Taco Salad Bowls...

I just had to share one of my favorite things..click here.Taco Shell Pans. They are sold in a package of two. There are two sizes, this is the larger one. I have the smaller one that I make for my girlies when they are here and they also make cute little bowls for dip. What's nice about these bowls is they are baked and not fried. This cuts way back on calories and they aren't greasy. A friend of mine says she bakes these after they are sprayed with regular Pam and sprinkles cinnamon and sugar on them. She serves ice cream in them..I haven't tried this yet, but I am sure that I will.

I spray the pan before the burrito size flour tortilla is placed in the pan. I use either regular Pam or olive oil spray.

I spray the flour tortillas just a little bit. Prick with a fork so the tortilla won't bubble up. Bake at 350-375 for 10-15 minutes until they are a light golden brown.

Remove from the pan and let the tortilla cool. The tortilla will shrink about a half inch. I have found I like Mission Tortillas the best. Mission Tortillas may be just a California company.

I have a lazy susan that fits in the center of my table that I fill with all the toppings if I am serving this for guests. This is what I fill our bowls with.

Refried beans

Taco meat, ground beef or chicken

Shredded lettuce

Diced avocado or guacamole

Sliced black olives

Shredded cheddar cheese

Thinly sliced green onion

Diced tomato

Dollop of sour cream

Some people like salsa as a dressing, I prefer Kraft Catalina Fat Free dressing.

The toppings are really a personal choice.


This has really been a fun meal when we have company and it's so easy to do two tortilla bowls for just my husband and me.

Enjoy!

Orange Tapioca Jell-O...

I forgot the oranges in this picture...

2 pkgs. Cook and Serve Jell-O tapioca

1 large box orange Jell-O

3 C. water

2 envelopes of Dream Whip Topping. prepared..do not use cool whip

1-2 cans of mandarin oranges, well drained

In a saucepan bring the first three ingredients to boil and boil for three minutes

Remove from heat and let cool, but not entirely set.

Mix the Dream Whip according to directions.

Fold in the Dream Whip and add the oranges.

Place in a glass bowl and chill before serving.

Ham Macaroni Salad...

This is a differnt kind of macaroni salad. Chill well for the best taste.My Mom always made it for us when we were kids.

Mix together:
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1/4 C. chopped celery
1/4 C. chopped onion
2 Tbsp. finely chopped bellpepper
1/2 tsp. mustard
dash of tobasco sauce
dash pepper

Stir in:
2 C. cooked macaroni
1 C. diced ham
Chill.

Fumi Salad...

This makes a big bowl of salad and is great for potlucks or picnics.

Mix together:
1 head of cabbage, shredded
1 bunch green onion, chopped

Toast and add to cabbage: I toast mine in a non stick pan until golden.
8 Tbsp. sliced almonds
8 Tbsp. sesame seeds

Blend together and pour over cabbage:
4 Tbsp. sugar
1 C. oil
6 Tbsp. rice vinegar

2 pkgs. of ramen noodles, crushed
Add the noodles right before serving so they will be crisp.

Cherry Jell-O Salad...

1 3 oz. pkg. cherry Jell-O
1 C. boiling water
1 can cherry pie filling

Mix the boiling water with the Jell-O to dissolve and then add the cheery pie filling. Pour into a mold or an 8x11 inch oblong dish. Chill until set.

Mix the following ingredients in another bowl.

1 3 oz. pkg of lemon Jell-O
1 C. boiling water
1 3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 C. salad dressing or mayonnaise (I use mayonnaise)
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, do not drain

Chill until slightly thickened. Pour over the cherry Jell-O and chill until completely set.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad...

This makes a large amount of salad and works very well for BBQ's and Potlucks. It HAS to be Miracle Whip and not mayonaise. You know how some recipe's just have to have Miracle Whip? This is one of them.

1 medium red onion, sliced thin
broccoli florets
cauliflower florets
1 can of water chestnuts, sliced and quartered
1/2 C. raisins, more if you prefer
8 slices of bacon, crumbled

Dressing:
1 C. Miracle Whip
1/3-1/2 C. sugar
2 Tbsp. vinegar

Pistachio Salad...or Watergate Salad

2 C. Cool Whip
1-3oz. pkg. pistachio pudding
1 C. crushed pineapple, drained
1 C. small marshmallows
1 C. chopped pecans

Fold together and chill.

Anyone remember Watergate Salad?

