Berry-Mandarin Tossed Salad

¼ c. agave nectar

2 Tb. Cider vinegar

1 ¼ tsp lemon juice

½ tsp. Paprika

½ tsp ground mustard

½ grated onion

¼ tsp celery seed

Dash of salt

1/3 c. vegetable oil

8 cups torn mixed salad greens

2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

1 can (11 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained

1 medium sweet onion, sliced into rings

1/3 c. slivered almonds or walnuts

4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, if desired

Combine the first 8 ingredients, whisk in oil.  Cover and refrigerate until serving.  In a salad bowl, combine the greens, strawberries, oranges, onion, almonds and bacon.  Drizzle with dressing and gently toss to coat. 

Raspberry Jell-O Salad

1 package raspberry Jell-O

1 small container Cool Whip, room temperature

1 package frozen raspberries

1 c. boiling water

Dissolve Jell-O in water, add raspberries and fold in Cool Whip.  Refrigerate a few hours until it sets up.

Cheesecake Dip with Strawberries

 4 oz cream cheese, softened

¹/₃ cup sour cream

3 Tb confectioners’ sugar

1 Tb milk

¹/₄ tsp almond extract

1 pint fresh strawberries

¹/₄ cup graham cracker crumbs

Mix first 5 ingredients together until smooth.  Dip strawberries in mixture and then into graham cracker crumbs.

Green Smoothie

1 bunch green leafy vegetable of choice (such as green leaf lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, collards)
1 – 2 cups water
1-2 cups frozen berries
Fruit to taste such as pears, peaches, apples, oranges
1-2 Bananas or 1 avocado to make it creamy
ginger, lemon, parsley or, stevia to taste

Put greens in blender add water.  Puree until smooth.  Add remaining ingredients and additional water if necessary.  Blend until smooth. Drink immediately.

Raspberry-Mint Lemonade

1-6  oz can of frozen lemonade concentrate

1-10 oz package of raspberries

¹/₂ cup loosely packed fresh mint

¹/₄ cup sugar

Combine sugar, mint leaves, and 1 cup water in a saucepan.  Bring to boil, let stand 5 minutes.  Remove mint leaves.  Add mint-flavored water to reconstituted lemonade.  Add raspberries.  Makes 8 servings.

Purple Berry Punch

3 cups fresh blueberries
2 cups sugar
2 (10 oz.) packages frozen strawberries, thawed
2 quarts ginger ale, chilled
1 (6 oz.) can frozen lemonade, slightly thawed

In a saucepan, stir and simmer blueberries and sugar for about 5 minutes. Add strawberries and cook for 5 more minutes. Strain and chill. Add ginger ale and lemonade. Serve with crushed ice.