Asian Pasta Salad...

If you have been to a party/dinner with me in the summertime you have probably had this dish. We make it all of the time and LOVE it!! It goes great with Teryaki or Ginger Chicken on the grill. The ingredients are probably not something you have on hand, but once you buy them you will be able to make this dish quite a few times.

Salad:
1 16 oz pckg spagetti noodles cooked al dente
1 cup diced peppers (red, orange, yellow or a mix of all)
1 bunch green onions diced
8 oz frozen peas
1/2 a bag of matchstick carrots (or you could cut your own but I don't know how many)
handful of black seasame seeds for garnish on the top (it doesn't add anything to the taste of the salad so if you don't have it don't worry about it)

Dressing:
1 tsp. garlic
1 tsp fresh ginger root or you can use the dry kind (fresh is better)
1/8 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinager
1 tsp hot chili oil
1/8 cup seasame oil
1/4 cup olive oil or vegtable oil

Mix it all together and enjoy! The longer you let it marinade the better. I like to make it the day before we are eating it, or at least the morning of the meal.

Yummy Slow-Cooked Spaghetti Sauce

Forget the Olive Garden, make this instead!!!

1 lb. ground beef or bulk Italian Sausage (sausage is better)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes, do not drain
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 Tb. brown sugar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 t. dried basil
1-2 t. dried oregano
1 t. salt
Hot cooked spaghetti noodles, or noodles of your choice

In a skillet, cook meat and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Transfer to a slow cooker. Add the next 9 ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until heated through and thick. Discard bay leaf. Serve over spaghetti. Yield 6-8 servings. I usually make a double batch. It will fit in a large crock pot. It freezes well.

My Kids Love Dip!

This is a great dip for Veggies and my kids love it. It is nice that it also has cucumbers in the dip.

Cucumber Dip

8 oz Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1 Cucumber peeled, grated and drained
Accent to taste
Garlic Salt to taste

Mix and serve with veggies or crackers.

Pub Dressing...

1/2 c half & half
1 egg
1-3 cloves garlic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 c olive oil
1 c vegetable oil
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/4 c white wine vinegar

In a food processor or blender place all ingredients and process until well blended. (about 2 minutes) Great on any salad, vegetables, or pasta. If you have had the pub vinaigrette at Deserts Edge it is that same dressing.