This may just be the most ambitious post I’ve ever written on the food blog, but It all flows together, so I didn’t want to break anything up. I hope you’ll stick with me because you’ll soon find…
- Your new favorite dish-washing liquid.
- 3 Quick & Easy Summertime Recipes.
- A grocery store (Meijer) that’s worth the drive (no matter how far) if you have to/choose to eat gluten free.
Review: Palmolive Fusion Clean Soap
When you hear the name Palmolive what do you think of? I think of the brand of dish-washing soap my mom and grandmothers (both!) used for as long as I can remember. I think of the bright, beautiful green liquid-filled bottle sitting by the sink everyday of my life while growing up. I remember how fresh it always smelled – whether my mom was doing the dishes or I was using it to wash my hands after playing with our dog or cats.
Heaven forbid I take the time to walk to the back of the house and use the bathroom sink and soap. That, of course, would’ve taken too much time away from playing.
One of the things I most associate with Palmolive is the lovable and witty Madge and her great laugh. She was the darling of television commercials for a lot of years and she paved the way for the female faces we’re on a first-name basis with today – Flo, Jan, Lily, etc.
Palmolive Madge Commercial from 1967… You’re Soaking in It!:
Palmolive Fusion Clean comes in two distinct scents – Baking Soda & Lime or Baking Soda & Grapefruit. On a recent trip to Meijer, I decided to try the Grapefruit scent first – nothing at all against Lime, mind you, the Girly Girl in me just fell hard for the beautiful color of the Grapefruit one, that’s all.
Of Course I keep a rubber ducky near my kitchen sink. Why wouldn’t I?
Why I Love It and Why You’ll Love It:
- The suds last forever. I began doing a sink full of dishes but had to leave my duties for about 15-20 minutes (a few of my outside cats decided to go to war with one another and I had to restore peace and smooth the ruffled feathers). When I came back, I expected to find an ugly mess but the sink was still filled with big beautiful bubbles waiting for me.
- Madge was right about the soft hands bit. Palmolive has some sort of cool mojo when it comes to softening hands. I’m not sure why but it does make your hands feel softer. You find yourself kind of rubbing your hands together just to feel the softness – then you realize that you probably look like a plotting evil villain and you stop… for the moment.
- The Fusion Clean soap gets your dishes and pans clean faster. I don’t like to spend any more time at the kitchen sink than I have to – especially in the summer. Time spent there means less time I have to actually cook, walk, work in the yard, and (horrors!) less time I can spend watching one of my greatest passions – baseball. Fusion Clean honestly makes the job faster – far less pre-soaking and less scrubbing. Even if food has set on the plate or in the pan overnight, Palmolive Fusion Clean kicks butt.
- No “Left-Behind” Scent or Residue. Some dish-washing liquids leave behind a scent that drives me nuts. I hate having to rinse a “clean” glass multiple times just to get rid of a lingering scent. This is a non-issue with Palmolive Fusion Clean and I’m ever so thankful.
- The beautiful scent is indescribable. The Baking Soda & Grapefruit Palmolive Fusion makes you feel as though you’re washing dishes in a Bath & Bodyworks store – seriously, it smells that divine. Who in the world could stress about kitchen duties or complain about doing dishes when your senses are convinced they’re in one of your favorite stores?!
Okay, so now I’ve raved and raved about a new favorite product, let’s get to a few Quick & Easy Summer Recipes. Between Palmolive Fusion cutting your dish-washing time in half and these recipes cutting your cooking and food-prep time in half, you’re going to have more time to get outside and enjoy summer!
Quick & Easy Chef Salad
If you’re familiar with Meijer stores, you know how OUT OF THIS WORLD their produce section and deli meats are. They team up to make the best subs and sandwiches imaginable. However, summer just screams for salad, so I love to cruise my grocery cart past the deli and round up my favorites, then head to the produce section and find just the right greens, tomatoes, carrots, etc.
