Tips for Great
Salads
* Select
greens that are crisp and free of discoloration. Iceberg lettuce and cabbage
should be
firm and solid.
*Wash
greens thoroughly in cool water. Pat them dry with a clean towel or paper
towel to
remove water. Store in a covered container or plastic bag, and refrigerate
at least 1 hour
before serving to crisp the greens. Place a piece of paper towel in the
bottom of the
container or bag to absorb excess moisture.
*For
iceberg lettuce, cut out the core with a paring knife. Or grasp the head
in your hand
and hit the core area against the countertop; lift out the core. Rinse
the head under running
water and drain core side down.
*Just
before serving, tear --don't cut--the greens into bite size pieces. Cutting
greens with a
knife will turn the edges brown with time.
*Allow
greens to stand at room temperature no monger than 15 minutes before serving.
*
Toss greens with the dressing and serve immediately or place greens in
a salad bowl and
pass the dressing at the table. Adding too much dressing will make a salad
soggy.
*
Pasta,
rice and vegetables salads should chill for a few hours to allow flavors
to blend.
Let's begin with fruit salads!
Fruit Salad
2
pkgs. vanilla tapioca pudding
2
cans mandarin oranges
1
can pineapple tidbits
4
bananas
2
cup mini marshmallows (optional)
Drain
and save juices off fruit. Add water to make 3 cups of liquid.
Add
liquid to pudding mix and cook until thick. Cool pudding and
add
fruit and marshmallows.
Pink Salad
1
can cherry pie mix
2
small cans crushed pineapple
1/2
cup Eagle Brand milk
1/2
cup pecans, chopped
2
cup small marshmallows
1
cup Cool Whip
Mix
ingredients, in order, all together. Ready to serve.
Raspberry Jello Mold
2
small pkgs. raspberry Jello
1
1/2 cups hot water
1
can cranberry sauce
1
cup sour cream
Mix
jello packages and water. Chill slightly. Whip. Add cranberry
sauce.
Whip. Add sour cream and whip again. Pour into mold
and
chill.
Frosted Fruit Salad
2 small pkgs. or 1 large pkg.
2 Tbsp. flour
lemon gelatin
Juice from pineapple & water to equal
2 cups boiling water
1 cup
2 cups lemon lime soda
1 egg, beaten
1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple 2 Tbsp. butter
(save the juice)
2 cups whipped cream or Cool Whip
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 cup sugar
maraschino cherries
2 bananas, sliced (optional)
Dissolve
gelatin in boiling water. Add soda and let partially set. Add
pineapple
(drained), marshmallows and bananas. Pour into 9 x 13 inch
glass
pan. Chill until set. Combine sugar, flour, pineapple juice and
eggs.
Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
Cool
and add butter. When chilled, fold in whipped cream and spread
over
gelatin which has set. Sprinkle with grated cheese and top with
cherries.
Cover and allow to set thoroughly. Cut into squares
and
serve on leaf of lettuce.
Orange Salad
1
pkg. orange jello
1
cup boiling water
1
pint orange sherbet
1/2
tsp. almond flavoring
1
cup chopped pecans
1
can drained mandarin oranges, save the juice
Dissolve
jello in hot water (cool it a bit); add rest of ingredients.
Let
set.
TOPPING:
Juice
from mandarin oranges plus water to equal 1 cup
1.2
cup sugar
3
Tbsp. flour
1
slightly beaten egg
2
Tbsp. butter
1
cup whipping cream
Cook
over low heat till thick and transparent, stirring constantly. Add
butter;
cool, then fold in cup of cream, whipped. Spread over salad.
Cranberry Jewel Salad
2
(3 oz.) pkg. strawberry jello
2
cup boiling water
1
cup applesauce
1
cup chopped celery
1
(8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese
1
(16 oz.) can cranberry sauce*
*Chilled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Dissolve
jello in boiling water. Stir in applesauce, add cream cheese.