Fruit Salad...

1 small box vanilla instant pudding
3/4 C. pineapple juice
4 Tbs. orange juice or Tang
1 large can pineapple
2 apples, diced
2 bananas, sliced
1/2 C. grapes
2 peaches, sliced

Mix pudding, pineapple juice, orange juice and lemon juice together.
Pour over fruit and chill before serving.

Overnight Layered Salad...

Shred 1 head of lettuce in a wide shallow bowl.
Top with 1 1/2 C. sliced thin green onions.

Layer in this order:
1 C. thin sliced celery
1 can sliced water chestnuts
1 pkg. frozen peas, thawed

Spread 2 C. mayonnaise evenly over the top
Sprinkle with 2 tsp. sugar

1/2 C. parmesan cheese
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Cover and chill as long as 24 hours.

Just before serving, spread 3 chopped hard boiled eggs
1/2 lb. crumbled bacon
Cut 2 medium tomatoes into wedges and arrange on top.

Every time I take this salad to a potluck it seems to be a crowd pleaser. Most of the time I leave the eggs out of this recipe. It's good either way.

Mom’s Egg and Lettuce Salad...

1/2 head of iceberg lettuce, torn in pieces
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
parsley flakes
salt and pepper

Mix all the above ingredients in a salad bowl and toss lightly with mayonnaise. If too much mayonnaise is used the salad will be soggy.So it is best to use a little and add more if needed. Also make sure the lettuce is dry.

My Mom made this quick and easy salad all the time for us as children and when we came to visit with out families. There was just something about the way she made it that it was always just right and not soggy. Using a little mayo at a time is the key.

Chicken and Grape Salad...

6-8 chicken breasts, boiled, boned and diced
1 can pineapple tidbits or chunks, drained
1 1/2 C. seedless green or red grapes
1/2 C. diced celery
1/3 C. chopped walnuts

Toss all the ingredients with Miracle Whip salad dressing. Not mayo!
Serve on a bed of lettuce.


My cousin made this for us when we went back to Michigan in 1973. I have been making it ever since and it has been a family favorite in the hot summer months.

Crunchy Pea Salad...

I really like this pea salad. I like the crunchiness of it and the flavor. You could almost have all the ingredients on hand for a last minute side dish. it's important to have it thoroughly chilled for the best flavor.

1-10 oz. package of frozen peas, thawed
1-8 oz. can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 C. thinly sliced celery
1/2 C. sliced green onions
1/4 C. mayonnaise
1/4 C. sour cream
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt, optional

In a bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients.
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, and seasoned salt.
Mix well and add to pea mixture, toss to coat.
Chill until serving.

Poppy Seed Mandarin Orange Salad...

Dressing, mix in food processor:
3/4 C. sugar
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/3 C. cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. onion
Beat in 1 C. olive oil
Stir in 2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
Make dressing ahead of time.
Put in a jar and either stir or shake through out the day to dissolve the sugar.

Mix together:
Iceberg lettuce and Romaine 2-3 heads
2-3 avocados, diced
2 C. shredded red cabbage
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 can water chestnuts
1 C. roasted almonds
4 green onions, sliced

This is great for luncheons or brunches.

Cranberry Mousse...

This is my favorite recipe using cranberries. I have made it for years and it has become a family favorite. I've tried using various brands of whole berry cranberry sauce, but I always go back to Ocean Spray. I have made this with and without the pecans, but in recent years I have made it mostly without, because the grandchildren will eat it without the nuts. It is good either way. I originally found this recipe in a magazine. I am not sure if it was a recipe advertising Jell-O or cranberries. I hope if you try this your family will enjoy this as much as mine does.

1-20 oz. can crushed pineapple in juice

1-6 oz. pkg. strawberry Jell-O

1 C. water

1 can whole berry cranberry sauce

3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. fresh grated lemon peel ( I use orange)

1 /4 tsp. ground nutmeg

2 C. sour cream

1/2 C. chopped pecans

Drain pineapple well, reserving liquid.

Add juice to Jell-O in a 2 quart saucepan.Stir in water.Heat to boiling and stir to dissolve gelatin.

Blend in cranberry sauce with a fork until blended. (Lumps dissolved.)

Add lemon juice, peel and nutmeg.

Chill until mixture thickens slightly.

Blend in sour cream.

Fold in pineapple and pecans.

Chill until firm in a bowl or mold.