Cranberry Spinach Salad

Adapted from allrecipes.com 

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup dried cranberries

Dressing:
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Notes / Directions
Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in almonds.  Cook until lightly toasted.  Remove and cool.  In a medium bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients.  Toss with spinach just before serving and top with almonds and cranberries.

~ Samantha

BBQ Chicken Salad

Adapted from Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients
Salad:
3 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
2 cups BBQ sauce
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, cored and chopped
2 romaine hearts, chopped
1/2 red onion, diced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
8 ounces mexican cheese blend
 
Creamy BBQ Cilantro Lime Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise, light or regular
1/3 cup milk
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 to 1/2 cup BBQ sauce 

Notes / Directions
Cook chicken and BBQ sauce in a crockpot on high for 2-3 hours.  Shred once chicken is cooked and refrigerate until ready to use.

For the dressing, combine all the ingredients together in a blender and blend thoroughly.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

In a large bowl, toss together the iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red onion, cilantro, corn, black beans and cheese. Toss the mixed salad with a good amount of dressing or serve it on the side. Top with chicken to serve.

~ Rachel 

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Fried Rice

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
4-5 chicken breast
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1-2 eggs, beated
sesame seeds
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup rice, cooked
frozen vegetables, stir fried
teriyaki sauce

Notes / Directions
Sauce: Mix water, sugar, vinegar (less for less tang), ketchup, soy sauce, and bouillon cube and bring to boil. Boil 1-2 min. and keep warm. (Can add a little corn starch to thicken.)

Chicken: Put flour and corn starch in ziplock bad. Put in chicken and shake till evenly coated. In a bowl, beat eggs. Dip chicken in eggs and place in a heated skillet with some oil. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Brown both sides of chicken. Don't fully cook. Place chicken in a pan and coat with sauce. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. After 30 min. flip chicken and continue to bake with foil. Remove foil for last 10 min.

Fried Rice
Ingredients
1 cup rice, cooked and cooled
5 tablespoons butter
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup frozen mixed veggies
2/3 cup green onions, chopped
1 garlic clove
ham, cubed
3 tablespoon sesame seeds
5 eggs
2-3 tablespoons soy sauce
salt
pepper

Notes / Directions
Cook the rice a day before. Bake sesame seed at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes until browned. Melt butter in skillet and saute onions, mixed veggies, garlic, and ham. Add eggs and rice. Add a tablespoon of soy sauce at a time. Add green onions and sesame seeds. Salt and pepper to taste.

~ Rachel

Bran Muffins

 
Ingredients
2 cups water, boiling
1 quart buttermilk
5 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups 40% Bran Flakes
4 cups All Bran
5 cups flour

Notes / Directions
Mix boiling water, buttermilk, and soda. Set aside. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, and salt and add to above mixture. Stir in bran flakes, All Bran, and flour. Bake in muffin tins at 425 for 20 minutes. Mixture may be refrigerated for a month.

~ Jolynn

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1/2 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups oats
3/4 cup butterscotch chips

Notes / Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Blend in flour, cinnamon, soda, salt, and oats. Add butterscotch chips and beat hard to break chips into smaller chunks. Drop rounded tablespoons onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Makes 2 dozen cookies.

~ Rachel

Lazy Mac 'N Cheese

Ingredients
1 box Mac 'N Cheese
1 cup frozen mixed veggies
1 chicken breast

Notes / Directions
Cook macaroni and frozen veggies according to packages.  Fry chicken in some oil on the stove.  Cut up into chunks.  Add it all together and enjoy! 

~ Rachel