Spicy Fruit Salad

1 - 16 ounce can of peaches
2 - 3 inch long cinnamon sticks
3/4 teaspoon of allspice
2 large navel oranges
2 large pink grapefruits
1 small pineapple
2 pints of strawberries
3 kiwi fruits
2 tablespoons of crystallized ginger root

Drain syrup from the peaches into a small saucepan. Place peaches in a large bowl. Over medium-high heat, heat syrup, cinnamon, and ground allspice to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Set syrup mixture aside to cool while preparing fruit. Grate peel from 1 orange, set aside. Cut peel from oranges and grapefruits. To catch juice, hold fruit over bowl with peaches and cut sections from oranges and grapefruits between membranes; drop sections into bowl. Cut peel and core from pineapple; cut fruit into 1/2 inch chunks. Add pineapple to fruit in bowl. Pour syrup mixture over fruit in bowl. Add grated orange peel; toss. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, hull strawberries; cut strawberries in half if large. Cut peel from kiwi. Slice each kiwi lengthwise into 6 wedges. Toss strawberries and kiwi with fruit mixture. Place in serving bowl and sprinkle with crystallized ginger.

Grilled Caribbean Chicken Salad

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup teriyaki marinade (store bought)
4 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
4 cups chopped green leaf lettuce
1 cup chopped red cabbage
5.5 oz. can pineapple chunks in juice, drained
tortilla chips

--- PICO DE GALLO ---

2 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup diced spanish onion
2 tsps. chopped fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and de-ribbed
2 tsps. finely minced fresh cilantro
pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill.

--- HONEY LIME DRESSING ---


1/4 cup Grey Poupon dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
1-1/2 Tbsps. sugar
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
1-1/2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1-1/2 tsps. lime juice

Blend all the ingredients in a small bowl with an electric mixer, Cover and chill.

Marinate the chicken in the teriyaki for at least two hours. Use a resealable plastic bag. Put in fridge. Preheat outdoor or indoor grill. Grill the chicken for 4-5 mins. per side or until done. Toss the lettuces and cabbage together and divide into 2 large serving size salad bowls. Divide the pico de gallo and pour in equal portions over the two bowls of greens. Divide the pineapple and sprinkle on salads. Break tortilla chips into large chunks and sprinkle on salads. Slice the grilled chicken into thin strips and divide among bowls. Pour the dressing into two small bowls and serve with the salads.

Mushroom Antipasto Pasta Salad

4 cups pasta, cold, cooked
2 cups white mushrooms, sliced
1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
1 cup salami, cut into bite-size pieces
1 cup provolone cheese, cut into bite-size pieces
1 jar (6 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, (with liquid)
1/4 cup Italian dressing salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

To the pasta, add the mushrooms, peppers, salami, cheese, and artichoke hearts with liquid. Mix in Italian dressing; season with salt and ground black pepper to taste. Top with chopped basil. Allow flavors to blend for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Fruit Salad with Champagne Sauce

1 cup kiwi, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 cup figs, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch cubes
1 cup grapes, sliced in half
1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced in half
1 cup fresh raspberries
2 egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup Champagne

Heat broiler to its highest setting. Divide the cut fruits into 4 soup plates, arranging them decoratively. Make sauce by combining egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk briskly until the yolks begin to turn a light lemony color. Add the Champagne a little bit at a time, whisking constantly until well blended. Place the mixing bowl in a pot or pan and pour about 1 inch of water around it. Bring the water to a simmer and continue to whisk vigorously until the mixture becomes light and foamy. Once the mixture starts to thicken, remove the bowl from the heat. Do not overcook. Continue to whisk for 10 seconds. Pour equal amounts of sauce over each fruit salad. Place the plates under the broiler about 3 inches from the source of heat and allow them to cook just until they are lightly browned on the surface, rotating as needed. Serve immediately with remaining Champagne to accompany.

Sugar Snap Salad

4 cups bibb (or butter) lettuce
4 cups sugar snap peas, string removed
3 tablespoons minced shallots
4 teaspoons sherry vinegar
salt and black pepper, to taste
7 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
3 tablespoons chopped italian flat leaf parsley

Wash and dry the lettuce and tear into bite-sized pieces. Make the vinaigrette by combining the shallots, vinegar, salt, pepper and olive oil and set aside. Make an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and cold water and set that aside. In a large pot, blanch peas in boiling water for about 3 minutes, until peas are bright green and cooked but still crunchy. Immediately, drain the peas and plunge into the ice bath. Once the peas have cooled and stopped cooking remove them from the ice bath. Remove excess water from peas by blotting with a paper towel. Up to this point, the salad can be made a day in advance, refrigerated as separate components. Use the lettuce to line the bottom of a serving dish and add peas, basil, and parsley to another bowl. Add vinaigrette and toss. Put this mixture on top of the lettuce and serve immediately.

