Wild Rice and Pineapple Salad

One of our favorite slaws is a Hawaiian version that is loaded up with pineapple. Turns out my folks love it too. They make it often. This wild rice and pineapple salad is an interesting take on the old familiar concept. Wonderful rice with crunchy red onion, and a little vinegar to offset the sweetness of pineapple. It’s rather unexpected and unbelievably good.

Wild Rice and Pineapple Salad

No Wimpy Salad Here

This wild rice and pineapple salad holds up for days, unlike slaw, which can get a little watery after a few days. So don’t be afraid of the fact that this recipe makes a pretty good-sized batch of salad.

Make sure that you whisk the dressing until it’s nice and smooth and combined.

Also try my spinach and orzo salad and my pineapple mango daikon salad.

Wild Rice and Pineapple Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Wild Rice and Pineapple Salad

 This wild rice and pineapple salad is an interesting take on the old familiar concept. Wonderful rice with crunchy red onion, and a little vinegar to offset the sweetness of pineapple.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword pineapple, rice, salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 388kcal

Ingredients

For the dressing

For the salad

Instructions

For the dressing

  • Whisk together the vinegar, brown sugar, cilantro, and parsley.
  • While still whisking, slowly add the oil.
  • Set aside while making the salad.

For the salad

  • Add water to a large pot with a lid. Bring to a boil.
  • Add the wild rice, stir, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.
  • Add the rinsed white rice, cover, and simmer another 20 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Fluff rice and let cool completely.
  • Gently combine the onion and pineapple in a large bowl.
  • Add the rice and dressing and stir.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste and serve garnished with more chopped cilantro.

Notes

Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 95IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Warm German Potato Salad

I don’t know how long it has been since I’ve had warm German potato salad. It’s been a while for a reason. What I had was not good. It was thick. It was gloppy. And it was horribly vinegary. This salad? This is not that. This is fantastic! We could not stop eating it. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. There’s just the right amount of vinegar. Oh, and of course there’s bacon! One bite erased those bad potato salad memories in an instant!

Warm German Potato Salad

A Word Of Caution

Do not overcook your potatoes or the warm German potato salad will get too mushy. Err on the side of caution. You can always cook them more if you think they have too much ‘bite’. But you can never un-cook them.

I used a thin-cut bacon. Normally I’m a more-is-better bacon kind-of-guy, but not here. This is just the right amount of bacon. Thicker bacon would get in the way off all the other great flavors. This is an excellent salad for my Rouladen and Knodel dish.

Also try my jalapeno pimento cheese potato salad.

Warm German Potato Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Warm German Potato Salad

This potato salad is fantastic! We could not stop eating it. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. There’s just the right amount of vinegar. Oh, and of course there’s bacon!
Course Side
Cuisine German
Keyword German, potato salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 179kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Bring a large Dutch oven (preferred) or pot of water to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes and return to a boil. Boil another 8-10 minutes or until just tender. Do not over cook.
  • Drain the potatoes.
  • Add the bacon to the pot and cook until brown and crispy.
  • Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Crumble.
  • Add the onion to the bacon grease and stir. Reduce heat to medium and cook until just browned.
  • Add the vinegar, water, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes and parsley and HALF of the crumbled bacon.
  • Transfer to a bowl for serving and sprinkle with the remaining crumbled bacon.

Notes

Best served warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 807mg | Potassium: 734mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Waffled Fries

You could’ve pushed me over with a feather. I thought that no way could these waffled fries be great. Potato flakes aren’t the first thing that come to mind when I think about making fries at home. To be honest, I don’t ever think of potato flakes. Well, I didn’t. Now I do.

Well, I was wrong. These little potato bites are highly addicting, and very… potato-y. And, there’s no deep frying involved. Clean up is a breeze. These are the fries of dreams. And they look way cool too!

Waffled Fries

Ready In No Time

It takes about 3 minutes to make these waffled fries. Our little waffle iron can only make 4 at a time, so I kept them warm in the oven’s warming drawer while I made the rest of the batch.

For a little twist on the usual fries, add a pinch of Cajun seasoning to the batter. Or freshly ground black pepper. Whatever suits your fancy.

Also try my mac-and-cheese waffles.

