Oh My Goodness!! It’s almost JULY!!! 

Y’all need to stay cool on the 4th and I have some easy to make “cool” food ideas. They are cool and refreshing, fun and festive to serve up to your Fourth of July guests!

Red, White and Blue Cheese Salad

Combine 5 cups cubed watermelon, 2 cups sliced strawberries, 2 cups raspberries, 1 cup crumbled blue cheese and 2 tbsp. fresh, chopped mint in large bowl. Drizzle with ½ cup of raspberry vinaigrette. Serves about 6. EASY!!

Firecracker Macaroni Salad

Combine all of the following ingredients in a large salad bowl:

1 pkg. cooked shell macaroni
1  chopped green pepper
1 small can chopped pimiento
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped sweet pickles
1/2  cup chopped celery
1/2  cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp. vinegar
1/4  cup sugar or sweetener equivalent

Salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or chill for a couple of hours.

Fiesta Salad

Combine these ingredients to make the dressing:

3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
cayenne to taste
1 small clove garlic, mashed

 Add these ingredients to the dressing:

2 cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, diced medium
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1/2  red onion, finely chopped
4 green onions, chopped
3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped

 Toss all ingredients together with the dressing.

Cool Veggie Salad

Combine the following ingredients together in a medium sauce pan, bring to a boil. Stirring until sugar dissolves.

3/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup sugar

 Combine the following veggies and mix together with the vinegar mixture above:

1 can (16 oz) French style green beans, drained
1 can (17 oz) English peas, drained
1 can (12 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 jar (2 oz) chopped pimento, drained
1 cup chopped celery
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped

Cover and place in refrigerator for 12 hours, stirring occasionally.

Hope y’all have a wonderful 4th!!

OMGoodness!! This recipe for summer turkey is amazing!! If you want a quick-turkey, go to your neighborhood deli and ask for salsa turkey(or other flavor) cut really thick (about and inch or so) and cut it into cubes for this salad. Then you don’t have to cook the turkey. Just cube it and add the salad munchies~

2 turkey breast tenderloins split in half
1 T olive oil
1 1/2 t Cajun seasoning
6 C mixed greens, torn
1 1/2 C cantaloupe, sliced
1 C fresh blueberries
1 C Farmers cheese, crumbled

Preheat the gas grill and then set the temperature to medium.

Brush the turkey with the olive oil completely covering it.

Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning evenly over the turkey.

Place the turkey on the rack and cover the grill.

Grill the turkey 15 minutes, turning once, or until the meat is no longer pink.

Remove the turkey and allow it to cool enough to handle.

Place the mixed greens in to a salad bowl. <—start here for deli turkey that is already cooked.

Slice the cooled turkey and layer into the salad.<—Here is where you would use the cubed deli turkey.

Place the sliced cantaloupe around the turkey slices/cubes.

Add the blueberries to the salad.

Sprinkle the cheese over the top just before serving.

Should make about 4 servings

Farmer’s cheese is a soft white cheese that can be found in most areas. The milk for farmer’s cheese is provided by goats, sheep and cows. If you can’t find farmers cheese, feta cheese(feta cheese is soooo good!! Try it on everything!!) or blue cheese work just as well.

Oranges are SO juicy and fresh! Love to eat them all year long and this refreshing salad just hollers cool!!

4 naval oranges, peeled and sectioned            
2 cucumber, sliced
1 C of orange juice
1/2 C of honey
1/2 C of olive oil
1 tsp cider vinegar

Put the orange sections into a serving bowl.
Add the cucumber slices and gently toss to combine.
Pour the orange juice into a small mixing bowl.
Whisk in the honey until well combined.
Add the oil and vinegar and whisk until blended together well.
Pour the mixture over the oranges and cucumbers and toss gently to coat.

This should make about 8 servings

You can use a serrated knife to cut your cucumbers for a prettier salad.  It looke pretty cool. You can also place the salad over a bed of lettuce if you are making single servings.