For the Chef Salad, above, I went with roast beef, turkey, and ham – any combo that floats your boat is fine. As for the greens, the darker the better, as far as I’m concerned. Simply round out everything with other favorite veggies and, by all means, sliced hard boiled eggs (how to make hard boiled eggs). You can either make the hard boiled eggs yourself or you can take a blissful shortcut – most grocery stores now sell hard boiled eggs. I have to admit, I take this shortcut on particularly busy days.
Simply add a little salt and freshly cracked black pepper, along with your favorite dressing and you have a beautiful, nutritious, and delicious meal – ideal for lunch or supper. I almost always use my favorite French Dressing Recipe for chef salads, but a great Ranch dressing is also great.
{More Quick & Easy Summer Recipes Below…}
Gluten Free Fried Catfish Po’ Boy Recipe
A few notes about the Gluten Free Fried Catfish Po’ Boy Recipe:
- You can feel free to substitute cod for the catfish.
- The tartar sauce I used is my favorite homemade tartar sauce recipe, but any recipe or even a good-quality store bought tartar sauce will do. Just be sure to be generous with it.
- The hot sauce used on the catfish before coating it does not add any extra heat to the catfish. In fact, when I’m cooking cod – I don’t even do this. But, for whatever reasons, using a little hot sauce on catfish at the first makes it even better. Why? NO idea, but it is what it is and I do this like clock-work.
- Schar Baguettes, which I’ve only found at Meijer stores are amazing. They allow you to make gluten free subs, po’ boys, garlic bread, and some of the best egg salad or tuna fish sandwiches of all time. I’ve started doubling up when I buy them because I know they’ll be used immediately.
These Gluten Free Catfish Po’ Boys go perfectly with the Coconut Cake below – they make the perfect combination for a delicious summer dinner.
Gluten Free Coconut Poke Cake
- Make Pillsbury’s Gluten Free Funfetti Cake according to the directions. You can make a large, rectangular cake or (as I did) two round or square cakes.
- While the cake is still warm, gently poke holes in the top with the bottom of a wooden spoon. When the cake has cooled, pour a well-shaken can of coconut milk evenly over the top – pour slowly, giving it time to seep down into the cake.
- Make the “frosting” – In a large bowl, combine an 12 ounce carton of whipped topping, 1/4 cup sour cream (optional), and 1/2 cup sugar. Spread over the cake, then sprinkle with a large bag of sweetened coconut (the Meijer brand is fantastic).
- Store in the refrigerator. This cake is PERFECT for summer!
{Concluded Below!}
Finally, a Few Words About Meijer Stores
We recently got a Meijer store in my hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky and I have fallen head over heels in love. I’ve often said that, if you have to eat gluten free, you should visit as many different stores as possible – different stores carry different gluten free products. But it’s more than that. Different stores have different levels of devotion to the gluten free community. Some carry a few items and some have entire aisles!
Meijer stores obviously care a great deal about the gluten free community and offer tons of options. I’ve found gluten free food products in Meijer that I haven’t seen anywhere else. These products aren’t just in the gluten free aisle, they’re conveniently placed throughout the store, so be sure you leisurely wander the aisles – you will be blown away.
Not only are the gluten free options way above par, Meijer is in a league of their own when it comes to produce, cheeses, and deli meats. In fact, you’ll find a wider variety of brands and products at Meijer than just about anyplace else.
Schar Gluten Free Baguettes Make Delicious Subs and Po’ Boys
Meijer also has the Palmolive Fusion Dish-washing Soaps I told you about at the first of the mega post. I hope you’ll give them a try – they are honestly out of this world. They make washing dishes faster, easier, cleaner, and better – seriously, how are you going to beat the feeling of standing in the middle of a Bath & Bodyworks store while doing dishes?!
Madge would SO approve!
Note: This is a sponsored post but (as always!) all opinions are entirely my own. Frankly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. – Joi (“Joy”)