It’s fresh produce time! Nothin like a good farmer’s market. All the gorgeous flowers, and colored fruits and veggies that taste so delicious. Every year I think to myself, “Andrea, next year let’s make our own garden! I mean, how hard can it be?” Then I remember you have to water it daily, and I kind of have a hard time remembering to water my whopping 3 hanging plants I have around my house. Sooooo, I’m thinking any hopes of a garden anytime in the future is a no until I have successfully kept all my hanging baskets alive during the hottest months of the year. Guys, this is why I love ferns, and they love me! I can keep a fern alive, no problem! Hence why that is always my top choice for my front porch hanging baskets.

My pap, Floyd Liddick, always kept an amazing garden. It fed his 5 children many years even through the cold winter months. Him and my gram, Lois Liddick, canned everything they could from Pap’s garden. I remember going over to help them snap green beans. Pap had them all in a wicker basket. He was always so proud of his garden and took such good care of it. He always told me the folks who once owned our home I live in now kept an incredible garden, and that our land was meant for gardening. We get the most beautiful flowers and wild berries all through April till October thanks to the Bubb family, but boy do I wish my pap was still here to help me with the garden dream. For now, I’ll just go to a local farmer’s market or go pick some goodies from The Green Barn Berry Farm. I love to can and freeze harvest! I’ll have plenty of that for you throughout the summer and fall. For starters, let’s just go with a nice fresh simple salad with a powerful kick! Ya’ll, I think I found an express pass to my husband’s heart!! It’s buffalo anything with him. Pizza, wings, dips, cheese steaks, apples, anything! Ok fine, I made that last one up. But seriously, this man lights up when I break out the Frank’s Red Hot!! I’m not a buffalo person at all, but this was amazing!! The bonus, ya’ll won’t need to break out the stretchy pants! Check it out!

Buffalo Chicken Taco Salad

• 1 cup cooked chopped/shredded chicken
• 1 lb. ground beef
• taco seasoning to taste
• 3 tbs. hot sauce
• 2 tbs. butter
• 6-8 oz chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 jalapeno, sliced
• 1/2-1 cup chopped/diced tomato
• 1/4-1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/4-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• cheesy tortilla chips (DORITOS!)

Dressing Options:

I topped mine with a homemade ranch dressing and my husband did an extra drizzle of hot sauce. Feel free to follow suit! You can also try it with a French or blue cheese dressing!

Cook ground beef, and add taco seasoning to your liking. Let cool.

Prep your chicken, and chop your veggies for the salad.

Melt butter and combine with hot sauce, whisk well.

Pour sauce over chicken and serve over lettuce with all your favorite toppings from the list above!

Drizzle with dressing of choice, and enjoy!