Curried Salad

My friend Beth made this recipe for us and it is my favorite salad recipe. I am posting it the way she made it for us which is a little different than the original she has posted on her blog. If ever asked to bring a salad to a dinner this is what I will take. The flavors are so good together. YUM, YUM YUM!!! I love this Salad!

Curried Salad

Ingredients:

• 1-2 heads of romaine lettuce (or any other kind)
• 1/2 c. grilled pineapple, cut into bite size pieces or smaller
  
• 3/4 c. cashew halves
• 1 T. melted butter
• 1 t. fresh rosemary
• 1 t. curry powder
• 1 T. brown sugar
• 1/2 t. salt (unless the cashews are already salted)
• 1/2 t. cayenne pepper

Dressing:

• 3 T. vinegar
• 3 T. Dijon mustard
• 2 T. honey
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Toast cashews in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, until golden brown. Remove from pan to a separate and cooler location.
2. Grill the pineapple chunks.
3. Mix the melted butter, curry, sugar, cayenne, salt (if needed), cashews and rosemary- shake it up in a Tupperware for added ease and storage. If you do not have fresh rosemary, you can use the dried spice in half the amount. However, I recommend fresh rosemary because it's not so poky in the mouth.
4. Dressing: Stir together the vinegar, mustard and honey. Add salt and pepper according to your taste.
5. Toss the greens, pineapple and top with the tasty nut ensemble. Serve the dressing on the side to be added according to everyone's preference.

Rosemary Bread

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced

Mix water, sugar, and yeast and proof for 10 min. Then add the oil, salt, and flour and mix. When flour is almost mixed in add the Italian seasoning, pepper and rosemary. Kneed for 5-7 min. if using a mixer like a Kitchen Aid or longer if you are kneading by hand. Let rise an hour or so in an oiled, covered bowl in a warm place. Punch down, let rise another hour. Bake at 375 for 30 min.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

I have gone a rosemary craze lately. So the next few recipes will have fresh rosemary in them. Hope you like them as much as I do.

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste (optional)
• 5 boneless skinless chicken breast cut in half

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Then bake at 375 for 35-45 min (until chicken is done).
Serve with rice. (The sauce is really good over the rice).

Crisp Lemon Sugar Cookies

I just found this on Taste of Home and I'm SOLD. Seriously, they're SO good. And they're not crisp if you only bake them for 5 min. (and they're soooo tasty!)

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 tablespoon milk
* 2 teaspoons lemon extract
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* Additional sugar

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, milk and extracts. Combine the flour, salt and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture.
Shape into 1-in. balls or drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.
Bake at 400° for 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Immediately remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: about 6-1/2 dozen.

French Bread

I found myself in a pickle on Sunday when I realized I forgot to buy french bread the night before. Ironically, when I checked my e-mail Sunday morning I had a recipe for french bread from a gal in my ward. Loved it, and will never buy french bread again! Enjoy!

French Bread

2½ cup warm water

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons dry yeast

1 tablespoon salt

2 tablespoons oil

6 cups flour

1 egg, beaten

In a large mixing bowl, (I used my new handy dandy kitchen aid) combine water, sugar, and yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in salt, oil, and 3 cups of the flour. Stir vigorously. Add remaining 3 cups of flour slowly as needed and mix well. Let rest in bowl 5 minutes. Stir down. Repeat this process 2 more times.

Place dough onto a floured board. Knead only enough to coat dough with flour so it can be handled; divide in half. Flatten out into rectangle, roll up from long side. Moisten seam with small amount of water and pinch to seal. Arrange both loaves lengthwise on a large, well-greased cookie sheet. (the gal who sent this to me uses parchment paper - I didn't have any and really didn't need it - you can decide) Place seam side down. Spray top with cooking spray and let rise about 20 -25 minutes.

Use a very sharp knife to gently make 3 diagonal gashes in the top of each loaf. Then put into oven.

Bake at 375˚ for 23 to 25 minutes. Cool on racks and cover with a towel (this keeps the crust soft). Serve warm.

Scandinavian Fruit Soup

I know the cousins have this recipe, but I wanted to share it for anyone else who might read this bloggie. This is a Nelson family favorite. It's a sunshine dish that we enjoy especially during the holidays. Though I've decided to make it a few times a year because I love it so much.

Scandinavian Fruit Soup (Shari Price)

1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar (optional: the fruit sweetens it)
3 Tbsp. minute tapioca
1 six ounce can frozen orange juice concentrate
2 1/2 cups water

Cook 1 cup water, sugar, tapioca until tapioca turns clear. Put into a large bowl. Add orange juice and 2 1/2 cups water. Chill. Will thicken slightly. Stir well with wire whip.

Add 1 pkg strawberries, raspberries, 2 oranges sectioned, 2 sliced bananas, 4 or 5 canned peach halves, cut up, or other fruits you like. chill thoroughly. I often double this recipe for a large group. It is also delicious served hot before dinner also. This they do in Europe.

What Heather likes: this time I used frozen raspberries, cutie clementines sliced, fresh frozen peaches (canned would have a better texture but the flavor was good on the ones i had frozen), bananas (will go bad after a day). If you don't like tapioca, you may not be in love with this as I am. :)

What else do you like in this dish?