Tomato Corn Salad

It's been years since I first had Tomato Corn Salad. A friend of mine brought it over to a going away party they were throwing for us when we moved away from Portland in 2008. I was so sad to leave Portland and for whatever reason this dish is the thing that sticks in my memory from that time. Isn't it odd how people create memories around food. I've made this side dish many times since then and always get tons of compliments on it. Hope you like it!

Tomato Corn Salad

3 large tomatoes
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/3 cup green onions chopped
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp minced basil
1 tbsp minced cilantro
1/2 tsp pepper
4 cups corn
3 garlic cloves pressed
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp dijon mustard

In a large bowl combine the first eight ingredients and set aside. In a skillet sauté the corn and garlic in olive oil until tender and then add stir in the dijon mustard. Add this to the first bowl and stir well. You can serve right away warm or chill if you'd rather have it cold.

2013 Veteran's Day Freebies and Discounts

Veteran’s Day is a great time to get a free meal because lots of restaurants offer freebies to active duty and retirees. 

We usually go over to McCormick and Schmick’s because they have a free meal for vets and a special menu that the rest of the family can order off of. This reduces the cost of eating there, making it affordable for a military family. Unfortunately this year we won’t be going to McCormick and Schmick’s because my husband is on alert that day. Oh well. I must say though, now that Abuelo's is participating we would probably go there instead. It's my most favorite restaurant.

For all of you that can go out grab the freebies here’s a list. Keep in mind that restaurant chains advise calling ahead to specific locations, because not all franchises honor the specials offered by their parent organizations.

FREE FOOD

Abuelo's Mexican Food -- Offers vary by region. (I highly recommend checking into this, because their food is awesome.)

Applebees -- All veterans and active-duty military eat free from a limited menu on Veterans Day.

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurants -- Special offers for vets on Veterans Day.

Chili's -- Veterans and service members can dine for free from a special six-item menu on Veterans Day.

Golden Corral -- Military Appreciation Monday includes a free dinner, Nov. 11, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for military retirees, veterans, and current service members.

Famous Dave's -- Offers for free or discounted meals on Veterans Day vary by location.

Hooters -- All veterans and service members get 10 free wings with the purchase of a drink.

Krispy Kreme -- A free donut is available for all service members, retirees and veterans.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants -- participating McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants are offering a complimentary entree to vets from a special menu on a space-available basis. Online reservations are highly recommended.

Outback Steakhouse -- Outback will offer veterans and military a free Bloomin' Onion and beverage

Olive Garden – A free entrée for active duty members and veterans.

Subway Restaurants -- Free six-inch sub or flatbread available to military vets on Veterans Day.

Texas Roadhouse -- Free meals available to veterans from opening until 4 p.m. on Veterans Day.

T.G.I. Friday's -- Veterans and service members can buy one meal and get another free.

UNO Chicago Grill -- UNO is offering a 19.43 percent discount on food and non-alcoholic beverage beverages to vets and military. The chain explains that 1943 was the year UNO invented the deep dish pizza.

VETERANS DAY RETAIL DEALS

Amazon.com -- A free downloadable MP3 album includes 12 songs performed by Military bands and ensembles from now through Veterans Day.

Build-a-Bear Workshop -- Members of the armed services, including the Coast Guard and ROTC, receive a 20 percent discount on any one transaction at the workshop.

Cabela's Outdoor Store -- Employee discounts are being offered to all veterans, active-duty military and reserve-component troops, along with law-enforcement, fire and emergency-management personnel. Discounts vary from 5 percent to 50 percent, depending on item.

The Dollar General -- Veterans, service members and their immediate families can receive a 10-percent discount with a Veterans Day coupon.

Fashion Bug -- Offering 20 percent off all plus-size and misses clothing purchases with a copy of military ID or spouse's military ID.

Home Depot -- Offers a 10 percent discount to all veterans on Veterans Day.

Home Depot offers a 10 percent discount year-round to active duty military and retirees.

Lowe's -- All veterans receive the 10 percent discount for purchases of up to $5,000. A 10 percent discount is available year-round to active-duty military and retirees.

Seven-Eleven -- On Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., veterans can get a free small Slurpee.

Sports Clips Haircuts -- Offering free haircuts to active-military and veterans.

Free Admission

Oregon Zoo in Portland, OR is offering free admission on Veteran's day to active military.

Rudolph's Nose Cookies

Rudloph's Nose Cookies
1 box (18.25 oz) Devil's food cake mix

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted


1 egg

Vanilla frosting (about 1/2 tub per batch)

maraschino cherries (no stems)

Directions

Mix first four ingredients into a stiff dough. (Dough dries quickly and then is hard to roll--add a

 little oil to help with the dry-out factor:-) ) Roll in 1-inch balls. Press an indentation into ball (like

 with the round end of a wooden spoon or something like that). Place 2 inches apart on 

ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-11 minutes. If dough is puffed, use the 

end of a wooden spoon to recreate indentation. Cool for one minute. Remove from pan and

 continue to cool. Spread frosting in indention (or apply with star-tipped pastry bag). Top with 

cherry.