Family reunion favorites

Our annual family reunion is this Sunday in Bloomfield and our family like many others is rather large and we always look forward to this event to visit and all the good food, you know we can almost guess when someone pulls up what food they will get out of there car/truck and contribute, but still we know it will be good. My mom always makes her homemade fried pies which I have never learned to do as she does, I always contribute several items but two things my neice always says I better bring or I will be in trouble and that is 7 layer salad and taco salad, she is going to be dissapointed this year as due to having back surgery I am still not allowed to ride so I can make it later for her and it will still be good.

Seven Layer Salad

1 head lettuce torn/cut in small peices
1 bag frozen green peas, thawed
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper red and yellow ones for color
1 red onion chopped
1 head cauliflower taken apart
1 bunch broccoli taken apart

Layer these 7 ingredients in the order given.

Dressing

2 packages dry ranch dressing
16 ounces sour cream
16 ounces miracle whip
Mix this together ahead of time so it will be set good, spread this on top of salad but do not stir salad up, it is better just left as layered.

Topping

1 16 ounce package grated/shredded cheese
bacon bits
After you put dressing on salad put on the cheese and then the bacon bits, I always make this a day ahead of time, it will keep up to a week if not left out of refrigerator very long.

You can also use low fat, no fat, reduced calorie ingredients, the type of cheese to use is the one that you like best, I have used several different kinds and it is still very good. This is very pretty if it is made in a clear bowl because of the color, that is why I suggested the colored bell pepper. More or less of any ingredient also works to fit your need, this does take a large container because by the time you get it all together there is a lot of it.

Taco Salad

1 to 2 pounds ground chuck browned and drained
1 or 2 cans chili beans
1 onion chopped
1 head lettuce chopped or torn in bite size peices
1 or 2 tomatoes chopped
1 large package grated cheese
1 large back fritos
1 large bottle Catalina salad dressing, make sure it is chilled

Brown ground chuck and onion, drain and let cool, in large bowl put ground chuck/onion, add chili beans and mix together, then layer lettuce, tomatoe and add cheese. When it is time to serve add salad dressing and mix thoroughly, For a large gathering I add the fritos and mix again but if we are having it at home we just put fritos in our bowl/plate and put salad on top.

This is another recipe that it is very easy to make less of or to make a larger amount, any kind of cheese works also.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as our family does. I would enjoy any good salad recipes that anyone wants to share.