Mandarin Pasta Salad

Dressing:

- 1 tsp. finely chopped, peeled, fresh ginger root

- 1 garlic clove, pressed

- 1/3 cup rice vinegar or white wine vinegar

- ¼ cup orange juice

- ¼ cup vegetable oil

- 1 tsp. sesame oil

- 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix

- 2 teaspoons sugar

Salad:

- 8 oz. bow tie pasta

- ½ cucumber, scored, seeded and sliced

- ½ cup diced red bell pepper

- ½ cup coarsely chopped red onion

- 1 package (6 oz) fresh baby spinach leaves

- 1 can (11 oz) mandarin orange segments, drained

- 2 cups diced, cooked chicken

- ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

1. For fresh dressing, finely chop ginger root. In small bowl, whisk ginger root, garlic, vinegar, OJ, vegetable oil, sesame oil, soup mix, and sugar. Cover, refrigerate until ready to use.

2. For Salad, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold, running water. Place pasta in large bowl.

3. Meanwhile, score cucumber, remove seeds and cut slices in half. Dice bell pepper, coarsely chop onion. Add cucumber, bell pepper, onion, spinach, mandarin oranges, chicken and almonds to pasta. Pour dressing over salad and toss. Serve immediately.

Carnitas

Ingredients:

- Pork loin roast

- 1 can chicken broth

- 1 can pepsi/coke

- 1 can chopped green chilis

- 1 med. onion-quartered

- 4-5 cloves of garlic

- 1 med. Jalapeno-deseeded and chopped

- 1 bunch of cilantro-chopped

- 1 tablespoon of cumin

- salt/pepper

　 Directions: 1. Cut roast into 2 inch pieces

2. Add to pot on stove

3. Add all ingredients

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 3-4 hours

5. Remove meat with slotted spoon into a roasting pan

6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

7. Save broth

8. Shred meat somewhat with a fork

9. Bake in oven for 30-45 minutes

10. Remove from oven and spoon some of the broth over meat

11. Serve with tortillas, salsa, guacamole, etc.

Walking Fondue

1 loaf round bread 8 oz. sliced Swiss cheese 1 c. butter 1 T. lemon juice 1 T. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. Beaumond seasoning (optional) Score round loaf of bread in criss-cross cuts, making sure you do not cut all the way to the bottom of the loaf. Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil, making sure to reinforce the edges of the loaf. Stuff scores with slices of Swiss cheese and pour butter mixture into all cracks. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes. *I found a website that has the BeauMonde Seasoning ingredients. I have not measured everything out, but I just put a dash here and a dash there and it still tastes SO good. BeauMonde Seasoning Mixture Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp. salt 1 Tbsp. ground bay leaf 1 Tbsp. ground allspice 2 Tbsp. ground pepper 1 Tbsp. ground white pepper 1 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 tsp. ground mace 1 tsp. celery seed

Nantucket Cranberry White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup butter 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon grated orange zest 1 and 1/2 cups flour 1 cup old fashioned oats 3/4 cup white chocolate chips 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries 1/2 cup pistachios, shelled and chopped Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla, and orange zest. Stir in salt and soda. Add flour and then oats. Mix in white chocolate, cranberries, and pistachios. Roll into generous 1 inch balls and bake for 8-10 minutes. Makes about 26 cookies.

***Make a double batch...they are so good!!

Brownie Popsicles

•brownies •chocolate melts •popsicle sticks •sprinkles directions: •make brownies & cut into rectangles & place on wax paper to cool. •melt colored chocolate chips (follow melting instructions on the bag for best results) •stick the popsicle sticks into the brownies •pour melted chocolate onto brownie

•sprinkle almost immediately, before chocolate hardens •let shell harden and enjoy!

via: Love and twenty toes.blogspot.com