Cajun Soup and Salad

By Shauna Hanus

Soup and salad is a simple and comforting lunch time menu. This spicy version lends a new twist to this classic favorite.

Crabmeat and Corn Soup

Thin White Sauce

1-2 Tbs Butter
1 Tbs Flour
¼ tsp Salt
1 Cup Milk
¼ Ounce Dried Shitake Mushrooms (this is equivalent to about 4 ounces of fresh sautéed mushrooms)

Melt butter over medium heat in a medium sized sauce pan. Stir in the flour and salt and whisk until smooth. Add milk and turn heat to low, whisking constantly. Cook just below the boiling point until the saucereaches the desired consistency. Add the dried mushrooms and whisk thoroughly.

¼ Pound Butter
1 Can Condensed Milk
1 pt. Half and Half
2 Cups Kernel Corn
½ Pound Crabmeat
¼ Cup Green Onions, chopped

Melt butter in a large pot, add all the other ingredients plus white sauce and simmer for 20 minutes.

Cajun Tomato Salad

Juice of 1 Lemon
1-8 oz Container of Plain Yogurt
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
½ tsp Thyme
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
½ Cup Green Onion, Chopped
½ Cup Celery, Chopped
½ Cup Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
3 Cups Tomatoes, Seeded and Diced
Salt to Taste
Pepper to Taste

Whisk together the first five ingredients then fold in the remaining ingredients, salt and pepper to taste. Chill and serve.
Your family and friends will enjoy this delicious meal.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She now has available the Recipe of the Month Club. This is a way for you to give the gift of gourmet to all those people who love to cook. With the Recipe of the Month Club you can give 3, 6 or 12 months of new and exciting gourmet recipes as a gift for Christmas, Hanukah or birthdays to all the cook-aholics in your life. Find out more at http://www.cookbookaddict.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shauna_Hanus

Party Appetizer Recipes – So Easy And So Affordable!
By Jonathan Teng

These are two of my favorite party appetizer recipes that I used to prepare in parties! They are quick, easy and the ingredients are available in any store.

Note: Both party appetizer recipes yield 8 servings.

Cocktail Kebabs

Ingredients:

8 large Shrimp, cooked
1 Garlic clove, crushed
2 Green onions, trimmed
2 tbsp Lemon juice
1/2 Red bell pepper, seeded, cut in thin strips
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Coarsely ground mustard
8 small Ripe or green olives
1/4 tsp Creamed horseradish

Instructions:

Remove heads and body shells from shrimp but leave on tail shells. De-vein shrimp by removing black spinal cord. Cut each green onion in 4 daisies. Put shrimp, green onions, bell pepper and olives in a bowl. Mix garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, sugar, mustard and horseradish. Pour over shrimp mixture, cover and marinate at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove ingredients from marinade and thread equally on 8 wooden picks. Drain on paper towels.

VARIATION: Add small slices avocado to shrimp mixture.

Crispy Wontons

Ingredients:

3/4 lb Ground Pork
1/2 tsp Grated Fresh Ginger Root
8 Chopped Water Chestnuts
1 lb Wonton Skins
1/4 cup Chopped Green Onions & Tops
Vegetable Oil For Frying
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
Catsup
1/2 tsp Salt
Hot Mustard
1 tsp Cornstarch
Sweet & Sour Sauce

Instructions:

Combine pork, water chestnuts, green onions, soy sauce, salt, cornstarch and ginger in medium bowl; mix well. Place 1/2 teaspoon pork mixture in center of each wonton skin. Fold wonton skin over filling to form a triangle. Turn top of triangle down to meet fold. Turn over; moisten one corner with water. Overlap opposite corner over moistened corner; press firmly. Heat oil in wok or large saucepan over medium-high heat to 375 F. Deep fry wontons, a few at a time, 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm with catsup and hot mustard or sweet & sour sauce, as desired.

If you have enjoyed these party appetizer recipes, you will find the Easy Appetizer Recipes and Easy Salad Recipes section very interesting.

Copyright 2005

Jonathan loves eating! If you are like him, then you definitely need to visit Easy Recipes Secrets –- The place where he reveals 3 BIG secrets to make any recipe a pure success.

**IMPORTANT**: Feel free to republish this article on your website, however, you are NOT allowed to modify any part of its content and all the links should be kept active!

