Recipes

[cookinfreak]

Hi All! 

Plans for Christmas Eve & Day were to go to my SIL Christmas Eve, and then Christmas Day there was only going to be about 6 of us and we planned on going to my SIL for dessert. Now we got a last minute invite to Christmas Day meal. They are making prime rib and people are bringing some sides and dessert. I was asked tp bring some kind of veggie salad, and can only think of coleslaw. Any ideas from all you wonderful foodies?

TIA

cookin

[Group 5 minus 1]

7 layer salad.

[reviewer from sc]

Our family loves the following:

Iceberg lettuce (shredded)

Cherry tomatoes (sliced)

Cucumber (sliced)

Boiled eggs (chopped)

Black olives (whole)

Shredded cheese (just a little on top)

Croutons

Toss and serve. 

We have different types of dressings on the table to pour on your individual salad. 

Enjoy!! Merry Christmas!!

[Zernia Rose]

I would create a savory salad with some citrus and sweets. Here's mine: arugula/spinach mix, blue cheese crumbles, walnuts, cranraisins, slices of granny smith apples with a champagne or fruit vinagrette dressing. If you don't like arugula or spinach, then consider a mix of lettuces and some kale.

[Jaspersmom]

A local high end steak house in my area serves an apple pecan salad.  I make a version of it, but sometimes use pears instead.  You can add goat cheese, feta or something similar.  If you google apple pecan salad, a ton of recipes will come up.  Quick, easy and everyone loves it.  Here's one version I found:

Salad with Goat Cheese, Pears, Candied Pecans and Maple-Balsamic Dressing

An incredibly delicious, yet really easy salad recipe! An absolutely perfect Thanksgiving salad, or holiday salad for dinner parties ... but quick enough for family dinners, too!

•  Ready in 30 Minutes or Less  •  Includes Make-Ahead Steps  •  Vegetarian  •

PREP TIME10 minutes

TOTAL TIME10 minutes

Ingredients Salad:

• 5 ounces of mixed gourmet/spring greens
• 1 pear (such as d'Anjou), cored and chopped (to equal about 1 1/4 cups) (see note)
• 1 cup glazed, candied pecans (see note)
• 2/3 cup dried cherries (or cherry-flavored Craisins)
• 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese

Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon smooth dijon mustard
• a pinch (about 1/16 teaspoon) kosher salt

Instructions

1. Place greens in a large serving bowl (or divide among individual salad plates).
2. Sprinkle pears, pecans, cherries, and goat cheese over top of greens.
3. For dressing, whisk together balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil, mustard, and salt until emulsified.
4. Dress salad just before serving, or pass the dressing at the table.

Notes

Pears: Firmer pears work best for this recipe. D'Anjou is our top choice, but you can sub in your favorite variety, or whatever looks most wonderfully flavorful and juicy at your market.

Candied pecans: We definitely recommend using our super-easy recipe for 5-Minute, 4-Ingredient Candied Pecans. They add just the right amount of sweetness without going overboard on the sugar or adding corn syrup, butter, or other less-healthy ingredients. Alternately, if you use purchased candied pecans, be sure to read the ingredient lists and nutrition labels to find the best possible option.

Make-ahead tips: The dressing can be made a day or two in advance and kept, covered, in the refrigerator. If you're planning on making your own candied pecans (using our recipe), those can also be made in advance. For a little extra time-savings, look for already-crumbled goat cheese (which is also a bit less messy), rather than the little 4-ounce logs that you'll need to crumble yourself.

Serving tips: This salad is literally loaded with toppings, which is exactly how my family likes it best. Feel free to tweak the exact proportions to suit your family's tastes. Also, if you're going to serve the salad buffet-style and want to pre-dress it, it's important to add the dressing just prior to serving, so the greens don't wilt upon standing too long. When pre-dressing the salad, you may want to reserve some of the dressing and offer it at the side, as some people prefer their salads more lightly dressed than others.

Nutrition Information:  YIELD: 11 servings  SERVING SIZE: 1 cup

[Iwantcoffee]

I love caesar salad-romaine lettuce, parmasean cheese, croutons, freshly ground black pepper and caesar dressing. I think it would go well with prime rib.

Merry Christmas!

[Zernia Rose]

@Jaspersmom This looks and reminds me of a Waldorf salad which doesn't appear as often. I love it and will eat it throughout the year. I use plain yogurt rather than mayonaise.

[kate2357]

Broccoli salad

Broccoli cut into bite size pcs - enough to fill the bowl you are going to serve in

Raisins or Craisins - 1/2 cup

Cookied Bacon pcs - 1/2 cup

Red Onion - 1 small diced

Sunflower seeds -  1/4 cup

salt

pepper

Dressing - if you want to go easy/peasy, a premade coleslaw dressing works as does a poppyseed dressing.

I make the salad w/o dressing the day before and then toss the salad dressing in the morning of. Think of it like a coleslaw, don't put on to early or the salad gets weepy and soggy.

Have fun at your dinner.

[novamc1]

@cookinfreak

Green Bean and Red Potato Salad--serves 4

Leave skins on potatoes for pretty color and help

keep their shape after cooking

1-1/2 pounds round red potatoes

9-oz. package frozen whole green beans

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped onions

1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed or 1-1/2 teaspoons

   finely chopped fresh dill

Cook potatoes in boiling salted water to cover for 10 minutes or until tender.  Drain potatoes and cool to touch. Cut into slices.

Cook green beans according to package directions, drain and rinse with cold water.

Combine potato slices and green beans in a bowl.

Combine vinegar and next 4 ingredients; pour over 

 potato mixture and toss gently.

Cover and chill 4 hours.

[Sooner]

Ina Garten's Cape Cod salad with dried cranberries is wonderful--green salad.

There is a broccoli salad that has bacon and some other things in it and is very good.  That would be good for winter.

How about poached pears (make ahead!) and walnuts on a green salad?