Rice, Cream, and fruit salad

2-3 cups rice (cooked/cooled)

2 (8 oz.) Cool whip containers

1 (12 oz.) can Pineapple tidbits (or any other fruit)
1 (11 oz.) can Mandarin oranges

1/2 cup Coconut (or as much as desired)

Combine above ingredients. Make sure rice is soft. Let cool in refrigerator before serving.

~K.J.V.

Greek Salad

1 head romaine lettuce- rinsed, dried and chopped
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 (6 ounce) can pitted black olives
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 large tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, sliced
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 lemon, juiced
ground black pepper to taste

1.In a large salad bowl, combine the Romaine, onion, olives, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and cheese.

2.Whisk together the olive oil, oregano, lemon juice and black pepper. Pour dressing over salad, toss and serve.

Mud Pie

This recipe is so yummy and makes a great summer dessert...

1. Crush 26 Oreo cookies. Mix with 1/3 c. melted butter. Pat into bottom of 9x13 pan. Freeze.

2. Let 1/2 gal. vanilla ice cream sit until slightly melted. Spread on crust. Freeze.

3. Pour 1 large can fudge topping (not choc. syrup) on top of ice cream. Freeze.

4. Spread a large tub of Cool Whip on top of fudge topping. Freeze.

5. Sprinkle with crushed Oreos.

V.L.S.

Summer is here...

so please click on the "Summer" label to find recipes perfect for hot summer days!

Cabbage Salad

This is my FAVORITE salad!  It's great with a barbeque lunch.

Dressing:
1/2 C vegitable oil
3 T red wine vinegar
2 T sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 chicken seasoning packets (from Top Ramen)
2 tsp. sesame seeds
2 tsp. sunflower seeds

Salad:
1 head cabbage, chopped
1 package Top Ramen noodles, uncooked
2 stalks green onion, chopped
Slivered almonds, optional

Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk.  Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl, top with dressing.

~VLS

Cold Spaghetti Salad

1 1/2 lbs. thin spaghetti
1 chopped onion
1 chopped green onion
1 chopped tomato
1/2 C kidney beans
8 oz. Italian dressing
Optional ingredients: chopped parsley, basil, chopped brocolli, olives, parmesan cheese, and black pepper.

Cook spaghetti until done and rinse in cold water. Let dry. Add ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Refrigerate, then serve with sliced eggs and grated cheese.

Perfect Lemonade

1 C sugar
1 C water (for the simple syrup)
1 C lemon juice (fresh squeezed from REAL lemons!)
3-4 C cold water (to dilute)

Make simple syrup by heating the sugar and water in a small sauce pan until the sugar is completely dissolved.

While the sugar is dissolving, use a juicer to extract the juice from 4-6 lemons, enough for 1 cup fo juice.

Add the juice and the sugar water to a pitcher.  Add 3-4 cups cold water, more or less to the desired strength.  Refrigerate 30-40 minutes.

Serve with ice and sliced lemons on a hot summer day!

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie

This pie is delicious, and great for birthdays!

1/2 cup chocolate syrup
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups crisp rice cereal
1/4 cup sour cream
1 quart chocolate chip ice cream, softened
~
1.  Coat the bottom and sides of an 8 inch pie plate lightly with butter.
2.  Combine chocolate syrup and chocolate chips in a small bowl.  Microwave on high until hot, about 45 seconds.  Stir until smooth.  Reserve 1/4 cup of chocolate mixture.
3.  Combine remaining chocolate mixture and cereal in a medium bowl and mix to coat cereal.  Press mixture over bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate.  Freeze for 15 minutes.
4.  Combine reserved chocolate mixture and the sour cream in a small bowl and mix well.  Spread half the ice cream in the prepared pie plate. Drizzle with half the sour cream mixture.  Top with remaining ice cream and sour cream mixture.  Freeze pie, covered, until firm, about 1 hour.

~VLS