Asian Salad - Cultural Cuisine

1 package of family size Asian Chopped Salad (found in the produce section of your local grocery)

Cabbage

Green Cabbage

Carrots, Celery

Green Onions

Cilantro

Wonton Noodles

Sliced Toasted Almonds.

Fresh Cut Pineapple.

Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing.

Toss all of this together except place cut fresh pineapple in a bowl and serve next to the salad.

Amish Macaroni Salad - Cultural Cuisines

1 lb. macaroni (or small shells)

½ cup finely chopped celery

½ cup finely grated carrot

¼ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup chopped green pepper (optional)

6 hard-boiled eggs (reserve 1 to slice for garnish)

Dressing

2 cups Miracle Whip

¼ cup vinegar

¾ cup sugar

2 tablespoons prepared mustard

Cook macaroni as directed on package – drain and cool. In a bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients so they are well-combined and smooth. In large bowl, gently combine the macaroni, celery, carrots, onions, and remaining eggs.

Fold the dressing gently into the macaroni salad mixture. Place into your serving bowl and garnish with reserved slice egg and paprika.

Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake

About two years ago, a few friends of ours came over to visit and wanted to make us a cheesecake so we bought a spring form pan. Since then that spring form pan has sat in her kitchen unused. This year for Easter I decided to dig it out and make a cheesecake. I was both surprised and delighted by the ease of this recipe.

16 ounces cream cheese, softened 

16 ounces Ricotta cheese

1 1/2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 Tablespoon lemon extract 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour 

3 Tablespoons cornstarch 

1/2 butter, melted

16 ounces sour cream 

Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease a spring form pan. 

Mix the cream cheese and ricotta cheese together in a mixing bowl until well combined. 

 Stir in the sugar, eggs, lemon juice, vanilla, cornstarch, flour and butter. 

 Add the sour cream last and stir. 

Pour the mixture into the prepared spring form pan. 

Bake in the preheated oven one hour; turn off oven and leave in oven one hour more. Allow to cool completely and refrigerator before serving.

Voila! Even though this recipe takes a lot of time, it is not a lot of work. You can even bake it the night before like I did and it will be ready to go the next morning! 

Tex-Mex Guacamole - Foods that are Green

Loaded with black beans, corn, and scallions and sprinkled with taco seasoning

Serves: 2

2 avocados, pitted

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/8 c. corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or canned)

1/8 c. black beans

1/2 clove garlic, minced

½ tbsp. Taco Seasoning

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 scallion, thinly sliced

In a large bowl, mash avocados until smooth and slightly chunky. Stir in lime juice, corn, black beans, scallions, garlic, taco seasoning, and season with salt.

Pea Salad - Foods that are Green

Salad

10 ounces frozen petite peas

1/2 cup chopped celery

2 hard cooked eggs, chopped

Dressing

3 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

Pepper to taste

Thaw peas at room temperature.  Drain well. Blend dressing ingredients. Add peas, eggs, and celery to dressing and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Optional add-ins

Cheddar cheese

Green onions, red onion

Pimento

Pickle relish

Bacon

Greek style yogurt or sour cream for part or all of mayonnaise

Fresh dill or mint

Grasshopper Pie - Foods that are Green

2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

15 drops green food coloring

24 chocolate-covered mint cookies, divided

2 cups whipped topping

1 chocolate crumb crust (8 inches)

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in milk until smooth. Beat in the food coloring. Coarsely crush 16 cookies; stir into the cream cheese mixture. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon into the crust. Cover and freeze overnight. Remove from the freezer 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with remaining cookies.

Yield: 8 servings.

Cucumber Bread - Foods that are Green

Loaf of French bread

1 package good seasonings dry Italian dressing

1 8 ounce cream cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 cucumber, sliced very thin

Dill weed

Slice French bread thin. In bowl, combine Italian dressing packet, cream cheese, and mayonnaise with mixer. Spread on slices of bread. Top with a slice of cucumber and a little sprinkle of dry dill.