summer salads

Since it's summer, I thought I'd post some salad recipes. 

First of all, this croc caught my eye because I thought Ian would have a lot of fun with it. 

We have a big zucchini that we used and had fun enjoying the salad.

I recently saw the dressing recipe below online.

Ranch Lite

1 cup Dannon Oikos plain greek yogurt
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch mix,
1/2 cup 1% milk.

Whisk together, pour into an air tight mason jar, chill 1 hour before use. Perfect consistency and tastes better than bottled. This whole jar of ranch is only 1.75 grams of fat and 255 calories.

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Cheryl sent me a salad recipe she got from Brenda. Both of them said it was a big hit with the groups they served. Cheryl also sent it to Karen and see said, "Hey- I made your salad, Dee, but due to "extenuating circumstances" it has almonds, green onions, and no feta... so not really your salad!!! But the dressing and "my" salad tasted great!' " It was funny, as I had to write back and let her know it was Brenda's salad via Cheryl. Sounds like a prior cake recipe. I recently made it twice for different friends and they enjoyed it. Perfect for summer, especially just after blueberry picking.

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I saw yet another blueberry salad recipe online just after picking many berries, and tried it on Scott, Ian and a friend. My friend and I liked it, Ian loved picking out the fruit, and Scott was fine not having it again. I really liked the creaming dressing. I used the leftovers on the watermelon blueberry salad. They didn't have fennel at our local store, so I go anise and used that. It was a very unique salad.

Fruit, Fennel and Chinese Cabbage Salad with Blueberry Pomegranate Dressing

For the salad:

2 c. blueberries
1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
2 c. red grapes
1 pint organic strawberries, sliced
1 apple, cored, peeled and sliced
2 c. shredded Chinese or nappa cabbage
2 medium fennel bulbs, trimmed and very thinly sliced

For the dressing:
2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 c. pomegranate juice
1/4 c. raw cashews
1/4 c. raw sunflower seeds
3 T. Dr. Fuhrman's Wild Blueberry Vinegar or other fruit-flavored vinegar 

    (I used a balsamic vinaigrette)
4 dates, pitted
1/2 t. vanilla extract

Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl.
Blend all dressing ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth and creamy.
Toss salad with desired amount of dressing. Serves 6.



Here's a link to 4 more summer salads that look delicious.

vitamins

Here's a link to Word of Wisdom living blog that I like.

It gives you a 'quick answer' on nutrition topics, 

then includes the history and latest science on the subject also.

This post reports whole foods are the best source of vitamins.

18 microwave snacks to make in a mug

Remember the recipe that circulated for

Chocolate Cake in a mug?

Click here for links to a collection of 18 different items

to microwave in cup,

including the Strawberry Pie pictured above. 

This will be great for the college kids!

Not all the recipes are for desserts. 

Here's the list:

Breakfast

Cup Quiche 

Instant Blueberry Muffins

French Toast in a Cup

“Baked” Oatmeal In A Mug

Cinnamon Roll In A Cup

Snacking

Coffee Cup Coffeecake

Banana Bread In A Mug

Dinner

Mac and Cheese In A Cup

Meatloaf In A Mug

Coffee Cup Chilaquiles

Dessert

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

Nutella Mug Cake

Cheesecake In A Mug

Chocolate Fudge S’mores Mug Cake

Cookie In A Mug

Chocolate and Caramel Mug Cake

Sticky Date Pudding In A Mug

Krumkaka

My mom is the pro at making them.

Krumkaka (crumb cake)
1 c. melted butter
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 t. vanilla
2 c. flour

Mix ingredients, put 1 dab butter in the middle of iron before first each
cake. Plop one spoonful of batter in and press close, cook 15-18 seconds
(varies slightly per press, every second counts) Roll on a cone to remove.
Will harden quickly.

Filling:
for chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch:
1 pkg. (4 oz.) instant pudding
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1 c. cold milk
8 oz. cool whip

Combine pudding mix, sugar, and milk in a bowl. Beat slowly at low speed
until blended, wait 1 minute and then fold in cool whip.


for strawberry:
2 c. whipping cream
3 T. powdered sugar
1 c. strawberry preserves

In bowl whip cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar, beat until stiff peaks
form, then fold in fruit preserves.

by Michelle, granddaughter of Barbara, 
and Allison (Michelle's mom), wife of Barbara's son Doug

Chicken Marengo

photo from here

Brenda sent me (Cheryl) this recipe, and Parker made it for our family.
It is tasty.

You can click on the recipe for a larger view.

by Brenda and Cheryl, two of  Barbara's four daughters

Guide to Grilling

Just in time for Memorial weekend—

Grilling Tips from Whole Foods Market.

Click here to go to the guide. It's very comprehensive, 

and includes the following categories:

Methods & Techniques

Beef & Pork

Poultry

Seafood 

Veggies & Fruits

Meat Substitutes

Making Grilling Special

Have a great weekend!

Latourelle Steak Salad

We went out to dinner at Multnomah Falls Lodge for the second time since living in Oregon, and only because we had a Groupon. I had the most wonderful salad. I want to make it at home. It was loaded with all the ingredients listed below, and sprinkled with grape tomatoes. Scott also had a wonderful evening special; unfortunately I don't have the recipe or ingredients for that. It was a nice dinner out, in a beautiful location. As a bit of trivia, my salad was named after a nearby waterfall...one of the many close to us.

Closing with the picture Scott sent me one night after I had made dinner and was wondering where he was. He'd ridden to Multnomah Falls on a beautiful afternoon...the long way home from work.

by Dee, wife of Barbara's son Scott