Recipes

[Skyegirl21]

Hi Fellow Cooks!   I have an upcoming family reunion 4 hrs away from home late June, and must bring a couple of dishes.
While I can keep them cool in a cooler in the car, they will be outside for several hours- I would appreciate your ideas on the best dishes to bring and share? Thank you so much! 

[ThinkingOutLoud]

grapes (different colors, cut so 4/5 per stem)

watermelon

fruit medley (blueberries, cantalope, honeydew... - in a bowl or on skewers)

[Sooner]

Pasta salad with a vinegar, oil dressing.  Add to it: chopped bell pepper, onion, washed and drained canned black beans and corn, herbs, garlic salt, fresh ground pepper, and even blanched broccoli and nuts if you like.  Maybe some of that bacon bits stuff that is bullet proof?

Or, just a black and corn southwest style salad with vinegar and oil and lemon or lime juice as dressing.

[vabreeze]

A heat-tolerant dish you may wish to consider is Marinated Veggies:

Ingredients (Yield 8+ servings):
1 (15oz) can peas, drained
1 (15oz) can shoepeg corn, drained
1 (15oz) can green beans, drain [can sub/add waxed beans]
1 (2oz) jar pimientos
1 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped [or mixture of peppers]
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white wine vinegar

Directions:
•In a bowl, mix together peas →→  onion.

•In saucepan over med heat, combine sugar →→ vinegar; bring to a boil.

•Pour about half of marinade over salad, mixing well to coat. Reserve remainder for another use.

Refrigerate up to 23 hours before serving.

FastDogWalker2 references another oil & vinegar-based bean and veggie recipe posted in this forum's "BBQ/Cookout side dishes" in which she uses black, pinto, wax, green and kidney beans with corn and diced red peppers and chopped onion.

Perfect for a large gathering because these recipes make a huge amount and are easily doubled.

[Marp]

Pickled eggs and beets.

[Sooner]

@Skyegirl21 If you do a corn and black bean salad, the canned crispy corns are better, and you can get them with peppers already in them.

Bring along Tostito's scoops and a bottle of hot sauce (or two) and you will be the hit of the party!    Lots of recipes out there, but here's a basic but I never put sugar in it, and have added cheddar cheese to  it at times: 

Ingredients

• 1 can (15-1/2 ounces) whole kernal corn, rinsed and drained or 1-1/2 cups fresh or frozer kernal corn. Use as much corn as you like--or as little!
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 large tomatoes, (cherry tomato halves ok) finely chopped
• Half or more of bell pepper--color you like--diced
• 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (garlic salt or powder)
•  
• DRESSING:
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons good vinegar or more to taste
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1-1/2 teaspoons lime or lemon juice more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• 1. In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients; pour over corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Stir before serving. Serve with a slotted spoon.

[walker]

Here are a few recipes that are good and easy to fix.  You could mix dressing for salads and keep separate; toss when you arrive at gathering.  

Apple Slaw

4 cups coleslaw mix (from 16 oz bag)

4 green onions, sliced

2 medium Granny Smith apples, cubed

1/2 cup Golden Raisins, optional

Dressing.....3 tablespoons sugar

                   1/4 teaspoon salt

                    1/4 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice

                    3 tablespoons vinegar

                    2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Toss salad ingredients.  Mix dressing ingredients until well blended.  Pour dressing over salad; toss gently to coat.  Refrigerate until serving.

Spinach Salad with Pasta

2 cups penne noodles, cooked and drained

3 cups fresh spinach, torn

1 cup sliced strawberries

1/2 cup red onion, chopped or sliced

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup bottled Balsamic Viniagrette Salad Dressing

Cook pasta, drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.

Place spinach in a bowl and add pasta.  Toss lightly to combine.  Add rest of ingredients except dressing and mix gently.  When ready to serve, drizzle with dressing; toss lightly to coat. 

Spaghetti Salad

1 lb. thin spaghetti

1 (8 oz) bottle Zesty Italian Dressing

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1 medium chopped red onion

1 pkg. pepperoni, cut up

1 jar sliced mushrooms, drained (optional)

1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes (w/basil, garlic, oregano)

1/4 bottle Salad Supreme by McCormicks  (by spices or

       dressings)

1 small jar sliced olives, drained (optional)

1 bag of your favorite cheese

Cook spaghetti, rinse, drain and cool in refrigerator.  After it is cool, add zesty dressing and mix well.  Then add rest of the ingredients and combine.  Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese on top.  Refrigerate until ready to eat.  (This recipe is best made a day ahead; dressing and spices soak in while refrigerated.)

Pizza Salad

1 lb. spiral macaroni, cooked and drained

3 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 lb. cheddar cheese, cubed

1-2 bunches green onions, sliced

3 ozs. Pepperoni

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

croutons, optional

Combine macaroni, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, green onions and pepperoni.  In separate bowl, combine oil, Parmesan cheese, vinegar and seasonings, pour over macaroni mixture.  Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.  Top with croutons before serving if desired.

Crunchy Corn Medley

2 cups frozen peas, thawed

1 can (15 1/4 oz) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can (15 1/4 oz) white or shoe peg corn, drained

1 can (8 oz) diced water chestnuts, drained 

1 jar diced pimentos, drained (optional)

8 green onions, thinly sliced

2 celery ribs, chopped

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup vinegar

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl.  In separate bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt and pepper; whisk until sugar is dissolved.  Pour over corn mixture; mix well.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.  Stir before serving.  SERVE WITH A SLOTTED SPOON otherwise too runny on plate.

[walker]

Two more....on a roll today...then I'm done....haha.

Bean and Pasta Salad

1 can garbanzo beans, drain and rinse

1 can dark kidney beans, drain and rinse

1 cup cooked elbow macaroni*

1 cup frozen green beans, thawed

3/4 cup green pepper, diced

1/2 cup red onion, diced

Dressing...1/4 cup vinegar

                 1/4 cup sugar

                 2 tablespoons canola oil

                 1/2 teaspoon celery seed

                 1/4 teaspoon salt

                  1/4 teaspoon pepper

Mix salad ingredients together.  Whisk dressing ingredients and pour over salad; mix well.  Refrigerate 2 hours.

* I have made this without the green beans.  Also, I have made this using Farfalle (bow tie) pasta as well...works fine.

Lemon Basil Pasta Salad

9 oz. Rotini pasta

3 large carrots, sliced

1 cup broccoli florets*

1 cup cauliflower florets*

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

1/3 cup red onion, sliced or diced

1/2-1 cup lemon basil viniagrette

Lemon Basil Viniagrette

1 cup salad oil

2 tablespoons water

1/2 cup white vinegar

juice and grated rind of 1 lemon

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fresh basil or 2 tablespoons dried dill

2 tablespoons chopped onion

Cook pasta, drain and rinse in cold water.  Add vegetables and mix together.  Slowly add dressing and mix until it is right amount.  You will have extra dressing left.

* Any sliced carrots, ok, even small ones.  Buy the bag of pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower or go through salad bar and buy what you need.  (Unless you have other uses for bunch of broccoli and head of cauliflower.). The dressing really makes this salad. 

[ECBG]

I would think any mixture of rainbow rotini and vegetables with Italian dressing would be good.  We love Paul Newman's salad dressings.  Top notch.

[Skyegirl21]

Thank you ! Appreciate you all-