Strawberry Spinach Salad

This recipe comes from my good friend Jane, a former co-worker. She would occasionally bring this salad for birthday luncheons and it was a big hit with everyone! The salad dressing really brings out the flavor of the strawberries. This time, I did not have Mandarin oranges, so the photo above just has the spinach, strawberries and almonds.

Salad Ingredients

1 pkg (6 oz) baby spinach leaves
1 lb strawberries, cleaned and quartered
1 pkg (2 oz) slivered almonds
1 small can Mandarin oranges, drained (optional)

Dressing Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar (to your taste)
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

Toss spinach leaves, strawberries, almonds and mandarin oranges (if used) together in a bowl.
Pulsate all the salad dressing ingredients together in a blender.
Pour dressing over salad just prior to serving.


Note: I just pour the dressing over individual salads instead of the whole bowl. That way, if you have leftover salad, it won't go limp.

Mock Turkey Legs

Even though the name of this dish is Mock Turkey Legs, it is made with beef and pork. This recipe came from my mother-in-law. She would always invite our family for supper when she made these. My husband is very fond of them and I do believe all of our kids liked them. I know it is one of my son's favorite meals. It is kind of labor-intensive to make, so you need lots of time to prepare! I used a boneless pork loin and a boneless eye of round beef roast, but you can use any lean cuts of beef and pork. This particular batch made 32 mock turkey legs, approx. 8 servings.

Ingredients

1 2-2 1/2 lb. boneless pork loin
1 2-2 1/2 lb. boneless beef roast
1 small onion, chopped finely
Salt, Pepper and Accent, to taste
Flour to coat assembled mock turkey legs
Cooking Oil
Wooden skewers

Instructions

Trim fat off both cuts of meat. Cut each roast into approx. 1 inch squares, keeping beef seperate from the pork. Thread squares on skewers alternating beef and pork. Use 5 - 7 pieces of meat per skewer(see bottom photo). Season with salt, pepper and Accent. Coat each mock turkey leg with flour.

Heat oil in electric skillet set at 375 degrees. Add half the chopped onion to oil. Put half the mock turkey legs in skillet and brown on all sides(see center photo). When browned, remove and place in roasting pan. Repeat with remaining onion and mock turkey legs.

After all the browned legs are in roasting pan, add some water and cover. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 2 - 3 hours.

Leftovers can be reheated in microwave, but add a few drops of water to container so meat doesn't get too dry.

Veronica's Cookies

As you may or may not know, I work in a Doctor's Office. One of our regular patients occasionally brings a home-baked treat for the staff. This is Veronica's cookie recipe. Very delicious!

Ingredients

1 egg

1 cup salad oil

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup rice krispies

Instructions

In a large bowl combine egg, oil, butter, white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. Beat until creamy.

Combine flour, salt, cream of tartar and baking soda. Add to batter and mix well.

Stir in oatmeal, coconut and rice krispies.

Roll into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Makes 7-8 dozen.

Beef Stew

I had my mom down for supper tonight. She enjoys the beef stew and my husband really loves it, too. This is not really a formal recipe as I just kind of throw it all together, but I will try to make some sense of it.

Ingredients

2 lbs stew meat

1 small onion, diced

8 potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 16 oz pkg frozen mixed vegetable (corn, green beans, peas)

Flour

Salt

Pepper

Accent

5 Beef Boullion Cubes

1 Bay Leaf (remove before serving)

Corn Starch (approx. 1/4 to 1/2 cup)

Instructions

Trim fat from stew meat. Season with salt, pepper and Accent. Coat meat in flour. Brown meat and onion in a bit of oil in a frying pan.

Transfer browned meat and onion into a dutch oven. Cover meat chunks with water, add Bay Leaf and Beef Bullion cubes and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for a couple of hours, adding more water, if needed.

Add cubed potatoes and cook another 30 minutes. Add frozen vegetables and cook 10 more minutes. Mix corn starch with about a half cup water and slowly stir into to stew to thicken.

Easy One-Layer Chocolate Cake

This cake makes a nice dessert with one-dish meals or with Mexican dishes or other spicy foods. It is very moist and does not require frosting. I usually sprinkle the top with powdered sugar. I used a paper doily on top of the cake to make the design with the powdered sugar.

Ingredients

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1/2 cup powdered sugar (for topping)

Instructions

In a bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add milk, shortening and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed till combined. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg and beat 2 minutes more. Pour into a greased and floured (I use cocoa powder in place of the flour) 9" round cake pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool thoroughly on a rack.

Serves 8.

Lasagne

Many years ago, when I was a teenager, my family visited my brother, Myron and his new wife, Carol, in North Carolina. Carol prepared this lasagne for dinner one evening and we all really enjoyed it. Of course, I asked for the recipe and once I started my own family, I began making it for family gatherings and it is enjoyed by everyone! It is easy to prepare and can be made up ahead of time and popped in the oven when it is time to eat. All you need to do is add a salad and bread and you have a nice meal. A single batch should serve six. I usually make a double batch. We had a group of nine at our birthday bash this weekend and there is enough left over for my husband and I to have another meal.

Ingredients

1 box no boil lasagne noodles

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 lb. ground beef (I use ground sirloin)

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons parsley flakes

1 12 oz. can tomato paste

2 1/2 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Accent (optional)

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 lb. shredded mozzerella cheese (4 cup pkg.)

1 cup parmesan cheese

1 pinch of oregano

1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce

Instructions

Brown ground beef and onion in olive oil. Drain grease.

In a large sauce pan, mix the tomato paste with the water. Add the meat and onion mixture. Add garlic powder, parsley flakes, salt, pepper, Accent, oregano and worcestershire sauce. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In an oblong greased baking dish, spread a bit of the sauce on the bottom. Then layer noodles(3 noodles side by side), sauce, mozzerella cheese and parmesan cheese. Repeat until you use all the ingredients, probably four or five layers. End with a layer of the two cheeses.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Birthday Cake (no recipe)

We had a birthday gathering at our home to celebrate a few of the March birthdays in our family. The names on the cake belong to Charles (my dad), Chris (my husband), Derek (my future son-in-law) and Carmen (myself). I did not bake the cake. I bought it from someone who does wedding cakes, etc. It was beautiful and delicious.