OH MY GOODNESS Salad!

I DO believe this is my new FAVORITE salad!  My Aunt sent us a box of pears from Harry & David’s for Christmas!  (THANKS AUNT ANN... You got my “recipe search” juices flowing all through a box of pears!!)  I needed a recipe so I could use them all up!  I was asked to bring a salad to a dinner for a family friend.  It’s always scary to take something you’ve never made before but this just sounded too good to not try!!  I gave it a whirl...it was delicious!  Matter of fact, I made another one the next night for Mike & I to eat and he liked it too!  It will definitely go in my recipe book and I WILL make it again!  It’s a KEEPER...

Note:  I’m sure you could use bottled dressing but it would most definitely alter the taste!  The dressings were super simple to make!

~*~Oh my GOODNESS Salad~*~

Ingredients
*8 c. chopped romaine lettuce
*2 medium pears, chopped
*1 c. dried cranberries
*1 c. chopped pecans
*8 slices bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled
*6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
*Poppy seed Salad Dressing (recipe following)
*Balsamic Vinaigrette (recipe following)

Instructions
*Combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese. Drizzle generously with a mixture of the dressings. (2/3 poppy seed dressing and 1/3 balsamic vinaigrette...about 1 c. total, more if you like!)

*Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/2 c. balsamic vinegar
3 T. Dijon mustard
3 T. honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
3/4 c. olive oil

Whisk together first 6 ingredients until blended. Gradually whisk in olive oil.

*Poppy Seed Dressing

3/4 T. poppy seeds

1/3 c. white vinegar

3/4 c. oil

1/3 c. sugar

1/4 c. onion

3/4 tsp. salt

2 T. prepared mustard

Mix together in a blender, mixer or food processor until creamy.

*It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I do believe this is the latest I’ve ever put my tree up!  Does that mean I should keep it up longer?  Once I get going I have a blast putting all the ornaments on it and remembering when…

Topper…this is always my favorite part!!

No maybe this is my favorite...I made these little stars a couple of years ago…they add so much grandkid personalization to my tree!!

A picture is worth a thousand words...aren't they precious!

My Mom gave me a bunch of wooden ornaments a few years ago!  I will treasure them forever!  She made them when I was a little girl (she said I helped but they are all too neat for that!).  They were on our Christmas tree year after year!  I think this Santa one is my favorite!

*Simple Sweetness Satuday*

Just because she's SO SWEET...I thought I would share this new picture.  I "stole" it off of FB from my sister!  Sweet Karmyn...

This week's FAVORITE new recipe!!

Oh My.....!!  I knew the ingredients sounded good but...this was amazing!!  Again...Pinterest is my best friend!  I found the original recipe here and changed it a little bit.

~Southwest Chicken Chili ~

8 oz. pasta noodles (I used bow tie)

2 T. extra virgin olive oil (or butter...shhh!)

1 c. finely chopped white onion

1/2 c. finely chopped sweet peppers (or bell peppers)

1 T. minced garlic

2 c. cooked shredded chicken breast

1o oz. can Rotel diced tomatoes

1-2 cans chicken broth (I used 2)

1 can shoepeg corn

1/2 c. white beans, drained and rinsed

1 T. chili powder

1 T. ground cumin

1 tsp. dry Ranch seasoning from packet

1/4 c. finely chopped fresh cilantro (or 1 T. dry cilantro)

1.    Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and run under cool water to stop cooking.

2.  Heat oil in soup pan.  Add onions and peppers, cook stirring until softened about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook stirring for 1 minute.

3.   Add chicken, tomatoes, broth, corn, beans, 1 cup pasta, chili powder, cumin, Ranch seasoning and cilantro.

4.   Stir until well combined. Reduce heat to low and simmer until ready to serve.