Chicken Wonton Salad

I promise this is a good one! And yes, I have a comment after almost all the ingredients. This recipe makes a lot. I usually cut it in half.

3 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and cubed (I sometimes marinate chicken in a easy sauce if I think about it. Let me know if you want that recipe.)
1/2 pkg. wonton wrappers, cut into 1/2-inch strips (freeze other half of pkg.)
1 head of lettuce (you choose - I use romaine or combine different lettuces)
1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 (4 oz.) pkg. slivered almonds, toasted (I actually like to use caramelized pecans)
1 (8 oz.) can sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
5 green onions, chopped
(I sometimes add other things that sound good like sesame seeds, avocado, etc.)

Fry wonton strips in oil until crisp; cool on paper towel. In a large bowl, toss chicken with lettuce, oranges, chestnuts, and onions. Add wonton strips and nuts on top before serving.

Dressing:
4 T. sugar
1 t. salt
4 T. white wine vinegar
1/3 c. veg oil

Mix everthing together (I use a mason jar) and refrigerate until ready to drizzle over salad and serve.

Hope you enjoy!

Krista

Cabbage Crunch Salad

1/2 c vegetable oil
1/4 c sugar
3 T vinegar
1/2 t salt
Flavor packet from ramen noodles
1/2 head of cabbage, shredded
4 green onions, chopped
2 T sesame seeds, toasted
1 package ramen noodles, broken and uncooked
1/2 c sliced almonds, toasted
Red seedless grapes, as desired

In a blender, combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, and flavoring packet. Pour over cabbage. Add green onions and sesame seeds. Toss together. Just before serving, add ramen noodles, almonds, and grapes. Serves 6.

Lisa G

Four-Bean Salad

1 can garbanzo beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can golden wax beans
1 can cut green beans
1/2 c chopped white or green onion
1/2 c chopped red or green pepper
1/2 c white or red wine vinegar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1 t mustard
1/4 t oregano (optional)

Drain all beans and place ina bowl with onion and peppers. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over bean mixture. Cover and marinate for several hours or overnight.

This has become one of my signature dishes. I love it so much that I have often wondered if I could eat the whole thing by myself. By the way... it makes 12 servings.

Lisa G

Cilantro-Lime Dressing

1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 (3-inch) jalapeno pepper, cut and seeded (optional)
2 T chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
juice of 1 lime

Blend all ingredients in a blender.

This is delicious as a topping on a taco salad or as a dip for chips & veggies. Also, a side note on the taco salad... If you want to try a vegetarian taco sald, try substituting the ground beef with a mixture of black beans and corn, warmed up. It's one of our favorite meals.

Lisa G

Chicken Tacos

Combine the following ingredients in order and bring to a boil:

3 Tbsp. Butter
1 small Onion or 1 Tbsp. Onion Flakes
1 Tsp. Mustard
1 C. Ketchup
1/2-1 C. Water
2 Tbs. Vinegar
1 Tbs. Worceshire Sauce
2 C. Brown Sugar
4 Shredded Chicken Breasts

* Serve in tortillas and top with your favorite taco toppings.

Brazilian Limeade- Braza Grill

2 C. Water
2 whole Limes
1/3 C. Sugar
1/3 C. Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 C. Ice

Wash limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges. Place limes in a blender with the sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water and ice.

Blend in an electric blender, pulsing 5 times. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove rinds. Serve over ice.

* This is fabulous (Jessica can attest)

Cafe' Rio House Dressing

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 C. Mayonnaise
1 C. chopped Cilantro
2 cloves Garlic
3 Tomatillos (canned- found on ethnic foods aisle)
1/3 cup Buttermilk
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

Put all the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.

Jenn Tukuafu

Cafe' Rio Rice

4 tsp. Chicken Bouillon
4 tsp. Minced Garlic
1/2 bunch Cilantro
1 can diced Green Chilies
3/4 tsp. Salt
1 Tbs. Butter
1/2 Onion, chopped
3 cups Rice (not instant)

Put chicken bouillon, garlic, cilantro, diced green chilies, salt, butter and onion in a blender and puree until smooth. Poor into saucepan and add 3 cups water and bring to a boil. Add rice and simmer for 30 minutes.

