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Vegetarian
Salad toppings

We usually make a pretty simple salad with just a few toppings. It is a quick, easy, and delicious (Q.E.D.!) salad that is also a great salad for the holidays! The salad only takes about fifteen minutes to put together. We put all our toppings in separate bowls because not everyone likes everything, and that way people can pick and choose what they want.

How to make an easy, holiday salad (4-5 people):

Ingredients we use:

  • One container of 16 oz/1 lb Baby Spring Mix
  • 3 bell peppers (we usually use 3 different colors)
  • One bag of frozen Birds Eye Steamfresh Sweet Peas
  • One 5 oz. bag of Ocean Spray Craisins
  • Candied/Spiced nuts (my boyfriend's mom usually makes these, but I think Trader Joe's might have some)
  • Any type of salad dressing

  • 1. Wash the lettuce (we usually use a salad spinner) and put it in a bowl with a paper towel underneath (to absorb the moisture). You can take out the paper towel when you are serving the salad.

    2. Chop up the bell peppers and put them in a bowl.

    3. Microwave the frozen Steamfresh peas for about 4 minutes. When you take them out of the microwave, let them sit for one minute, then put the peas in a container of cold water to let them cool off (so they don't end up wilting the lettuce).

    4. Put dried cranberries / Craisins in a bowl.

    5. Put candied/spiced nuts in a bowl.

    6. Leave out salad dressing or put some in a bowl.

    7. Put out all the bowls and enjoy!


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    Bag of Trader Joe's French Green Beans / Haricot Vert
    Trader Joe's French Green Beans / Haricot Vert

    For the frozen Trader Joe's French Green Beans / Haricot Vert, we usually microwave all 24 oz of the green beans in a bowl on high for a total of 6 minutes (stirring them a little bit after 4 minutes).

    We also spray a little PAM butter flavor spray on them. They come out tasting slightly sweet, crunchy, and delicious! They are probably the best frozen green beans I've had!

    Overall Rating:
    Delicious
    Food: Extra Fine French Green Beans (Haricot Vert)
    Source: Trader Joe's, Tucson, AZ
    Price: $1.99 per bag (24 oz)
    Rating: Delicious
    from Trader Joes

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    Box of Reser's Mashed Potatoes
    Bowl of Reser's Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan cheese added
    Container of Reser's Mashed Potatoes
    Adding cheese to Reser's Mashed Potatoes

    We tried some of the Main St. Bistro Mashed Potatoes from Costco one time and have been buying them ever since. These potatoes are neither lumpy nor mushy, but they are nice and creamy. They are especially delicious with Parmesan cheese added in. We sometimes freeze a package so it lasts longer (even though it says keep refrigerated), and it still tastes just as good.

    This is how we usually cook the refrigerated mashed potatoes (both 26 oz boxes):

  • Warm up one of the mashed potatoes boxes in the microwave for 3 minutes
  • Put the mashed potatoes from first box into a bowl
  • Fold in shredded Parmesan cheese to taste while it's still warm (we usually use enough Parmesan cheese so that it covers the top of the potatoes)
  • Warm up the second box of mashed potatoes in microwave for 2 minutes
  • Add the mashed potatoes from the second box into the bowl
  • Fold in more shredded Parmesan cheese to taste
  • Let the bowl of mashed potatoes sit in the refrigerator overnight
  • The next day (or same day) -- put the bowl of mashed potatoes in the oven (325 degrees F) for 45 minutes to 1 hour... and enjoy!
  • As a side note the easiest way to make these mashed potatoes is just following the microwave instructions on the box. It takes less than 10 minutes, and they still taste good.

    Overall Rating:
    Good
    Food: Reser's Main St. Bistro Mashed Potatoes
    Source: Costco, Tucson, AZ
    Price: $5.99 for twin pack (two 26oz boxes)
    Rating: Good

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