Waffled Fries
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4 from 1 vote

Waffled Fries

These little potato bites are highly addicting, and very… potato-y. And, there’s no deep frying involved. Clean up is a breeze.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword fries, waffles
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 413kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat your waffle iron to high. Spray with non-stick spray.
  • Meanwhile, combine the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Let set until thick. Add more water, a little at a time, if the mixture is too thin to stick together.
  • Working in batches, form a tablespoon of batter into a small ball and place onto the waffle iron. Add as many as you can without crowding them. Close the waffle iron lid and cook 3 minutes or until golden brown and crunchy.
  • Serve hot.

Notes

These fries can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 647mg | Potassium: 666mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 706IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Velveeta Tex-Mex Rice

I was on a Velveeta kick. I was putting it on burgers. Hot dogs. Mac and cheese. Anything that called for cheese, I was gonna put Velveeta in it. But then I ran across this recipe for Velveeta Tex-Mex rice and I thought “Now THAT’S what I was looking for!”. Lots and lots of creamy cheesy Velveeta in a simple side dish that sounded amazing. And it was! This was perfect with our burgers and hot dogs. Despite its simplicity and short ingredient list, it is packed with flavor.

Velveeta Tex-Mex Rice

Make It A Main Dish

The original recipe for Velveeta Tex-Mex rice called for adding cooked chicken. I wanted a side dish so I left that out. However, this recipe makes a big batch of rice so I ended up with leftovers. And I figured, sure, why not serve this as the main dish? I didn’t have any chicken but I did have smoked sausage. So I grilled it (you could just fry it in a pan) to get a little color and sliced it into rounds. I reheated the rice (I had to add a bit more salsa to thin it a bit) and stirred in the sausage. Boom! A great main dish in minutes!

This recipe is also great using Mexican Velveeta instead!

Velveeta Tex-Mex Rice
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5 from 1 vote

Velveeta Tex-Mex Rice

Add smoked sausage or grilled chicken to make it a meal!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, rice
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 402kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add beans, salsa and rice to a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat.
  • Heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until warmed thoroughly.
  • Add the Velveeta and stir.
  • Reduce heat to low and cover.
  • Cook for 5 minutes or until Velveeta is melted, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve hot garnished with cilantro.

Notes

If the rice mixture gets too thick just add a bit more salsa and stir.

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 667mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 434IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Tuscan Pasta Salad

Oh, Tuscan pasta salad, where have you been? I was getting just a bit tired of pasta salads and coleslaw then you came along and boom! Something totally different. This recipe makes a nice big batch, perfect for a family get-together, and perfect for that ‘wow factor too.

Tuscan Pasta Salad

The Perfect Salad

There’s nothing in this that will scare off grandma I tend to make my dishes on the spicy side. I resisted that temptation with this Tuscan pasta salad, with great results. Fresh and exciting, this salad hits the spot with its Italian-inspired flavors.

You can substitute a tablespoon of dried basil for the fresh if you wish. Just make sure you crumble it a bit in your hand before adding it. I used fresh spinach, but you can also get away with frozen. Just make sure that it’s thawed completely first and squeeze the very last drop of water from it before adding it (I like to place it in a kitchen towel, wrap it up tight, and squeeze the heck out of it). I would not recommend omitting the sun-dried tomatoes! They add so much flavor to this salad.

Also try my Mardis Gras pasta salad and also my amazing dill pickle pasta salad.

Tuscan Pasta Salad
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4 from 1 vote

Tuscan Pasta Salad

Oh, Tuscan pasta salad, where have you been? I was getting just a bit tired of pasta salads and coleslaw then you came along and boom! Something totally different. 
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword pasta salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 288kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 16 ounces bow-tie pasta
  • 7 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 6.5 ounce black olives drained, sliced
  • 1 cup spinach chopped
  • ¼ cup basil chopped
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated

For the dressing

Instructions

For the salad

  • Cook the pasta per package instructions. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Add remaining salad ingredients and mix.
  • Add the dressing and toss to coat.