Jenn Tukuafu

Cafe' Rio Pork Barbacoa

5-6 pounds Pork Roast
1 Tbs. Cumin
1 C. Brown Sugar
12 ounces La Victoria Taco Sauce
20 ounces Coca Cola

Place roast in a crock pot and add water halfway up roast. Cook on low for 12 hours. Drain out the water and add the remaining ingredients, then cook for 4 more hours. Shred the pork and cook for 2 more hours.

I realize this doesn't go with the "quick" part of this recipe blog, but it really is good and since it cooks in the crocky, it is pretty easy! I made burritos and for my pickey toddler, I made quesadilla. It's fabulous with salad too!

Jenn Tukuafu

Chicken Alfredo

REAL alfredo w/ chicken

1/2 C. Butter
2 C. Parmesan or Romano Cheese, grated
1/2 C. + 2 Tbsp. Heavy Cream
Salt & Pepper, to taste.

Melt the butter in cream, then stir in the cheese, melt and blend in. Season to taste. Add to cooked chicken and then to Alfredo or Fettuccine noodles.

It is fabulous!

Jenn Tukuafu

Italian pasta salad

Hi everyone,
This is a salad that we always make in the spring and summer. It is easy to make and taste great.

1 16oz pkg colored pasta, cooked and cooled
1 can olive, sliced
1 bunch broccoli, florets cut small
1/2 -1 cup diced cheese, mozzarella, colby, cheddar or any other you like
1 green or red pepper diced
3 medium tomatoes diced
Italian salad dressing, you can use reg, light, or fat free; to taste

combine all ingredient and add salad dressing to taste. Let chill or serve immediately. You might want to add more dressing once the salad has had a chance to soak up a bit of the dressing.

Enjoy!!
Kim C.

Pasta Salad

1 box tri-color rotini pasta
1 bottle your favorite italian dressing (I love Kraft creamy italian)
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
1 c. cubed cheddar cheese
1 cucumber, chopped
1 can sliced olives

Cook pasta according to box, drain, and rinse with cold water. (If I'm serving it right away, I throw a handful of ice cubes in the strainer to cool it down fast, otherwise just mix it all up and put it in the fridge until you're ready.) Add all the chopped stuff and olives, then squirt dressing on until it looks good, maybe 2/3 to 3/4 bottle. My friend puts sliced pepperoni (pizza topping) in and I like it, but I usually don't and it's good without. Serve cold, it's one of Justin's favorite things to eat in the summer. Warning, don't overcook the pasta because it absorbs dressing and gets softer over time.

Katie Lisonbee

Craisin Salad

Okay, I've never posted a comment to a blog, so I hope this shows up. I feel like my mom trying to use Microsoft Word--she seriously doesn't get it. Anyway, here's my FAV-O-RITE salad recipe, probably because it has an ample amount of sugar. This recipe makes a ton (like 15 servings), so cut it down as necessary.

Dressing:
1/2 C. sugar
1 C. oil (I always use less)
6 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tsp. prepared mustard
1/2 C. chopped onion
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. poppy seed (optional)

Toss together salad:
Iceberg lettuce
Spinach
Romaine
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 C. slivered almonds
1 C. Craisins

Toss dressing over salad just before serving.

Julia

Tuna and White Bean Salad

I thought this sounded gross, but I love it. It's a Rachael Ray recipe.

1 can, 15 ounces, white beans
1 can, 6 ounces, tuna in water, drained well and flaked
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 cups arugula, finely chopped
the juice of 1 lemon (I usually add more)
1 Tbl extra virgin olive oil-for liberal drizzling
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

Drain beans well. Place half the beans into a bowl. Mash remaining beans up with a fork. Combine mashed and whole beans with tuna, onion, rosemary and arugula. Dress the salad with lemon juice, EVOO, salt and pepper. Serve with crackers/chips.

Southwestern Black Bean and Corn Salad

3 15-oz cans black beans, drained
2 11-0z cans corn niblets, drained
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup green onions, chopped

Dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tsp cider vinegar
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt

Mix the dressing with a whisk in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight or 6-8 hrs.

