Strawberry and Cashew Salad

4 cups strawberries, sliced

2Tbl caramel ice cream topping

2 Tbl maple syrup

1 Tbl orange juice

1/3 cup cashew halves

Shrimp and Avocado Salad

1lb. Jumbo or large shrimp, cooked, peeled, deveined

1 med tomato, diced

1 avocado, diced

1 jalapeño, seeds removed and diced fine

1/4 cup chopped red onion

Juice of 2 limes

1 tsp olive oil

1 T. Chopped cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a small bowl combine onion, lime juice, olive oil and pinch of salt and pepper.  Marinate at least 5 min to mellow onion flavor.   In a large bowl combine shrimp, tomato, avocado and jalapeño.  Add remaining ingredients from small bowl. Toss gently with cilantro.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Cabbage Salad

1 head cabbage, rough chopped
1/2 red onion, diced
1 lb bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
1/2 carton mushroom, sliced

Dressing
1/2 bottle mayo
1/4 cup rice vinegar, one with yelow lid
1/3 cup sugar

Broccoli Apple Salad

4 med. apples, chopped
4 med. crowns of broccoli
2-3 green onions
Sliced Honey Roasted Almonds
Craisins

Dressing:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup mayo

Mix together apples, broccoli and green onions. Add almonds and craisins. Mix up dressing, add to other ingredients and serve.

Bowtie Chicken Salad

10 oz Bowtie pasta, boiled until tender
3 large chicken breasts, boiled until cooked, cut into bite size pieces
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 can water chestnuts, drained and roughly chopped
1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped
1/2 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts
5-10 oz spinach (add just before serving)

Dressing:
1/2 cup oil
1/4 tsp salt
4 T sugar
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 tsp pepper

Whisk all dressing ingredients together.

Combine all other ingredients (except spinach) and coat with dressing. Place overnight in refrigerator in zip-lock bag. Before serving, toss contents of bag with spinach.

Pecan-crusted Chicken with Sweet Mustard Dressing

This is a great recipe. Easy enough to prepare on week-nights, but elegant enough for the week-end. Makes 4 servings

Chicken:
1 egg white
1 1/2 cups pecans
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 lb chicken tenders or chicken breasts
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Dressing and greens:
1/4 cup peach preserves
2 T stone-ground mustard
1 tsp cider vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp blsck pepper
1 garlic clove, pressed
2 T vegetable oil
4 cups mixed baby greens

For chicken, lightly beat egg white in bowl. Finely chop pecans and place in second bowl. Combine salt and cayenne pepper in small bowl. Slice chicken into 10-12 pieces. Sprinkle cayenne pepper mixture over chicken. Dip chicken into egg white, then into pecans, pressing pecans into chicken.

Add oil to skillet. Heat over medium heat 1-3 minutes. Cook chicken 2-3 minutes or until deep golden brown. Turn chicken over. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until centers of chicken are no longer pink.

For dressing, whisk together preserves, mustard, vinegar, salt, black pepper, garlic, and oil in small bowl. To serve, toss greens with some of the dressing. Drizzle remaining dressing on cooked chicken strips.