Festive Salad Recipes

Steps:

• For the dressing: In a jar with a lid, combine the oil, Champagne vinegar, shallots, mustard, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Tightly close the lid and shake so the dressing is well combined.
• For the salad: Put the mixed greens and romaine in a large bowl. Add enough dressing so that each leaf is lightly coated when tossed. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Transfer the lettuce to a serving platter or bowl.
• Scatter the tomatoes and mozzarella balls over the salad along with the pine nuts and finally the basil leaves. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with cold water. Drop the broccoli into the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender and bright green, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and plunge into the cold water to stop the cooking. Let sit until cool, then drain and set aside.
• Return the water in the pot to a boil and cook the rigatoni according to the package directions for al dente. Drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl. Toss the pasta with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil to coat evenly and refrigerate until cooled completely, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil to a blender with the spinach, Parmesan, almonds, basil, lemon juice, chives and 1/4 cup water and puree until completely smooth. Pour the pesto over top of the pasta and add the reserved broccoli, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt. Toss gently until well combined. Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with more chopped chives. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.

Steps:

• Line a plate with parchment. Toss the pecans with the pumpkin pie spice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a small bowl. Add the mixture to a small nonstick skillet and heat over medium heat, tossing frequently, until the spices begin to brown and become fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon of the honey and cook, stirring constantly, until the honey begins to caramelize and the pecans are well coated, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to the prepared plate, making sure the pecans are in an even layer and not stacked on top of each other. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, place a small bowl that can hold 1 cup of salad dressing in the center of a large platter. Toss the arugula, frisee and radicchio in a large bowl. Spread the lettuce mixture in a circle to resemble a wreath around the bowl on the platter.
• Slice both ends off one of the oranges and set the fruit flat-side down on a cutting board. With a paring knife, slice the peel and the pith off in sections, following the shape of the orange. Remove whole segments by cutting towards the center of the orange along a membrane. Then slice along the adjacent membrane to release the segment. Place the segments in a small bowl. Squeeze the juice from the remaining membranes into a medium bowl.
• Halve the remaining orange and squeeze the juice into the medium bowl (you should have about 1/3 cup). Whisk in the vinegar, Dijon, remaining 1 tablespoon honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until emulsified. Pour the dressing into the bowl in the center of the platter.
• To serve, scatter the honeyed pecans, orange segments, pomegranate seeds and feta cheese over top of the lettuce wreath.

Steps:

• For the candied nuts: In a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, toast the pistachios and hazelnuts until fragrant, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the brown sugar, salt, vanilla and 1 tablespoon water directly to the pan with the nuts and stir to coat them. Cook until the sugar has dissolved, about 1 additional minute. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to cool, 12 to 15 minutes.
• For the dressing: Combine the olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, salt and pepper in a mason jar. Secure the lid and shake to combine. Set aside.
• For the salad: Spread the arugula, kale and spinach over a large round platter, leaving space in the center of the platter (it should look like a holiday wreath). Top the greens with the radicchio. Arrange the mandarin segments over the greens. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds, cranberries, blueberries and cooled candied nuts.
• Lastly, sprinkle with the Parmesan, creating the look of snow. Shake the dressing one more time and pour it into a serving bowl. Place the bowl in the center of the platter and serve.

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, onion and salt. Cover and process until blended. With blender running, gradually add oil. Add poppy seeds and blend.
• In a salad bowl, combine the romaine, Swiss cheese, apple, pear and cranberries. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing. Add cashews; toss to coat.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Quarter the cabbage, then cut out the white core at the bottom and discard. Finely shred the cabbage and tip into a large mixing bowl with the onions, apples, beetroot and walnuts. Finely grate over the zest from the oranges.
• Cut a little from the top and bottom of each orange, so they sit flat on your work surface. Use a small, serrated knife to cut away the peel and pith in strips down the orange. Holding each orange over a bowl, cut away the segments, letting them and any juice drop into the bowl. Squeeze any juice left in the membranes into the bowl, too. Fish out the segments, roughly chop and add to the salad.
• Whisk the red wine vinegar, redcurrant jelly, honey and oil into the orange juice with some seasoning, then stir into the salad. Will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge.

