Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing

So easy and really good.
(Tastes just like the original!)

Oriental Dressing
3 Tablespoons honey
1 1/2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 Cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil

Whisk together and chill until it's time to pour over your salad.

PS-When I make my salad I don't bother breading the chicken, I just fry bite sized pieces in a little olive oil and serve it with lettuce, sliced carrots, green onion, fried Maifun rice sticks, (or even easier, chow mein noodles) and slivered almonds.

Cucumber Radish Pasta Salad

1 lb small shell pasta, cooked, rinsed in cold water, and drained
1 cucumber, chopped lengthwise in quarters and then sliced
6 green onions, chopped
6 radishes, chopped
3 small (Roma size) tomatoes, chopped (I scrape out the seed part so the salad doesn't get soggy and mushy)
5 chopped slices of cooked bacon (OR about 3 TBSP bacon bits)
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
5 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 can black olives, finely chopped
1 1/2 Cups mayonnaise
3/4 Cups Sour cream
salt
lots of pepper

Mix everything in a large bowl and chill until you serve it. I'm wondering if mozzarella cheese cubes added to this would make it even yummier! Hmmmmm...

Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad

1 bag (12-16 oz) garden rotini pasta, cooked, rinsed and cooled in cold water, drained

1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1 red or yellow pepper, chopped

1/3 Cup chopped celery

1/2 Cup chopped carrots

2 red apples, chopped, I leave the peel on

1/2 Cup chopped onion

8 oz cubed Monterey jack cheese

1 bottle Light House Italian dressing, I use Kraft or Wishbone

salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and chill for at least two hours. Add more Italian dressing as desired as the pasta tends to soak it up after awhile.

Ham Salad

2 cups finely chopped ham

2 stalked (haha I put stalked, I mean stalks) celery, finely chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

1 hard boiled egg...again finely chopped ;)

1/3 cup mayonnaise (+/-)

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp mustard

Tapatío hot sauce, to taste

salt and pepper to taste

I use a food processor to, wait for it -finely- chop everything (separately I should add) but it isn't necessary. Just chop everything up really well if you don't have one. Mix it all up in a medium to large bowl and serve on soft yummy bread, lightly mayo'ed.

When I first made this (because my Grandma Foster always made this when I was little and I was craving it one day) I thought my kids were going to turn their noses up to it...but they LOVE it. My teenagers even pack lunches when I make this. And brag to their friends! WOW.

Salad Dressing like Olive Garden's

Salad Dressing like Olive Garden's

1/2 Cup white vinegar
1/3 Cup water
1/3 Cup vegetable oil
1/4 Cup corn syrup
2 1/2 TBSP grated parmesan/romano cheese
2 TBSP pectin
1 egg- beaten
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1 pinch dried oregano
1 pinch red pepper flakes

--Combine all ingredients in blender on medium speed for 30 seconds to a minute. Blending well is key to a smooth, thick dressing. Under-blending will result in a runnier dressing. Chill 2-4 hours shaking occasionally. Keeps for 2 weeks, approx.