APPLE AND CELERY SALAD

A crunchy combination of Apples and Celery with bits of nuts in a creamy Mayonnaise Dressing. Perfect side for pork, chicken or any other main dish.

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Ingredients 

2/3 cup chopped nuts 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt 

2 cups julienned celery 

3 green apples julienned

1 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup Mayonnaise Dressing

Lettuce hearts or shredded lettuce 

1 yellow or red pepper finely chopped (optional)

Directions

In a large bowl add sea salt, nuts, celery, green apples and lemon juice.

Mix until all the apples are coated with the lemon juice.

Moisten with Mayonnaise Dressing by adding it slowly to the bowl to your liking.

Serve on a bed of shredded lettuce or lettuce hearts.

Choose Preferred Topping  

Sprinkle with finely chopped yellow or red pepper. 

Seared Salmon and Summer Panzanella

My secret weapon is "Seared Salmon & Summer Panzanella with Corn, Shishito Peppers and Thai Basil". This traditional Tuscan salad combines corn, plum tomatoes and an heirloom cucumber, as well as two specialty ingredients: shishito peppers and Thai basil. Shishitos are sweet and generally mild, but about one in every ten is hot (so be careful)! Thai basil is a cooling, anise-like variety of the herb that perfectly completes the salad. Served alongside seared garlic salmon fillets is delicious.

Ingredients

Serves: 4
About 560 Calories
20-30 min.

4 Salmon Fillets

2 ears of fresh corn

1 large baguette

4 plum tomatoes

3 cloves garlic

2 seedless cucumbers

2 oz. Shishito peppers

1 ½ bunch Thai basil

3 oz. Castelvetrano Olives

3 ½ Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

2 shallots

Sea Salt

Fresh Black Pepper

Olive Oil

Directions

Pre heat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Rinse and dry the fresh vegetables.

Cut the baguette in half lengthwise.

Peel the garlic and set aside.

Remove and discard the husks and silks of the corn.

Cut the corn kernels off the cob; discard the cob.

Large dice the tomatoes.

Cut off and discard the ends of the cucumber; dice.

Remove and discard the shishito pepper stems; halve the shishitos on an angle.

Pick the basil leaves off the stems; discard the stems.

Using the flat side of your knife, smash the olives; remove and discard the pits, then roughly chop.

Peel and thinly slice the shallot; place in a bowl with the red wine vinegar.

Make Garlic Croutons:

Place the baguette halves on a sheet pan, cut sides up; drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Toast in the oven 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Remove from the oven.

When cool enough to handle, rub the cut sides of the toasted baguette halves with the garlic clove; set garlic cloves aside.

Transfer to a clean, dry work surface.

Large dice the baguette halves.

Cook Corn:

While the baguette halves toast, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot.

Add the corn; season with salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 4 minutes, or until softened.

Transfer to a large bowl.

Cook Shishto Peppers:

In the pan used to cook the corn, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot.

Add the shishito peppers; season with salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring occasionally, 1 to 2 minutes, or until browned on all sides.

Transfer to the bowl of cooked corn.

Cook the Salmon:

Pat the salmon dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides.

Mash garlic cloves, finely chop.

In the pan used to cook the shishito peppers, and garlic, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot.

Add the seasoned salmon, skin sides down first.

Cook 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until lightly browned and cooked to your desired degree of doneness.

Make the Panzanella:

Add the garlic croutons, tomatoes, cucumber, olives and basil to the bowl of cooked corn and shishito peppers; season with salt and pepper.

Add the shallot-vinegar mixture and a drizzle of olive oil.

Toss to thoroughly combine and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Divide the cooked salmon and panzanella between 4 plates and serve.

Ranch Red Potato Salad

"Ranch Red Potato Salad" is easy to make and delicious. Everyone in the house loved it!

Ingredients

5 to 6 medium red potatoes peeled; cut into ¾ inch chunks

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise

½ cup Kraft Ranch Dressing

1 cup thinly diced celery

½ cup diced yellow onion

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart saucepot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.

Drain and cool slightly.

Gently toss potatoes, mayonnaise, ranch, celery, onion, salt, pepper and eggs.

