Paleo Buffalo Chicken Casserole (Or Salad!)

4 cups riced cauliflower
1 1/2 cups diced carrots
1 1/2 cups diced celery
1/2 sweet onion diced
1 lb shredded cooked chicken
1.5 cup paleo mayo
1/2 cup Franks Red Hot sauce
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

If using this as salad: mix all ingredients, chill, and serve.

If using this as a hot casserole....

Preheat oven to 375. Combine riced cauliflower, carrots, celery, onion, salt, and pepper and chicken in a casserole dish and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine the mayo and hot sauce and mix well. Pour the sauce over the casserole, and stir to combine, coating everything well. Bake covered for 45 min, then uncover and bake 15 minutes more.

Broccoli Salad

1 head of Broccoli cut in pieces

1 cup sun flower seeds

1/2 cup raisins

6 strips of bacon fried and crumbled

Minced onion to taste- I've used green onions, and red onions,

Dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

Mix together dressing, pour over broccoli, onions, raisins, sunflower seeds, and bacon

Refrigerate. 

There are many variations of this recipe, some add shredded cheddar cheese, green peppers, green grapes, celery, water chestnuts, cauliflower, and one recipe has carrots too. The dressing is much the same for all of the recipes, though. 

These variations and the recipe are from the 'Taste of Heaven' cook book from Lisbon. (2004)

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

2 Cups salted pretzels, crushed
1/2 cup butter-melted

1 Cup sugar
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese - softened
1 (12 oz ) container whipped topping

 1 (3 oz) package strawberry jello
1 1/2 Cups boiling water
2 (10 oz) package frozen strawberries-thawed

With a food processor-crush pretzels. Mix pretzels and butter together and press in the bottom of a 9 X 13 inch baking pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes.  COOL

Beat cream cheese until smooth and gradually add 1 cup sugar.  Fold in whipped topping. Spread over COOLED crust and refrigerate. (I use 2 table knives to spread the cream cheese layer, as it is difficult to spread on the crust)

Dissolve Jello in boiling water. Add strawberries and mix well. Place in refrigerator until it begins to set-this may be :45 minutes - a couple of hours- but watch closely as it shouldn't set. When the jello mixture is thick, pour on top of the cream cheese layer.  Refrigerate until set and ready to serve.

This is an old recipe- I am not sure why it is called salad, as it could easily be served as a dessert, too. This version of the recipe is from the Lisbon, St Aloysius cook book 

Strawberry Salad

1 cup strawberry yogurt
1 package (3 oz) vanilla pudding
1 small can crushed pineapple
1 carton cool whip
1 pint fresh fruit (I used strawberries, but you could use anything)

Notes/Story:  Mix the first three ingredients. Add cool whip and berries and blend together.  This is super easy and super tasty. I think it's actually on the top of my list for favorite salads! Expect me to make it for you all when you come visit!

Fruit Salad

1 can (29 oz) peach slices {undrained}
1 can (20 oz) pineapple chunks {undrained}
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 lb strawberries
1 sliced banana
1/2 pint blueberries
1 bunch of red grapes
3 tablespoons sugar (optional)

Notes/Story:  In a large bowl combine peaches, pineapples, and vanilla pudding mix.  Stir until pudding is dissolved.  Stir in strawberries, banana, blueberries, grapes, and sugar.  Let chill.
Fruit tastes so yummy on the hot summer days...and this recipe is superb! also very easy!

Lettuce-Mandarin orange Salad

1/2 Cup sliced almonds
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar


1/2 head lettuce-broken into bite sized pieces
2 medium stalks chipped celery
2 green onions with tops- thinly sliced
1- 11 oz can mandarin oranges-drained

Sweet-sour dressing-Mix ingredients in a jar-to shake dressing until it is well mixed
1/2 cup canola oil
1 Tablespoon snipped parsley (or dried parsley works well, too)
2 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons vinegar
 Dash of pepper

Directions and Story; Cook almonds and sugar over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and almonds are lightly browned and coated. (or easier yet-buy honey roasted almonds-they work great and are easier to use) Break lettuce in pieces and mix with celery and onions. Pour dressing over lettuce mixture, add oranges. mix well. Serve immediately. Sprinkle almonds over salad.

