Salads:

Spring Salad

Serves 4 to 6

  • bag of mixed spring greens
  • 1/4 small red onion, grated
  • 1 pear, diced
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup crumbled gorgonzola, or blue cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
In a medium bowl, toss together the spring greens, onions, pear, cranberries, walnuts, and cheese. Pour the olive oil over the top, then the balsalmic vinegar, and season to taste and mix well.

Tuna and Pasta Salad

Serves 10

  • 1 pound shell macaroni
  • 2 cups mayonaise, (approximately)
  • 3 6 1/2 oz. can albacore tuna in oil, drained
  • 1 red onion, small, finely chopped
  • 3 2 ounce cans sliced black olives
  • 1 1/2 cups plum tomatoes, diced and seeded
  • salt and pepper
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain well and cool. (do not rinse pasta) Add all ingredients and mix well. Adjust according to taste.

Found this recipe in a magazine 20 years ago. It's a surprisingly good salad, and a nice change from regular pasta salad.

Potato Salad

Serves 8 to 10

  • 6 to 8 russet potatoes, boiled until tender but still firm-ish, then cut into pieces
  • 10 to 12 hard boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped onions
  • 1 cup chopped kosher pickles
  • 1 can (3.8 oz) sliced black olives
  • 1 3/4 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/8 cup mustard
  • 1/8 to 1/4 cup of pickle juice
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. pepper
While still warm place the diced potatoes in a large bowl. Add the chopped and diced eggs. Lightly mix. Add the remainder of ingredients and mix. This is where you will need to adjust the possible addition of a little more mayo, or pickle juice, and to be sure the salt and pepper is to your taste. Place in refrigerator for several hours before serving.

NOTE: I like to use russet potatoes for the texture, and the ability to marry well with the other ingredients. Also fixing this salad while the potatoes are warm allows them to absorb the dressing instead of just being coated with it.