RICE SALAD - the best you've ever laid taste-buds on

This salad is so delicious and has a funny little history to go along with it. The story goes...a friend of my mom made this salad for some event and everyone was dying over it. She would not give the recipe, so another friend (apparently someone she thought she could trust) somehow finagled it from her and then spread the love. I'm not sure the original owner of this recipe is aware that we have it, but I am truly grateful that we do. It is to die for! Enjoy!

1 box Uncle Ben's long grain and wild rice
juice of 1 lemon
3 cooked and diced/shredded chicken breasts
4 scallions, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 small avocados, diced
handful sugar snap peas, i cut them in half
1 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Dressing:
1/3 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 tsp sugar

Prepare rice as directed on box. Combine dressing ingredients and gently toss with rice salad. It is so good either at room temp or chilled.

granola girl

i love granola. i like it with yogurt and berries. i like it to snack on. i just like it. so here's a recipe that i use.

Sundance Granolafrom Food & Wine annual cookbook 2004
from Chef Jason Knibb

2/3 cup whole almonds
2/3 cup pecans
1/3 cup roasted unsalted sunflower seeds
3 cups rolled oats (be sure they aren't quick oats)
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 tsp cinnamon (i use 1 tsp)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 Tbs molasses
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups raisins, craisins, or any dried fruit

1. preheat oven to 275.
2. combine nuts, oats, wheat germ and cinnamon.
3. warm the honey, syrup, molasses and oil in a small saucepan.
4. add liquid to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
5. spread granola on a sheet pan. (i line it with parchment or spray with pam)
6. bake for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 or so minutes to turn grains and nuts.
7. let granola cool and add dried fruit.

once cool, granola can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

here's one to start...

this is healthy, delicious, refreshing and did i mention quick??? i always feel like a good mom when i make this for my girls. by the way, they love it!



whatever you've got in the freezer, smoothie



fill the blender 1/2 way with fresh or frozen fruit

add orange juice, carrot juice, apple or cranberry (or a mix of all) til fruit is completely covered.

blend til smooth. you may need to add more liquid.



the frozen fruit acts as ice, so you don't need ice if using frozen fruit. using fresh fruit gives it a different consistency, so you may want to add ice.

you can also add frozen yogurt or regular yogurt.