Szechuan Peanut-noodle Salad

1 16 Oz Package Spaghetti
4 Ounces Snow Peas -- strings removed
3/4 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 Tablespoon Hot Asian Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon Cider Vinegar
2 Teaspoons Grated, Peeled Fresh Ginger
1 Medium Red Pepper -- thinly sliced
Dry Roasted Peanuts
Chopped Green Onions

Prepare spaghetti as label directs. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water. Rinse with cold water; drain well. In a 3-quart saucepan in 1-inch boiling water, heat snow peas to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 1 minute, or until crisp-tender. Rinse now peas with cold running water to stop cooking; drain. Cut snow peas into matchstick-thin strips.

Prepare peanut-butter dressing. In a large bowl, with wire whisk, mix peanut butter, soy sauce, vegetable oil, Asian sesame oil, vinegar, grated ginger, and reserved pasta cooking water until mixture is thoroughly blended and smooth. Add spaghetti , snow pea strips and sliced red pepper to peanut-butter dressing in bowl; toss to coat well. Sprinkle with dry-roasted peanuts and chopped green onions before serving.

Serve noodle salad immediately or cover and refrigerate to serve later. If noodles become too sticky upon standing, toss with a little hot water until dressing is of desired consistency.

Italian Salad Dressing

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1/3 Cup White Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
2 Tablespoons Romano Cheese
1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Salt - or one clove garlic minced
1/2 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
1/2 Teaspoon Parsley Flakes
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

Mix all ingredients in a blender until well mixed.

If this is a little too tangy your own personal tastes add a little extra sugar.


NOTES : This was reported to me as the Olive Garden Salad Dressing.

Poppy Seed Slaw

10 Ounce Pkg Angel Hair Coleslaw
3/4 Cup Dried Cranberries
3/4 Cup Honey-roasted Sliced Almonds
3/4 Cup Poppy Seed Salad Dressing
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper

Combine colslaw, cranberries and almonds in a large bowl. Whisk the salad dressing, salt and pepper; drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2 Cups All-purpose Flour
2 Cups Granulated Sugar
3/4 Cup Unsweetened Baking Chocolate
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Large Eggs
1 1/2 Cups Canola Oil
3 Cups Shredded Zucchini
3/4 Cup Chopped Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the eggs and oil, mix well. Fold in the nuts and zucchini until they are evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared pan.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool cake completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

Blueberry Zucchini Bread

3 Large Egg
1 Cup Canola Oil
3 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 1/4 Cups Granulated Sugar
2 cups Shredded Zucchini
2 Cups All-purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Pint Fresh Blueberries

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans.

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar. Fold in the zucchini. Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans.

Bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean. Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Thai Peanut Noodles

1 Pound Peeled Medium Shrimp
1 Cup Light Italian Salad Dressing -- divided
2 Tablespoons Crunchy Peanut Butter
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Honey
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
3/4 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
1 Small Carrot -- peeled and shredded
1 Cup Green Onions -- chopped
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
8 Ounces Angel Hair Pasta -- cooked
2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro -- chopped
2/3 Cup Peanuts -- optional

Coat shrimp with 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing. Cook angel hair pasta until al dente Meanwhile wish together the remaining 1/2 cup salad dressing, peanut butter, soy saucehoney, ginger and red pepper flakes. Set aside

Saute carrots, green onions and shrimp in the sesame oil about 5 minutes or until shrimp are thoroughly heated. Toss drained pasta, peanut sauce and shrimp mixture together in a large bowl; sprinkle with cilantri and peanuts.

Chicken Broccoli Hot Dish

20 Ounce Pkg Chopped Broccoli, Frozen -- cooked and drained
3 Medium Boneless Chicken Breast -- cooked and shredded
2 Cubes Butter or Margarine
4 Tablespoons Flour
2 Cups Milk
3 Tablespoons Chicken Soup Base
1 Package Stuffing Cubes
Reserved Chicken Broth

Boil chicken in water to cover. When chicken is tender, remove from broth to cool so you can shred or chop in bite-size pieces. In a 9 X 13 pan, place the broccoli in bottom and then layer the chicken on top. Mix the margarine and add 4 tablespoons flour, stirring until smooth.. Slowly add the milk and stir until thickened. Add the chicken soup base and stir well. Pour this mixture over the chicken and broccoli in the casserole dish.

Heat the broth (2 cups), add another stick of margarine to the hot broth. Put seasoned dressing cubes in a bowl and add the broth, making a dressing (or you can use stove top). Put the dressing over the other ingredients in the casserole. Bake for 30-45 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Note: I sometimes make a second batch of the sauce and serve it with the casserole, allowing your guests to pour on top of their serving. This gets rave reviews.