Mandarin Salad

 My sister made this back when I was expecting our second child, and she was expecting her first.  It hit the spot for both of us.  I could have eaten it all summer.  This and pepperoncinis.  Weird.

Dressing:
1/2 c. oil
*1 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 c. rice vinegar
2 tsp. fresh dill, minced
1/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. garlic


Combine and shake together. Chill.


1/2 c. almonds, sliced and toasted.  Spread in pie tin and bake @ 450, 5-8 minutes.
8 slices bacon, fried until crisp and crumbled
4 c. iceberg lettuce, torn
4 c. romaine, torn
3 sm. green onions, thinly sliced
2 11 oz. cans mandarin oranges, well-drained

Toss together well dried lettuces and green onion.  Cover with damp paper towels and chill.
Keep dressing, greens, and oranges chilled until serving.  When ready to serve, place almonds, bacon, and oranges atop greens and pour dressing over all.

Sweet Chicken Macaroni

This light salad combines a savory macaroni salad with the sweetness of mandarin oranges and cranberries. I make it without the chicken for a side dish, with the chicken for a one dish meal. I had eight little girls at my house the other day and this was attacked again and again. Even the 15 month-old, though she kept handing her mom the cranberries.

2 cans chicken in water, drained OR
2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. sour cream
2 T. vinegar
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper
3 stalks chopped celery, OR
1/2 bag shredded cabbage
2 11 0z. cans mandarin oranges, juice drained and saved
1/2 c. dried cranberries, soaking in the saved mandarin juice
*1/2 c. pecan halves or pieces
4 c. cooked macaroni

As macaroni cooks according to package directions, mix chicken, onions, mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, salt, sugar, pepper, and celery or cabbage in large bowl.
Cool noodles by tossing gently with ice cubes in a colander in the sink. Drain noodles and cranberries and stir into chicken mixture. Taste and add more salt if needed.
Gently add oranges and pecans.

When making this ahead of time, wait until just before serving to add noodles, oranges, and pecans.

May substitute one apple, cored and diced, and 1-2 c. grapes for oranges and cranberries.

Citrus Tomato Salad

This refreshing salad was inspired by a hot seafood dish I had in Cabo San Lucas. I will still try to duplicate that, but for now, try this cold, fresh version. An excellent side to fish or poultry. If you can do shrimp, I recommend tossing in some of the cooked or grilled pinkies. Cabo San Luscious.

3 large tomatoes, chunked
2 med. cucumbers, peeled and chunked
1/2 sweet red onion, sliced into thin rings

Vinaigrette:

1 T. olive oil
2 T. canola oil
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. water
4 T. salt
3 T. sugar
1/4 tsp. orange zest
1/8 tsp. thyme
1/8 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. pepper

Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce

This recipe converted my husband's entire family to cranberry sauce. Well, maybe not Becca. The kids eat it like applesauce. It is really good on leftover turkey sandwiches, with sprouts, mayo and black pepper.

1 bag cranberries, fresh and washed
1 apple, washed, cored and quartered
1 orange, washed
1 1/2 c. sugar

Place cranberries, sugar, and apple in food processor. Zest orange by scraping off outer orange-colored layer of peel, leaving white on orange. Use a vegetable peeler, paring knife, or zester. Add orange zest to processor. Peel white pith off orange and add fruit sections to processor. Discard white pith. Blend until the consistency of applesauce. Serve with poultry or pork. Can be made several days in advance.

Big Bite Salad

I've made this for family get-togethers for years. It's just a great salad!

1 head iceberg lettuce, torn
3 c. spinach, torn
1-2 c. mozzarella cheese, cubed
2 stalks celery, chopped
6 fresh mushrooms, sliced
6 strips bacon, fried and torn into bite-size pieces
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
2 eggs, boiled and chopped or sliced

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Chill.

Dressing:

1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. vinegar
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. minced onion
1 T. ketchup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. garlic
1/8 tsp. paprika

Combine dressing ingredients. Just before serving, pour over salad and toss. Serves 8-12.

Coleslaw

At BBQ's or alongside the catch of the day, a summer standby. Easy and cool.

1/2 (16-oz.) bag shredded cabbage
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Serve cold. Serves 6.

Candied Pecans

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. butter
dash salt
1/2 c. pecan halves or pieces

Heat brown sugar, butter, and salt in small non-stick saute pan until bubbly, stirring constantly. Add pecans and stir to coat, continuing to cook for one more minute. Remove pan from heat and level out pecans on bottom of pan. Allow to cool in pan. Break up into small pieces when cool.

*Any nuts may be candied this way.

Pearberry Pecan With Grilled Chicken

This party of a salad was inspired by a lunch special my daughter and I tried at Maxwell's, a local restaurant now quitting business. Maybe they should have put it on their regular menu. It is mouth-watering.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 T. olive oil
1 T. vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. paprika

Mix oil, vinegar, salt, sugar, pepper, and paprika. Pour and rub on chicken. Grill until no longer pink in center. Keep warm in foil.

1 Recipe CANDIED PECANS

2 c. baby spinach
2 c. mixed greens, spring mix, etc.
2 firm pears, cored and diced
1 c. red or green seedless grapes
1/3 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. bleu, gorgonzola, or feta cheese crumbles
2 slices bacon, fried and crumbled

Mix greens in large salad bowl. Add pears, grapes, cranberries, cheese, and bacon. Toss. Break up cooled candied pecans and sprinkle on top. Slice chicken into diagonal strips and place on salad. Serve with BLEU CHEESE, SIMPLE VINAIGRETTE, or FRUITY VINAIGRETTE dressing.

Fruity Vinaigrette

I threw this together at my sister-in-law, Erica Jensen's house. I had brought the Strawberry Feta Salad, but had forgotten the store-bought raspberry dressing at home. She had a lot of confidence in me and offered some of her freshly sliced strawberries she was using for the dessert later. "I bet you could make something like it", she encouraged. I am so glad she did. This stuff is addictive.

1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. fresh orange juice, or pureed strawberries, raspberries, or any berry
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. onion powder

Blend or shake all ingredients together. Keep refrigerated.

Strawberry Feta Salad

My sweet friend, Bobbi Moss, makes this wonderful salad and everyone goes gaga... lots of moans and eyerolls. Bobbi just had a baby girl yesterday, 9/2/08, so congratulations, Moss Family and baby Reagan Bonnie!

3 c. baby spinach
3 c. mixed greens
1 c. finely diced strawberries
1 c. finely diced celery
2 T. finely diced red onion
1/2 c. CANDIED PECANS or slivered almonds
2 T. crumbled feta

Assemble just before serving. In large salad bowl, gently toss spinach, greens, strawberries, celery, and onion. Sprinkle nuts and feta over top and serve with strawberry FRUITY VINAIGRETTE.

Mexican Cabbage Salad

I have eaten at enough authentic mexican restaurants to know I got this one right.

1/2 bag shredded cabbage
1 tomato, finely chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2 lemon, squeezed
2 T. green onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper
In medium bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing well. May omit tomatoes and peppers. Serve as side dish, or in place of shredded lettuce for Mexican dishes such as tacos, burritos, tostados, etc. Serves 6.

Sour Cream Ranch

The kids beg for this dip! Everyone does!

1 c. sour cream
1 T. milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. fresh snipped chives, or 1/4 tsp. dried
dash paprika
pinch dill weed

Mix sour cream with milk until smooth. Add salt, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, paprika, and dill weed. Serve cold as salad dressing and dip for veggies or chips.