Broccoli/Cauliflower/Olive Salad

Broccoli/Cauliflower/Olive Salad (Mary Jane Hall)

My husband used to get this type of salad at the Kroger deli and we really liked it. One day I decided to try and make it myself without really knowing all the ingredients. I'm not sure if I included everything that was in the deli salad, but I loved it from the first day I made it and have been making it for at least 20-25 yrs.

My Own Creation
Broccoli/Cauliflower/Olive Salad

This salad is pretty healthy, with cauliflower, broccoli, sweet onion, black olives, green olives and lots of hard boiled eggs! Sometimes I eat just this for lunch or bedtime snack because it's very satisfying.

Ingredients

*Note: reserve small amount of olive juice (both black & green olives)

3 cups Broccoli, bite size pieces

3 cups Cauliflower, bite size pieces

1 can black olives, drained

1 small jar green olives, drained

½ sweet Vidalia onion, chopped

6 hard boiled eggs

1 cup (or more) mayonnaise - Hellman's is my favorite (not salad dressing)

You will not need salt & pepper, unless you think it needs some

Mix all together, leaving the olives whole. I like to create the boiled eggs but some may like their eggs chopped. I add about a tablespoon each of olive juice. Just go by your taste, bc you may not even need it. 

Cheesy Instant Mashed Potatoes

 This will be the easiest potato dish you've ever made! I promise. And it's just as delicious as it is easy and always a big hit no matter what kind of event you take it to or what kind of meat you fix to go with it!

I have never liked instant potatoes. I know they're real potatoes, but I just never liked the way they tasted. Believe me, though, when I tell you, that when you taste these mashed potatoes, you won't be able to tell they are instant! 

One of the best things about this recipe is that you don't have to go to the bother and time it takes to peel the potatoes. Plus I like the fact I don't have to whip the potatoes with my mixer or dirty up more dishes to wash. You do everything in ONE pot! This is very quick to make! At the most 15 minutes to heat the water and mix all the ingredients in. 

Cheesy Instant Mashed Potatoes

In the 80's, there was a senior citizens group at our church, called "Super Sixties" that gathered together once a week to visit and eat. There was always entertainment and a Bible study ready for them to enjoy. Occasionally, since I was the ministers wife,  I would help the ladies in the kitchen prepare the meal. They are the ones who taught me how to make these super easy mashed potatoes. An idea, is if you're going to take this to a potluck or dinner at someone else's house, would be to make a big batch and keep it warm in the crockpot. I think this could easily be baked in a dish if you want to do it that way. If you do that though, you'll need to add more milk and butter so it won't get too dry.

Instant Cheesy Mashed Potatoes         4-6 Servings

Note: to feed a larger group of people, double or triple this recipe. If I were making it for a potluck, Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, I would triple or quadruple this and keep it warm in my crockpot.

2 cups instant potatoes
1¾ cups water
3 Tablespoons butter
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
---------------------------------------
2/3 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheese (Velveeta, Colby or cheddar). I use Velveeta.
2 Tablespoons Hellman's mayonnaise
1/3 pkt Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix  (OR makes your own with: (add to taste)
Dill weed
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Fresh or dry parsley

Directions
Cook potatoes in saucepan on top of stove, according to directions using first 5 ingredients.
After potatoes are done, add rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly.  You can add more of all these ingredients if you think it needs more or to your taste.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! If you want a quick potato salad, use instant potatoes for that too! Just add the ingredients you normally would for a regular potato salad. My friend, Jean Parker, from Midland, Texas taught me how to do this and it's great!

Instant Potato Salad - Texas Style

(add everything to your taste)

Instant potatoes (any amount already prepared, as on the package)

Add the following to your taste:

Sweet onions, chopped

Celery, chopped

Sweet Pickles, chopped

Dill Pickles, chopped

Hard Boiled Eggs, grated (cook number of eggs you think you'll grate into the salad, plus 1 more egg to slice on top

Mayonnaise (I like Hellman's best)

Mustard, to your taste

Salt and Pepper to taste

Green Olives, sliced

If you want to give it a little more taste, add some of the dill pickle / sweet pickle juice from the jar. Not too much. You dont want your potato salad to be runny!

I always put sliced hard boiled eggs and sliced green olives on top and sprinkle with Paprika

Keto Chicken Salad

 I'm crazy about this salad! My daughter, Jamie, and I had it at a local restaurant in Beavercreek, Ohio called the Cherry House Cafe and immediately loved it. I told myself I had to write down all the ingredients so I could try and  duplicate it. Well, I hit it on the mark! I've already fixed it 3 times and it tastes exactly like their salad. I'll try to get a better picture next time. It was much prettier before I mixed it up!