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Classic Ranch Potato Salad

"Classic Ranch Potato Salad"  this is my basic starter recipe for potato salad. It's simple, easy to make and taste delicious.

Ingredients

5 to 6 medium russet potatoes peeled; cut into ¾ inch chunks

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise

½ cup Kraft Ranch Dressing

1 cup thinly diced celery

½ cup diced yellow onion

¼ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper
chives or garlic chives, chopped

Directions

Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart saucepot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.

Drain and cool slightly.

Gently toss potatoes, mayonnaise, ranch, bacon, celery, scallions, salt, pepper and eggs.

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Top with chives or garlic chives.

Garden Potato Salad

"Garden Potato Salad" is delicious. My kids loved this recipe never had leftovers. It was a big hit when I brought it to a family BBQ as well!

Ingredients

5 to 6 medium russet potatoes peeled; cut into ¾ inch chunks

1 cup red radishes; sliced 

1 small carrot; sliced

1  small cucumber; chopped

1 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

1 cup celery; thinly diced 

1/2 cup  parsley; chopped

1/2 cup garlic chives; chopped

3 large scallions; chopped

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart saucepot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 

Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. 

Just before the potatoes are done toss in the carrots.

Drain and cool slightly.

Gently toss potatoes, carrot, mayonnaise, ranch, vinegar, celery, chives, radishes, cucumber, scallions, salt, pepper.

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Cheese-n-Ham Potato Salad

"Cheese-n-Ham Potato Salad" is delicious. Makes a delicious lunch or light supper for meat-and-potato fans.

Ingredients

5 to 6 medium russet potatoes peeled; cut into 3/4 inch chunks

1 1/2 Tablespoons French's Mustard
2 hard-boiled eggs; peeled and chopped
12 oz. cooked ham; diced

1 (8 oz.) package Kraft Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 medium dill pickle; diced

1 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

1 cup celery; thinly diced 

1/2 cup  parsley; chopped

1 (4 oz.) can Ortega Diced Green Chili Peppers; drained

1 small red onion; diced

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart saucepot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. 

Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender. 

Just before the potatoes are done toss in the carrots.

Drain and cool slightly.

Place all the ingredients (except the potatoes) in a large bowl and mix well.

Add potatoes and gently toss potatoes until covered evenly with the mixture. 

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Classic Bacon-Ranch Potato Salad

"Classic Bacon-Ranch Potato Salad" is delicious. My kids loved this recipe and so did my spouse.  it It was a big hit when I brought it to a family BBQ as well!

Ingredients

5 to 6 medium russet potatoes peeled; cut into ¾ inch chunks

2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

3/4 cup real bacon bits

1 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise

1/2 cup Kraft Ranch Dressing

1 cup thinly diced celery

1/2 cup chopped scallions

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Cover potatoes with water in 4-quart saucepot; bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 10 minutes or until potatoes are fork-tender.

Drain and cool slightly.

Gently toss potatoes, mayonnaise, ranch, bacon, celery, scallions, salt, pepper and eggs.

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Grilled Pineapple Avocado Blueberry Salad

"Grilled Pineapple Avocado Blueberry Salad" is perfect for any season. Add some nuts and/or chicken and you have a delicious entree.

Ingredients

1/2 small pineapple; peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick

1 Tablespoon lime or lemon juice

1 Tablespoon orange zest

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup olive oil

1 (10 oz.) package of mixed greens

1 large ripe avocado; diced

1 pint fresh ripe blueberries; rinsed

1 small red onion; peeled and sliced thinly

Directions

Once the grill is ready, grill the fresh pineapple until lightly caramelized and they are showing the grill mark.

Dice the pineapple

Combine juices and zest in a bowl.

Vigorously whisk. 

Adding slowly adding the olive oil until all the ingredients are combined. 

Set a small amount of the mixture.

Pour in into the sides greens and toss the salad until it is coated with the mixture.

Divide green evenly into salad bowls.

Using the same bowl add blueberries, avocado, onions, and the reminder of the mixture and toss until completely  coated with the mixture.

Divide green evenly into salad bowls.

Serve immediately.