Sensational Summer Salad Ideas

Mexican 7-Layer Salad

Ingredients

4 cups torn romaine

1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped

2 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 medium ripe avocados, peeled and chopped

2 large green peppers, chopped

1 cup mayonaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup canned chopped green chillies

2 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1 cup crushed tortilla chips

1/2 cup shredded cheese

In a 2 qt glass serving bowl, layer the first five ingredients. Combine the mayonaise, sour cream, chilies and seasonings; spread it over the top. Sprinkle with chips and cheese. Serve immediately. Makes 10 servings.

Summer Fruit Salad

1 cup cored and cubed apple

1 cup seedless red grapes

1 cup canned pineapple chunks, drained

1/2 cantaloupe, cubed

1/2 honeydew melon, cubed

1 cup sliced strawberries

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

3 tablespoons lime juice

1. Combine apple, grapes, pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, and strawberries in large glass bowl.

2. Heat water in pan over medium heat until boiling. Add sugar, lemon juice, and lime juice. Cook until sugar is dissolved and cool to room temperature.

3. Pour sugar syrup over fruit and toss to combine. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Makes ten servings.

How to Prevent Mold

Mold or mildew grows on bathroom tiles, shower curtains, walls, and any other place that stays damp and dark.

-Use a fan or open a window to reduce moisture. Leave the door open after a shower to let the room air out.

-Avoid using wall to wall carpeting in a bathroom

-Spray mildew with one part bleach and four parts water. Let sit for half an hour. Scrub off, rinse. Wear a mask and eye protection against the fumes.


Shower Curtains and Liners

To clean a shower curtain, load into washing machine along with two or three large towels. Pour in 1 cup of white vinegar and wash with warm water on the permanent press cycle. Remove the curtain before the spin cycle, shake out water, and hang it on the shower rod to air-dry.

The heat from the shower should remove most of the wrinkles. If there is any mold or mildew, use 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach instead of the vinegar and follow the directions above. To prevent soap scum from building up on plastic shower liner, rub on some baby oil with a non-abrasive cloth. This method also works in keeping off soap scum from glass shower doors.

Hot summer day? Don't want to stand up over a hot stove? Try these sandwich fillings and spreads! They can be made early and stored in containers in the refrigerator.

Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling

1 cup chopped cooked chicken
2 chopped hard boiled eggs
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup mayonaise
3 tbsp chopped pickle or relish

Steps:
1. Combine the chicken, egg, and celery in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix the salt, mayonaise and pickle until well blended.
3. Add the mayonaise mixture to the chicken; mix lightly.
4. Make the sandwiches. Serves six.

Hints:
1. Green pepper or onion may be added, if desired.
2. Chicken salad sandwich filling may be tossed together and served as a salad on lettuce or salad greens if the ingredients are cut into larger pieces.


Beef or Ham Sandwich Filling
--Follow the recipe for Chicken Salad Sandwich Filling, but in Step 1 substitute chopped cooked beef or ham for the chicken.


Sandwich Fillings and Spreads

• Chicken and Ham: Combine 2/3 cup chopped cooked chicken and 1/2 cup chopped cooked ham. Add 3 chopped olives, 2-3 tbsp mayonaise, and 1/2 tsp lemon juice. Mix lightly. Makes 4 sandwiches

• Deviled Meat: Combine 1 1/4 cup chopped cooked beef or pork with 2 tbsp ketchup or chili sauce, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp grated onion, 1/2 tsp salt, and 3 tbsp mayonaise. Mix lightly. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Tuna Spread: Combine 1 cup canned tuna (drained), 2 tbsp chopped celery, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt, 3 tbsp mayonaise. Mix lightly. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Ham and Egg: Combine 1/2 cup finely chopped cooked ham, 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs, 1/2 tsp mustard, 1 tsp finely chopped onion, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, and 2-3 tbsp mayonaise. Mix lightly. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Egg and Deviled Ham: Combine 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs, 1/3 cup deviled ham, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, and 3-4 tbsp finely chopped pickle or relish. Mix lightly. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Egg and Bacon: Combine 4 hard-boiled eggs (chopped), 4 slices of cooked, crisp bacon (chopped), and 1/4 cup mayonaise. Mix lightly. Spread on buttered bread. Makes four sandwiches.

