Working as fast as I can! Here goes a few.
Broccoli Salad
1 large head Broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
1 c Red sweet onion, chopped
1/2 c Raisins (dark or golden)
1/2 c Nuts (sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, chopped pecans/walnuts)
1/2 lb Bacon fried crisp and crumbled
1/2 c Dried cherries or cranberries (opt)
1/2 c Feta or blue cheese, crumbled (opt)
Dressing:
2 tb Red wine vinegar
1/2 c Mayonnaise
1/2 c Sugar
1.In a large bowl, combine the broccoli florets, onions, raisins, and bacon (also dried fruit and cheese if using).
2.In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, mayonnaise and sugar. Mix well until creamy and pour over broccoli mixture. Toss gently and refrigerate. Toss before serving and sprinkle with nuts.
Cherry Bread Pudding
8 chocolate or plain croissants
1/2 c dried cherries or dried strawberries
1/4 c orange juice
4 c whipping cream
4 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c Creme de cacao
1/4 c rum
1 c semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
1.Cut croissants into 1-inch cubes. Put in large bowl.
2.Combine cherries and orange juice in saucepan over medium heat and poach until cherries soften.
3.In another bowl, whisk together cream, eggs, egg yolks, sugar, creme de cacao and rum.
4.Add cherries to croissant cubes and stir to combine. Pour the cream mixture over croissants and soak for 30 minutes.
5.Pour into a large baking dish. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips. Bake for 30-40 minutes. Allow to rest before serving.
In the Pink Strawberry Soup
2 c Water
1 c Port wine (can also use white wine)
1/3 c Sugar
2 tb Lemon juice
1 Stick cinnamon
4 c Strawberries, pureed
1/4 c Sour cream
1/4 c Whipping cream
Pinch salt
Fresh mint sprigs
Dried strawberries for garnish
1.In saucepan, stir together water, port/wine, sugar, lemon juice and the cinnamon stick. Bring to boil and boil, uncovered, over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2.Stir in pureed strawberries; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. 3.Discard cinnamon stick and let mixture cool at room temperature.
Whisk in sour cream.
4.Beat together cream and salt until stiff; fold into soup. Cover and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
5.Serve in dessert glasses or highball glasses. Garnish each serving with fresh mint and dried strawberries.
Spiced Fruit and Nuts
1 c Whole raw almonds
1 c Pecan halves
1 c Roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1 c Dried fruit (cranberries, strawberries, cherries)
2 ts Ground cinnamon
1/2 ts Cayenne (or more to taste)
2 lb Confectioners sugar (divided)
1/4 c Rum
Water (if necessary)
1.Spray a cookie sheet or large baking pan with oil, set aside.
Mix nuts, dried fruit, and spices together in a large bowl.
2.In a large pot over medium heat, add 4 cups confectioners' sugar. Immediately add rum and stir well. Bring to a simmer and add nut mixture, stirring constantly. If nuts aren't completely coated with mixture, add a little water to thin the sugar mixture.
3.When the nuts are coated, add remaining sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes.
4.Remove from heat and immediately empty mix onto cookie sheet, spreading as thinly as possible. Cool and then break into pieces.