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Farm Kitchen:                  Easy Summer Recipes   | 
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                 Ninibini 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                7577 Posts
  
                Nini 
                  
                Pennsylvania 
                
                USA 
                7577 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - May 27 2021 :  09:38:00 AM
                        
                      
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                      Hi girls -
  Hope you all are well and enjoying the beautiful, sunny, warmer weather!  Since we are quickly approaching summer, I thought maybe we could share some of our favorite easy summer recipes.  I don't know about you, but when it gets warm, I don't even want to THINK about heat in the kitchen!  LOL
  Here are a couple to get started:
  Watergate Salad 
  16 oz small curd cottage cheese 3.4 oz instant pistachio pudding 8 oz container whipped topping 8 oz can crushed pineapple 2 c. mini marshmallows ¼ cup chopped pistachios or pecans (optional) You can also add some shredded coconut as well (optional).
  Mix well everything but whipped topping. Fold in whipped topping. Refrigerate to set about an hour or so. (Great for St. Patrick's Day as well!)
  Honey Pecan Chicken Salad Recipe     1 cup mayonnaise  1/2 cup relish 2 Tbsp. minced onion 1 clove minced garlic  1 Tbsp. honey  1 tsp. salt  1/4 tsp. pepper  3/4 cup chopped celery 1/2 cup craisins 3/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped  4 - 5 cups chopped cooked chicken (I usually used drained home canned chicken) (I also add chopped apples in the fall, pineapple tidbits in the summer, etc...- creative makes seasonal YUM!)
  Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Chill. Serve.  Super good on a bed of fresh lettuce, toasted buns or whole grain bread.   Seriously the perfect chicken salad. Yum. 
 
  Orange Jello Salad
  16 oz. sm curd cottage cheese 3 oz box.sm box orange jello - dry mix, NOT prepared 8 oz. container whipped topping 11 oz.can of mandarin oranges, drained 8 oz crushed pineapple or pineapple tidbits
 
  Mix jello w cottage cheese well. Add fruit. Fold in whipped topping. Chill to set about an hour or so.
 
  My Raspberry Chicken with Strawberry-Cucumber Sauce and Brown Rice 
  Marinate 4 - 6 chicken breast halves with one bottle of light raspberry vinaigrette (or homemade) dressing for a minimum of 2 hours to overnight.
  Bake chicken breasts at 350 degrees for 1 hour (or grill ‘til done). About ½ way through the cooking time, baste with a little remaining raspberry vinaigrette dressing. 
  Prepare 3 cups brown rice, according to package directions. 
  While chicken is baking and rice is cooking, in a small bowl combine the following:
  ½ c. sour cream 1 tsp. honey Dash or two of salt 1 cucumber, halved, seeds removed and chopped  13 strawberries, cut up into small pieces 2 T boysenberry syrup (strawberry or raspberry works, too!) 1 T raspberry vinegar Mix well.
  To serve: Place sliced chicken atop a bed of rice and top with strawberry-cucumber sauce.
  I made this up one summer when I was feeling creative and now it's one of those summer dishes everyone asks for! LOL.
  Enjoy!
  What are some of YOUR summer favorites?  I'll add more soon.  Just looking for a couple of my mother-in-law's recipes to share - she had eight hungry kids (6 of which were voracious boys) and a very hungry husband to feed - she was amazing with the easy recipes!!
  Hugs and love -
  Nini
  Farmgirl Sister #1974
  God gave us two hands...  one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
 
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                 GailMN 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                     
                471 Posts
  
                Gail 
                Hutchinson 
                Minnesota 
                USA 
                471 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - May 27 2021 :  10:21:02 AM
                        
                        
                      
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                      Wow Nini great recipes, thank you, I will check my recipes and post also.  These are great.
  Blessings and Hugs, Gail
 
  Farmgirl Sister #506 Aim high; shoot for the moon and if you miss it, grab a star. | 
                     