Chill
until partially set. Stir in celery and cranberry cubes. Pour
into
13 x inch pan. Serves 15.
Now, I will share pasta salads.
Spinach Pasta Salad
8 oz. corkscrew spinach pasta, cooked, 1 oz. cheddar
cheese, cubed
drained & rinsed
1/3 cup white vinegar
1 (8 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained 1/4 cup salad
oil
& cut up
2 Tbsp. honey
3/4 cup olives, sliced
3/4 tsp. dried basil
1/2 cup sweetened pepper, drained & 1/2
tsp. dill weed
cut up
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 medium red onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 oz. provolone cheese, cubed
1/4 tsp. salt
In
a large bowl, combine pasta, artichoke hearts, olives, pepper, onion
and
cheese. Toss to mix. Dressing: In a jar or small bowl combine
vinegar,
oil, honey, basil, dill weed, garlic powder, pepper and salt.
Cover
and shake or whisk to mix well. Pour over pasta mixture. Toss
to
coat. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.
Posh Pasta & Mozzarella Salad
8
oz. corkscrew macaroni
1
recipe Parmesan dressing (see below)
10
oz. fresh spinach, torn
8
oz. mozzarella cheese, cubed
8
oz. thin sliced mild pepper ham or fully cooked ham, cooked
1
(4 oz.) can diced green chile peppers, drained (optional)
Cook
macaroni according to package directions. Drain. Toss macaroni
with
dressing; add remaining ingredients. Cover and chill. Sprinkle
2
tablespoons Parmesan dressing over. Makes 6-8 servings.
Parmesan
Dressing:
Place
1 egg in blender. Cover; blend 5 seconds. With blender
running,
slowly add 1 cup salad oil till thick. Add 1/2 cup grated
Parmesan,
1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
pepper,
1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
and
1-2 cloves garlic (minced). Blend till smooth.
Quick Pasta Salad
1
cup mayonnaise
1/4
cup milk
1
Tbsp. vinegar
1
Tbsp. dried basil
1
pkg. vegetable soup recipe mix
1
pkg. (10 oz.) frozen broccoli florets, thawed
8
oz. twist macaroni, cooked and drained
In
large bowl combine mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, basil and soup
mix.
Add broccoli and macaroni; toss to coat well. Cover;
chill
2 hours. Makes 6 cups. Can substitute 1 medium tomato,
chopped,
for broccoli.
Onto leafy & vegetable salads!
Coleslaw With Marinade Dressing
1 large head cabbage, shredded
2-3 carrots, shredded
1 medium bell pepper
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup white vinegar
1 tsp. mustard seed
2/3 cup salad oil
1 tsp. celery seed
Combine
first 6 ingredients; set aside. Bring to a boil, the last 3
ingredients
and while hot pour over cabbage mixture. Do not
stir
until cold. Cover and put in refrigerator.
Garden Toss Salad
1 lb. ground beef
4 cup lettuce, shredded
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
2 cup tomatoes, chopped
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans, 1/2 cup
onion, chopped
drained
1/4 cup oil & vinegar dressing
1/2 cup water
Tortilla chips
Brown
ground beef; drain fat. Add next 3 ingredients. Simmer
5
minutes. Toss lettuce, tomatoes and onions with dressing.
Put
on plate. Top with meat and tortilla chips.
Slaw With Ramen Noodles
1/2
of 1 head cabbage
1
pkg. any flavor Ramen noodles
Sesame
seeds
Slivered
almonds
1/2
cup vinegar
1/2
cup oil (scant)
1/2
cup sugar
Scallions,
chopped
Salt
Pepper
Chop
cabbage and scallions. On cookie sheet, toast Ramen
noodles
(not cooked), sesame seeds and slivered almonds. Combine
with
cabbage and scallions. Mix for dressing: vinegar, oil,
sugar,
seasonings and flavor packet from noodles and
refrigerate.
May add other vegetables, such as grated carrots
and
can use different flavors on noodles.
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