Summer Spinach Salad

Baby Spinach

Mixed Greens

Mandarin Oranges

Sliced Almonds

Sliced Strawberries

Dried Cranberries

Diced Apples - Green or Gala (Optional)

Soft Cheese of Your Choice (Optional)

I like this salad because you can tweak it to your company.  My Mom isn't a fan of the soft cheese so I skip it.  My sister doesn't love the apples, so if she's going to eat it I leave them out of add them after I get her a bowl.  It's a light and fresh salad with some flavor and color.  I like to use a poppyseed dressing or a raspberry/strawberry vinegrette.

Stuffing/Dressing 101

How to make stuffing:

1. Cook vegetables, fruits, herbs and/or meat in butter, then add broth.

2. Toss with beaten eggs and cubed bread.

3. Transfer to a buttered baking dish and dot with butter or drippings. Bake, covered, at 375 degrees F, 30 minutes; uncover and bake until golden, about 30 more minutes (or cook the cooled stuffing in the turkey).

Each recipe serves 8 and is enough to fill a 12-14 pound turkey.

Classic Melt 1 stick butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cups each diced onions and celery and 1 tablespoon each minced sage and thyme; add salt and pepper and cook 5 minutes. Add 3 cups turkey or chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Beat 2 eggs with 1/4 cup chopped parsley in a large bowl; add 16 cups cubed stale white bread, then pour in the vegetable-broth mixture and toss. Transfer to a buttered baking dish and dot with butter. Cover and bake 30 minutes at 375 degrees F; uncover and bake until golden, 30 more minutes. (Or stuff in your turkey and bake.)

Orange Cranberry Make a directed above, but add the zest of one orange and it's juice to the stuffing mix before baking, as well as 1/2-1 cup dried cranberries.

You can make any variation of stuffing, do what suits your family.  Change up the fruits/vegetables as you like and add cooked sausage if you'd like, add more or less herbs.  Just follow the basic equation and add the flavors your family likes best.

For my family I ususally do two flavors - the Orange Cranberry and a Modified Classic.

Chinese Cabbage Salad

1 (3 ounce) package ramen noodles, crushed (Can toast with Cashews - optional)

10 ounces cashew pieces (Can toast with ramen - optional)

1 (16 ounce) package shredded coleslaw mix

1 bunch green onions, chopped

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Toss the first four ingredients in a large bowl.  In a blender or even in a quart jar, combine the sugar, oil, vinegar and soy sauce and mix well.  Pour over salad and mix.

If I am making this as dinner as opposed to a side, I add some grilled chicken, chopped or shredded.

Don't Knock it Till you Try it...

Creamy Corn
2 packages (about 20 oz.) Frozen Corn (preferably sweet)
8 oz. (1/2 pint) Heavy Whipping Cream
8 oz. (1/2 pint) Milk
1 teaspoon Salt
6 teaspoons Sugar
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (can be varied depending on taste)
2 tablespoons Melter Butter
2 tablespoons Flour

Combine all ingredients, except, butter and flour in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Blend melted butter with flour and then combine with corn mixture, mix well and remove from heat.

Now you have 2 options:
1- You can put it in a casserole dish, sprinkle it with shredded parmesan cheese and put it under the broiler until cheese melts/browns, OR
2- If you are impatient like me, you can add the parmesan cheese on top, in the pan and start eating.

Take your pick, both options are great. Enjoy!