Easy Peasy Summer Sides

While there are actually no peas in any of these dishes, these last few gorgeous weeks of summer and a timely email from my sister prompted me to post these salad and side dish recipes.  A few easy minutes in the kitchen and presto! you are rewarded with some palate pleasing preparations to take to a picnic, potluck or enjoy all by yourself on the back deck!

SPINACH SALAD

1 tablespoon butter

3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered

1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces

1 cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

1/2 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons minced onion

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 cup white wine vinegar (champagne)

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Hmmm, there are no instructions with this, but I think I can break it down for you:  Melt the butter in a skillet and toast the sesame seeds.  Toss together the spinach, almonds, cranberries and toasted sesame seeds.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the suger, minced onion, paprika, vinegars and vegetable oil.  Toss with the spinach mix and serve.

CHURCH LADY SALAD

Those of you who grew up in the church, especially during the 70's and 80's, have no doubt encountered the church lady in one of her natural habitats: the church potluck.  She'll be wearing a flowered blouse and a polyester skirt with a pair of white keds, but don't be fooled!  She has an arsenal of recipes that could easily knock down a crowd of hungry Baptists and have them begging for mercy.  Here is one of our time-honored favorites.

Mix together:

1 16oz pkg prepared cole slaw mix

½ c slivered almonds, browned in butter or oil, cooled.

½ c sunflower seeds

3 green onions, cut

1 package ramen oriental noodles, crumbled.

  

Dressing:

½ c sugar

½ c oil

1/3 c apple cider vinegar

oriental seasoning from noodle mix.

Grandma Carmel's Baked Beans

It isn't only church ladies that can turn out a mean side dish!  My Grandma Carmel considered bingo night at the Catholic Church sufficient for church attendance, but these beans would do themselves proud at any Protestant Picnic!

1 large jar Randall beans

1 cup white sugar OR more - until your teeth hurt, like Grandma used to say

minced shallots or onion (just a little)

salt and pepper to taste

a few strips of bacon on top, optional

bake in a glass 9 x 13 for about an hour at 350 or little longer if still soupy