OLD FASHIONED POTATO SALAD

You can't have a picnic without Potato Salad.

I leave out the eggs for me (of course)

Potato Salad

5 potatoes
3 boiled eggs (optional)
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes.

Drain, cool, peel and chop.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, celery, onion, relish, garlic salt, celery salt, mustard, pepper and mayonnaise.

Mix together well and refrigerate until chilled.

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

This one has been a favorite at the holidays, but I like it in the summer time.

The colors are so pretty!!

CRUST:

2 cups crushed pretzels
1 stick REAL butter, melted (not margarine)
1 cup white sugar

FILLING:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container cool whip

1/2 cups powdered sugar

TOPPING:

2 packages strawberry flavored gelatin
1 cup water

1 can crushed pineapple (juice and all)
1 package frozen strawberries (or fresh)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together the pretzels, sugar and melted butter.

Press into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan.

Bake for 10 minutes, or lightly toasted. Set aside to cool completely.

In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and cream cheese until smooth.

Fold in whipped topping. Spread evenly over the cooled crust.

Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, stir together the gelatin mix, water and pineapple.

Mix in frozen strawberries, and stir until thawed.

Pour over cream cheese mixture in pan.

Refrigerate until completely chilled and set.

BROCCOLI SALAD

With our Memorial Day party coming up, I am getting super excited about summer recipes.

Time to bring out some old favorites!!

I first had this salad at Judy's. It is one of my favorites :)

Broccoli Salad

2 heads fresh broccoli
1 red onion
1 package bacon bits
3/4 cup raisins (optional)
3/4 cup sliced almonds
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Cut the broccoli into bite-size pieces and cut the onion into thin bite-size slices.

Combine with the bacon, raisins, your favorite nuts and mix well.

To prepare the dressing, mix the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar together until smooth.

Stir into the salad, let chill and serve.
Can be made the day before, just add bacon before serving :)

PIONEER WOMAN ~~APPLE DUMPLINS~~

Tabitha made these for us a couple of weeks ago, and they are amazing!!

I don't even like fruit desserts, and I could not stop eating it!!

I have made them twice, and used whatever apples I had at home.

I also used a generic Mountain Dew...I think it was Kroger brand and

the sauce turned out great!! I decreased the amount of soda used too, to about 1/2.

Ingredients
2 whole Granny Smith Apples
2 cans (8 Oz. Cans) Crescent Rolls
2 sticks Butter
1-½ cup Sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
Cinnamon, To Taste
1 can (12 Oz.) Mountain Dew Soda

Peel and core apples. Cut each apple into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan.
Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

OLIVIA'S WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

Here is the latest soup recipe we love:

Thanks Olivia!!

Creamy White Chili

1 lb chicken, cut into 1/2 in. cubes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 cans (15.5 oz) great Northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14 oz) chicken broth

2 cans (4 oz each) green chilis, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup whipping cream

In a large saucepan, saute chicken, onion & garlic powder until chicken is no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chilis & seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Serve immediately.

*Best if served over tortilla chips. Can also garnish with shredded cheddar.

~IN A PINCH~ GARLIC BREAD

This is a weekly recipe at our house.

If you don't have any pre-made garlic bread, you can whip this up in 5 minutes!

You will need either

slices of sandwich bread

or

slices of your favorite french bread

or

hotdog or hamburger buns

Butter each slice or bun, you can use low fat butter, promise or any other

kind of low fat margarine.

Sprinkle lightly with either garlic powder

or

garlic salt

For garnish, sprinkle a bit of Mrs. Dash Table Blend (it is salt free)

Pop the bread slices under the broiler for 2-4 minutes

and PRESTO

toasted garlic bread!!!

This is a super simple recipe, and I have had the girls make it themselves

ever since they could stand on a chair in the kitchen. Kids love to sprinkle

on the spices!

ALFREDO SAUCE

Our family loves homemade Alfredo Sauce, but I started

to worry about all of those extra fat & calories!

So, I decided to experiment a bit and came up with a lower fat version.

I have found that this sauce tastes just as good as the "high fat version".

I really think the key to the great flavor is the garlic.

I used to leave it out, but it gives the flavor a great kick!

1/2 stick of butter

1 pint half & half

2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 package shredded parm. cheese.

Combine garlic, half & half, and butter in a small sauce pan.

Heat through on high heat until butter is melted.

Slowly add parm. Stir until melted/boiling for 3-5 minutes.

Pour over cooked noodles.

Top with chopped Parsley.

and here is the original recipe:

1 stick butter

1 pint heavy cream

1 package shredded parm. cheese

garlic optional

I have also tried other versions, using fat free half & half,

low fat margarine, and the parm. cheese you get in the green container.

I would not recommend using these ingredients. It does not "bond" together as well, and makes the noodles kind of 'soupy'.

You can serve this alone (as a nice vegetarian meal),

with grilled shrimp, or with grilled chicken.

Don't forget the Garlic Bread!