Staci's Vinaigrette and Fruit Green Salad

Staci made this for Easter and we all really enjoyed it...so I'm posting it for her:




Vinaigrette dressing:

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar


Blend together.


Drizzle dressing on mix of 1/2 Romaine and 1/2 Fresh Spinach. Toss in some craisins and fresh fruit of your choice (she used fresh raspberries) Top with some honey roasted slivered almonds.



**She made a large bowl of this and still had half the dressing left, so the dressing goes a long way!

Betsy's Balsamic Salad Dressing (Marie)

3 T. balsamic vinegar
1 T. olive oil
1 T. canola oil
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 servings


It is especially good on the mixed green mix lettuces (as Scott
calls them "weeds" :) Cut up an apple add some cranraisins,or raisins and chopped walnuts or pecans and this dressing drizzled over it. Sometimes Betsey uses pears cut up instead of apples. We served it at our women's conference and it was a hit.I think it would be great with avocado and the salad mix too.

BUDGET COOKING (Marie)

It's the perfect season for bean salads. They're easy on the budget, a snap to prepare and they happen to be good for you. What could be better? If you cook your own dried beans (it's much easier than you think), you'll spend roughly a third of what canned beans cost. As for that nutritional profile, beans score high marks in everything from protein and fiber to carbohydrates, B vitamins and iron- all with very little fat.
To Prepare Dried Beans
Put them into a colander, pick out any small pebbles and rinse well under cold running water. Except for lentils and split peas, dried beans need to be soaked before cooking.
So... Soak beans overnight, refrigerated, in water to cover them by 3".
Or.... Cover beans with water by 3". Bring to a boil, turn off heat and let stand 1 hour.
Either way, be sure to drain off the soaking water and rinse the beans before you cook them. (This step really helps to reduce intestinal gas.)

To Cook Dried Beans
Add 3 c. Water to each cup of soaked beans in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer gently 1 & 1/2 hr- 2 & 1/2 hrs until tender but not mushy. If desired, add 1/4 tsp. Salt for each cup of beans about 30 min. Before end of cooking time. Drain and cool or freeze.

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Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing
2 C. Vegetable oil
1 & 1/2 c. Cider vinegar
3 T. Dijon Mustard
2 t. Salt
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp. Sugar
Puut ingredients into a 1-qt. Jar with a tight-fittling lid. Cover & shake until well blended. Makes 3 & 3/4 C. About 65 calories per tablespoon. This dressing will keep well up to 1 mo. In the refrigerator.

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Tuscan Bean & Bread
2c. Each red kidney beans and chickpeas
4c. Cubed Italian bread
4c. Chopped tomatoes
1c. Chopped red onion
1/2 c. Muustard Vinaigrette
1 & 1/2 tsp. Dried basil
Serves 4 as a main dish.

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Pike's Bean
3 c. Small red beans
2 c. Cooked corn kernels
1 & 1/2 c. Chopped bell pepper
3/4 c chopped onion
1/3 c Mustard Vinaigrette
1 & 1/2 tsp. Bottled barbecue sauce
Serves 4 as a main dish.
(This is also great served with hot dogs & buns.)

Cafe Rio Copy Cat Recipes (Joycelyn)

I have had so many people asking where I got my recipes for Cafe Rio dishes that I am going to start this blog with a link to Family Recipes This is where to find the best Copy Cat recipes for Cafe Rio. Thanks Erica for sharing your recipes and your picture of this family favorite.
The Creamy Cilantro Dressing is to die for!!