Recipe : Beet Salad with Almonds and Chives

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds beets - red, yellow, the candy-striped Chioggia, or a mixture
1/4 cup slivered almonds, roasted
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
A few whole chives for garnish

Directions
Place beets in a medium pot and cover with water. Cover, bring to a boil, and cook 15 to 25 minutes, until a beet is easily pierced with a fork. Drain, let cool, and use a paring knife and fingers to slide off skins.
Cut beets into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl. Add almonds, olive oil, chives, lemon juice and salt, and toss gently. Sprinkle with feta, lay whole chives across salad as garnish, and serve.

Recipe : Barley Waldorf Salad

Ingredients
1 cup quick-cooking barley
2 large tart apples, chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4 1/2 teaspoons sugar

Directions
Cook barley according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a small serving bowl, combine barley, apples, walnuts, raisins, cream, mayonnaise and sugar. Cover and refrigerate until serving.

Recipe : Artichoke Dip

Ingredients
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chiles

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Combine the artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, cheese and green chilies. Mix well and pour into a 2 quart casserole dish.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Garnish with chopped green onions and chopped tomato if desired.

Recipe : Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 large onions, diced
2 pounds flank steak
1/8 teaspoon caraway seed
1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 clove garlic, minced
5 tablespoons paprika
2 cups water
4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium high heat. Saute onions until soft, then add beef and brown. Stir in caraway seed, marjoram, garlic and paprika. Pour water over all, lower heat to low and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
Add potatoes and cook until tender, another 45 minutes to 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

Recipe : Best Ever Pasta Salad

Ingredients
2 cups rotelli pasta
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons prepared Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup minced pimento
2 tablespoons minced capers
coarsely ground black pepper to taste
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 pound Havarti cheese, diced
4 green onions, diced
4 boneless chicken breast halves - cooked, cooled and cubed

Directions
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, tarragon, dill, salt, mustard, pimento, capers and pepper. Seat aside.
In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, green pepper, Havarti, green onions and chicken. Add dressing to taste and toss to coat.