Poached Chicken and Walnut Salad

2 whole chicken breasts (with skin on and bone in)
1 celery stalk
1 onion, sliced
6 peppercorns
chicken broth
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup walnuts
mixed greens: watercress, arugula, red leaf lettuce, radicchio

Place chicken breasts in pan or skillet. Add celery, onion and peppercorns. Add enough broth to cover chicken. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until just tender, about 20 minutes. Cool chicken and remove skin. Pull chicken off bone in strips. In a saucepan, combine olive oil, vinegar and walnuts. Cook until somewhat thickened and liquid is reduced. Wash greens and tear into pieces. Place greens on four salad dishes, then arrange chicken on each plate of greens. Pour oil-vinegar mixture on top.

Zucchini Slaw

6 medium zucchini, grated (1 1/2 lbs)
2 teaspoons salt
1 large carrot, grated
1 sweet red pepper, julienned
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, julienned
2 tablespoons each chopped fresh dill and parsley

--- Dressing ---

3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon horseradish
1/4 teaspoon pepper


Combine zucchini and salt; toss well. Place in colander; let stand for 30 minutes. Rinse under cold water; drain and squeeze out excess moisture. Place zucchini in bowl and add carrot, red pepper, onion and celery; toss well. Sprinkle with parsley and dill. Combine mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, oil, honey, horseradish and pepper; stir into zucchini mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Rice Salad

3 cups cold cooked rice
1/2 cup cooked peas
1/2 cup cooked corn
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup red and green pepper, chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
6 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste


Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Toss with olive oil and chill overnight in refrigerator before serving. Garnish with orange sections.

Spicy Pecan Salad

1 heart of romaine lettuce
red onion
1/8 cup crumbles blue cheese
2 oz. spicy pepper pecans (chopped)
4 teaspoons raspberry vinaigrette (per serving)

Toss romaine lettuce with raspberry vinaigrette and divide evenly on salad plates. Slice red onion paper-thin and layer to taste on top of the greens. Sprinkle with blue cheese crumbles and spicy pepper pecans to taste.

--- Spicy Pepper Pecans ---

2 oz. or 1/2 cup of chopped pecans

3 teaspoons dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Rinse pecan pieces to dampen. Combine brown sugar and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Mix in damp pecan pieces and toss until thoroughly coated. Spread evenly on cookie sheet then place in preheated 400F oven and cook 5 to 10 minutes or until brown sugar is thoroughly melted on pecans. Remove and let cool.

Mediterranean Salad

1 medium head romaine lettuce, torn
3 small tomatoes, diced
1 medium cucumber, sliced
1 small green bell pepper, sliced
1 small onion, cut into rings
6 radishes, thinly sliced
1/2 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt & pepper
1 teaspoon fresh mint, minced
Pita bread halves

Combine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, onion, radishes & parsley in a salad bowl. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper & mint. Pour over salad & toss to coat. Serve immediately with warm pita halves.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 (10 ounce) bag fresh spinach - chopped, washed and dried
1 quart strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds

Whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, olive oil, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and onion. Refrigerate until chilled. In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries and almonds. Pour dressing over salad; toss and refrigerate 10-15 minutes before serving.

Golden Corral's Seafood Salad

1 lb. imitation crab meat, shredded
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sliced green onions (with the green too)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 hard boiled eggs, chopped.

Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate for about an hour to allow flavors to blend. Serve either as a salad, on lettuce, or on split croissants.

Hungarian Cucumber Salad

2-3 cucumbers, sliced
2 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 clove garlic, minced
4 fresh green onions, diced
1 cup thick sour cream
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Slice cucumbers thinly into bowl; sprinkle with salt, mix. Set aside for 1 hour. Mix vinegar, water, sugar, paprika, white pepper and garlic, and set aside. Squeeze liquid from cucumber slices a few at a time, and place into bowl. Discard liquid. Add vinegar mixture, green onions, and sour cream. Mix and sprinkle additional paprika over top. Chill for 1-2 hours.