Speaking of Aunt Joan

well, we weren't really speaking of her on this blog, but Phoebe and I were. Since the discussion of her ward's cookbook has surfaced, I dug out my copy and am a bit impressed at the variety this tome holds.

I offer the following:

UCD's Potato Salad for 200 - yes, 200 - by Audrey Fowler

30 lbs cooked potatoes, diced
2/3 CUP salt
2 tsp pepper
5 lbs celery - coarsely chopped
4 doz hard cooked eggs, coarsely chopped
1 3/4 lb onion - finely chopped (1 qt)
3 qts mayo
mustard to taste
1 pint vinegar (to taste)
1 qt pitted olives
1 can pimiento - finely chopped (optional) (i'll say)

Combine all ingredients. Chill about 3 hours to allow potatoes to absorb dressing and vinegar.

And my favorite part:
Serve with No. 8 scoop (1/2 cup)

UCD's Relish Tray for 200 - by Audrey Fowler

4-5 lbs carrots
5 bunches celery
2 #10 cans pickles (1 dill, 1 sweet)

Phoebe do you know this Audrey Fowler? I am intrigued.

Well, I must get on the treadmill now, enough of this food talk.

I will continue my perusal of The Peddlin' Gourmet.

On the Menu Tonight...

Breakfast for dinner! A family fave, but this is good as breakfast for breakfast, too.

Waffled French Toast
1/2 c milk
4 eggs
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
8 slices of bread
Preheat waffle iron. Mix all ingredients, except bread, in shallow bowl. Dip bread slices one at a time; let drain. Bake in an oiled waffle iron 2-3 minutes or until brown.

David found this in an Idaho Falls RS cookbook. So tasty!

New Year's Salsa

In the south it is considered good luck to eat black eyed peas on new year's eve. This is one of the best tomato-less salsa recipes I've ever tasted.

1 green bell pepper diced
1/2 red onion, diced
2 limes juiced
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
1 can blackeyed peas, drained and rinsed

Marinate for 20 minutes and serve with tortilla chips.

Menu ideas

Maybe we can post some menu ideas. I know that we get in a rut sometimes when it comes to menu planning. And I know that I tend to have to same side dishes with the same main courses. It would be nice to have some variety. Here's a bit of what is on our menu.

• molasses roasted pork tenderloin
  asparagus
  red potatoes
  green salad
• thai red chicken curry
  rice
  tomatoes and cucumbers
  fruit salad
• calzones with iltalian sausage
  green beans
  green salad
• chicken mahkni
  rice
  steamed carrots
  green salad
• masamum chicken curry
  rice
  spinach and mandarin salad
• steelhead trout
  red potatoes
  beets
  green salad
• shrimp with garlic and herbs
  rice
  carrots
  green salad
• halibut
  grilled piperade
  roll
  spinach salad
• steak
  baked potato
  grilled zucchini and squash
  green salad
• Fish tacos
  corn
  carrot salad
  spanish rice
• Chicken pot pie
  roll
  salad
• smoked sausage
  peppers, onions, carrots, potatoes,
  mushrooms, egg, and cheese
  salad
• turkey meatloaf
  baked potato
  green beans
  carrots
• stuffed trout
  rice pilaf
  green salad
  broccoli with mornay sauce
• pancakes
  sausage
  fruit
  milk
• stirfry
  rice
  carrot salad

Carrot Salad

You can adjust this recipe easily to fit the number of people you're serving. This feeds about 4.

1 cup grated raw carrot
1 can crushed pineapple
1 small box raisins

Mix together and let sit so that some of the juice is absorbed by the carrots and raisins.

I've also heard that people add mayonaise to this salad. I'm not a fan so I don't. This makes a light and refreshing salad though. I suppose you could also add chicken with the mayo to make a variation on chicken salad sandwich filling.

Green Enchilladas

1 can Hatch Green enchillada sauce
1 small can diced green chilis
1 can black beans
1 lb of chicken breast cooked and diced or shredded
1 bag of shredded monterey jack cheese
10 whole wheat tortillas

Pour a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a 9X13" pan, enough to coat the bottom and up the sides a bit. Fill each tortilla with some cheese, beans, chilis, and chicken. Roll it up and place seam side down in the pan. Repeat until all the ingredients are used up. Sometimes I have to use another smaller pan also. Then pour remaining sauce of over the top to cover all the tortillas and then sprinkle with more cheese. Add more chilis to the top if desired. Cover with foil. Bake at 350 until bubbling, about 20 - 30 minutes. Serve with chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce and diced green onions.

I serve this with corn, spanish rice, and carrot salad. You could also add cornbread too if you'd like.