Roasted Potato Salad

Remember when my mom was in town and made this little thing called raspberry cream cheese bread?  And remember how we all went nuts and thought we’d died and gone to heaven? 

Yeah, she’s an amazing cook.

Well, while she was here, she also made a heavenly potato salad for a family potluck.  It’s unlike any other potato salad I have ever had! 

It’s not your typical mayo, mustard, eggs, and pickle salad. 

This is truly THE best potato salad recipe… EVER! 

I don’t have pics of the process because she was at my grandpa’s when she made it.  Psshhh!  She just couldn’t wait…

So, here it is, slightly adapted from the July issue of People Magazine.



2 1/2  lbs. unpeeled red potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
1 medium red onion, cut in half and sliced thin
2 T canola oil
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 can of corn
1 cup diced celery
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup white vinegar or apple cider vinegar (add a couple teaspoons of sugar or honey if desired)
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 – 3/4 cup sliced fresh basil


Preheat oven to 425. In a large bowl combine potatoes, onion and oil, toss with 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper.

Spread mixture on 2 lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until potatoes are crispy.

Remove pans to wire racks; cool to room temperature.


Combine potato mixture, corn, celery and garlic powder in a large bowl. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar {and sugar or honey}; drizzle over vegetables and toss.  Coat evenly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Add basil just before serving.  Toss.

 

I’m pretty sure you’ll love it!  Such a light and refreshing take on an old classic!  DELICIOUS!!!!!

Snicker Apple Salad

Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about when I say ‘Snicker Apple Salad’.  Others of you may be looking at the title thinking, that sounds disgusting!  Or you may be thinking that it sounds pretty good. 

Let me just say, it is better than good.  If you’ve never tried this before, you’ll definitely want to!  The combination of the chocolate, carmel, peanuts and apples is heavenly! 

You’ll need only a few ingredients. 

• 4 Apples (I like Fuji)


• 2 or 3 Snickers bars (regular size)


• 8 oz. Cool Whip

Easy enough, right? 

You just need to cut the apples into small chunks, cut the Snickers bars into small chunks (place in freezer for about 15 minutes before hand to make cutting easier) and mix it all up with the Cool Whip. 

Trust me, you’ll LOVE this!  Sure, it’s a little bit naughty but everyone needs a treat now and then.



 

Green Fluffy Stuff

So, I had a bit of trouble trying to name this recipe.  I guess I could call it Pistachio Salad {and usually I do} but what a boring name.  Maybe Green Fluff?  Hmmm, not too fond of that.  How about Green Fluffy Stuff?  Well, I guess it works.  It is a pale shade of green, it's definitely fluffy, and it's some sort of stuff, no?  It's gonna have to do. 

Growing up, I remember eating a lot of fruit salads and 'fluffy' salads. 

Mom, if you're reading this, don't disagree, just let me remember my growing up years the way I remember them. 

As I was saying, I remember eating a lot of fruity/fluffy salads at dinner time.  I remember them being a part of our suppers at least twice a week.  At least.  My mom may disagree but this is how I remember it.  And the two salads I remember the most are... the one where you just cut up a bunch of fruits, throw in a can of fruit cocktail, and mix it all up with some Cool Whip... and this one that I'm about to share. 

This is the 'stuff' that my father-in-law asks me to make for just about every event.  My mother-in-law requests it sometimes, too... claiming that Mark would love it if I did.  I think secretly she likes it just as much {or more} than he does.  It has kind of become my 'trademark' in Anthony's family.  And they always say, "if it's not too much trouble..."  Ha!  If they only knew!

The fact that this 'stuff' is so simple to put together makes it easy for a last minute request or a potluck that you just didn't have time to plan for.  Or, use it as a side for dinner... I grew up on this stuff!!

Here's what you'll need:



 

Combine the crushed pineapple with the pistachio pudding mix and let it sit for about 10 minutes. 

 

Fold in the Cool Whip.  Don't get too agressive with it.  You want the Cool Whip to stay nice and fluffy.



Next, add the marshmallows.  I used a whole 10.5 oz package but you could use less if you prefer.  Stir them in gently.

 

And now you have a mess of a bowl... not very eye catching...



...that's why you transfer it to a clean bowl.  It's all about presentation, people!  Learned that from my mom.



Ok, sure it's not fun to add more dishes to the already overflowing pile in the sink but deal with it. 