For the dressing

  • Whisk all ingredients together until combined. Note: I like to put the ingredients in a small jar or resealable container, seal, and shake to mix.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 812mg | Potassium: 845mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1014IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Tub’s Coal Miner’s Slaw

I am a certified, card-carrying member of the Coleslaw Addicts Club, also known as the CAC. Ok, I made that up. But if there was such a club I’d be in it and I’d probably be its president. Because I can eat any kind of slaw, any time, anywhere. I almost always order slaw when eating out. Now, true, I’m not sure if coal miner’s ate a lot of slaw, but if their slaw was anything like this from Tub’s Fine Chili (sadly now closed) they probably did. Buttermilk and vinegar do make this one wonderful slaw. Different than your normal creamy slaw. And different than your normal vinegar slaw. It’s like having the best of both in one.

Tub's Coal Miner's Slaw

Add The Dressing To Taste

This recipe for Tub’s coal miner’s slaw might make a bit more dressing than you want. That wasn’t the case for me, but I don’t mind a nice ‘wet’ slaw. I’d say add some of the dressing and see what you think. It’s a lot easier to add more later than it is to take it out.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my Asian slaw.

Tub's Coal Miner's Slaw
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5 from 1 vote

Tub’s Coal Miner’s Slaw

I wouldn't change a thing about this recipe.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cole slaw, coleslaw, slaw
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 8
Calories 1576kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the slaw

  • 1 pound slaw mix with cabbage, shredded carrots, etc

For the dressing

Instructions

  • Place the slaw mix in a large bowl.
  • Whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, lemon juice, cider vinegar, vinegar, vegetable oil and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the salt, pepper, celery seed, onion powder and granulated garlic. Whisk until well combined.
  • Slowly start adding the dressing to the slaw, stirring as you go. Stop when the slaw is the desired consistency. I used all of the dressing, you might not. Reserve any unused dressing for later use.
  • Refrigerate slaw for at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 1576kcal | Carbohydrates: 90g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 131g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 76g | Monounsaturated Fat: 30g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 4772mg | Potassium: 1126mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 767IU | Vitamin C: 184mg | Calcium: 395mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Tropical Shrimp Salad

I’ve been a subscriber to Louisiana Cookin’ magazine for years. This tropical shrimp salad is a great example of why I’ve been a loyal reader for so long. This salad was incredible. A wonderful combination of fruits and shrimp, with a light creamy dressing that has a hint of vanilla. It was the perfect dish on a hot summer’s day. Make sure you chill the salad ahead of time and serve it as cold as possible.

Tropical Shrimp Salad

A Few Tips

I made this tropical shrimp salad a main dish by using large shrimp and large melon balls. You can also serve this as a side or a great pitch-in dish by using smaller shrimp and melon balls. This salad is also absolutely fantastic without the shrimp. If you do use smaller, cheaper shrimp, cut your fruits a little smaller to match. You want everything to be about the same size.

I used a Greek vanilla yogurt but regular ole plain yogurt works just fine too. There’s no way you can go wrong with this salad.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my Peruvian Palta Rellena.

Tropical Shrimp Salad
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4 from 1 vote

Tropical Shrimp Salad

This salad was incredible. A wonderful combination of fruits and shrimp, with a light creamy dressing that has a hint of vanilla. It was the perfect dish on a hot summer’s day.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword salad, shrimp
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 238kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 1 ½ pounds shrimp large, cooked and peeled
  • 2 cups pineapple chopped
  • 1 ⅓ cups honeydew melon cut into balls
  • 1 ⅓ cups watermelon cut into balls
  • 1 ⅓ cups cantaloupe cut into balls
  • 1 medium cucumber peeled, seeded, sliced
  • ¼ cup green onion chopped, plus more for garnish

For the dressing

Instructions

For the salad

  • Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl and stir gently.

For the dressing

  • Whisk together all ingredients and pour over the shrimp and fruit mixture.
  • Stir gently.
  • Serve garnished with chopped green onions and dill.

Notes

Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 288mg | Sodium: 1322mg | Potassium: 470mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 1526IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes

I love making ‘regular’ baked potatoes. And I love making Hasselback potatoes (read the history of them here). For whatever reason, I find making them to be more fun. They are cool looking. They’re super-easy to cook. These three cheese Hasselback potatoes are simple yet packed with plenty of yummy creamy cheese. I love cheese. I love these potatoes.