I have used this salad as the first course of a sit down dinner. Often I have served this at our 'Valentine-candle light dinner'. Chill the salad plates and spoon salad onto chilled plates, remove salad plates before serving main meal. It's a nice way to serve a lettuce salad.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Mix the following together in a 9 X 13 cake pan and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes
2 cups salted pretzels-crushed
1/2 cup butter-melted
3 Tablespoons sugar

Blend together and spoon on COOLED pretzel crust
1 8 oz whipped topping
1 8 oz cream cheese-softened

Add jello to hot water - mix- add frozen strawberries - cool and let this begin to set-pour over cream cheese layer
1 large package strawberry jello
2 cups hot water
2 cups frozen strawberries

Refrigerate until set and ready to serve
Story;This was a salad Betty served, and one of Chelsey's favorite salad/dessert

Cherry Salad

1 can cherry pie filling
1 8 oz carton whipped topping
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 can crushed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Method & Story;Mix together sweetened condensed milk, pineapple, and cherry pie filling, add pecans (optional) and fold in whipped topping. I honestly don't remember where or when we started making this salad, but it has been a favorite!! I try to have the ingredients on hand, as Laura likes to make this when she is home

Rice and Raspberry Salad

2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup rice
3 cups milk
1 cup sugar
2 small packages frozen raspberries
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 8 0z container whipped topping

Method & story; In a large saucepan, add salt to water, Boil rice in this water until thick, Drain and rinse. Add milk and sugar to rice, boil at low temperature stirring often until thick. COOL.
Drain raspberries and in a small saucepan cook raspberry juice and cornstarch u ntil thick. Add raspberries and cook again until thick. COOL. Add whipped topping to cooked and cooled rice. Starting with rice mixture and ending with raspberry mixture, layer the ingredients in a glass bowl.
This recipe is from my good friend, Kandi, Her Mother made this and it was a hit with Laura. It is a very pretty salad at Christmas time and again at our annual Valentine Dinner.

Easy Salad

1 package lemon pudding -cook as directed and cool completely

Add
1 can drained mandarin oranges
1 can drained seedless grapes
1 can drained chunk pineapple
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1 container cool whip

Method & Story;Cook pudding, cool, add fruit and fold in whipped topping. I received this recipe from a friend in college in 1972. It is easy and good and goes with most meals.

Cottage Cheese Salad

1 container cottage cheese (small curd)
1 pkg orange jello
2 cans mandarin oranges (well drained)
1 container cool whip

Method & Story;Sprinkle jello over cottage cheese and mix well, add mandarin oranges. Fold in whipped topping. Serve immediately or refrigerate.
I received this recipe in 1972. We made it often as part of Sunday dinner, or for birthday parties, or whenever we thought about it.

Cabbage Slaw

1/2 cup vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup salad oil
1/2 cup sugar

Method & Story; Boil 3 minutes and pour over chopped cabbage while hot. Toss cabbage and add green pepper, carrots and onions. (Now we can buy the cabbage salad mix) Refrigerate
Grandma Dean often made this to go along with a meal. This recipe was also used for the Streeter Buffalo supper.

Cookie Salad

1 Cup buttermilk
1 8 oz container of cool whip
1 can mandarin oranges-drained
1 can crushed pineapple with juice
1 package vanilla instant pudding (dry)

Method & Story;FOLD together buttermilk, oranges, pineapple and pudding. FOLD in cool whip. Just before serving Crush 10 Keebler fudge stripe cookies and FOLD into salad. Crush an additional 6 cookies and sprinkle on top. This salad will get watery if it is stirred-remember to fold ingredients.
Sheila brought this to a pot luck birthday party for Uncle Bob's in Milnor several years ago.