Corn Salad with Lime Dressing

Jessie came back with this recipe from Denver. Apparently my Aunt Linda gave it to my Aunt Denise. Who knows where Aunt Linda got it? In any case, it's delicious.

6 ears roasted or grilled corn, stripped from the cob
1/4 thinly sliced red onion
1 pkg. cherry tomatoes, halved
chopped cilantro to taste

Combine all ingredients and toss with lime dressing:

2 T. oil
3 T. fresh lime juice
2 T. rice wine vinegar
chopped cilantro
salt and sugar to taste (I made it without sugar because the corn was so sweet it didn't need any.)

Chinese Chicken Salad

1 small head green cabbage
1 pkg. chicken ramen noodles, crushed (reserve seasoning packet)
1 bunch green onions sliced
1/2 c. sliced almonds, toasted
2 T sesame seeds, toasted
2-3 cups diced, cooked chicken

Dressing:
3 T seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 c. oil
1 T sugar
reserved packet of ramen seasoning
1/2 tsp. pepper

Shred cabbage and combine with onions, chicken, and ramen noodles, and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

For dressing, mix together rice vinegar, oil, and sugar in a blender/small food processor to emulsify. Add ramen seasoning and pepper. Add dressing, sesame seeds, and almonds to cabbage mixture just before serving.

Flank Steak and Blue Cheese Quesadilla Salad

vinaigrette:
3 T. Dijon-lemon vinaigrette
1 1/2 T. sugar
1 1/2 T. red wine vinegar
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 t. chopped fresh thyme (optional)

quesadillas:
1/2 lb. flank steak
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
cooking spray
1/2 c. (2 oz.) crumbled blue cheese
4 8" flour tortillas

remaining ingredients:
1 head torn red leaf lettuce
1 c. vertically sliced red onion
2 large tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges

1. Prepare grill.

2. Combine vinaigrette ingredients; set aside.

3. To prepare quesadillas, sprinkle steak with salt and pepper. Place steak on grill rack and grill 4 minutes on each side or until done. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin slices.

Sprinkle cheese evenly over 2 tortillas. Divide steak evenly over cheese, and top with remaining tortillas.

4. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over med. heat. Cook quesadillas 4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan and cut each quesadilla into 8 wedges.

Combine vinaigrette, lettuce, onion, and tomato in a large bowl; toss well. Divide salad evenly among 4 plates; top each serving with 4 quesadilla wedges.

{Dijon-lemon vinaigrette:
3 T. vegetable broth or water
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 T. red wine vinegar
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 t. minced garlic
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 t. black pepper
1/4 t. salt

Combine all ingredients in a jar; cover tightly and shake vigorously. Store in refrigerator.}

Black Bean, Corn, and Avocado Salad

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 c. corn kernels (fresh or canned shoepeg is great)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 avocado, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1/4 c. fresh lime juice
2 t. grated lime zest
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 t. salt

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve at once with tortilla chips.

(6 points for 1 1/2 c. of salad)

Pineapple-Marshmallow Salad

It's not for everyone, but it's a Petersen family favorite.
(Jessie and I have been known to make it for ourselves, since no one else wanted to partake!)

1 can pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
1 heaping T. flour
1 T. sugar
dash of salt
1 egg or 2 egg yolks
1 T. lemon juice
mini marshmallows
sharp cheddar

Stir together reserved pineapple juice, flour, sugar, salt, and egg. Cook and stir until thickened.
Add lemon juice.

Pour hot sauce over marshmallows and pineapple. Chill, stirring occasionally.

Top with grated sharp cheddar.

Nicole's Strawberry Spinach Salad

My niece Nicole took a cooking class and made this salad for a family function. It was a huge hit!

6 c fresh baby spinach, washed and dried
1 1/2 c fresh strawberries, thinly sliced
1/2 c red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 c swiss cheese, grated
1 c candied pecans (recipe below)

candied pecans:
1-1 1/4 c pecan halves 1 1/2 T sugar
3 T light corn syrup 1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Add nuts and toss well to coat evenly. Place nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet that has been coated with non-stick coating spray. (I like to use parchment paper.)

Bake for 12-15 min, or until golden brown. Immediately scoop nuts onto a sheet of foil and spread nuts apart to cool thoroughly. Stores for 1 week in an airtight container. (this is by far the easiest way of making candied nuts I've ever tried)

poppy seed dressing:
1 pkg Good Seasons Italian dressing
2 T sugar
1 T poppy seeds
3 T water
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1/4 c canola oil

Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl, adding the oil last. It's best to first toss the spinach with the dressing, then add the strawberries, pecans, and onion and toss again. Add cheese at the very end. Don't over-mix.

Judy's Chicken Salad

6 chicken breasts, cooked & cubed
12 oz. pkg. curly pasta
1 bag seedless red grapes
20 oz. can pineapple tidbits, optional
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
1 bunch green onions, sliced
3/4 c. slivered almonds

dressing:
1 pint sour cream
1 pint mayonnaise
2 T. sugar
1 t. salt
1/4 - 1 t. ginger, to taste

Cook and drain pasta. Toss with chicken, grapes, pineapple, celery, and onions. Mix together dressing ingredients and toss with salad. Refrigerate several hours and add almonds just before serving. Wonderful with croissants. Serves a crowd.

Winter Salad

(we enjoy it all year round)

8 c. mixed greens
3/4 c. toasted, chopped pecans
3/4 c. dried cranberries or cherries
3/4 c. crumbled feta cheese
1 med. red onion, thinly sliced
2 Granny Smith apples, sliced

dressing:
2/3 c. olive oil
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. salt
2 t. dry mustard
1/3 c. cider vinegar
(the dressing originally called for 2 T. grated onion, but I'm usually too lazy to do it.)

Combine dressing ingredients in a jar and shake until well combined. Mix salad ingredients and add dressing to taste.

Green Green Salad

1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. fresh lime juice
3 T. water
1/3 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. white pepper
1/8 t. cayenne pepper
1/4 t. celery salt
6 paper-thin slices of fresh lime

1 1/2 quarts mixed greens

anything green - my favorites include thawed frozen peas, green onions, avocado, cucumber, kiwi. Grandma adds celery and green grapes. Add anything you like that is green! Toss the salad with just enough dressing to cover the greens.

CPK-style Cobb Salad

Serves 2

1 head romaine lettuce, sliced
1 cooked chicken breast, diced
3-4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1 large or 2 small tomatoes, diced
2 roasted beets (canned in a pinch, NOT pickled)
1 avocado, diced
crumbled blue cheese
blue cheese dressing

Divide lettuce among two plates. Arrange diced ingredients in separate piles and drizzle all with dressing. Enjoy!

Splendid Raspberry Spinach Salad

2 T. raspberry vinegar
2 T. raspberry jam
1/3 c. vegetable oil
8 c. spinach, rinsed and stemmed
3/4 c. coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
1 c. fresh raspberries
3 kiwis, peeled and sliced

To prepare dressing, combine vinegar and jam in blender or small bowl. Add oil in a thin stream, blending well.

Toss spinach, 1/2 of nuts, 1/2 of raspberries and 1/2 of kiwis with dressing.

Top with reserved berries, nuts and kiwi.

Serve immediately.