Finnish Sauerkraut Salad

Hapankaalisalaatti

Description:

Served often at most of our Finnish dinners growing up and on Christmas Eve. 

Ingredients:

2 cups sauerkraut, drain some liquid

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper (red pepper too at holiday 

time)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

3 T vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

• Combine water and sugar in a small kettle and bring to a boil.   

• Boil for approximately 5 minutes.   

• Allow to cool some.   

• Add vinegar and salt to sugar and water mixture and cool some more. 

• Pour syrup over sauerkraut mixture.   

• Stir well.   

• Cover and chill for about 5 hours before serving.   

• Easy one to make ahead of time. 

• Keeps well if refrigerated.

Father's Day included prime rib, strawberry salad, key lime pie

When I was asking some friends for a new salad recipe, K recommended this strawberry salad everyone enjoyed when she served it at Easter, so I took it to Father's Day dinner at B&D's with a similar result.  You add strawberry jam to the dressing and strawberries to the salad.  We love strawberries and I learned to add fruit to a green salad from K! 

I thrill to find my Mother's handwritten menus of dinner parties so I'll include D's menu with the recipe below. This strawberry salad is pictured in the back left corner in the wooden bowl my Mother loved to serve salad in.


D's Father's Day Menu
prime rib w/ horseradish
mashed potatoes w/ gravy
corn
jello salad
green salad

fresh fruit:
cherries, grapes, strawberries
pineapple, honeydew and cantaloupe
Drinks: 
cucumber water
raspberry lemonade
Desserts:
chocolate pie
pineapple pie
*key lime pie

Here's a link to * Paula Deen's key lime pie recipe! Once you get there just scroll down to see the recipe and comments.  D used chopped pecans in the crust and grated white chocolate on top.

Strawberry Salad
Lion House Cookbook


Dressing:
2 T red wine vinegar
3 T sugar
1/2 c canola oil
1/2 t dry mustard
1/2 t salt
1/2 c strawberry jam
Mix and let sit in refrigerator to let flavors blend.


Salad:
1 head of red leaf lettuce
1 pkg of spinach
1/2 c red bell pepper chopped
1 purple onion sliced
Mix these vegetable salad ingredients together.  

Then prepare the remaining ingredients but wait to add them 

along with the dressing until right before serving,
so they don't become soft or soggy.
1 c strawberries sliced
1 c cashew pieces
1/3 c bacon pieces
1/2 pkg wonton skins (cut in 1/2 (strips) and fried)

Halloween Salads

We spent some time this Halloween with Governor Sarah Palin 

and ret. Quarterback Steve Young 

and their flip cell phones!

We had so much fun.  All of them attended our ward trunk or treat.  Gov. Palin was a little hesitant at first.

Steve Young even attended our ward Harvest party earlier.  And they all stopped by our kids' schools.  What a Halloween treat!

My husband and I also attended a couples Halloween party.  I was asked to bring a Halloween salad.  Although one can find many Halloween main dishes, breads, desserts, drinks, and even appetizers, one area lacking in Halloween choices is the category of salads.  I did find this orange and black Halloween salad recipe and decided to make it to share.  Here is a picture of how it turned out.  I think I was supposed to mix it altogether, but liked the look of the orange bed of "spider legs" and the sunflower seed "fingernails" and the black bean "eyeballs" this way.  I'm not sure why parsley was added, but you can read more about this recipe at the link above.   My friend has some more pics from the party. 

The recipe calls for plum vinegar, safflower oil mayonnaise and french herbs.  I was unable to find all of these here, so I improvised with fig vinegar, olive oil mayonnaise and used what french herbs I did have on hand.  French herbs include basil, lavender, rosemary, tarragon, thyme and winter savory.  They are optional, but do add to the taste.  It tastes best the same day.  

Another choice I had was from the kid cookbook "Gross Grub" by Cheryl Porter my brother's family gave me years ago for my birthday.  Every Halloween I get a kick out of reading these recipes, but they sound to sick to eat.  

Hairball Salad with Saliva Dressing
Kitty's thrown up some fabulously fiber-filled hairballs!

ingredients
1 large ripe avocado
2 cups alfalfa sprouts
5-6 large carrots, washed, peeled and grated
Italian dressing

tools you'll need
paring knife, spoon, mixing bowl, fork, carrot peeler, grater and 4 salad bowls

Cut the avocado in half. Use spoon to scoop out the single large pit. Scoop the avocado meat out of its skin and into a bowl. Add alfalfa sprouts to the avocado meat and mash with a fork. (It is okay to leave small lumps.) Set the mixture. Divide the grated carrots between four salad bowls. Using your clean fingers and a spoon, make walnut-size hairballs from the avocado mixture and arrange them on top of the grated carrots. Pour Italian "saliva" dressing over hairballs and serve. Serves 4 cat fanciers

Sicko suggestion -- squeeze ribbons of chocolate icing "hairball medicine" out of a paper cone and onto the backs of your guests' hands, to be licked off for dessert:)

Reunion Potato Salad

We went to visit my husband's parents over "Spud Harvest".  His Mother made me a nice dinner including homemade potato salad.  I haven't had that since my Mother used to make it for us.  It was so yummy.  I know it is a labor of love and it so good.  

Here are each of their yummy, homemade with much, love potato salad recipes.  

My Mother-in-law's Potato Salad

(coming soon)

My Mother's "Reunion Potato Salad"

From the Kitchen of Finlandia Ranch

8 medium red potatoes, cubed

4 to 5 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise

2/3 cup sour cream

3 Tbps. sugar (this is key)

3 Tbps. cider or red wine vinegar

2 tsp. prepared mustard

1 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion

1 tsp. celery seed

salt and pepper to taste

Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water.  Cover and bring to a boil; cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes.  Drain and cool.  Place in a bowl; add boiled eggs.  Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over potato mixture and toss to coat.  Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight. 

