Potluck food

Sweet Potato and Ham Soup

I went to lunch today with a good friend of mine and we had incredible soup! It was a great day for it because the weather is cold. The fog is crawling down the mountains and the contrasting blue sky above is breath taking. We sat and talked like girls over our soup and salad. Anyhow the soup was so good I ran home and this is what I put together............Trust me it is good.

3 quarts of water
1 slice of thick-cut ham diced
Place in a dutch oven and turn on medium heat

Meanwhile, add these to your pot of water

3 Mexican green onions, sliced
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks
1/2 cup uncooked yellow lentils
1 can sweet yellow corn with liquid

salt and pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt
2 T parsley flakes

Bring to a low boil for 45 minutes.

Add 1 cup of frozen spinach
1 cup spinach penne pasta
3 T wild rice
1 cup crushed taco chips

Cook for 1 hour...........ummm!

chinese chicken salad--our favorite version

Tamela's Chinese Chicken Salad
from: Laurie


Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes Ready In: 25 Minutes
Yields: 16 servings


INGREDIENTS:
4 skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves
1 (16 ounce) package coleslaw
mix..or 1 head of white cabbage finely chopped
4 (3 ounce) packages oriental
flavored ramen noodles,
crushed, seasoning packet
2 T coarsely chopped cilantro
2 bunches green onions finely choppedreserved
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup corn oil
1/2 tsp sesame seed oil
1/2 cup rice garlic vinegar
2 T soy sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 c water
4 packets artificial sweetener
3 T toasted sesame seed (optional)

DIRECTIONS:
1.Saute chicken in a large skillet until well browned. Place coleslaw in a large bowl, add chicken, cilantro, green onions and set aside (or refrigerate if not serving soon).
2.Break up ramen noodles into a small bowl; add peanuts and set aside.
3.In a small bowl combine the corn oil, sesame seed oil, vinegar, garlic, ramen seasoning packets and artificial sweetener. Mix well and pour 1/2 on top of the salad and thoroughly mix. The other half set aside until ready to serve.
4.When you arrive at your destination, add noodle mixture and dressing mixture to large chicken/coleslaw bowl and stir together. Serve with a smile! Take a bow 'cause this stuff is good.

This is wonderful the next day and the next!

the sauce is a great salad dressing anytime

This was given to me by a very special friend. Tamela started as a volunteer at my work and she is bright, funny, and she has an absolute brilliance within her and she is so multidimensional! As we were working one day she said that she was making this for her family and the next day she brought her version of the salad. I was sold and when I made it for my family it is one of those things that is on our list of favorites.

This is great for picnics and potlucks. Cheap and yummy, too!