We make this salad a lot during the summer, especially when we grill chicken or burgers. Or for a nice, light summer dinner, just have it with tortilla chips and salsa. Yummy! :-)

Barbara

Greek Salad

7 ounces spinach, torn into bite-size pieces
1 head lettuce, torn
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
4 green onions, sliced
24 pitted ripe olives
3 tomatoes, cut in wedges
1 cucumber, sliced

LEMON DRESSING:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 T lemon juice
1/2 t sugar
1 1/2 t Dijon mustard
1/4 t salt
1/8 t pepper
--- shake ingredients in a tightly covered (or not, depending on how much clean-up you want to do) container and pour over salad

This salad is great served with your favorite bread for a light dinner - OR - if you must, with some grilled chicken. It is so tasty! You must try it. :)

- Lisa G

Creamy Poppyseed and BBQ Ranch Salad

Here are my top picks.

CREAMY POPPYSEED SALAD (i know the name sucks, but it doesn't really have one)

lettuce

apples

craisins

monterey jack cheese shredded (i have also used feta and it is super good)

walnuts (i always use candied ones, because i make twice as much as i need and so we can just snack on them )

DRESSING:

that's all it is. KRAFT creamy poppyseed, it fits perfectly with all of the ingredients. i make it for baby showers or when my sisters visit because everyone digs it so much.

okay, this is one of my favorites. it is kind of a knock-off from the nordstrom cafe and the cheesecake factory.

BBQ RANCH SALAD

lettuce

can black beans (drained and rinsed)

can corn (drained)

avocado

mushrooms

tomatoes

DRESSING:

equal parts bbq sauce and ranch dressing mixed together

top with french fried onions

this salad is SO good, and super hearty. the nice thing about it is that you don't have to use all of the vegetables, just mix and match what you and your family likes. we also use it as a filling for tortillas (like a wrap) for a fun picnic dinner. oh yeah, you can also add chicken breast, that's how it is originally served.

does anyone have a good coleslaw recipe? also, i am always looking for different pasta, fruit or potato salads, if anyone has one they love.

- catherine

Raspberry Dream Salad

This is more of a dessert, but because it has salad in the title, I'll go with it.

2 c. pretzels finely crushed
3/4 c. butter melted
1/2 c. sugar
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/3 c. sugar
8oz Cool Whip
1 6 oz package of raspberry jello
2 c. boiling water
2 10oz packages of frozen raspberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease A 9x13 in. pan. Mix pretzels, butter, and sugar, press in 9x13 pan. Bake 6 min. Cool. Combine cream cheese and sugar. Mix until well blended. Fold in Cool whip. Spread over cooled crust and chill in refrigerator. Dissolve jello in water; add frozen raspberries. Stir gently until fruit separates and jello thickens. Pour over creem cheese layer. Chill until firm.

~Jessica Stoner

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1 bag of spinach
1 lb of strawberries

Dressing:
1/4 c. sugar
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 egg yolk
6 Tbsp. salad oil

Tear spinach into pieces. Slice fresh strawberries, toss together with dressing.
Dressing: Whisk sugar and lemon juice until partially dissolved. Add egg, whisk until completely dissolved. Add oil 1 Tbsp at a time and whisk until thick.

~Jessica Stoner

let's get started

Alrighty ladies, here it is.

I have sent this to only a few of you, but feel free to send it to whomever you want, whether the rest of us know them or not. I guess the only stipulation is that they MUST have some good recipes! Okay, I am kidding. It will be fun to have a lot of us blogging regardless of their cooking ablilities.

The way that this will work is that we will have a category and then people can post their recipes, questions, suggestions, comments etc... If you don't have any recipes, that is fine, just get on allrecipes.com and experiment. We are totally fine with plagiarising (lol).

The only way that this will be successful is if everybody actually submits something, or leaves a comment. I am SUPER excited about this. I am always looking for new recipes or ideas and I think that this will be fun. Oh yeah, a side note, you can also post some fun news or pictures or anything even if it isn't related to cooking!:) Let's get started.

One more thing. I think that everyone agrees that we are looking for good EASY recipes.

The first category is SALADS.

- cat