twist, add marinated artichoke hearts and olives (black or Kalamata). For even more flavor, add some diced red onions.  

What makes this salad so special is the fried Gopi Paneer cheese.

Mild flavored and firm, Gopi Paneer cheese is perfect for frying and tossing on a salad. Simply cube the cheese, then dredge in flour, then the buttermilk-egg mixture, then seasoned panko bread crumbs and fry in a hot skillet coated with olive oil. 

Turn the cheese to evenly brown in the skillet. It will only take about 5 minutes to achieve a nice golden brown color. 

You can refrigerate leftovers and reheat the cheese in an air fryer for 2-3 minutes to warm and crisp it before serving.  

Liven up your summer menu with this yummy protein packed Mediterranean salad with crispy Gopi Paneer cheese!

Mediterranean Salad with Crispy Gopi Paneer Cheese

Serves 4

6-8 oz. lettuce, like romaine, butter crunch, or mixed greens
12 oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts
1 can 2.5-6oz. pitted black olives, depending on how much you like olives
1-2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes
1/4-1/2 cup red onion, diced (optional)
8 oz. Gopi Paneer cheese
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup buttermilk or 1/2 T. Lemon juice plus enough milk to fill the measuring cup to 1/2 cup
1 egg
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (Italian or plain)
Olive oil
3/4 tsp. Mediterranean seasoning* or Italian seasoning plus more for topping
Flavored olive oil (like lemon or orange infused), optional for flavor
Balsamic vinegar, Maple vinegar or other flavored vinegar, optional for flavor
Fresh ground salt and pepper

1. Prepare lettuce and plate on a large plate or small platter.
2. Cube Paneer cheese.
3. Place flour in a small bowl.
4. Whisk egg and buttermilk to combine.
5. Place panko crumbs in another small bowl. Add mediterranean seasoning to the panko crumbs. Salt to taste. 
6. Coat the cheese cubes in flour first, then buttermilk, then panko crumbs. 
7. Heat the oil over medium high heat until sizzling.
8. When oil is hot, add the breaded cheese cubes. The cheese will cook quickly. Turn to brown on all sides, then remove from skillet. 
9. Layer the artichokes, olives, tomatoes, onion, and then cheese on the salad. 
10. Dress with flavored olive oil and vinegar or your favorite dressing.
11. Top with fresh ground salt and pepper and more Mediterranean seasoning to taste.

*I really like using Andrew Zimmern Mediterranean Magic seasoning which has dried mint, spices, red bell peppers, kosher salt, orange peel, shallots, canola oil and orange oil. 

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