Molded Cranberry Salads — Perfect for the Holidays or Anytime.

I greatly prefer a molded cranberry salad to the canned cranberry sauces that you buy. The fresh, tart flavor of cranberries is strong and easily complimented with orange, pineapple, nuts and other fruits. I like these so much that I buy bags of fresh cranberries every November and throw them in the freezer for use year-round. No prep required, just freeze the unopened bag. Here are 6 different molded cranberry salad recipes to get you started.  [Read the rest of this entry…]

Macaroni Salad Ring

This macaroni salad ring recipe is an old-fashioned molded salad.

1 package elbow macaroni
2 Tablespoons salad oil
2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
½ teaspoon seasoned salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon grated white onion
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
¼ cup grated carrot
1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 cup celery, chopped or sliced thin
1 pimento, chopped (optional)

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water according to package directions until tender Drain and put into a large bowl.
Mix salad oil, vinegar, seasoned salt and macaroni. Toss to coat well, then add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Spoon into a 5 cup ring mold, pack down well with back of spoon.
Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
Unmold onto platter and fill center with fresh vegetable relish or salad greens if desired. Serves 6 to 8.

Tomato Aspic

Tomato Aspic is an old traditional Southern side dish. There are as many variations as there are cooks, each claiming the best and often secret recipe. Many recipes add chopped vegetables, celery, cabbage, peppers, etc….Some Southern cooks use lemon jello instead of plain gelatin. This recipe is a well seasoned basic tomato aspic.

Tomato Aspic

2 cups tomato juice
8 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 bay leaves
1 Tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 onion, chopped
juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
salt to taste
1 teaspoon celery seed
2 tablespoons gelatin
1/2 cup water

Dissolve gelatin in 1/2 cup water. Cook together everything except lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Adjust seasoning, add lemon juice, Worcestershire and dissolved gelatin. Pour into desired molds and chill. Serve on a bed of lettuce

Piccalilli

1 quart chopped cabbage
1 quart chopped green tomatoes
2 sweet red peppers, chopped
2 large onions, chopped
1/4 cup salt
1 1/2 cup vinegar
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon tumeric
1 teaspoon celery seed
jars, lids, and rings

1. Combine vegetables and salt. Let sit overnight.
2. Drain vegetables. Squeeze out all moisture
3 . Prepare the Jars by cleaning and covering with boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes, then keep hot until ready to fill.
4 . Combine vinegar, sugar, and spices in a saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cup water and boil for 5 minutes.
5 . Stir into vegetables in kettle. Bring to a boil.
6 . Put in sterile jars and seal while still hot. Hand tighten lid.
7 . Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes to complete seal.

Easy Overnight Vegetable Salad

This makes a lot, great for a large party.

Easy Overnight Vegetable Salad

1 large bunch or carrots
2 heads of cauliflower, separated into flowerettes
1 bunch of broccoli, separated into flowerettes
3 sweet purple onions, thinly sliced
2 cans pitted ripe olives, drained
1 pound or more small fresh mushrooms
5 bottles Italian dressing
few sprigs of fresh dill (optional)

1. Cook carrots, cauliflower and broccoli until barely tender. Rinse in ice water to stop cooking.
2. Slice carrots into small thin strips.
3. Combine all vegetables and dill and pour dressing over all.
4. Marinate in refrigerator overnight.
5. Drain and serve on lettuce in a large salad bowl.

Makes 30 to 40 servings.

Creamy Potato Salad

This recipe makes a large bowl of Creamy Potato Salad, enough for a crowd. The extra step of tossing the potatoes with marinade and chilling allows them to soak up a lot of flavor!

4 lbs medium sized potatoes
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup vinegar
1 Tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 cup celery, sliced diagonally
1 large onion
1 medium sized green pepper, diced
1 small jar pimentos, chopped
½ cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
½ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
lettuce
tomato wedges

1. Cook potatoes whole in boiling water until tender, approximately 30 minutes. Drain, peel, and cut into cubes.
2. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Pour oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and onion over and toss until potatoes are moistened
3. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours until marinade is absorbed.
4. Add green pepper, celery, and pimento to potatoes.
5. Combine mayonnaise and sour cream. Add to potatoes and toss gently to coat
6. Chill and serve in lettuce lined bowl. Garnish with tomato wedges around edge.

Avocado Orange Salad

Make Avocado Orange Salad with fresh oranges or tangarines during the winter, if you can get a ripe avocado. In the summer use canned mandarin oranges for an acceptable substitute.

Salad:
1 medium head Bibb lettuce
1 small cucumber
1 avocado
3/4 cup fresh orange or tangarine slices or an 11 ounce can mandarin oranges
2 Tablespoons diced green onion

Dressing:
½ teaspoon grated orange zest
¼ cup orange juice
½ cup salad oil
2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Tear lettuce into small pieces, slice cucumber thin, slice avocado and remove the seeds from orange slices.
Toss all of salad ingredients together, or arrange on 4 salad plates.
Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a blender and blend.
Pour dressing over salad and toss. Serves 4