Vegan Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
• 1 cup sliced fresh apples (I dip them in lemon juice so they don't brown)
• 1 cup orange slices
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup grapes
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 3 tbs sugar
• 3 tbs orange juice
• 1/2 cup soft (silken) tofu, pureed
• 2 tsp grated orange rind
• 1 tsp poppy seeds (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, toss the fruit and coconut until well blended. Refrigerate
2. Combine cornstarch with the lemon juice in a medium saucepan and stir until well blended.
3. Place saucepan over medium heat and add sugar and orange juice. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 5-10 minutes. Remove saucepan from stove and allow to cool thoroughly
4. Fold the pureed tofu, orange rind, and poppy seeds into mixture and chill for at least one hour.
5. Immediately before serving, pour the dressing over the fruit and serve.

I made this for a get together with Kevin's sister, and also for Chase's Birthday party this month. It was a great hit!

My Mom's Deviled Eggs

Hard Boil 6 Eggs
Peel and slice in half
Take yolks out and put in a bowl
Mash with fork until fine
Add
1 tbs sweet pickle relish
1/8 cup finely diced celery
1/8 cup finely diced onion
Then fold 1/4-1/2 cup mayo (until consistency you like)

Spoon yolk mixture into a resealable plastic bag.
Snip off corner of bag and pipe yolk mixture into whites

Sprinkle one of the following: Pepper, Paprika, Finely chopped bacon bits, slice of olive.

Cheesy Potatoes

This is from my sister Aimee. We had these last Sunday at her house. So good!\

Cheesy potatoes

1 bag of shredding hashbrowns (I used 1+1/2 bags to stretch the recipe a little)

1 stick of melted butter

8 oz sour cream

1 cream of mushroom soup

1 cream of chix soup

2 c. shredded cheddar chesse

minced onion, to taste (optional -- I did add a little)

Mix in a bowl and then pour/spread into 9x13. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Top with whatever you like (corn flakes+butter, chips, etc.) for the last 5-10 minutes. We like fried onions or crushed sour cream onion chips. Mmmmm

Christmas Turkey

Kevin made this turkey for Christmas last year, and is going to again this year. It is soooo delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 head garlic
• 4 tbs chopped fresh sage
• 4 tbs chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tbs coarse salt
• 1 (14-16 lb) Fresh or completely thawed turkey
• 4 tbs chopped fresh rosemary
• 4 tbs chopped fresh parsley
• 1 lb unsalted butter - room temp
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1 cup water

Instructions:

• Preaheat oven to 350. Wrap garlic in foil, and bake for 1 hour, until very soft. This can be done a day or two ahead of time
• In a small bowl, mix rosemary, sage, parsley, and thyme with butter. Squeeze the cooled, softened garlic head into the bowl. Stir until smooth. Add salt and pepper.
• Preheat roaster to 400. Rinse turkey, pat it dry with paper towels
• Tuck the wing tips under the bird. Place the turkey on a roasting rack in a large roasting pan. Add water to the pan
• Using your fingers, gently separate the skin from the flesh. Smear about 1/3 of the butter mixture under the skin.
• Pat the remaining butter mixture on the exterior and the cavity
• Roast for about 40-50 minutes
• Place foil tan over the turkey, and reduce temp to 350 degrees
• Baste with juices or additional butter while roasting turkey additional 2-3 hours, until it reaches temp of 180 internally. Legs should rotate easily at the joint.
• Allow to rest 30 minutes before carving. Save juices to make gravy.