Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:

1 cup mayo

2 Tbsp sugar

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 (16 oz pkg) or one bunch broccoli, chopped

5 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Remove broccoli leaves and cut off tough ends of stalks. Wash throughly, cut into small flowerettes and chop stems. Combine broccoli, bacon, raisin, onion, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl. Combine mayo, sugar and red wine vinegar. Add to broccoli mixture, stirring until well coated. Cover and chill.

Makes about 5 cups.

Strawberry and Spinach Salad

Serves 8-10

Dressing

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp paprika

1 Tbsp poppy seeds

1/4 cup cider vinegar

2 Tbsp sesame seeds

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 tsp minced onion

1/2 cup salad oil

Mix all dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake. Dressing may be made ahead of time and stored.

Salad

3/4 cup slivered almonds

1 pt strawberries, sliced

2 Tbsp butter

1 lb fresh spinached, torn into bite sized pieces

In a small skillet, saute almonds in melted butter until lightly toasted, then remove and cool. Combine spinach, strawberries, and almonds in a serving bowl. Pour dressing over salad toss and serve immediately.

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

3 large tomatoes, sliced

8 oz mozzarella, sliced

1/4 cup olive or veggie oil

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1/4 cup minced fresh basil

On a large serving platter, alternate tomatoes and mozzarella slices. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, salt and pepper; shake well. Drizzle over tomatoes and mozzarella. Sprinkle with basil.

Mom's Famous Pasta Salad

We had family visiting this weekend, and we were looking for an easy dish to add to our lunch menu...but something that would also feed a lot of people and taste just as good. Our solution was the "famous" pasta salad recipe that my mom had collected from one of her quilting bee members. Its a really easy salad to make, and there is not much to it and everyone, I mean everyone, who has ever tried it has absolutely loved it. The relatives staying with us this weekend even asked for the recipe. So, I decided to share it with all of you! I hope you guys find it to be just as good !! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Package of Wacky Mac pasta
Broccoli
Peppers
Feta Cheese
Peppers (green or red works)
Artichokes
Black or green olives
Pepperoni
Italian salad dressing

1. Boil and drain the pasta according to package
2. Cut desired ingredients (you can add or subtract what you want according to your own tastes - feel free to experiment with it!!)
3. Mix
4. Top with dressing and chill or eat right away.

*note: you may need to add more dressing if you let it sit in the fridge overnight, the pasta tends to soak in the dressing

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Family Favorite!! This is dish is usually gone the same day we make it! Great as an appetizer, side or if you just want to have it for lunch. Perfect for those hot summer days.

Ingredients:
2 cucumbers
1 large tomato
1 small green pepper
1 small purple onion
1/3 cup veggie oil
3 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Directions:
Chop cucumber, tomato, bell pepper and onion. Whisk together oil and next 4 ingredients in large bowl until sugar dissolves. Add cucumber mixture. Toss together. Cover and chill 3 hours.

Yields: 2 cups

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

I'd personally never heard of this recipe before, until some of my friends at college introduced me to it. Apparently, it had been a personal favorite for a lot of them. Don't let the name of it fool you!! It may seem like a strange combination, but if you are a fan of salty-sweet combo's this recipe is one for you!!

Ingredients:
2 cups crushed hard pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter or margarine
3 tablespoons sugar
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese
2 cups whipped cream or whipped topping
1 package (6 oz) strawberry gelatin
1 package (10 oz) frozen strawberries, thawed
2 cups boiling water
1 cup sugar

Preparation: Mix together the crushed pretzels, butter or margarine, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Put into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; bake at 400° for 8 to 10 minutes. Mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and whipped topping. Mix gelatin into boiling water, then add frozen strawberries. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. Garnish with fresh strawberries.
Serves 10 to 12.