Keto Chicken Salad - low carb with lots of protein

Ingredients

Salad Greens (I use Romaine and spinach)

Chicken, cooked (I use frozen grilled chicken pieces or strips)

Bacon, cooked & broken into small pieces 

Cherry tomatoes, cut in half

Red onion, sliced (soaked in cold water to take out the hotness) or you could use Vidalia sweet onion or sliced green onions

Avocado, cut into ½" squares

Cheddar cheese, grated 

Toasted slivered almonds (I added this and love the crunch!

Ranch Salad Dressing (I make up the dressing with the spices from the ranch packets and it's so much better than bottled dressing. You add mayonnaise and cream or half and half.

Optimal: hard boiled eggs, if you want even more protein

I put greens on each plate and then pile the ingredients on top of each one, rather than make 1 big bowl of it. 

My Tuna Salad

 I don't have a picture to post right now but will try to remember next time I make this.

My friends and family love my Tuna Salad and I have to say, it's my favorite to as well. One reason I've been putting recipes on my crochet blog is because I won't be around forever and I want my family to have my recipes when I'm gone. This might be similar to what other people make, but he's my favorite way to make it.

Mary Jane's Tuna Salad 

     Makes 5-6 Sandwiches

1 lg can and 1 small can albacore tuna, drained. You might want to buy an extra smaller can in case you taste it and decide you want more tuna in it.

4 hard boiled eggs

¾ - 1 cup Vidalia sweet onion, chopped

¾ cup celery, chopped

¾ cup sweet pickles, chopped

¾ cup whole dill pickles, chopped 

1- 1½ cups mayonnaise (Hellmans or Duke's GF)

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together. 

Note: I always grate the eggs with a grater because I do not like big chunks of egg white

You may want to add more pickles, onions or celery if you think it needs more. Use your judgement too on the amount of mayonnaise. Sometimes I put too much in, so be careful.

A lot of people like to toast their bread first. I use either gluten free bread or eat it with gluten free crackers. My favorite ones are the gluten free sesame crackers from Trader Joe's.

I hope you enjoy this! If you have any questions just let me know.

Avocado Chicken Salad

 

Avocado Chicken Salad
(Gluten free)

This is a chicken salad I came up with because I love avocados with anything! But also I fell in love with the stuffed avocado chicken salad I ate in Lima, Peru. I visited there 2 summers when my parents lived there years ago. The Peruvian version was absolutely delicious and I have not been able to find a good recipe for it. So I've made my own version and it's addicting!

Avocado Chicken Salad

* Cooked chicken, chopped 

* (I use rotisserie chicken to make it more convenient, plus it's delicious!)

* Avocado cut in small squares

* Celery, cut into small pieces

* Toasted slivered almonds (or pecans)

* Dried cranberries, chino them if they're too big

* Green onions, sliced

* Mayonnaise I use GF Duke's or Hellmans)

* Salt, if needed

Note: you can add any fruit like pineapple, grapes, mango or oranges. The reason I don't add fruit to this recipe (other than the cranberries) is because I have a different chicken salad I call Fruited Chicken Salad, that is also delicious but very different from this recipe. It has a secret ingredient that makes it special.

Mix everything together and serve inside a halved avocado, with crackers or on bread. I eat it with my favorite gluten free Sesame Rice Crackers (Savory Thin) from Trader Joe's.

So Delicious Avocado Chicken Salad with Dried
Cranberries, Green Onions, and Almonds

Chicken Caesar Salad Supreme

Chicken Ceasar Salad Supreme
My Own Creation

I've been cooking in my kitchen for decades and it just dawned on me I have never made a Caesar salad! Tonight I wanted to fix something quick and easy so when I came across a recipe on Pinterest, I thought I'd give it a try because I had all the ingredients. This salad seems so plain, so keep reading to see the other ingredients I added. It turned out great so I decided to write it down in case I couldn't remember what all I added to the basic Ceasar Salad recipe. Hope you like it! There's nothing more refreshing than a crisp salad on a hot summer day.

Plantain Croutons
From Trader Joe's
(Crunchy and delicious!)

Chicken Ceasar Salad Supreme

Chicken strips (I used frozen grilled strips that are already cooked)

Romaine lettuce, chopped in 1" squares 

Parmesan cheese (fresh grated)

Slivered almonds or pecans (toasted)

Green onions or Sweet Vidalia onion (sliced)

Croutons (plain) Sometimes I use the GF Plantain Croutons from Trader Joe's and I love them!

