Spring Salads

May is a great month for salads. Fresh vegetables like lettuce and green onions start popping up in gardens. Salads are a fun way to eat healthy. From lettuce salads to jell-o salads, there is something for everyone.

            This month I will also be sharing some super recipes from Horizon Organic. For those of you who eat organic food or are vegetarian they have a scrumptious line of organic products. The vanilla milk was a favorite at our house. But remember you can use regular milk or cream cheese for these recipes also.

Here is a recipe that can be a salad or a dessert.

Cheesy Pineapple Salad

Ingredients:

•  1 - 8 ounce (oz.). can crushed pineapple, undrained

• 1/2 cup (c.) sugar

• 1 small box orange gelatin – you can choose other flavors too

• 1 cup of water

• 1/2 cup. sharp grated cheese

• 2/3 cup  pecans, chopped

• 1 cup Cool Whip, thawed

ADULT SUPERVISION NEEDED. Put the pineapple, sugar and water in a medium size pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the Jello until totally dissolved. Pour into a bowl carefully and put in the refrigerator until it cools and partially sets. It will be kind of thick but not totally gelled.

Add cheese and nuts. Fold in Cool Whip. Now you can put it into individual molds or leave it in the bowl to set.

Seven Layer Salad
Ingredients:

• 1 medium head lettuce, shredded

• 1 cup shredded carrots

• 1 cup green onion- thinly sliced

• 1 10-ounce package frozen peas, slightly thawed

• 4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar

• 2 cups cups cheddar cheese, grated

• Bacon bits

Place lettuce in the bottom of large bowl. Add each of these ingredients in a layer, one on top of the other -carrots, onion, peas and eggs. Mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream and sugar. Spread on top. Now add a layer or cheese and sprinkle bacon bits on last. Let is sit in the refrigerate overnight.

 Bunny Salad

For each salad you will need:

·        ½ of a pear (out of a can)

·        2 almonds

·        2 raisins or black olives

·        1/2 maraschino cherry

·        thin strips of cheese

·        lettuce leaf

Put the lettuce leaf on your plate. Lay the pear half on the lettuce with the flat side down. Push almonds in the top for ears, raisins or olives for eyes and a cherry for nose. Add the cheese strips to the sides for whiskers. You can use cream cheese as “glue” to hold it all in place.

Carrot and Raisin Salad
Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and brown sugar. Add  the shredded carrots and raisins and stir until it is all well coated.

Now for some yummy recipes from Horizon Organic –Try these scrumptious sauces with your favorite dippers - cut-up fruit, fresh veggies, pretzels, or crackers. These are super after-school snacks, party hor’derves, or nutritious low-fat desserts.
Tangy Yogurt Lime Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Horizon Organic vanilla whole milk or fat free yogurt

• 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

• 2 teaspoons grated lime zest (green portion of peel)

Directions:
Blend lime juice and lime zest into vanilla yogurt.

Luscious Horizon Organic Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces good quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, preferably organic

• 3/4 cup Horizon Organic half-and-half

Directions:

Chop chocolate into small pieces and melt it gently in the microwave on low power, stirring often.  (Alternatively, chocolate can be melted in a double boiler over gently simmering water, stirring often.)  Warm half-and-half and rum in a small saucepan until very hot to the touch.  Pour hot half-and-half mixture over the melted chocolate and whisk until blended.  Serve warm as a sauce or dip for cake, fruit, or ice cream.

Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Horizon Organic vanilla whole milk or fat free yogurt

• 2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard

• 4 teaspoons honey

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Chill until ready use.

No Bake Strawberry Bottom Cheesecake

This is great to make with kids since no baking is involved.

Ingredients:

• 1 Graham Cracker Pie Crust

• 4 oz. Horizon cream cheese, softened

• ¼ cup sugar

• ½ cup Horizon Organic sour cream

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 4 ounces cool-whip

• 1 pint fresh strawberries

• 1 cup strawberry glaze (reserve 2 Tablespoons for top)

Directions:

Thinly slice strawberries and dry on paper towel. Spread thin layer of glaze on crust. Layer strawberries and top with remaining glaze, making sure that you have 2 tablespoons of glaze put aside for top. Next, beat cream cheese till smooth. Gradually beat in sugar. Blend in sour cream and vanilla. Fold in cool-whip. Spread mixture on top of strawberries/glaze. Top with a few sliced strawberries and remaining 2 tablespoons of glaze. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.

8 servings