Greek Salad

This is another salad recipe I made for Christmas dinner this year. It was a huge hit!

Salad:

Cherry tomatoes sliced in half

1 cucumber thinly sliced

1 red onion thinly sliced

Romaine lettuce (as much or as little as you desire, the salad dressing recipe makes a lot)

Olives

Pepperoncinis

Feta

Dressing:

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2 tsp. garlic minced

2 tsp.  shallots minced

2 tsp oregano

2 tsp. basil

1 T. Dijon or whole grain mustard

1 1/2 c olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Amazing Garlic Bread

9-10 medium garlic cloves, unpeeled

6 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese

½ tsp. table salt

1 loaf high quality Italian bread (preferably football shaped), halved horizontally

Ground black pepper

Adjust oven rack to the middle position and hear the oven to 500 degrees. Meanwhile, toast the unpeeled garlic cloves in a small skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant and the color of the cloves deepens slightly, about 8 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel and mince the cloves (you should have about 3 tbsp.). Using a dinner fork, mash the garlic, butter, cheese, and salt in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.

Spread the cut sides of the loaf evenly with the butter mixture; season with pepper to taste. Transfer the loaf halves, buttered side up, onto a rimmed baking sheet; bake until the surface of the bread is golden brown and toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Cut in slices and serve immediately.

Pear Pomegranate Spinach Salad

I made this salad for a Christmas party we were invited to. It was really good.

Salad:
2 Packages baby spinach
2 pears sliced
1/2 cup cranberries
1 cup pomegranate arils
2/3 cup walnuts
3 oz. feta

Dressing:
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 Tbsp honey
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all dressing ingredients and toss with salad just before serving.

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Ingredients 1 lb. Ground meat (I like turkey) 1 16 oz. box uncooked spaghetti noodles ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon Oregano ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ Cup Milk 1 Egg 2 ounces sliced pepperoni 1 (26 ounce) jar pasta sauce 1 16 oz. can diced Italian style tomatoes ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 (8 ounce) package shredded Italian cheese blend Any other pizza toppings, you can add like Black olives, sausage, onions, green peppers, etc... Directions: Boil water & salt for Spaghetti noodles, once it starts boiling, add noodles. Brown meat in a separate frying pan. Once noodles are cooked, drain and put in a casserole dish. In a separate bowl, combine milk & egg & whisk. Poor over pasta & add jar of sauce, can of tomatoes, garlic powder, & oregano. Mix all together well. On top of pasta mixture, layer the ground meat, then add a layer of pepperoni's. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, & Italian cheese. And layer more pepperoni. Bake in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes.

Watermelon Pie

• 1 (3 ounce) packagewatermelon flavored Jell-O®
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

• 2 cups watermelon
• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

1. Mix together the watermelon gelatin and water. Fold gelatin mixture into the dessert topping. Add cut watermelon.
2. Pour mixture into graham cracker crust. Cool in refrigerator for about 3 hours
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Watermelon Salsa

Ingredients

• 2 cups finely chopped seeded watermelon (do not puree)
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained well
• 1 cup sweet onion, minced

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Tabasco, or to taste

Directions

Stir the watermelon, pineapple, and onion together with the cilantro, orange juice, and hot sauce in a bowl. Cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.

Pecan Pie

Ingredients

• 1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans
• 1 (9-inch) unbaked OR frozen** deep-dish pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans. Pour filling into pie crust.
3. Bake on center rack of oven for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.
4. **To use prepared frozen pie crust: Place cookie sheet in oven and preheat oven as directed. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on preheated cookie sheet.

Chocolate Cream Pie (the one we had at the Priddis Thanksgiving this year)

Ingredients

2 1/2 

cups 

whole milk

1/2 

cup 

sugar

1/4 

cup 

cornstarch

3 

large egg yolks

1/4 

teaspoon 

kosher salt

8 

ounces 

semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 

tablespoons 

unsalted butter, cubed

9-inch basic flaky piecrust, prebaked

1 

cup 

heavy cream

1/4 

cup 

shaved chocolat

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Directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, whisk together milk, sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, and salt. Continue to cook over medium heat, whisking, until thickened, 7 to 8 minutes. Whisk in chopped chocolate and butter.
2. Pour mixture into the piecrust. Chill until firm, 4 to 5 hours. Before serving, whip heavy cream; top the pie with the whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

German Potato Pancakes

These "pancakes" are very popular in Germany. I made them the other night for a quick dinner. The kids were a little skeptical, but loved them after trying them. :) I don't have a food processor. I just used a cheese grater and it worked just fine.

Recipe taken from: http://www.food.com/recipe/potato-pancakes-german-style-4247

Ingedients:
3 lbs. potatoes peeled
1 large onion, quartered
3 egg, beaten
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp. parsley

Directions:
1. Keep potatoes covered with cold water until ready to grate in food processor (or with cheese grater).
2. Grate onions and potatoes.
3. Dry potatoes and onion between sheets of paper towel.
4. In large bowl combine all ingredients. In a large skillet heat 1/8 inch vegetable oil until hot. Pour in 1/3 cup potato mixture, flattening with the back of a wooden spoon, and fry until crisp and golden brown on both sides (about 3 minutes per side). Drain on paper towel and keep warm. 
5. Serve with applesauce.

Flourless Cake with Raspberry Sauce

8 large eggs 1 cup dark cocoa 1/2 cup melted butter, cooled slightly 1 1/4 cups sugar Beat eggs 3 min. Add sugar and cocoa and beat. Drizzle in melted butter while beating. Bake 325F for 30-40 min. Raspberry Sauce 12oz (3 cups) frozen raspberries 2/3 cup red current jelly 1/4 cup sugar heat, stir, cool