Steps:

• Mix cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, ginger, pepper, and pepper sauce. Stir in chicken, eggs, and onions.
• Shape into log (8 by 2 inches) and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 4 hours.
• Cut green pepper rings to make strips. Place strips diagonally across log, dividing log into 4 sections (fourths). Sprinkle sesame seed on 1 section, repeat with 3 tablespoons onion, the olives, and pimento on remaining sections. Serve with crackers.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Toss bread cubes with 1/4 cup dressing; spread in single layer on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 6 to 10 min. or until golden brown; cool.
• Toss greens with chicken, pineapple, apples and remaining dressing in large bowl. Add bread cubes; mix lightly. Sprinkle with cheese.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear. Drain thoroughly.
• Place the rice, chicken broth and water in a heavy saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring gently to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
• When the water is boiling rapidly, stop stirring, cover the pan with the lid and turn the heat down to low. Let cook, without lifting the lid, for 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, lift the lid to release the steam, and replace it immediately. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes and serve.
• Meanwhile, crush the garlic with the salt making a rough paste. Add the garlic paste to the vinaigrette and let stand for at least 15 minutes to combine flavors.
• Add the vinaigrette to the cooled rice and toss with the vegetables.

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, oil, honey, salt and pepper in a medium bowl, and whisk to combine. Taste for seasoning, and add more salt or pepper if needed.
• Place half of the lettuce on each of two salad plates.
• Scatter the pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and cheese over each plate.
• Drizzle with the dressing, and serve immediately.
• Note: dressing can be made ahead, but will probably separate while sitting and need to be mixed again before serving.

Steps:

• Combine milk and lemon juice; mix well. Stir in pineapple, cranberry sauce, marshmallows, and pecans. Fold in the whipped topping.
• Spoon mixture into 13x9x2 inch pan.
• Freeze until firm (about 4 hours or overnight). Cut into squares. Remove from freezer 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the sugar, vinegar, lime juice, onion and salt. Cover and process until well blended and smooth. With blender running, gradually add oil. Add poppy seeds and pulse until blended.
• In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, red onion, strawberries & oranges. Toss with desired amount of dressing. Sprinkle pecans on top.
• * There are many fruits/cheeses/nuts that go well with this tangy dressing. Try any different combination below: Goat (Chevre) Cheese, Dried Cranberries, Toasted almonds; Feta Cheese, Mango, Toasted pinenuts; Gorgonzola Cheese, Fresh or Dried Figs, Toasted Pistachios; Blue Cheese, Sliced Bosc or Asian Pear, Candied Walnuts; Swiss or Emanthaler Cheese, Dried Apricots, Candied Pecans.

Steps:

• Drain pineapple, reserving liquid in 1-quart liquid measuring cup. Remove 1 tablespoons of the crushed pineapple, set aside for garnish. Add enough cold water to the reserved liquid to measure 3 cups; pour into large saucepan. Bring to boil; remove from heat. Add gelatin; stir at least 2 minute until completely dissolved. Add cranberry sauce; stir (gelatin mixture should be thick. Pour into large bowl.
• Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites).
• Stir in remaining pineapple, apples and walnuts; stir gently. Pour into medium serving bowl.
• Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Top with reserved crushed pineapple just before serving. Store leftover gelatin in refrigerator.
• Cooking time would actually be refrigeration time.

Steps:

• Cook and stir nuts and sugar in nonstick skillet on medium heat 5 min. or until sugar is caramelized and nuts are evenly glazed. Spread onto baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; cool. Break into small pieces.
• Combine spinach, lettuce and berries in large bowl.
• Drizzle with dressing just before serving; toss to coat. Top with nuts.

Steps:

• Mix mayo and dressing until blended. Add to apples in medium bowl; mix lightly.
• Spoon into large straight-sided clear bowl; top with layers of all remaining ingredients except nuts.
• Refrigerate 3 hours.
• Toss gently just before serving; sprinkle with nuts.