Another Favorite Salad

I was quite annoyed several months back when I went to Arby's (I know, I know...) with the kids - they love the roast beef and ham-n-cheez [<--really can't call it otherwise, or you'd insult real cheese] sandwiches, but I was a huge fan of their now-discontinued Martha's Vineyard salad....so I was shocked to find it gone from the menu. So I made it at home to spite them.

Here's the basic ingredients:

* 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or equivalent in "tenders"), cooked
in lite Italian dressing (put them in a 9x9 glass pan, squirt some dressing
over the top and bake for 30-40 minutes at 375*) and sliced into strips
when cooled .

* 1 pt. grape or cherry tomatoes

* 2/3 c. shredded cheddar (more or less to taste)

* 1/2 c. Craisins (or other/no-brand dried cranberries)

* 1 large apple, cored and cubed (I like a nice tart Granny Smith, but
use your favorite - peeled or not, up to you)

* 1 bottle raspberry vinaigrette dressing

* 1/3 c. sliced or slivered almonds

* Assorted greens - I prefer a mix of fresh iceberg and romaine, but get a
bag of whatever you like best if you're in a hurry - washed and reasonably
dry

Toss all the ingredients together, cutting the apple up and tossing it in at the last second to avoid browning. This is a great "meal" salad or makes a nice side.

Stupid Arby's.

Coke Cake - Lost and Found!

One of my Southern Marine wife pals gave me this one years ago...I just found it slipped into an envelope with some old photos while going through a box of mementos....yummy, sweet, and SO being made here in my kitchen after Easter!


Coke Cake:

Ingredients:

* 2 cups sugar
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 cups small marshmallows
* 1/2 cup butter or margarine
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 3 tablespoons cocoa
* 1 cup Coca-Cola
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting:
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3 tablespoons cocoa
* 6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
* 1 box (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar (have some more on reserve)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a bowl, sift together sugar and flour. Add marshmallows.

3. In saucepan, mix butter, oil, cocoa, and Coca-Cola. Bring to a boil and
pour over dry ingredients; blend well.

4. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk just before adding to batter

5. Add eggs and vanilla extract, mix well.

6. Pour into a well-greased 9-by-13-inch pan and bake 35 to 45 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and frost immediately. (Start preparing frosting after

taking cake out of oven).

8. To make frosting, combine butter, cocoa and Coca-Cola in a saucepan.

9. Bring to aboil and pour over confectioners' sugar, blending well. Turn off
heat.

10. Add vanilla extract and pecans. Spread over hot cake.

11. When cool, cut into squares and serve.

Very glamourous....and not that hard to make!