                    
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                 Ninibini 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                7577 Posts
  
                Nini 
                  
                Pennsylvania 
                USA 
                7577 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - May 27 2021 :  11:36:29 PM
                        
                      
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                      Thanks, Gail!  I will really be looking forward to your recipes, too!  
  Hugs - 
  Nini
  Farmgirl Sister #1974
  God gave us two hands...  one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
 
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                 MaryJanesNiece 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                7965 Posts
   
                Krista 
                  
                Utah 
                USA 
                7965 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - May 28 2021 :  2:31:16 PM
                        
                      
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                      Nini, your raspberry chicken recipe sounds absolutely wonderful! I wish I had some to eat right now. Thank you for the recipe. I will definitely be trying it this summer.
  Krista | 
                     
                    
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                 Ninibini 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                7577 Posts
  
                Nini 
                  
                Pennsylvania 
                USA 
                7577 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - May 30 2021 :  9:03:17 PM
                        
                      
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                      Oh, Krista!  I hope you do try it!  It really is delicious!
  Hugs,
  Nini
 
 
  Farmgirl Sister #1974
  God gave us two hands...  one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
 
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                 Ninibini 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                7577 Posts
  
                Nini 
                  
                Pennsylvania 
                USA 
                7577 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - Jun 01 2021 :  10:24:07 PM
                        
                      
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                      Hi Girls!
  I just wanted to add one of my mother-in-law's favorite:  
  STRAWBERRY PRETZEL DESSERT
  2 cups crushed pretzels 3/4 cup butter, melted 3 tablespoons sugar (1) 8 oz. container Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1 cup sugar 2 packages (3 ounces each) strawberry gelatin 2 cups boiling water 2 packages (16 ounces each) frozen sweetened sliced strawberries, thawed Extra Cool Whip and crushed pretzels for topping, if desired
  Directions
  Combine the pretzels, butter and sugar in bowl. Press into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish using plastic wrap to help smooth it out. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. 
  In a small bowl, beat (1) of the Cool Whip whipped toppings, cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Spread this filling over pretzel crust, making sure the edges are sealed where it meets pan. Refrigerate until chilled. 
  In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in strawberries with their juice.  Chill until partially set. Spoon chilled strawberry topping over. Return to fridge and chill until firm, about 4-6 hours.  Cut into squares to serve.
  Optional:  Spread with extra Cool Whip and sprinkle with pretzels before serving in squares (but totally not necessary).
 
  I realize some of you may already have some of these recipes... But they are really good, so I'm posting them, just in case some of you don't!!!
  Please DO share some of your favorites, too!  Thanks so much!
  Enjoy!
  Hugs -
  Nini
  Farmgirl Sister #1974
  God gave us two hands...  one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
 
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                       Edited by - Ninibini on Jun 01 2021  10:24:52 PM | 
                     
                    
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                 Red Tractor Girl 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                6838 Posts
   
                Winnie 
                Gainesville 
                Fl 
                USA 
                6838 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - Jun 03 2021 :  11:16:35 AM
                        
                      
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                      Yummy, Nini!! I love that Strawberry Pretzel Dessert.  Once, I had a colleague who made this and every time there was a pot luck we insisted that she bring this dessert.  There was never any left over!!
  Winnie #3109 Red Tractor Girl Farm Sister of the Year 2014-2015 FGOTM- October 2018 | 
                     
                    
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                 StitchinWitch 
                True Blue Farmgirl 
                      
                2563 Posts
  
                Judith 
                Galt 
                CA 
                USA 
                2563 Posts  | 
                
                  
                    
                      
                       Posted - Jun 05 2021 :  11:43:40 AM
                        
                      
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                      Watergate salad has been a family favorite for years. It is interesting to see variations on it -- ours doesn't have cottage cheese.
  Judith
  7932 Happiness is Homemade | 
                     
                    
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Farm Kitchen:                  Easy Summer Recipes   | 
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