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes

Get A Gadget

Time for me to fess up. In the past I’ve cut my Hasselback potatoes by hand. I used an old wooden spoon to prevent me from cutting too far. I was fairly successful at it, but it was time consuming and often frustrating. So now I ‘cheat’. I bought a slicing rack for these three cheese Hasselback potatoes. My life is oh so much better since I did. Perfectly sliced potatoes, every single time. I admit, it’s not a kitchen gadget that I find myself using every day. But when I do need it it saves me a lot of time and a whole lot of frustration!

Make sure you use a good grater for the cheese, and definitely don’t buy the pre-grated stuff unless you absolutely have to!

Also try my grilled Hasselback potatoes.

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes
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4.50 from 2 votes

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes

I love making Hasselback potatoes. For whatever reason, I find making them to be more fun. They are cool looking. They’re super-easy to cook. 
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, potatoes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 potatoes
Calories 252kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Slice the potatoes (see the post for instructions on how to do this manually or using a Hasselback slicing rack).
  • Transfer the potatoes to a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Gently spread the potato slices apart and brush with half of the butter mixture.
  • Bake another 10 minutes or until the potatoes are done.
  • Brush with remaining butter mixture and divide the cheese between the potatoes.
  • Return to the oven, under the broiler, to melt the cheese, another 1 minute.

Notes

Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 925mg | Potassium: 930mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 233mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Three Bean Macaroni Salad

I’m always on the lookout for a new salad, especially if it has macaroni in it. This three bean macaroni salad is somewhat similar to our popular peas and pasta salad. It has a nice creamy dressing and a nice crunch thanks to onion and bell pepper. The addition of dill really makes the dressing even better. And oh, the dressing. Delicious.

Three Bean Macaroni Salad

Cheese Is Optional

I can see adding cubed pepper jack cheese to this three bean macaroni salad to really take it over the top. So I included it in the recipe, though I didn’t make it with the cheese. I trust my judgement on this one.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Also try my regular-ole-macaroni salad. Classic flavor in every bite.

This recipe is based on a recipe from Kraft.

Three Bean Macaroni Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Three Bean Macaroni Salad

I’m always on the lookout for a new salad, specially if it has macaroni in it. This three bean macaroni salad is somewhat similar to our popular peas and pasta salad in that it has a nice creamy dressing and a nice crunch thanks to onion and bell pepper. The addition of dill really makes the dressing even better.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, pasta salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 308kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook pasta per package instructions. Drain well and let cool.
  • Place all of the beans, the bell pepper and onion in a large bowl and mix.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and Italian dressing.
  • Pour dressing over vegetables and stir to combine.
  • Add in the pasta and the dill and stir until the pasta is well coated.
  • Add cheese and stir gently.
  • Serve cold or at room temperature.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 489mg | Potassium: 571mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 346IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 224mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

The Best Marinated Vegetable Salad

We both found this marinated vegetable salad to be truly the best. It’s absolutely incredible. We could not stop eating it. The dressing has the right balance of sweet and tart. The veggies have the right balance of crunch and tenderness. The seasoning is perfect.

This recipe makes a pretty big batch of salad so you’ll have a lot to feed a crowd. It’s the perfect dish for a family get-together or picnic. It’s super easy to make and travels well.

The Best Marinated Vegetable Salad

A Truly Fantastic Salad

You don’t have to be real picky as to which vegetables you add to make this the best marinated vegetable salad. It’s very flexible. You can pretty much walk down the produce aisle in your grocery store and grab whatever’s in season and you’ll soon be enjoying a fantastic dish.

I used quality vinegars when making this salad. It makes a difference, I think. So grab a good red and a good white and get to making and enjoying!

If fresh produce is out-of-season, try my marinated vegetable salad recipe that uses frozen veggies instead. And for an out-of-this-world great vegetable soup, try my best recipe.

Marinated Vegetable Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Best Marinated Vegetable Salad

We both found this marinated vegetable salad to be absolutely incredible. We could not stop eating it. The dressing has the right balance of sweet and tart. The veggies have the right balance of crunch and tenderness. The seasoning is perfect.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword salad, vegetable
Prep Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 10
Calories 49kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, sugar, and pepper in a small bowl.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, cherry pepper halves, zucchini, carrots, and onion.
  • Add the dressing to the vegetables and toss gently to coat.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2-24 hours. Stir every hour.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3357IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.