Fruit Salsa

My friend and co-worker Tracy shared this recipe with me, after I ate two helpings at a party she hosted recently. Very refreshing--and pretty healthy, too.
It is called a "salsa", but really it is just a finely chopped fruit salad.

YOU WILL NEED:
1 lg. red apple
1 lg. green apple
5 kiwis
1 lb. fresh strawberries
1 small cup mandarin oranges (drained)
2-3 T. Apricot jelly
1 T. Brown sugar
1 T. white sugar

Cut up all fruit in tiny pieces (or put in food processor like photo above)
Serve with cinnamon tortilla chips or graham crackers.

The Ronald, The Big Mac and Me

I wanted to brag about my brush with greatness.



This is a photo from a few years ago of me with fellow community volunteer Jamie, with none other than Ronald McDonald himself!



I was asked to be a judge of our local kiddie and Pet Parade which was sponsored by our local McDonald's and they brought in The Ronald to be the parade Marshal.



I really didn't realize how great Ronald was with the children. He performed magic tricks, was very generous with the many photos ops and answered any questions while keeping that famous Ronald smile of his the entire time. The kids were in awe of him.



This icon has been around since the sixties (so have I!) and continues to wow those he comes in contact with (me...not so much, anymore).



Our local McDonald's Owners, John and Mary Moreland are extremely generous to our community- always giving back and helping meet needs and putting smiles on faces of children and adults alike. The McDonald's corporation are also involved in helping with the needs of children -going above and beyond helping busy mothers feed their hungry kids- pronto!



And besides getting a quick meal when you need it- I have found that in my travels across several states, McD's are the cleanest and the most well run fast food restaurants of any chain across the nation.



Having said all that, I will give you my version of their famous BIG MAC which is THE most popular burger in America- making its debut back in the sixties. (Their burger, not mine)









1 sesame seed hamburger bun

Half of an additional bun

1'4 lb. ground beef

1 T. Kraft Thousand Island dressing

1 tsp. finely diced onion

1/2 cup chopped lettuce

1 slice American cheese

2-3 dill pickle slices



With serrated knife, cut the top off the extra bun, leaving about a 3/4 " thick slice. This will be the middle of your sandwich.

Place 3 bun halves on hot griddle or pan, face down. Toast to a light brown. Keep pan warm but set buns aside.



Divide beef in half and press into two patties, slightly larger than the bun.



Cook patties in pan over med. heat 3 minutes each side (or until no longer pink in center). Salt lightly.



Build burger in this order:

Bottom bun

1/2 of dressing

1/2 of onion

1/2 of lettuce

cheese

patty

middle bun

remainder of dressing

"" of onion

"" of lettuce

Pickle slices

patty

top bun.



Makes 1 burger.

Strawberry Vanilla Trifle

Recently a good friend's son graduated high school, and I made this simple, yet elegant trifle for the after party. The dish was empty before the party was over. It is simple to prepare. (I doubled this recipe as this was a very large trifle dish) https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4160455060127&set=a.4157003933851.2160814.1546586519&type=1&theater#!/media/set/?set=a.4157003933851.2160814.1546586519&type=1

Mix together: 1 small package vanilla INSTANT pudding mix 1 cup milk 1 8oz. container sour cream Then: Whip 2 cups HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM till stiff peaks form (for best results, chill your bowl and beaters) and add a little sugar, to taste. *You could add Cool WHip instead, but real whipped cream can't be matched, in my opinion. Fold into pudding mixture. In trifle dish, layer: Cubed angel food cake (can also use pound cake, or vanilla cake) Pudding mixture Layer of sliced strawberries repeat. Top with berries (and more whipped cream, if desired).

Enjoy!