Mandarin Salad With Caramelized Almonds

This was the salad I served at the ladies lunch, although I increased the caramelized almonds to 3/4 cup and the sugar accordingly to 1/2 cup.  I also omitted the celery.  

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tsps parsley (dried)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 pinch black pepper (ground)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 head red leaf lettuce (- rinsed dried and torn)
• 1 cup chopped celery (optional)
• 1 red onion (chopped)
• 22 ozs mandarin orange segments (drained) 

Directions

1. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, sugar, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cover and shake well. Refrigerate until use.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, cook and stir the almonds and sugar until the sugar is melted and the almonds are coated. Remove from heat, cool, and break apart. Store at room temperature until ready to serve salad.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, celery, oranges, almonds and dressing until evenly coated.

Serves 5

 Photo Allrecipes

Winter Entertaining...A Country Brunch

If you live in the country and have a big plasma TV and a fireplace, what could be nicer than having friends for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. These days there is a solid schedule of football games throughout the weekend and unless you want to have yet another chili party, this is a nice alternative and a more relaxing way to catch up with friends and family.

Now, we are in the country and in the South so meals here are hearty and plentiful. That doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen before or after your guests arrive. This menu will allow you to get everything ready by the time everyone gets there so you can have an enjoyable time too. You can prepare most of the recipes the day before, including the shrimp, and make the french toast and the grits that morning. There are great frozen biscuits available in most supermarkets that are almost as good as the recipe below. So give yourself a break if you need to. Nobody will be the wiser!

A Country Brunch For A Crowd

Mimosas

Bloody Mary's

Shrimp And Grits

Baked French Toast

Country Biscuits

Coffee

For more ideas, check out the city brunch in Lindaraxa.

Alfresco Dining...Where Casual Meets Chic!

Just because we live on a lake doesn't mean we can't entertain in style. Casual and inexpensive can be chic also as you can see from this video of Colin Cowell when he appeared in the Today Show last week.  In case you missed it, here it is. 

http://www.colincowie.com/video?v=throw-a-memorable-memorial-day-party

There are lots of ideas over in my other blog Lindaraxa's Garden for beautiful table settings to inspire your summer entertaining.  There are beautiful melemine plates out there in all price ranges which are great not only for the lake but also for picnics, the beach and any type of outdoor entertaining.  Come on over and check them out.  You have one more day of shopping, use it wisely!

http://lindaraxa.blogspot.com/2010/05/outdoor-entertainingwhere-casual-meets.html

http://lindaraxa.blogspot.com/2010/05/pretty-summer-tables.html

An Easy and Inexpensive Fall Dinner

I don't understand why so many people, particularly young couples, are going out to dinner nowadays when there are so many things you can cook at home that are not that much trouble. You don't even have to get fancy, just a simple straightforward menu will be more appreciated if cooked at home than a fancy one served at a restaurant.

Today, home cooking has gone the way of the dinossaur, with more and more people eating out and wondering why they are getting fat! Here is a simple and cozy menu for four for a casual Saturday or Sunday night. Lay out some antipasti (sliced salami, cheese, marinated olives, crackers)to start with, a couple of bottles of red wine and crusty french bread to accompany the meal. That's it! Invite your best friends over to watch the game and then feed them some comfort food ...they will be eternally grateful!

You can make the baked apples and assemble the casserole that morning and cook the London Broil at the last minute. You could also cook it before they arrive and serve at room temperature. Whichever way you do it its quick, easy and cheap!

Serves 4-6

Antipasto
Kentucky Beer Cheese
London Broil
Zucchini and Tomato Gratin
Baked Apples

Most of these recipes are in Lindaraxa's Garden, the main recipe blog.  Just click on them and it will take you there.