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WINTER SALAD

A salad made entirely of winter vegetables may be prepared when there are no fresh vegetables in supply. If any of the vegetables are left over, the others may be prepared to use with the left-over ones. A good plan to follow when carrots, turnips, or potatoes are being prepared for a meal is to cook more than is necessary for the one meal and then set aside part of them for a salad to be served at another meal.

1 cup turnips, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup. potatoes, diced
1 Tb. chopped onion
French dressing
Lettuce
Salad dressing

Cook turnips, carrots, and potatoes whole in boiling water until tender enough to be pierced with a fork. If they have not been peeled before cooking, peel and cut into small dice. Mix, add the onion, marinate with French dressing, and allow to stand for a short time. Garnish salad plates with lettuce leaves, pile the salad on the lettuce, and serve with any desired salad dressing.

Sufficient to Serve Six.

The Health Benefits of Flax Seed

As time rolls on the human body does not keep up as it used to, and to be able to enjoy life into the golden years, steps need to be taken to help the body remain in the best possible shape. Studies have revealed that EFA's (essential fatty acids) such as those in Flax seed can provide great benefits. So what are some of the health benefits of flax seed?

One of the first health benefits of flax seed it its ability to provide protection to the human body. Lower cholesterol, lowering chances for cancer, as well as strengthening the body's immune system are just some of the health benefits of flax seed. Other benefits provided are the natural lowering of blood pressure, assistance in the healing of bruises and sprains, and can actually help control some types of diabetes.

Another health benefit of flax seed is for the overall health and well being of its users. As we get older, we cannot seem to get around or do as much as we could in our younger days. Studies have shown that flax seed can help regain stamina after exertion, help the body loose weight and findings show that it can also help improve eyesight and color perception.

The absorption of calcium is a major concern for the older generation, with the risk of osteoporosis, and another health benefit of flax seed s that it helps the body maximize calcium absorption. Stronger bones, and stronger and healthier finger and toe nails can be seen in the daily user.

Growing old has a way to affect the mind and some health benefits of flax seed can help offset this. From helping to improve memory to treating some signs of depression, flax seed can give back what time has damaged. Rather than drugs that might have severe side effects, flax seed can provide these benefits naturally.

The health benefits of flax seed in the young cannot be overstated, as they can benefit from the daily use of flax to clear a path of good health for years to come.

Article written by Mindi Haehl

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Salad Recipe

Here is one of the salad receipes I have in an ebook....

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MIX VEGETABLE SALAD -2
1 cup finely cut red cabbage
1 cup cold boiled beets
1 cup cold boiled carrots
1 cup cold boiled potatoes
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup pimentoes
1 head lettuce
1 cup French dressing

Soak cabbage in cold water 1 hour; drain and add beets, carrots and potatoes cut into small pieces; add celery. Mix well together, season with salt and pepper and serve on lettuce leaves. On top put strips of pimento and serve with French dressing, to which may be added one teaspoon onion juice.

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Note: I would...steam the veggies, and make sure the french dressing is low cal. If possible always use organic. Caution using anything canned...there is lots of sodium in in canned and frozen goods (for perservatives).

Tips to Consume more fruits and vegetables!

Utilizing these tips will help you incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.

• Green or red pepper strips, broccoli florets, carrot slices, or cucumber add crunch to your pasta or potato salad.
• Baby carrots, shredded cabbage, or spinach leaves bring color to a green salad.
• Apple chunks, pineapples, and raisins perk up coleslaw, chicken or tuna salads.
• Oranges, grapefruit, or nectarine slices add extra flavor to any salad.
• Fruit juice, flavored vinegars, or herbs make low-fat salad dressings flavorful without adding fat or salt.
• Add sliced banana, blueberries, or raisins to cereal.

Add fresh fruit and vegetables to foods you already eat — like berries and bananas to yogurt and cereal; vegetables to pasta and pizza; and lettuce, tomato and onion to sandwiches.

Put some punch into your party by blending 100 percent fruit juices to create a refreshing new juice. Try mixing pineapple, orange, grapefruit, or other fruit juices. Add a slice of lemon or lime as a garnish.

Welcome to Salad Recipes and more! Don't you just love them?

Salads are for any time of year. It's so important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables every single day. How much?

There is still talk of "5-A-Day", but in reality you need much more. That's why salads are so perfect...you can fill them full of fruits AND vegetables.

You'll find recipes, tips, and techniques that will help you get for daily requirements and then some.

Stay tuned!