Yield:  8-10 servings.

Olympic Size Salad and Salmon

Tonight we returned to our monthly Recipe Exchange dinner and invited our husbands. It's been extremely hectic, so little time to prepare, I made a quick salad.  My husband added the Olympic decorations pictured here. 

We also grilled salmon and the recipe for the marinade is below. Thanks to Jessica for sharing both recipes with me.  

You may also see other pictures and read about our husband's night out at the RS recipe exchange at http://rollinghillsrs.blogspot.com/2008/08/hubbies-night-out-relief-society-recipe.html

Craisins Salad

Head of red leaf lettuce
Head of green leaf lettuce
Head of iceburg lettuce
8 oz. pkg. shredded mozzarella
8 oz. pkg. shredded parmesean
1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
8 oz. craisins (dried cranberries)
1 c. sliced toasted almonds

Toss together.

Dressing:
1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1 c. sugar
1/2 onion chopped
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp mustard
1 c. vegetable oil

Mix everything in a blender except for oil. Add oil, blend again.

Makes an Olympic sized salad!  Tonight I just used a huckleberry vinaigrette I'd purchased since it's also huckleberry season.  

Grilled Marinated Salmon

1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets
lemon pepper to tast
garlic powder to taste
salt to taste
1/3 C. soy sauce
1/3 C. brown sugar
1/3 C. water
1/4 C. oil

Season fillets with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt. In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, water and oil until sugar is dissolved. Place fish in a large resealable plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture, seal and turn to coat. Marinate each side for 2 hours. Put in 9x13 pan lined with foil and bake at 425 for 20-25 min.

More of the recipes others brought can be found at http://recipeparty.blogspot.com

Add this Cole Slaw to your outdoor picnic this summer

It's time for our last recipe club of the season. Where has this year gone?

Our theme is Outdoor/BBQ. I'm bringing a coleslaw salad that my Aunt makes for family reunions and my Mother loves so much and used to make frequently. I'm here with her today, so I made it up just now, so I can leave some of it with them to eat as well as for the ladies to taste tonight.

Aunt Juanita's Cole Slaw

6 c. finely chopped green cabbage

I used the food processor and put in a wedge at a time. It took about 3/4 of a medium head to equal 6 cups. I put it into a medium sized bowl and set it aside while I made the dressing to pour over it. No problem with leftover raw cabbage, because we like steamed cabbage as a vegetable with dinner.

Dressing:

1/4 cup + 1 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. grated onion
1/3 c. salad oil
1 tsp. poppy seeds

Next I chopped about 1/4 of a medium onion in the food processor for the 1 tsp. grated onion. Then I added the other ingredients and blended them altogether until well blended in the food processor or you can hand whisk them too. Fold the dressing into the chopped cabbage and chill before serving. Keeps well for several days and is a great addition to any summer picnic. It does taste best outdoors.

Dress it up!

Dress up any salad with one of the many raw dressings below.
If you want a great CAESAR Dressing, try . . .
1 cup pine nuts
1 tbs flax oil
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1 date soaked
1 large garlic clove
2 1/2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs water
1/2 tbs white miso (Miso Master Organic brand unpasteurized (raw) www.great-eastern-sun.com)
sea salt as needed
blend till grainy pine nuts, oil, sea salt
blend the rest

If you want to know the basics for a great raw salad dressing, Chari says "for Raw Salad Dressing Formula/Dressings, 3 main ingredients make tasty dressing
-- something acidic, a fat, and seasoning.
Mix them in a blender so flavors mix well. Will keep from 3-5 days in the fridge.
Aproximately equal parts of acidic & fat then season to taste.
Acidics: lemon, lime, tomato, apple cider vinegar, orange, grapefruit
Fat: extra virgin olive oil, flax seed oil, avocado, nuts, seeds
Seasoning: garlic, onion, herbs"

Examples:

Spicy Tomato Dressing
1 small tomato
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 t garlic powder
1/4 t cayenne pepper (to your taste)
1 t minced fresh ginger

Oriental Twist
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
1/4 c flaxseed
1 T Braggs Liquid Aminos
1 t garlic powder
1 t raw honey

Kalamata Dressing
1 pint Kalamata olives Pitted
place in blender cover with xvoo (extra virgin olive oil)
small handfull fresh basil
blend til creamy
Optional add garlic

Orange Cardamom Dressing
1c fresh squeezed orange juice
2T olive oil
2T agave or raw honey
2t ground coriander
1t groung cardamom
Makes 11/3 c

Asian Salad Dressing
2 cloves garlic
1/2 c rice vinegar
1/4 c olive oil
1/2 c Bragg liquid aminos
2 T sesame oil
3-4 T honey
2 T sesame seeds
food process garlic til minced
add all remaining until blended

Summer Peach Vinaigrette
1 ripe peach
2T agave or raw honey
3T olive oil
1 lime, juice & zest
sea salt & hot chili pepper to taste
blend- can be chunky or not
makes 3/4 c

Caesar Dressing
4 cloves garlic chopped
2t Bragg liquid aminos
1 small lemon juiced
2T dijon mustard
2t blk pepper
1c olive oil
1/2 c raw pine nuts
food process until smooth add oil last
makes 1 1/4 c

Bok Choy Salad
Chop up and put in a bowl:
~ 4 bunches Bok Choy
~ 2 tomatos
~ 2 avocados
~ 1/2 bunch cilantro
Dressing:
~ 4 tablespoons raw tahini
~ 2 tablespoons raw honey
~ 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
~ 4 tablespoons olive oil
~ herbs and spices (experiment with what you have available)
~ salt to taste with unrefined sea salt