• Corned Beef and Cheese: Combine 1/4 cup chopped sharp American cheese with 2 tbsp mayonaise. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped corned beef, 1/4 cup finely chopped sour pickles, 1 tbsp grated onion, and 2 tbsp finely chopped celery or parsley. Season with paprika or Worcestshire sauce. Mix well. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Celery and Cheese: Combine 1 cup grated American cheese, 1/3 cup chopped celery, 1 1/2 tsp chopped onion, 1 1/2 tsp chopped pimentos. Add 1/4 tsp salt and 1/3 cup mayonaise. Mix well. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Pimento Cheese: Combine 1 cup grated American cheese, 3 tbsp chopped pimento, and 3 tbsp mayonaise. Mix well. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Peanut Butter, Banana, and Jelly: Mash 1 very ripe banana. Add 1/4 cup peanut butter and 1bsp favorite jelly. Mix just enough to blend the ingredient. Makes 4 sandwiches.

• Cream Cheese and Bacon: Soften one 3-oz package cream cheese with 1 tbsp milk. Add 2 tbsp chopped green pepper, 3 slices cooked, crisp bacon (crumbled) and 1 tsp finely chopped onion. Mix well. Spread on bread or crackers.

• Cream Cheese and Marmalade: Combine one 3-oz package cream cheese with 2 tbsp orange marmalade, 1/4 cup chopped nuts, and 1 granted rind of orange. Mix well. Spread on bread or toast rounds.

Spreads can be served on your favorite bread or crackers. Tomorrow, I will share some of my favorite salads.

A Quick Summer Treat

Eggs are tasty and good for you. They contain so many of the food nutrients that are needed by the body: protein, (healthy) fat, iron, phosphorus, calcium, and vitamins A, B & D. Not only are they a good breakfast food, but they also can be served as part of a main meal.

Incredible Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

6 Hard-Boiled Eggs

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

1 tsp Mustard

1 1/2 tbsp Mayonaise or Salad Dressing (Miracle Whip)

Steps:

1. Remove shells from the hard-boiled eggs.

2. Cut the eggs in half lengthwise or crosswise.

3. Take out the yolks with a spoon, and put them in a mixing bowl, being very careful not to break the whites.

4. Mash the yolks with a fork. Add the salt, pepper, mustard, mayonaise or salad dressing. Mix until smooth.

5. Refill whites neatly with the egg-yolk mixture, heaping it up lightly. Chill until served. Serves six.

Hints:

1. Any of the following ingredients may be added to the filling for deviled eggs: chopped ham, pickles, olives, celery, pimentos.

2. Deviled eggs may be garnished with a dash of paprika, chopped parsley, strips of pimento, or slices of ripe olives.

3. To pack deviled eggs for picnics or school lunches, smooth the egg yolk mixture so that it is level wtih the egg white, put the halves together, and wrap in wax paper, twisting the ends of the paper.

Household Tips: Solutions for Carpet and Clothing Stains

Try using some of these common household ingredients (spot test in a less visible area to avoid discoloring).

• Spray Windex on the stain and use damp cloth to wipe it away. If it is a garment, rub gently and wash as usual
• Use denture tablets dissolved in water to remove old carpet and clothing stains
• Isopropyl Alcohol patted (do not rub) into a carpet will lift up heavy stain. Use a vacuum to dry alcohol from the area
• A mixture of vinegar and water (3 to 1) removes most carpet stains. For pet odor, a half-and-half mix of white vinegar and water removes the smell
• Use Dow bathroom cleaner or Scrubbing Bubbles on stubborn carpet stains. Wait 60 seconds, then wipe it away
• Baby wipes remove even the oldest of stains from clothes and carpet

Welcome to Food, Fun, Facts, Fiddle and Faddle

This blog is designed to help with meal planning, simple recipes, cleaning tips, helpful hints, and a little of this, a little of that. Enjoy!