These salad recipes are in answer to a request for some different salads than the usual tossed salad or coleslaw. I have tried both of these salads and really liked them. The green apple and brie salad is an excellent choice and you could use pears instead of apples if you wish. You could also use any kind of apples that you have on hand. When I made the orange poppy salad, I didn’t have any pecans so I simply used walnuts and it turned out well. I really liked the dressing made with the Greek yogurt.
The garlic cheese bread is a recipe from Jonathen Wells, the young cook who contributed to our column a couple of weeks ago.
The ham and cheese quiche recipe came from a 2017 Taste of Home magazine. I just made it this morning but did not bake it in a crust. I simply sprayed a casserole dish and stirred all of the ingredients together before pouring into the dish. I baked it for 30 minutes until the middle no longer jiggled when I shook it gently.
The cheesy garlic bread, quiche, and a salad make a great dinner combination.
In continuing our acts of kindness, a reader took water to a homeless person; my grandson and two of his friends got my outdoor furniture out for me; and on Easter Saturday a young couple let a lady with an armful of groceries go ahead of them in Zehrs.
Green Apple and Brie Salad
- ½ green onion, diced
- 2 Tbsp. dried cranberries
- ½ cup cubed Brie cheese
- 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
- 1/3 cup cooked quinoa
- ½ cup chopped spinach
- 2 Tbsp. sour cream
- 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of garlic powder
Mix sour cream, balsamic vinegar, and garlic powder together well and drizzle over other ingredients that have been tossed together.
Orange Poppy Seed Salad
- 2 Tbsp. plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp. poppy seeds
- 2 tsp. maple syrup
- 2 tsp. orange juice
- ¼ tsp. orange zest
- ¼ cup diced green apple
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- ¼ cup orange segments
- 1/3 cup grated Mozzarella
- 2 Tbsp. chopped pecans
- ½ cup baby spinach
Gently mix the spinach, cheese, orange segments, pecans, celery, and apple together in a bowl. Mix together the orange juice, orange zest, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, and poppy seeds. Drizzle over salad, stirring gently. Serve.
Cheesy Garlic Bread
- 2 cups flour
- 4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese
- 1 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tbsp. melted butter
Mince garlic cloves and beat egg. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a loaf pan. In a large mixing bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Stir in shredded cheese. In a separate bowl whisk together milk, egg, butter, and garlic. Add liquid ingredients to bowl of dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not over mix. Spoon into loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes until top is golden brown. Cool on wire rack until it is still warm. Remove from pan and slice. Serve warm with butter.
Ham and Cheese Quiche
- 1 pie crust
- 6 large eggs
- ¾ cup whole milk
- ¾ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 1 cup cooked chopped ham
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese divided
- 3 Tbsp. chopped green onions
Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle ham, 1 cup of the cheese, and the green onions into the pie crust and pour the egg mixture over top. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheese on top of egg mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the center is completely set. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
HINT: If there is a chocolate stain on your carpet or couch dab the spot with cold water and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Then squirt a bit of dish soap on it and gently rub until the suds turn brown. Dab it again with a cloth to dry.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: (from Jane Anne Bawden) If you really want to do something you will find a way; if you don’t you will find an excuse.
