apple poppyseed salad.

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Apple Poppyseed Salad from Lauren:

Romaine lettuce, washed and shredded

1 red apple, diced

6 slices of bacon, cook until crispy and crumble

grated mozzarella

1/2 cup craisins

1/2 cup toasted pecans

Girard's apple poppyseed dressing to taste

cindy's spinach salad.

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Cindy's Spinach Salad from Melanie:

Dressing:

1 1/2 T poppy seeds

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 T dry mustard

1 1/2 - 2 purple onions/sliced in thin rounds

3/4 cup white vinegar

1 1/2 cup canola oil

1 1/2 T salt

Salad:

1 head lettuce

2 bunches spinach

3/4 lb grated Swiss cheese

1 c. drained cottage cheese

3/4 lb mushroom sliced

1 1/2 lbs crumbled bacon

1 can drained mandarin oranges

This makes a lot!

pear and poppyseed salad.

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Pear and Poppyseed Salad from Erin:

1 head romaine

2 pears peeled and in chunks

1/2 pkg toasted nuts

1/2 pkg bacon cooked and crumbled

1/2 pkg feta cheese

Dressing:

2 cups sugar

2 tsp salt

2 tsp dry mustard

1 small onion

1 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 cup oil

2 tsp poppy seeds

Combine in Blender

Toss dressing with Salad just before serving.

greens with creamy fresh herb dressing and croutons.

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Greens with Creamy Fresh Herb Dressing and Croutons from Michelle:

Adapted from Martha Stewart's Mary Quite Contrary Salad

4 cups brioche, cut into 1/4 inch cubes (I've used cut up French bread or rolls)

1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk

3 T sour cream

3 T Girard's Champagne Vinaigrette

1 tsp sugar

Course salt

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

3 T finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 T finely chopped fresh dill

2 T finely chopped fresh mint

2 heads Bibb lettuce, torn into pieces (I used green leaf lettuce, probably 1-1 1/2 heads since they are bigger)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast bread cubes on a baking sheet until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Let cool.

Meanwhile, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, vinegar, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, then cheese and herbs. Add lettuce, toss to combine. Garnish with croutons.

m&m cookie bars. {winner!}

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M&M Cookie Bars from Lori:

2/3 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups butter
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 bag chocolate chips
1 tsp baking soda overflowing
1 small bag M&M's

-Mix sugars and butter
-Add eggs and vanilla
-Mix flour, salt and baking soda, then add to wet mixture
-Add chocolate chips
-Press dough into cookie sheet
-Press M&M's into dough
-Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes

santa fe chocolate chip cookies.

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Santa Fe Chocolate Chip Cookies from Melanie:

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, 1 1/2 sticks
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts

Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in another bowl. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture and beat until blended. Stir in chocolate chips, pecans and pine nuts.

Put 2 sheets plastic wrap on work surface.  Spoon half of dough into a 12 inch strip  down center or each plastic sheet. Form each dough strip into a 12 inch log. Wrap the plastic and refrigerate 1 hour. Dough can be prepared up to 3 days ahead and kept refrigerated.

 Preheat oven to 325. Using a sharp knife, cut chilled cookie dough into 1/4 inch slices. Place dough on large baking sheets. Bake until cookies are light golden brown, about 14 minutes. Remove cookies from baking sheets. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight container. Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

source: stop and smell the rosemary

milk chocolate chip cookies.

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Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies from Beckie:

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup softened butter

2 eggs

1 - 12 oz bag milk chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Cream sugar, brown sugar and butter. Add eggs and vanilla and whip until fluffy. Combine flour, baking soda and salt before adding wet ingredients. Add chips (if doubled, add 3 cups chips). Form dough into balls, place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Let sit on cookie sheet 1-2 minutes after removing from oven and then cool completely. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.