Working my way through a cookbook

Has everyone seen the movie about Julia Child (Julie and Julia) ?  I thought it was interesting how Julie worked her way through one of Julia's cookbooks.  I have decided to do the same.  I have chosen 101 Things To Do With A Salad.  I love salads and hope to find some favorites using this book.  Cherry-Swiss Salad, Raspberry Chicken Salad, Chicken Fajita Salad, Avocado Chicken Caesar Salad, Jenny's Cashew Bow Tie Salad,  Summer Feta Pasta Salad, Hawaiian Coleslaw, Bacon Broccoli Salad, Mango Fruit Salad, and Tropical Ambrosia Salad are some that will be made.  I can't wait to get started.  Next week, we shall start.  See you then.

Hoisin Chicken Salad

Hoisin Chicken Salad


8 cups torn romaine lettuce
3 cups shredded cooked rotisserie chicken
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup canola oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted

In a large bowl, combine the romaine, chicken, tomatoes, and onions.
In a small bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice, hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic salt and pepper.  Drizzle over salad and toss to coat.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.  Serve immediately.  Yield:  5 servings.

Decluttering and a salad recipe

This week my goal is to declutter.  I have already gotten rid of 2 1/2 grocery bags full of books.  Well, they are being sent to Goodwill and some family members.   I have way too many books and magazines.  By Sunday evening, I hope to go through the pantry, island, under the bathroom sink, and finish going through our mountains of clothes.  LOL.  P.S.  Don't forget about my giveaway.   I will leave you with a great salad recipe.  Have a wonderful day!!


layered spinach tortellini salad
4m:according to kelly.com

1 (9 ounce) package uncooked cheese tortellini
2 cups shredded red cabbage
6 cups torn spinach leaves
1 (8 ounce) bottle ranch dressing
8 slices cooked, crumbled bacom
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup sliced green onion

cook tortellini per package directions. drain & rinse in cold water. in a large bowl (a clear bowl makes a
pretty sight), layer cabbage, spinach, tortellinit, tomatoes, green onions and  bacon. pour dressing evenly over
top. refrigerate until serving time and  toss immediately before.

Coleslaw Salad

2-10 oz pkgs broccoli slaw mix
1-16 oz bottle coleslaw dressing
1-8 oz pkg dried cranberries
salt and pepper, to taste

In a large bowl, combine the slaw, dressing (use more or less depending on your taste), cranberries, and salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Serves 8.

Pasta Salad

 
Pasta Salad
2 lbs rainbow corkscrew pasta 
1 lb turkey ham, cubed or 1 package turkey pepperoni 
1 cup frozen peas, rinsed 
1 bunch green onions, chopped 
1 bell pepper, chopped 
1/2 lb cheddar or motzerella cheese, cubed 
1 can black olives, sliced 
1 bottle Wish Bone Italian salad dressing 
pepper to taste 

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cool water. 
2. Add remaining ingredients to pasta, reserving half of the dressing. Refridgerate 2 or more hours. 
3. Before serving, season with pepper and add remaining dressing as needed. 

Eta: you can also throw in some chickpeas, red onions, cauliflower, etc...

Caramel Apple Salad

1 cup= 1 ww pt.

1 sm. pkg sugarfree butterscotch instant pudding mix
8 oz crushed pineapple with juice
3 cups chopped apples
8 oz ff Cool Whip
1 cup mini marshmallows

Combine pudding and pineapple.  Add apples and mix.  Fold in Cool Whip and marshmallows.  Chill and serve.

Won Ton Chicken Happiness Salad

I LOVE this salad!  I just found this recipe and will definitely be trying it out soon.  

Chicken Wonton Salad 

FOR SALAD:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 head iceberg lettuce
2 cups celery, chopped
5 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
1/2 package fried wonton strips
Bunch cilantro, chopped

Toss all salad ingredients together, except the wonton strips, in large bowl.

FOR DRESSING:
6 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 - 1/2 teaspoons dried mustard
1/2 cup oil
1 tablespoons sesame oil
4 tablespoons sugar
1 -1/2 teaspoons salt

Shake dressing ingredients in small jar. Toss into salad (being careful not to saturate) just before serving. Add fried wontons just before serving. 
Serves 12.

Elisa's Fruit Salad

Our niece made tons of this at our wedding.  I LOVE this!

Fruit Salad

1-2 large cans fruit cocktail, drained
1 can pineapple chunks, drained
1 can peaches, chopped and drained
3-4 bananas, sliced
2 jars of maraschino cherries, drained, and sliced
1 bag of walnuts, chopped--optional
1-1 1/2 bags of pastel colored marshmallows
1-1 1/2 containers of Cool Whip
any other fruits can be substituted or added just adjust Cool Whip and marshmallows (we also like canned apricots and pears), really any thing can be added

Make sure all canned fruits are well drained.  In large bowl, combine all fruits (chopped/sliced).  Then add marshmallows evenly and mix.  Add Cool Whip and mix.  Put chopped walnuts on top or mix in.  Chill before serving.  This serves a ton.

Salads

I posted this on Cloth Diaper Nation already, but thought I would repost on my blog.  I want to thank my Aunt Tonya, Aunt Brenda, and friend Loleta for some of the recipes.

Here are a couple of recipes. Will post more when I have more time to type out.

