Poppy Seed Pasta Salad

Dena brought a delicious pasta salad to work a few weeks ago so I made it to take to a family gathering. ( I added grapes to her recipe since the dressing is sweet and I had them on hand) My hubby and kids taste tested in small bowls and asked for more. I told them they'd have to wait for the party. Enjoy!

1 16 oz. Package Bow Tie Pasta
2 cups cooked diced chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
1 1/2 cups broccoli cut in bite size pieces
1 cucumber peeled and diced in bite size pieces
1 1/2 cups purple grapes halved
1 jar Briannas Poppy Seed Dressing (with the peach on the front)

Stir all ingredients together and serve. It makes a good sized salad.

Wilted Lettuce

Wilted Lettuce or Swiss Lettuce is a family dish passed down since my ancestors were in Switzerland. Every year at thanksgiving we enjoy this salad. When I asked my mom for the recipe she told me it was one that my Grannie had taught she and my aunt Jonna Lu to make and that as far as she knew there was no formal recipe written down. So here is what we came up with.


1/2 lb bacon sliced into bite size pieces and cooked
1 head iceberg lettuce shredded
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp onion salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup flour

Cut up and fry bacon in a pan. Pour off half of the fat and add flour to make a roux. Add salt, pepper, garlic salt and onion salt. Add apple cider vinegar and water to the bacon/flour mixture slowly and bring to a boil to make the thick sauce. Taste the sauce you want the roux to taste salty because the plain lettuce will need lots of flavor. (The salt measurements above are only estimations. Taste it as you go and add more as needed it is a very tangy sauce that thickens a little upon standing) The sauce is poured over the broken up lettuce and mixed thoroughly. Add sauce to lettuce right before serving.

Won Ton Salad

This salad is a light and delicious. My mom made it for us growing up. It's perfect for a girls night in.

1 lb. Chicken, cooked & diced
1 head lettuce-chopped
4 green onions-chopped
1/2 C. sunflower seeds or 2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 cucumber-diced
1 avocado-diced
1 pkg won tons-fried

Dressing
1/4- 1/2 c sugar (to taste)
4 tsp. salt
1/2 C. Olive oil
1/4 c. rice vinegar
1/4 c. cider vinegar

Assemble salad, right before serving pour dressing and toss. Add won tons. Serve.

Honey Lime Fruit Salad

At my husbands company pool party this month we enjoyed this refreshing fruit salad, it had a simple dressing that really made all the flavors pop, and it was so good! Thanks to Patty for sharing her dressing.

Ingredients

Salad

1/3 cantaloupe, cut into 3/4-inch chunks (about 2 cups)
1 (16 ounce) container strawberries, quartered (about 3 cups)
5 medium kiwis, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch chunks (about 2 1/2 cups)

Dressing

3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon lime zest
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves

Directions

Cut up fruit and put into a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix honey, lime juice, zest, and mint. Right before serving, pour the dressing over the fruit and toss gently to combine.

Hawaiian Frog Eye Salad

This is a classic that my mom use to make for family parties all the time when I was growing up, and come to think of it, I should make it a little more often as it really isn't that hard to make, and kids always love the "frog eyes" that are in it.

1 C. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Flour
2 1/2 tsp. Salt
1 3/4 C. Pineapple Juice
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
3 Quarts Water
1 C. Mini Marshmallows
1 C. Coconut
1 Tbsp. Cooking Oil
1 pkg 16oz Acini de Pepe
3 cans Mandarin Oranges
2 Cans drained pineapple chunks
1 can Crushed Pineapple, drained
1 small carton Cool Whip

Combine Sugar, flour and 1/2 tsp salt in a pan, gradually stir in Pineapple juice and eggs. Cook over moderate heat, stirring until mixture is thickened. Add Lemon Juice and remover from heat and cool. Bring water to boil with remaining salt and oil. Add Acini de Pepe and cook to rolling boil until done. Drain pasta and rinse then cool to room temperature. Combine egg mixture and pasta, mix lightly but thoroughly. Refrigerate overnight in an airtight container. Add the remaining ingredients, mix lightly then refrigerate until well chilled.

Broccoli Salad

This dandy gets devoured at 3-4 family parties every summer.
I get special requests for it from my father in law. It's delish!

1/2 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
4 C. finely chopped fresh broccoli
1/2 c. chopped red onions
1 c. sunflower seeds
1/4 c. sugar
1 c. mayo
1 Tbsp. sour cream
2 Tbsp vinegar

The first four ingredients are the salad makings. Mix the second four together for the dressing. Toss salad and dressing together and enjoy!!

Tam's Chicken Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is delicious, it also makes enough to feed an army. It's perfect for family gatherings or showers. If you're making it for a smaller group make sure to half the recipe.

4 c. chicken, cooked & diced
2 c. purple grapes-halved
2 c. celery diced
20 oz can pineapple tidbits
4 green onions sliced
1 c. slivered almonds
12 oz bow tie pasta-cooked
12 oz cork screw pasta -cooked

Dressing
1 c. mayo
16 oz Kraft coleslaw Dressing

Mix all salad ingredients together. Add dressing right before serving. Start with 3/4 of dressing and see if you need the rest. This makes enough salad to feed 20-30 so half it for a smaller group.

Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad

I LOVE Applebee's oriental chicken salad. The only thing I change is grilled chicken instead of the fried. If you aren't frying the chicken, this is a real quick and simple copy cat of their original.

