Paradise Salad

I made this salad for Easter, and it was FABULOUS!

It is a new family FAVORITE!

Paradise Salad

Candied Almonds:

1/2 cup sliced almonds

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Salad:


1/2 head green leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

1/2 head romaine lettuce, torn into bit-size pieces

1 cup chopped celery


4 green onions, chopped


1 10.75-ounce can mandarin orange sections, drained


1 avocado, cut into chunks


1 apple, diced


1/4 cup dried craisins


1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled


3 chicken breast halves, cooked and cut in bite size pieces


Dressing:


1/2 teaspoon salt


1/2 teaspoon pepper


1/4 cup vegetable oil


1 tablespoon chopped parsley


2 tablespoons sugar


2 tablespoons white wine vinegar



Prepare candied almonds:

Melt 3 tablespoons sugar in large skillet with sliced almonds, stirring continuously until almonds are coated. Caution: Don't allow sugar to caramelize. Spread out on wax paper to cool. Mix together all salad ingredients and candied almonds.

Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, combine all dressing ingredients. Mix well. Pour over salad and toss right before serving. Serves: 6.



I made an additional batch of dressing to pass with salad.

Cooking Among Friends

They're popping up everywhere - Meal assembly franchises like Dream Dinners, Let's Dish, and Super Suppers are storefront businesses that let you buy a freezer-full of fabulous entrées, prepared quickly and efficiently by you and a group of friends at their facilities, using their equipment and ingredients.  

Sounds great, but they are a bit pricey, and they may or may not be conveniently close to you.  We don't have any groups like that in my small town, but I ran across a cool site today called Cooking Among Friends.  So go check it out, they even have a recipe book you can purchase. Then gather some friends, do some planning, individually prepare multiple meals, freeze them, and swap them.  What a GREAT idea!

Lactation Boosting - COOKIES

Lactation Boosting - Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip & Flaxseed Cookies 

 (6 dozen cookies) 


* 1-cup butter 


* 1-cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar


* 4-tablespoons water


* 2-tablespoons flaxseed meal*


* 2-large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla


* 2-cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda


* 1-teaspoon salt


* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)



* 3-cups oats, thick cut if you can get them


* 1-cup or more chocolate chips

* 1-cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions: 



Preheat oven at 375 degrees F.

Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes.

Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. 


Add eggs one at a time, and mix well.

Stir flaxseed mixture and add vanilla to the margarine mix.

Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips.

Add to margarine mixture.

Stir in oats then chips. 


Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment.

The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop. 



Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies. 




**NOTE** *IT MUST BE BREWERS YEAST, NO SUBSTITUTIONS. *can be found at any local health food store. 

ENJOY!  These are SERIOUSLY the best cookies ever!