Potlucks, Salads, an Earthquake, and now Wildfire...

I thought I might take a break from

the garden posts, although I do have

photos from this weeks garden nursery trip...

It's time to share a couple of

make ahead salads

that will be good for those long 

'too hot to cook' summer days that 

are rapidly approaching.

They make good additions to a potluck

gathering as well.

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We have potluck once a month.  It's at 

the senior center where I volunteer

for the Brown Bag food giveaway

with the Shasta Senior Nutrition Program.

This months theme was a Luau,

with roast pork as the main dish.

Knowing nothing about foods for a luau,

I searched online and queried friends 

who have been to Hawaii. 

I was told that macaroni salads 

were popular along with roast pig,

fruit salads, and  anything made with

coconut or pineapple.  

Just a couple days before potluck

Angela posted a recipe on her 

blog Tea With Friends

 that sounded just right.

http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/2013/05/tea-room-recipe-19-victorian-tea-room.html

The tutorial and recipe is at that link.

But here's a shortcut version of the 

recipe posted for my own use.

 Tea Room Macaroni Salad

1 lb. small pasta (shells or macaroni)

cooked, drained, chilled with cold running water.

1/4 cup celery chopped

1/4 cup onion chopped

2 tablespoons chopped bell pepper

2 hard boiled eggs chopped

1 small cucumber diced

1/2 cup ham chopped

1/4 cup black olives

4 tablespoons pickle relish

1 large tomato diced

Salt and Pepper

Dressing:

1/4 cup Italian dressing

1 cup mayonnaise

OK, my changes:

doubled all ingredients 

except pasta, eggs, and dressing ingredients.

I used home canned zucchini relish

rather than a pickle relish and I didn't

use onion. 

It was delicious and I 

want to make it again soon.

I'm always on the lookout 

for vegetable intense recipes

that are good for potlucks.

It seems like we are forever coming

up short on vegetables at the potlucks.

I usually take salads or veggies.

Other people are known for their

specialties.  Evelyn makes the best

pies. Several people bring jello stuff,

but I'm not so happy about that.

To me Jello = hospital fare, and

for that matter,

Jello mixed with cottage cheese isn't

something I want to eat either...shudder.

Here's a recipe I tried back

in November... 

Yeah, sometimes it does

take that long before  a photo

or idea makes it to the blog.

It's a cauliflower salad.

The recipe makes a huge salad

which is perfect for taking to potlucks

or large gatherings or barbecues this summer.

It calls for a whole head of cauliflower.

Trouble was though,

there was only two of us eating it

and at first I thought it was pretty good.

By day six, I was sick and 

tired of having cauliflower salad for lunch.

You've been forewarned.

 Cauliflower Salad,

(source unknown)

1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 spring scallions, thinly sliced (didn't use)

1 can water chestnuts

1/2 cup cashews, slightly chopped

1 cup fresh or frozen peas (I used frozen)

6 pieces crisp bacon (I used less)

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise

4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated

3 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste.

1. Combine dressing ingredients and mix well.

2. Combine salad ingredients, mix in dressing.

3. Chill at least 2 hours.

(After six days, the bacon is soggy.)

Here's a shot of the tables 

at the Senior Center

decorated for a potluck.

These photos are from April,

and not just last month,  a year ago. 

I see that our fabulous pie baker

Evelyn (she's 90 something) wasn't there yet,

 because those pies on the table

are definitely not her home made ones.

This month she brought lemon meringue

pies.  Her pies are always the first 

dessert to disappear off the serving table.

On this particular potluck,

it was my turn to cook the main dish

for 45 (or so) people. 

I made pot roast,

 and usually make it

 once a year for our potluck.

We don't eat beef at home for the most part.

After trimming so many cross rib roasts

it's quite awhile before I'm even tempted

to look at beef again. 

 See what I mean about a lack of

vegetables?  There's a few there,

but not much. 

The far end of the table containing desserts

and a few of those Jello salads.

Someone always brings deviled eggs,

and someone else  usually brings 

 whatever that red stuff is...

Applesauce?  Why is it red?  I have no clue.

I've never touched the stuff.

I'm really picky when it comes to 

potlucks.  If I don't know who cooked

what ~ I won't touch it. (sorry)

~~~

Last night there was an earthquake

southeast of where we live here in 

the north state.

I felt it, but Rick didn't. 

Earthquakes aren't the norm here,

unlike other places we have lived.

We're not immune though,

with faults nearby and a couple 

of volcanoes within an hour's drive.

One to the north, and the other 

to the east of us.

Um, don't want to think about that!

~~~

Today as I type this there is a 20 acre

fire not too far from here.

They've just announced that it has been

contained.  This summer we're going 

to be very wary of wildfires as we had

the driest winter on record here.

Sometimes it's quite worrisome

living here in the woods.

Take care, 

See you soon.