Avocado slices (this and the nuts take it to a whole new level!)

Ceasar salad dressing (Marzetti's is best or make your own!)

Note: the chicken, slivered almonds, onions and avocado are the only things I added but they sure made a difference in this plain salad!

Plain Caesar Salad
It's good too!

My Favorite Cole Slaw

Mary Jane's Cole Slaw

I have always been very picky about cole slaw. I don't like it with a lot of vinegar and I don't like it with horseradish. Just never liked that taste. So I created my own version of cole slaw years ago and now I'm sharing it with you.

This goes really great with my Southern Fried Catfish or Fried Chicken.

Mary Jane's Favorite Cole Slaw

1 bag cole slaw mix (or greate your own cabbage - maybe 4 cups?)
Sauce:
2/3 cup Hellmans Mayonnaise (or GF Duke's mayo)
2/3 cup sour cream (not fat free!)
1- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
3 - 4 tsps sugar (or to taste)
A little salt
Optimal: for a change, sometimes I add chopped sweet Vidalia onion and/or chopped sweet green pepper.It is also great with peanuts tossed on top! Just try it! You'll love it!

Mix ingredients for sauce in bowl, and allow sugar to dissolve. Then add to cole slaw mix. Add salt to taste. You may need more sauce, depending on how much cabbage you have. You don't want it to be too dry, but you don't want it overpowered with sauce either. I probably make more sauce than this, but I never measure the ingredients. It is very  important though to have the same amount mayo as you do sour cream. 
Enjoy!

Pizza Salad - Recipe

This is a great recipe if your family loves pizza! Serve it with bread and they'll love it. The great thing is that you can serve it hot as a main dish or cold as a salad. We liked it both ways!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces uncooked spiral pasta or any other shape
• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese (not the dry kind)
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes or sliced cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup (4 ounces) cubed cheddar cheese (or colby is good)
• 1 cup (4 ounces) cubed mozzrella cheese
• 1/2 cup red onions or sweet Vidalia onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (about 1-1/2 ounces)
• sliced or whole black olives 
•  1/2 cup sweet green pepper, sweet red pepper or both, chopped
• Optional - garlic powder or fresh garlic (chopped), onion powder, sweet basil, sliced or diced banana peppers

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, Parmesan cheese, vinegar, oregano, salt, garlic powder and pepper; shake well.
• While pasta is cooking, place pepperoni on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed, in a 425º oven and cook till crisp, about 10-15 minutes. It will be crisp (like bacon) after you take it out and drain on a paper towel. Wait till right before serving to add crisp pepperoni.
• Drain pasta; rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Add pasta. Pour dressing over all; toss to coat. Serve warm as a main dish. If you want it cold  refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Yield: 7 servings

 

Recipe - Crunchy Asian Salad

I love this salad and hope you will too! Some people call it Chinese Cole Slaw, but I renamed it since I added some of my own ingredients I haven't seen in other salads that are similar. You could even add some peanut butter to the dressing to have more of a Thai taste. (which I love also!) This is delicious and one of my favorite recipes! When I take it to family gatherings or carry-in dinners, people go crazy over it.
Suggestion: to make this a dinner salad, add grilled chicken. Kroger has frozen grilled chicken slices that are great!

Crunchy Asian Salad

2 packages Cole Slaw mix (or 1 head cabbage, chopped in bit size pieces)
½ cup butter
½ cup slivered almonds (sliced are ok, but slivered are best for this and more crunchy)
1/2 cup sesame seeds (found in Asian section of the store-but also in bags where the health food section is)
4 packages Ramon Noodles-add this last so they won't get soggy (flavor packet discarded) - Doesn't matter what flavor
6-8 sliced green onion
Edamine Peas (you can buy them fresh or frozen)
Optional: Water chestnuts, sliced

Fry slivered almonds and sesame seeds in butter until toasted. In the meantime, put cabbage or sole slaw mix in very large bowl. Do not put Ramon Noodles in yet or they'll get soggy. They're supposed to be crunchy. Mix up the dressing (below) and chill it. Right before serving, add the dressing, and almond-sesame seed mixture to cabbage mixture. Break up the Ramon noodles and add to salad. You could even add chopped Romaine lettuce to this to make it go farther. If you like Thai food, add peanuts to the salad and peanut butter to the dressing.

Ingredients for Dressing:
½ cup sesame oil (toasted is a must!)
½ cup avocado oil or Coconut oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup sugar
1 Tablespoon soy sauce

Mix and chill the dressing, and toss with cabbage mixture right before serving