SUMMERTIME SALADSWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
Summertime - living is easy - or it should be! Meals are lighter, and usually taken outdoors. Appetites are not receptive to hot, heavy food, and cooking time should be at a minimum. So what’s solution - when you come home after a day’s work, or time out with family at beach or zoo? You want something quick, tasty, cool and refreshing, but it should satisfy those hunger pangs. Summertime salads - fit right into summertime activities and fun. TASTY TURKEY DINNER SALAD- 1-1/2 cups fresh strawberries, washed, hulled, and sliced in half 1 10-1/2 ozs. can mandarin orange sections 1-1/2 cups seedless green or red grapes, or a combination of both 2 heads Belgian endive, Bibb, iceberg, or Boston lettuce, or a combination 16 ozs. sliced fully cooked smoked turkey breast (from deli) or honey roasted turkey Creamy ranch or buttermilk dressing 1/2 cup sliced almonds Prepare strawberries and drain mandarin oranges. Wash grapes and dry with paper toweling. In a mixing bowl, combine fruit. Set aside. Wash, separate lettuce leaves, and pat dry. Line individual salad plates with lettuce. Arrange turkey slices on top of lettuce leaves, and spoon fruit on top of turkey. You can also place turkey on one side of plate and fruit on other, if you prefer. Spoon your choice of dressing across both turkey and fruit. Sprinkle with almonds and serve. Some warm rolls, ice-cold lemonade, and chocolate brownies - you have a great, quick and satisfying meal. ******************************* IN THE ISLANDS SALAD 1 8-oz. pkg. medium noodles 1 avocado, halved, pit removed, and peeled fresh lemon juice 1 15-1/2 oz. can pineapple chunks in real juice 1 7-oz. can crab meat, drained, flakes, and cartilage removed or salad polluck, cut into chunks 5 ozs. salad shrimp, rinsed 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup dairy sour cream 3 tbs. sliced green onions 2 tbs. chili sauce 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/4 tsp. dry mustard assorted lettuce leaves 1/2 cup chopped pistachio nuts Cook noodles until tender, drain. Rinse with cold water. Slice avocado into lengthwise slices. Brush with fresh lemon juice to prevent darkening. In a bowl, combine noodles, avocado slices, drained pineapple, crab meat and shrimp. For dressing - combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sliced green onions, chili sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and dry mustard. Spoon dressing over salad mixture. Gently combine so that dressing coats mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for
| | THE TREASURE IN "USED"Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
You’ve spent entire day shopping for new furniture or accents for your home and yet nothing seems quite right. You come home exhausted and in ill spirits. You grab newspaper to check out ads and possibly something there will light up that spark in your eyes and put that spring in your step. You sink back down into that old chair that your great Aunt Tessie gave your grandmother, who gave it to your mother, who passed it on to Sister Sue, until she got tired of it and you inherited it. There you go - words “inherited it“. You are a lucky individual. Getting furniture handed down to you from countless sources, or cruising tag sales and resale shops will never get you into “Great Homes” Hall of Fame. Right? Oh, you couldn’t be more wrong. Those store-bought items do not insure individuality, heritage, and one-of-a-kind prestige. Yet, taking your hand-me-downs or bargains and polishing them with ingenuity and imagination will get you first-place honors in any Home Show. No one gets too enthused at a piece of furniture that they have seen in a furniture showroom, also at their neighbor’s house, or even at their boss’s summer resort. Definitely beautifully crafted furniture will bring oohs and aahs and everyone will admire their grace and style. However, older furnishings have history, a story behind previous owners, and a lot of sentiment. Now that’s what a home really is - a place to share what you are today, where you came from, and where you are heading. Using fabric can change an entire color scheme or enhance that chair or sofa. If you add some really bright and beckoning pillows, then you have brought comfort and style together. If there are arms or legs on your sofa, a bit of stain, wood finish, or paint will bring out shine. As for tables, shelving, chairs, etc. a bit of varnish, finish, or paint will revitalize and renew any piece. Using your imagination, try different brush strokes, or techniques. You may be surprised what happens when you combine different stains with different solid colors. Maybe oak is too somber for you, then pine may be more to your liking. It is now your piece of clay to work with, so mold it to fit your surroundings and other decor.
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