Mega Crunch Salad with a Bite

image and recipe from here

I picked up this salad one day at Trader Joe's for lunch.
It's always a treat to go there, as it's not close to where we live.
I loved this salad. I made it for our book group and it was enjoy by many.
I'm making it again for our New Year's Eve party tonight.

Mega Crunch Salad with a Bite

1c. chopped carrots
1c. chopped radish
1c. chopped broccoli stalks
1c. chopped jicama
1c. roasted sunflower seeds
1c dried cranberries
1c. adzuki beans (or other red beans)
1c. cooked quinoa
3 c. chopped romaine lettuce

Combine until all ingredients are distributed through the salad.




Cilantro Dressing
2 bunches of cilantro
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 c. lime juice
1/4 c. honey
1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 c. rice vinegar
1 heading T. of chili powder
salt and pepper to taste

Add all to a food processor or blender and blend until all combined.

(Notes by Dee: I only use half of the dressing recipe for this salad. Also, I only added 1 t. of chili powder to my half dressing recipe, as I do not like things too spicy.

Spiced Sweet Potato Latkes

recipe and photo from here

I found this recipe on PBS Kids website.

I thought it would fun to try a Hanukkah traditional food.

You can go to the link above, by clicking on here to read the Jewish miracle the Jewish people believe and remember with latkes. We liked the spiced fried grated sweet potato pancakes topped with applesauce and sour cream. It was a new taste and fun to try. I think I'll find a baked version for us to try them again...maybe next year.

Spiced Sweet Potato Latkes

1 lb. (orange) sweet potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 T. flour
2 t. brown sugar
¾ t. cinnamon
½ t. curry powder
½ t. onion powder
½ t. kosher salt
¼ t. nutmeg
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 c. applesauce
½ c. sour cream
1 T. chopped chives or parsley

Heat the oil to a medium-high heat in a 10 or 12-inch skillet.
Using a colander, strain as much out of the grated sweet potatoes as you can.
In a large bowl, add the sweet potatoes, egg, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, curry powder, onion powder, salt, and nutmeg. Mix well.
Form small flat pancakes using about 2 tablespoons of mixture.
Fry four latkes at a time for 1½-2 minutes per side until browned. Remove the latkes from the oil and place on a plate lined with paper towels.
Serve warm with applesauce and sour cream.
Garnish with chopped chives or parsley.

Prep Time: 15 min(s)
Cook Time: 15 min(s)
Total Time: 30 min(s)
Servings: 6

Southwest soups

recipe and photo from here

We made it soup the other night. It was great with chips.

It's a bit on the hot side for Ian and I,

even though I used mild enchilada sauces.

I think I'll experiment with using just diced tomatoes

instead of Rotel brand with chilies.

I only put in half the chili powder, but will cut that back too.

For everyone who likes a bit of heat, it should be just right!

Chicken Enchilada Chili
2 chicken breasts
2 cups red enchilada sauce
1 cup green enchilada sauce
1 family size (23 oz.) can cream of chicken soup*
1 c. milk
1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies
2 T. chili powder
1 t. paprika
1 t. salt
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 c. sour cream

Toppings:
crunchy tortilla strips
shredded cheddar cheese
sour cream

In a large slow cooker, add the chicken breasts and both kinds of enchilada sauce. Cook for several hours on high until the chicken is cooked and will shred into the sauce. Add all the remaining soup ingredients, except the sour cream and cook for 1 more hour. Whisk in the sour cream and turn off the heat. Serve in individual bowls and top with tortilla strips, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

*Note from Dee: I substituted my cream of chicken soup made from bean flour. Recipe here.

I added two large cans of enchilada sauce, so maybe it would have been less spicy if I followed the recipe!

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This recipe is from my friend Jill. (famous for her cookies)

It's her ''go to" recipe whenever she has to bring dinner

to a family in need, or for a funeral luncheon.

As a mom of seven, it's speedy.

Just dump in a crock pot and heat.

Jill's Soup
1 can Ranch beans
1 can Rotelle (Mexican) tomatoes
1 can chicken
1 pkg. ranch
1 can corn