Summer is here in all her glory. The children are home for the summer. Flowers are blooming. The beach is beckoning. It's vacation time. But our everyday lives go on. There's laundry to be done and meals to be cooked. Here is a quick, easy, cool meal for a summer evening.

My husband and I enjoyed this salad at a hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Why it is named after a Caribbean Island, I do not know. What I do know is that it is delicious. While we were eating I scribbled down on a napkin what I perceived the ingredients to be. I have served it on many occasions to family and friends, and it has received rave reviews.

INGREDIENTS:

• Mixed Greens
  
• 1/2 lb. Honey Smoked Turkey, julienned (I buy this in the deli)
  
• 2-3 apples, diced. tossed w/ a tablespoon of lemon juice to retard browning (for more color and fiber, leave on the peel)
  
• 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
  
• 8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  
• 2-3 green onions, chopped
  
• Bottled poppyseed salad dressing (I use the fat free variety)
  

Layer on individual serving plates: greens, apples, turkey, cheese, onions, and walnuts. You may drizzle on the dressing or serve it on the side. You may also toss all ingredients, except the nuts, together in a large bowl and then garnish with nuts if you are serving a crowd, or a buffet.

Serve with hard rolls or French baguettes for a complete meal.

This salad should serve 6-8. You may adjust the amounts used to suit the occasion and the appetites of those being fed.

This delightful quick bread would be a tasty accompaniment to the Cayman Island Salad. Or, serve it for dessert with some low-fat whipped topping.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
  
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
• 1 cup chopped and peeled ripe pear
  
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
  
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
  
• 2/3 cup sugar
  
• 1/4 cup honey
  
• 2 tablespoons stick margarine, melted
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 large egg
  
• Non-Stick Cooking spray
  

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in pear and nuts; make a well in center of mixture. Combine buttermilk and next 5 ingredients (buttermilk through egg) in a bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spoon batter into an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Yield: 14 servings.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

What have you done to stimulate your imagination lately? Do you still fantasize and dream, or have you put that away as a function of "childhood"? Think back to the time when you could travel anywhere and be anything simply by closing your eyes and imagining.

It's summer vacation time. "But I don't have the time or the money to take a vacation this year." You say. The kids, my job, the housework, the yard work...........

All you really need is ten minutes. A half an hour would be ideal, but let's be realistic here, you're new at this. So carve out ten minutes in your day just for you. Find a place to be alone. Go out and weed the garden, no one will bother you, they might be asked to help. Draw yourself a warm bath and lock the door. Take the dog for a walk. Any mindless occupation will do.

Now choose a dream.

If you could go anywhere in the world..... money is no object here....... Where would you go? What would you do?

If you could choose any talent......what would you do?.... dance, sing, paint, write?

These are only suggestions....any dream you care to explore is valid.

Now your inner vacation begins....... You've chosen a dream, now expand it. Where are you? What are you wearing? What is the weather? What do you smell? Is there anyone else there? What will you do now that you are there? The possibilities are endless. And don't be surprised if you learn something new about yourself.

Enjoy your vacation! I hope you come back happy, rested, and ready to tackle everyday life with renewed energy and excitement.

"Sterling Moon is my favorite specialty coffee!" David E. Brown,
[Billy Joel's former lead guitarist for 11 years] Gloucester, MA

Visit the gURLz Gazette Archives to read previous articles by this author.

Disclaimer   |    Archived Articles