Common Cuisine |

• 1 head romaine lettuce or bok choy
• 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped
• 1Tbsp vegetable oil
• 4oz slivered almonds
• 2oz sesame seeds
• 2 pkg Ramen noodles, broken up (save seasoning packet for later use)
• 1 can mandarin oranges, drained.

Dressing:

• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup vinegar
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• ½ tsp ginger

Place lettuce and green onions in large bowl. Saute oil, almonds, sesame seeds, and noodles in a skillet for about 10 minutes. Cool, then add to salad greens. Meanwhile, combine dressing ingredients in salad cruet. Chill.

Just before serving, toss gently with oranges and dressing.

Serves 4.

I love bleu cheese, but if its strong taste is not something you prefer, you can substitute something like feta. If I were going to use feta, I would add a little red onion and chopped black olives to give it a Greek flair.

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 3 cups cooked cut up chicken
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced peeled cucumber
• 1/4 cup crumbled bleu cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, mix mayo and sour cream. Gently stir in remaining ingredients. Chill before serving.

Serves 6.

Submitted by Mary Lee Hackman

To make this recipe bigger, all you have to add is another head of broccoli and measure the remaining ingredients generously. It all works out.

• 1 head fresh broccoli, cut into small flowerets
• ½ medium red onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 pound bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup whole cashews

Dressing:

• 1 cup mayo
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar

In large bowl, stir together broccoli flowerets, red onion, crumbled bacon, and cranberries.

In small bowl, mix mayo, sugar, and vinegar. Refrigerate both bowls at least 1 hour, up to overnight.

About an hour before serving time, pour dressing over broccoli mixture and stir. Just before serving, sprinkle cashews on top.

Serves 4-6.