Spinach Bow Tie Pasta Salad

Note: this makes a huge salad so I half it

3/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
6 T sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 (16 oz) bow tie pasta
1 can water chestnuts
1 1/2 bags spinach (fresh)
1 6 oz bag craisins
2 can mandarin oranges
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
6 oz honey roasted peanute (optional)
1/2 c. fresh parsley (optional)
add chicken for a main course salad

Buttermilk Banana Bread

Mix Together:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Stir these together and add:
3 eggs
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 large mashed bananas
Mix well.
Butter pans.
Make a "sling" out of parchment paper and put in each pan before filling.  This helps them come out easily.
Bake at 350 dgrees for 30-35 min for small loaf pans. Makes 6-7 small loaves. Add more cooking time for regular size loaves.

Chicken Enchilada Nachos

This recipe was on Studio 5, I think.

1 can chicken breast
1 can enchilada sauce
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can of corn
1 can of black beans
1 small can diced green chilies

Heat in a saucepan and serve over tortilla chips. Garnish with cheese, olives, sour cream. (And I put some diced tomatoes on mine, too)

Best part of this, it can be made in minutes. And it is actually great as a main dish or a snack.

Grilled apple and cheese sandwich and other variations.

Thinly slice an apple ( the more tart, the better)
Cheese - you could use any kind but Gruyere or Swiss is REALLY yummy.
Bread - once again any kind will work, but that dark rye-type from Costco or Sourdough are so good.
Butter the bread, put on the cheese and apples, grill. Serve.

Variations: Grilled chedddar cheese and fresh tomato, with fresh sage is good, too.
Another good one - Grilled turkey (deli or sliced), sliced artichokes, spinach leaves and provolone. (I stole this idea from Zuppas)

Tomato Basil Soup

6 medium fresh tomatoes, or 28 oz can
2 cups chicken broth
6 to 8 basil leaves
1 carrot (if you don't have a good blender, leave this out)
1/2 onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup cream or milk
2 T olive oil
salt to taste

Blend everything in a blender. Cook in a pan for 15 minutes.

This is really good served with a grilled cheese and apple sandwich

Green Beans and Ham

OK I give up. This stinking blog site keeps telling me I have exceeded my number of photos and so I can't put another one on. Nice. So here is the recipe sans a photo.

Fresh greens beans
About 1 cup water
1/4 c. butter
fresh minced garlic
ham, chopped into cubes
onion, chopped
fresh mushrooms (optional - I have made it with and without)
salt and pepper

Put everything in a pan, cover with a lid. Simmer for 20 min, or until green beans are tender. Don't drain off juice. Spoon out beans, etc. with a slotted spoon onto plate when you are ready to eat.

Our Recipes Are Great and All

but check out this food blog. (Holls, this is the one I was telling you about.)

jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com

For starters, I think I will make the zucchini cake with sour cream frosting, s'more cookies, double chocolate zucchini muffins, chocolate hot fudge cake, oreo turtle bars.... mmm I am about to gain 10 pounds.