Spinach Salad

I love spinach salads.... I have them several times a week for lunch. I usually put boiled egg on them, thats my favorite part, but I didn't want to wait to boil some today. I thought it wasn't going to be as good, but the avocado made it! This took about 1 minute for me to eat, I had to make a second one.

put any amount you want.....

Spinach
Lighthouse Homestyle Ranch Dressing
Italian style crutons
bacon (precooked from costco)
Feta cheese
Parmesan cheese
Dubliner cheese (I just discovered this at costco the other day, it's my new favorite!)
Avocado

Davies Cheese Ball

So I learned how to make this way back in jr. high school from my friend Shanna Davies.
I have not had a Thanksgiving or Christmas without one for over 20 years! It is the best cheese ball ever, no one has ever said they didn't love it...

2 pkg cream cheese, softened
2 tble mayo
1 tble lemon juice
1 pkg lunch meat ham, chopped into small pieces
1 bunch green onions, chopped into small pieces

mix all together with hands roll in chopped nuts, any kind you want, I like pecans the best, and refrigerate for a few hours before serving. Serve with crackers!

Pear Pie

Pastry double crust pie:

2 1/2 C. flour

1 tsp Salt

3/4 C. Shortening

1/4 C. Chilled Butter

4-6 tble Ice-Cold Water

(Crust recipe: Liz Edmunds)

Filling:

1/2 C. Sugar

3 tble Flour

1/4 tsp Salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Lemon Zest

1 tble Butter

1 tble Lemon Juice

5 C. Peeled/Sliced Pear

Mix all ingredients except the pears.

Layer the pears and the mixture in crust.

(I put a few extra pieces of butter on the

top layers before I put the crust over,

like a tble cut into 4's)

Brush egg on the top of the crust for shine!

Bake 450 for 10 min.,

then reduce to 350 for 35-40 min.

Cover the edges with tin foil for the first 2/3.

Creamy Curried Chicken Salad

12 oz. grilled chicken

(5 or 6 chicken tenders)

1/4 C. mayo

1 t. curry powder

1/4 C. green onion, sliced

2 T. raisins

(I used dried cranberries)

2 T. slivered almonds, toasted

Refrigerate several hours or overnight.

I served this over rice.

You could also serve it in lettuce cups

or mini pita halves.

Corn and Black bean Salad w/ Basil-Lime Vinaigrette

Salad

2 Ears fresh corn (or 1 cup frozen, thawed)

1 (15 oz) can Black Bean, drained/rinsed

1 (15 oz) can garbanzo beans, drained/rinsed

1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, cut into 1/2 in pieces

1 mango, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2 in pieces

Vinaigrette

2 limes, zested and juiced

2 T. balsamic vinegar

1/2 chopped fresh basil

( I didn't use fresh in this time)

1 t. ground cumin

1/3 C. extra virgin oil

salt and pepper

This is really good,

So many flavors.

The kids even like it!

Alice Springs Chicken

Honey Mustard Marinade

1/2 C. grey poupon dijon mustard

1/2 C. honey

1 1/2 t. vegetable oil

1/2 t. lemon juice

4 skinless, boeless chicken breast halves

1 T. vegetable oil

2 C. sliced mushrooms

2 T. butter

salt

pepper

paprika

(to taste)

8 slices of bacon, cooked

1 C. shredded monterey jack cheese

1 C. shredded cheddar cheese

fresh parsley

Directions:

Combine marinade ingredients, mix well.

pour 2/3 of marinade over chicken and

marinate for 2 hours in fridge.

cook chicken,

saute' mushrooms

cook bacon

Stack and layer

chicken, two pieces of bacon

mushrooms

monterey jack and cheddar

Bake 7 to 10 minutes. (375)

serve extra marinade on the side.

Just as good as if you ordered it at

Outback Steakhouse!

Fresh Rosemary & Lemon Cupcakes

1/2 C. butter

2 eggs

1 3/4 C. flour

2 t. rosemary

1 1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1 C. sugar

1 1/2 t/ lemon extract

1/2 t. vanilla

2/3 C. milk

2 t. lemon peel

Mix butter, lemon extract and vanilla,

beat 30 seconds, add eggs, one at a time.

Beat for 2 minutes.

Alternate adding milk and flour.

Add the rest of the ingredients.

beat well.

Stir in lemon peel and lemon juice

Bake 350

18-22 minutes

Glaze

1 C. powdered sugar

5 to 5 1/2 t. of lemon juice,

just enough to make it a

spreading consistency.

These are so yummy, if you like rosemary.

Are they for kids? Not so much,

well not most kids!