Spaghetti Salad

1 lb spaghetti noodles
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
1 tomato or 2 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1/2-3/4 bottle Italian salad dressing
1 tsp Salad Supreme seasoning

Cook spaghetti for 10 minutes after boiling, WONT be done all the way. Drain. Rinse under cold water. Add veggies and combine with pasta. Add dressing and Salad Supreme. Mix well. Chill before serving.

Yummy Fruit Salad

1-21 oz can peach pie filling
1-15 oz can pineapple chunks or tidbits, drained
1-15 oz can mandarin oranges, drained
1-20 oz package frozen strawberries, thawed and sliced
2 bananas, sliced

Mix and serve. May add second can of pie filling to make enough to fill a large Tupperware container.

My Aunt Brenda's Macaroni Salad
**I seriously  this stuff!!

1 package small salad roni, cooked
1 green pepper, chopped
3 green onions, chopped
4 radishes, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp cider vinegar
Mix well and add to pasta and veggies. Chill and serve.

Chopped Chicken Salad
1-7 oz package pasta rings, small--cooked, drained, and cooled
3 cups cooked chicken, cut into 1/2 in cubes
1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 bag Dole Italian lettuce mix
2 large tomatoes, cut into 1/2 in pieces
1/4 cup diced green onion
1/2 cup Italian cheese, shredded
1-16 oz bottle fave dressing (I use Cheese Fantastico or something like that)
pepper, to taste
parmesan cheese

Chop lettuce mix into small pieces. Mix all ingredients, adding enough dressing to coat (about 1/2-3/4 of bottle). Serve with grated parmesan cheese and pepper.

Crab Pasta Salad

Mix together 1 container clam dip, 1 lb seashell pasta, cooked and drained, 1 lb imitation crab, chopped, 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 small can sliced olives, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1/2 cup chopped onion, seasoning salt and pepper, to taste. Chill before serving.

A couple of new salads

CHOPPED SALAD

1 head iceberg lettuce
5 roma tomatoes (I prefer roma - use whatever you want)
Provolone cheese, grated (1/4 to 1/2 pound, whatever you like)
Mozzarella cheese, grated (same as the Provolone)
Salami (half pound or more - you'll probably nibble it as you cut it up. I use hard salami from the deli)
Boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and cubed
Fresh basil, thinly sliced (the more, the better - go for a cup or so maybe)
Green onion, sliced (one bunch)
Garbanzo beans, drained (1 small can)

Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, salami, and chicken up really small.

For the dressing:

1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Shake it up in a container and pour over the salad.

This salad is a lot of work, but so worth it and people LOVE it. To make preparation easier, I buy an Italian cheese
mix instead of grating the provolone and mozzarella myself and I ask for about quarter inch thick slices of salami
at the deli to make the chopping process faster. Also, I have one of those Pampered Chef food choppers and that
works nice for the chicken.

I hope you'll try it and like it! As with any salad, it's not an exact science and you can tweak the ingredients according to your preferences. The dressing goes great with lots of salads! Try a bag of spring mix with salad shrimp, gorgonzola cheese, avocado, tomatoes, crushed croutons, and throw on some little lemon wedges after you
dress the salad. I'm having the urge to go to the store and buy this stuff now. Mmmmmm ...

Susie's Aunt Pat's Strawberry Jello Salad

1 Large Strawberry Jello
2 10 oz Frozen Strawberries
1 Cup Boiling Water
1 Can Crushed Pineapple - drained (medium size)
6 Ripe Bananas - mashed
1 pt (2cups) Sour Cream

Mix jello & water until jello is dissolved. Stir in strawberries, pineapple and bananas. Put 1/2 the mixture in a
9 x 13 pan. Put in the fridge to set. (leave the other 1/2 on the counter) When set, spread on stirred sour cream.
Add remaining jello carefully on top of sour cream and let set.

Raspberry Salad

Raspberry Salad

1 container Cool Whip (use fat free)
1 large box vanilla pudding (use sugar free)
1 large container vanilla yogurt (use light)
Frozen raspberries (you can use thawed too)

Mix first three ingredients together. When ready to serve, add in the raspberries for a delicious, and cool, dessert! Mmm!!

Two new recipes

I tried 2 new recipes. Here they are.

Orange Sherbet Jello Salad


1- 6 oz pkg orange jello
1- 20 oz can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained, juice reserved
1 c orange sherbet, slightly thawed

Dissolve jello in 1 cup boiling water. Add sherbet. Stir until dissolved (no frozen chunks). Add 3/4 cup of reserved juice. Add fruit; chill until set.

The other new one is Christmas Crack. I need to come up with another name, since I don't celebrate Christmas. Maybe, Cracker Candy. LOL

Cracker Candy
1 sleeve saltine crackers
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 package chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and line a 10" x 15" with foil (the kind of sheet that has raised edges!). Spray with Pam, or grease VERY lightly with butter. Cover the cookie sheet with a single layer of saltines. Bring butter and brown sugar to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring with a whisk. Pour over the saltines, and try to spread it as evenly as possible. Place in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. When you remove it, the caramel mixture will be molten and boiling; allow to cool about 3 min, or until you can see the crackers distinctly, which will have shifted while baking. Push them back into order with a fork or knife.


Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the toffee and let sit for about 5 minutes to melt. Once melted spread chocolate evenly. If desired, sprinkle on pecans and press lightly into the chocolate. Let cool a bit and then transfer to fridge to harden.


Once hard, break the candy into small pieces and place in containers.