Monday, March 8, 2010

GOING GREEN...A HUGH SUCCESS

THE CHICKS




Salsa Verde Creamy Dressing

LeAnn Skeen

1 pkg hidden valley ranch mix

1 8oz jar salsa verde (green salsa) such as la victoria

1/2 bunch cilantro

2 cloves garlic

3/4 c mayo

3/4 c sour cream

1/8 tsp hot sauce (such as Tabasco)

Mix in a blender. Good as a salad dressing or as a dip of cracker and vegetables.


Crunchy Bacon Coleslaw
Paula Kelsey
1 1/2 c miracle whip or real mayo
2Tbs sugar
3 tsp cider vinegar
1 head of cabbage, shredded
1 bag of broccoli slaw
1/2 c chopped peanuts
8 slices crispy bacon, crumbled
Mix first 3 ing. together in a large bowl. Toss with cabbage and broccoli. Add bacon and peanuts just before serving to preserve crispness.


Greek Salad
Patty Mahan via (niece DeDawn Lovett)

16 oz. of mixed salad "greens" (such as Arugula, Red Batavian Endive, Mizuna, & dark green lettuce(s))
(all lettuce greens need to be washed and dried)
3 diced plum tomatoes
1 cup cubed cucumber
2 small avocado diced
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup lime or lemon juice (your preference)
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup feta cheese (crumbled)

*optional ingredients to add -
1/3 cup cut up green onion or diced red onion
2 shredded carrots
1/3 head of red cabbage (shredded or cut up thin)
1 can of sliced olives (your preference)
8 oz cold cook fresh peas

serves: approx. 8

In a small bowl mix together the oil, juice, garlic salt and pepper. Let the dressing set aside while you mix the dry ingredients. In a large salad bowl combine & mix all the dry ingredients. (except the feta cheese) Drizzle the dressing over the salad mixture and toss. Add more garlic, lemon or lime juice and pepper to suit your taste. Chill 10 - 15 minutes and serve. *note: this is a salad that tends to get soggy/juicy as it sets, so I recommend making it as close to time to serve as possible.


PISTACHIO MARBLE BUNDT CAKE
□ 1 pkg. yellow cake mix□ 1 pkg. instant pistachio pudding□ 4 eggs□ 1 c. water□


1/2 c. oil□ 1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

Mix together all of the above. Pour 2/3 of batter into a greased and floured bundt pan. To remaining 1/3 of batter add 1/4 cup chocolate syrup. Pour chocolate mixture in 3 mounds over batter in pan. Run knife through to marbleize. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

(Adding real pistachios to the mix is optional.)

Glaze:

¼ cup of orange juice
1cup of powdered sugar
¼ tsp. of almond extract
Mix together and pour on cake while still warm.

(From friend, Sandy)





Cool Cucumber Salad

1 med. Cucumber, quartered and sliced
1 med. Tomato, chopped
½ c. chopped green pepper
1/3 c. chopped sweet onion
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2 Tbsp. Red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
¾ tsp. dill weed
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper

In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, tomato, green pepper and onion. In a small bowl, combine lime juice, vinegar, dill, salt and pepper. Pour over cucumber mixture; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Serve with a slotted spoon. Yield 4 servings.]






Connie's

Mandarin Orange Almond Salad

Head of romain lettuce
1/2 cup craisins
Chopped green onions
Toasted sesame seeds
1/4 to 1/2 cup canalized sliced almonds (break into small pieces after cooled)
1 can cold drained mandarin oranges

Dressing

1/4 c cider vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil or veg. oil
1/4 cup sugar
Put in container and shake well until dissolved. Chill in refrigerator
ahead of time shaking every few hours to dissolve well. Pour on right before serving.



Natural Homemade Fabric Softener--Vicki Wardell


4 c. Hot Water


1 c. Baking soda


2 1/2 c. White Vinegar


20 drops of essential oil in your favorite scent---optional


Mix hot water and baking soda together. Gradually add vinegar to mix, being careful to watch this as it will foam up quite a bit. Shake lightly, being careful not to shake enough to blow the top off your jug. After mixing this part add in the essential oil and lightly shake again. I used an empty clean gallon milk bottle to mix this in, but I am storing it in an empty vinegar gallon. ( Do not store this in a milk bottle they are not strong enough plastic to hold up) You could also store it in an empty fabric softener bottle. This will make just under a 1/2 gallon of fabric softener. Use 1/2 cup per load of wash. I just fill up my fabric softener dispenser on my washing machine. Some people fill their downy ball with this mix. lightly shake mixture just before putting into your wash. Can add directly to your rinse water if you prefer.



Lemon Lime Muffins--Vicki Wardell


Preheat oven to 400 degrees


Place in bowl:


2 c. all purpose flour


1 tbsp. baking powder


1/2 tsp. baking soda


1/2 tsp. salt


heaping 1/2 c. sugar


1/2 c. instant vanilla pudding powder


Mix together and make a hole in middle of mixture


Then in a separate bowl mix well together:


2 large eggs--room temperature


1 --6 oz. container key lime yogurt


3/4 c. sour cream


6 tbsp. canola oil


1/2 c. milk


finely grated rind from 2 limes


Add this mix to the dry ingredients and mix just until all is moistened.


Be careful not to over mix. drop into muffin tins lined with cupcake liners. Will make 12 large muffins or 48 mini muffins. Bake at 400 until very lightly brown on top. The mini muffins cook very quickly about 10 minutes or so. Watch carefully. Take out of oven and let cool slightly.


Icing:


2 tbsp. butter


4 oz. cream cheese


1 c. powdered sugar


Mix together and add enough lemon juice to make a runny glaze. Dip top of cool muffins in this glaze and let set. Can top muffins lightly with green sprinkles or lime zest if desired