Lite Shamrock Salad Food

LITE SHAMROCK SALAD

Steps:

• Drain the pineapple, pouring the juice into a 1 cup measure. Add enough water to bring the volume up to 3/4 cup. Set aside. Place the gelatin in a large heat-proof mixing bowl. Add the boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pineapple juice and stir well to mix thoroughly. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes, or until the gelatin is the consistency of raw egg whites. Place the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Beat in remaining 1/4 cup pineapple juice and set aside. After the gelatin has chilled to the proper consistency, beat the gelatin with an electric mixer for about 1 minute or until foamy. Add the cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Gently fold in the Cool Whip, then the drained pineapple and mandarin oranges. Pour the mixture into an 8-inch square pan and chill for 8 hours or until firm. Cut into squares and serve.

LONG LIVE THE IRISH GREEN SALAD!

Steps:

• Note: I used leftover roasted asparagus spears from the previous night's dinner. Roasted would be preferred over steaming (my personal opinion.).
• Whisk the salad dressing ingredients together and refrigerate. Best prepared 1 hour in advance of serving.
• Combine the salad ingredients in a bowl except for the bell pepper and raisins. Toss.
• Take a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter and cut out shapes from the green bell pepper. (You may need an extra bell pepper to do this step.) How to: first slice the bell pepper lengthwise from stem to bottom. Remove seeds and membrane. Cut out shapes.
• Divide the salad onto [4] salad plates. Garnish with the shamrock-shaped slices of bell pepper; add the raisins.