Pistachio Pudding Fluffy Stuff

1 small pkg of pistachio pudding mix

1 - 20 oz. can crushed pineapple

12-16 oz. Cool Whip (or other brand) whipped topping {depending on how fluffy you like it}

1 pkg marshmallows

Mix the pudding mix and the pineapple together.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes.  Fold in whipped topping.  Add marshmallows and stir gently.  Enjoy!

Fiesta Salad

While searching for something to make for dinner the other night, I was determined to find a salad recipe.  Why a salad?  I don't know.  It's so unlike me.  I never crave salads but I had just returned home from the grocery store, Anthony left to work on a friend's deck as soon as I got home, and I needed something quick and easy.  Salad sounded great for that and I had just brought home a bunch of different greens that I was so excited to use. 

Silly, I know.

So, I grabbed my recipe binder (which only recently became a binder.... before that it looked like....)



Scary, eh?  Am I the only one who hoards recipes from the internet and other sources and then never makes them?  I mean, who wants to dig through a mess like that to find a recipe?  Not me!  Well, not anymore.  I dove right in as soon as I was smart enough (after many years) to get them into a binder.  A novel concept, I know. 

There I go getting off track again.  So, back to dinner.  I found this recipe for Fiesta Salad.  Perfect!  I had all of the ingredients.  So, I put it all together while only tweaking it slightly.  (Recipe calls for bagged salad... I used my own greens)

DELICIOUS!!  It would be perfect for a pot luck.

Even my kids loved it and that's saying a lot of a salad. 



Fiesta Salad

1 bag prepared salad (or prepare your own greens... I used 1/3 spinach, 1/3 romaine, 1/3 red leaf lettuce)

1 can corn, drained

1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I used red beans)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 c. grated cheese

2-3 green onions, chopped

1 large tomato, chopped

1 can whole olives (you can use sliced if you prefer)

Dressing

3/4 c. ranch

3/4 c. salsa

Layer all ingredients in a large, lovely bowl.  Pour dressing over the top and garnish with crushed tortilla chips or tortilla strips.

You're going to love it!!

 

Cranberry Fluff

Cranberries!... the best part of Thanksgiving! Most people would disagree, I am sure, but for me, it's not Thanksgiving without it.

I remember the second Thanksgiving we were married, Anthony and I went to his family's Thanksgiving. The table was set, the food was out, everyone was seated, and the blessing was given. I'm sure it was a beautiful blessing, although I don't remember a single word that was uttered. That was 8 years ago, give a girl a break! What I do remember is opening my eyes and the first thing I looked for was the little dish of cranberry sauce. There's always a dish (or several in my family), isn't there? Maybe it's strange but the kind I like best is just plain old jellied cranberry sauce. Whole berry is great too, and even homemade is good but just give me a can of plain ol' jellied cranberry sauce and I'm happy... as a peach!

Anyway, there was not a single dish of cranberries in sight. It was forgotten, left on the counter somewhere, I was sure! It had to be, it was the only explanation.

Being that I was shy around them at the time, still am sometimes, I admit, I leaned over to Anthony and mentioned that I didn't see the cranberries anywhere.

He said, "Hey Ma, where are the cranberries?"

Do you know what she said? Any ideas? To my devestation and disappointment, she said, "I don't have any. Nobody likes them."

*GASP*

What? Nobody likes them? These people are mad!! I knew Anthony didn't like them but I had no idea that no one in his family liked them either! What had I married into? A very sad Thanksgiving, indeed.

Not really though, the company was great and it was a lot of fun. I just now know to bring my own can of jellied cranberry sauce when we have Thanksgiving with Anthony's family.

And that is my cranberry story. It's just not Thanksgiving without them.

Now, here's a recipe with cranberries in it. It's quite simple, really! This recipe was added to the regular Thanksgiving menu on my side, probably about 5 or 6 years ago. My aunt picked it up somewhere and I went nuts over it. LOVE IT!


Cranberry Fluff
1 bag of cranberries
1 c. sugar
1 pkg marshmallows
2 lg whipped cream

Add 1/4 - 1/2 c. water to cranberries and sugar in a blender and blend. Let sit for 1 hour. The cranberries have a natural gelatin in them so letting them sit allows it to firm up a bit.

Fold in whipped cream and marshmallows. There you have it!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.