Dressing
1 c. honey
1/2 c. rice wine vinegar
1 1/4 c. mayo
1 3/4 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

Salad
Vegetable Oil (for frying)
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1 c. flour
1c. corn flakes
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
6 boneless skinless chiken breasts
10-12 c. romaine lettuce
2 c. chopped red cabbage
2 c. chopeed napa cabbage
2 c. shredded carrots
4 green onions
4 Tbsp. slice almonds
1 can rice noodles (about 1 1/2 c.)

For dressing, combine honey, vinegar, mayo and mustard in a small bowl; blend thoroughly. Refrigerate.

Preheat oil in deep fryer or deep pan over medium heat to 30 . In a small bowl, beat together egg and milk. In another bowl combine flour with cornflake crumbs, salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in milk mixture then in crumbs. Fry until golden and cooked thoroughly. ( I always have them give me the grilled chicken on this salad so if you like it that way grill it and omit this step.)

Prepare the salad by tossing the romaine with cabbages and carrot. Sprinkle green onion, almonds and rice noodles on top of lettuce mixture. Cut chicken into bite size chunks and place on salad Serve with oriental dressing on the side.

Sesame Chicken Salad

This makes a huge salad!! It would work great for neighborhood BBQ's, family party's, Baby showers, etc.. if you wanted to make it for your family I would suggest you scale it back unless you intend to eat leftovers for a week. The flavor on this one is awesome! I love oriental salada and this one is up there at the top, next to my mom's Chinese Chicken Salad.

1 package (16 ounces) bow tie pasta
1 cup canola oil
2/3 cup white wine vinegar
2/3 cup teriyaki sauce
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 cans (11 ounces each) mandarin oranges, drained
2 cans (8 ounces each) sliced water chestnuts, drained
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1-1/3 cups honey-roasted peanuts
1 package (9 ounces) fresh spinach, torn
1 package (6 ounces) dried cranberries
6 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and place in a very large bowl.
In a small bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, teriyaki sauce, sugar and pepper. Pour over pasta and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Just before serving, add the remaining ingredients; gently toss to coat.

Yield: 22 servings (1 cup each).

Fresh Tomato, Mozzarella & Basil Salad

This time of year you have to enjoy what's coming out of your garden. This is a simple yet delicious way to enjoy those sun ripened tomatoes, one of my favorite parts of summer.

Ingredients

* 4 large tomatoes or 4 cups cherry tomatoes
* 2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese
* 8-10 leaves fresh basil
* 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* salt and pepper
* 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar (optional)

Directions

1. Slice tomatoes and mozzarella cheese into bite size chunks. Loosely chop the basil.
2. Gently toss tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil in serving dish.
3. Drizzle with olive oil (and balsamic vinegar if desired).
4. Salt and pepper to taste.

Spinach Salad

This is my cousin Rachael's recipie, and one of my favorites.

Spinach Salad

1 bag spinach
1 small head iceberg lettuce, torn up
3/4 lb Swiss cheese shredded
1/2 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup dried cranberries


Dressing

1/2 Tbsp poppy seeds
3/4 Cup white vinegar
3/4 Cup vegetable oil
1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp mustard powder


Add all ingredients for salad to a bowl and toss. Mix dressing in a tight container. Stir in dressing right before serving so the salad does not get to soggy.

Variation: to make it more of an oriental salad omit cranberries, bacon and sunflower seeds and add mandarin oranges, chow mein noodles and sliced almonds instead.

Chicken Fruit Salad

This is a great one for wedding or baby showers as it is quick to throw together and so yummy!

1 2-1/2-lb. deli-roasted whole chicken
3 oranges
1/3 cup light mayonnaise
2 small red and/or green apples, cored and coarsely chopped
1 5-oz. bag sweet baby lettuces
1/4 cup pecan halves

1. Remove chicken from bones. Tear chicken in bite-size chunks. Set aside.

2. Squeeze juice from one orange. Stir enough juice into the mayonnaise to make dressing consistency. Season with salt and black pepper. Peel and section remaining oranges, can use Mandarin Oranges if desired.

3. On salad plates arrange greens, chicken, apples, and oranges. Sprinkle pecan halves. Pass dressing. Serves 4.

Chinese Chicken Salad

This is one of my favorite recipes. It's really light and very tasty! It is a great salad to serve at a baby or bridal shower, or for just about any kind of luncheon or for dinner. It's definitely a family favorite!

1/3 lb. Rice noodles- deep fried
2 chicken Breasts- cooked and shredded
1 head lettuce - broken
1 bunch green onions - cut
1 C. celery sliced
3 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds
3 Tbsp. Slivered Almonds
1 Can sliced Water chestnuts

Dressing:
12 Tbsp. Sugar
4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1/2 tsp. 5 spice powder
14 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar
2 tsp. Lemon Juice
1/2 C. Oil

Fry noodles and set aside. Cut vegetables and place in a large bowl. Mix dressing in a small bowl making sure sugar dissolves, then add to chicken. Combine Noodles, Veggies, chicken and Sauce. Serve Chilled.

Candy Bar Salad

This is one your kids will enjoy! It's really easy, and surprisingly good. At least your kids will eat their apples now! Hope you enjoy it!

5 Snickers Candy Bars
4 Apples
1 small Carton of Cool Whip

Cut up candy bar into bite size pieces. Cut apple into slices and then into bit size chunks. Then combine and mix with cook whip, then serve.