Friday, December 16, 2011

Guest Carrie Turansky with her 7-Layer Salad!

Missy, here. I'm on author Carrie Turansky's mailing list. She sends the best newsletters! The recent one even included a recipe that I thought would be perfect for the blog. It's so colorful and festive! So I emailed and asked her to share. So, here's Carrie...






SEVEN LAYER SALAD
Our family loves this recipe, and we usually serve it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's great because you can make it 1 or 2 days ahead. We do a different design on top each time we serve this salad. This design was created to honor Ben and Galan's engagement last Christmas.
Layer in a clear glass bowl:
1/2 head Romaine lettuce or spinach, sliced
1 small wedge of red cabbage, sliced
1/4 head green or red leaf lettuce, sliced
1 small red onion, sliced
1 can sliced water chestnuts
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 pkg. frozen petite green peas, rinsed and defrosted
Make dressing with one cup light mayo, 1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt, a dash of lemon juice, a dash of curry powder and a small packet of Truvia. Spread this carefully over the salad to seal. Decorate with red, yellow and green peppers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until time to serve. Enjoy!


The photo below is my daughter Melissa Morrison adding the design to the top to the last one we made on Thanksgiving. The B and G initials and wedding bells were to honor Ben and Galan and their wedding. 



This one features the flag of Southern Sudan where Melissa and Peter were working. 



We've had hot rods, American flags, flowers, and all kinds of designs that connect to a family member or event of the year.

Missy again. Carrie, thanks so much for sharing your beautiful salad with us! To check out Carrie's latest book, click here.





Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of eight novels and novellas. She has been a finalist for the Inspirational Readers Choice Award and The ACFW Genesis, and the winner of the ACFW Carol Award and Crystal Globe Carrie writes contemporary and historical romance for Barbour and Love Inspired. Her latest releases are Christmas Mail-Order Brides, Seeking His Love, and Surrendered Hearts. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, speaker and counselor. They have five young adult children. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys gardening, reading, flower arranging, and cooking for friends and Family. Her website is: www.carrieturansky.com.


12 comments:

  1. Oh, Carrie, that's too pretty to eat. Who dares put that first spoon in????

    I would! In a heartbeat! Hey, girl, thank you so much for comin' on down to the cafe and hangin' with us. Do you LOVE Missy's Christmas decorations? She took a page out of Arnell's Steel Magnolia Christmas and that wreath of Baby Jesus's well... A classic, for sure! ;)

    I have to make this for something because the look, taste and whole package is table-worthy. And I love the different 'topping' looks!

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  2. Hi Friends, so glad to share this fun recipe with you all. We enjoy making it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. I take turns with my daughters as the decorator of the top. They are artistic and creative, so we have had some fun designs through the years. The fact that you can make it a couple days ahead is a great time-saver. I hope you will give it a try and let us know how you like it.
    Blessings and Merry Christmas to all!
    Carrie

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  3. Ruthy, I'm with you. Who'd dear tear it up??!! But yum. I guess if you knew what was inside, you'd have no problem.

    Seven layer salad is something I've always loved but never made (like fudge!). This one is a little different inside from what I've had before. The ones we have at church potlucks have a layer of bacon and layers of sour cream. This one seems healthier. Can't wait to try it!

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  4. Hi Carrie!

    I'll have to try this salad. I had given up on the traditional seven layer salad for the same reasons Missy had - the dressings are always so heavy that they overwhelm the salad. But your dressing sounds light and creamy! The yogurt should make a huge difference.

    Missy, after yesterday you still haven't made fudge? I think you'll have to make this salad and fudge for Christmas and surprise your family!

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  5. No, Jan, not yet! I had a party at lunch yesterday. Then my daughter and I had girls night out last night. Dinner and a movie.

    Oh, y'all, the movie New Year's Eve was sooooo good!!! Of course I cried a few times. :) And it had even gotten bad reviews. I never believe those reviews!

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  6. HI Jan and Missy - yes the original version of this salad had bacon or ham and lots of homemade mayo. I've lightened it up and it's still delicious. Hope you will give it a try.
    blessings,
    Carrie

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  7. Oh, I forgot to say...it is a little sad to tear into this salad and destroy the design, so that's why we take a photo each time. Then we don't have to feel bad about messing it up and enjoying the salad. : )

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  8. Wow! I'm not artistic at all. I'm not sure I could do such a lovely top.

    I love layered salad. I confess, I still love the bacon and mayo in the original, but this one sounds good too.

    On the Southern Sudan flag, is the purple stripe a pepper too, or is it something else? I've had purple peppers, but they were from a friend's garden, and I've never seen them in a store.

    And is that blue sugar sprinkles?

    They're all so pretty.

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  9. Hey, Andrea! I've seen those purple peppers at our grocery store but very rarely.

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  10. Hi Andrea, you guess right. The purple pepper was a close as we could come to black for the flag and yes...we resorted to blue sprinkles for that design. We really missed our kids who were working in Sudan that Christmas, so that motivated the unusual ingredients. : )

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  11. It's so pretty. I'd hate to eat it (but I would force myself!)

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  12. Looks like a terrific--and pretty!--salad. Yum.

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