Fruit Salad...Yummy, Yummy

1 small container of Cool Whip
1 small package of vanilla pudding
Fruit, any kind you want.

When I make this I like strawberries, bananas, apples, grapes. My Mom and sister in law like to add pineapple, Mandarin oranges, peaches, whatever you like.

Take your container of cool whip put in a bowl, slowly start adding the vanilla pudding a little at a time and stirring. I almost never use the whole packet of pudding, but usually 2/3-3/4. Supposedly the pineapple is suppose to help keep the cool whip creamier, but I am not a pineapple person so I make it this way. Once well mixed add fruit and mix together. Note if you are adding banana don't add them until you are ready to eat it as they will brown. If my family is going to eat this for more than one meal I just add some bananas to their plates and scoop the salad on top of it.

Super easy and super yummy, my kids and hubby ask for this all the time.

Macaroni Salad

1 box of Macaroni, or whatever pasta you want, I did the Medium Shells in the picture above.

1 can of Tuna or Chicken (I use Tuna if I have the good Costco Albacore, otherwise Fresh and Easy has a good premium can of chicken)

1 cucumber, peeled and quartered

Olives, sliced, however much you want

2 stalk of Celery, sliced

4-6 Green Onion chopped

1/4-1/2 cup Peas

Optional veggies that my Mom uses but I left out:

Radishes, sliced

Green and Red Bell peppers sliced.

Cherry Tomatoes

You can use pretty much any veggie you want to try in there.

Dressing:

1 cup Miracle Whip

1 heaping tsp. sweet relish

3 Tbs. Milk

1-2 tsp of Worcestershire sauce (you want to just barely tint the dressing)

Boil pasta according to directions. Chop all veggies and place in a bowl, once pasta is cooked and cooled put in bowl. Drain and wash meat and then I pull it out with my hands and smush it in between my fingers to make it small and distribute it in bowl, I don't like big chunks of meat. Combine dressing and gradually start adding until it is to your liking. It is best if you can make this up an hour or so before serving. It is better chilled.

Pasta Salad (Chicken or Tuna can be added)

This salad can be made with Tuna or Chicken, but I like it without so I have never made it with either one.

Box of bowtie pasta (cook the pasta as directed)
1 can chicken, drianed and flaked (or tuna Optional!)
2 cups thinly sliced cucumbers
Grape or Chrry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup sliced green onions
Add cooked, cooled pasta to the veggies and chicken.

In a small bowl, blend:
1 cup Italian dressing
1/2 cup mayo
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp salt
some black pepper
Add to salad mixture, toss to coat, cover and chill.

Thanks to my sister in law Melanie for this yummy salad!

Potato Salad

2-3 lbs of Red Potatoes- boiled, salted and cut- leave skin on
4 hard boiled eggs
¼ chopped onion
2 chopped Sweet Pickle

Dressing:
1 cup Mayo
½ cup cool whip
1 ½- 2 Tbs Pickle juice
Lemon pepper and salt to taste

Boil potatoes and then let them completely cook. Put in pickles, onion and top with dressing, add eggs last so they don't get smushed.

Thanks to my sis-in-law Kendell for this one too!

Chicken and Pasta Salad

This recipe takes some time to prepare, but it is SOOOO worth it! Thanks to Laura for it!

16 oz. Bowtie Pasta
Chicken (as much or little as you want)
1 Bottle Kikkoman’s Teriyaki Marinade and Sauce
10 oz. Fresh Spinach, stems removed
6 oz. of dried Craisin’s
2- 11 oz. cans of Mandarin Oranges, drained
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
6 oz. Honey Roasted Peanuts

Dressing:

1 cup oil (I used Virgin Olive Oil)
2/3 cup Teriyaki Sauce
6 Tbs. Sugar
¼ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Pepper
2/3 cup White Vinegar

Blend dressing ingredients together and set aside. Cook pasta according to package instructions (al-dente). Toss pasta with dressing and let soak for about 2 hours.

Marinate Chicken in Teriyaki sauce for ½ hour then Grill. Cut up into bite size pieces. Toss all other ingredients in a big bowl with chicken, add pasta and as much of the dressing as you would like. DON'T MIX UNTIL JUST BEFORE SERVING!
Serves 20.