Nanny wrote: "So, when Natal, or I, or someone else added those cranberries or nuts to their recipes, it was not to disobey your request, but to show others how their recipes were prepared. It's very easy to omit ingredients from any recipe, which is what I presume these women expect you to do." Thank you for replying, I wasn't going to come back into the topic but it's been bothering me all day because all I did was jokingly say "Ick" to a food I don't like. What I notice here is that others have made rude comments about Miracle Whip, a food *I* use, but were they called out on their "rudeness" to me? No. Why is it ALWAYS me, especially when I go out of my way to let you all know I'm laughing, just as I would if you were sitting before me. I'm not laughig AT you, I'm laughing at an ingredient in food! I have to disagree with you about people adding the ingredients that I specifically asked NOT to be added. Just as everyone goes into other's topics and apologizes for "hijacking" it, this was MY topic, and MY question. I'm not saying this to be mean, but I was the one who wanted some recipes which do not use fruits and nuts. Unless it was a fruit salad. :) So yes, when I get a reply I expect it to be for ME, and others are more than welcome to chime in. It's no different than if you did a topic on the other forum asking for painting advice on any color EXCEPT black, and everyone replied showing you their black rooms. lol. So I don't see how it was wrong for me to RME when I got the recipes with fruits and nuts. When we do a topic asking a specific question, should others reply for the sake of themselves, or to answer the OP's question? Lastly, I cannot believe how the word "Ick" offended others when no offense was meant at ALL. You all don't know me, but I'm known as the "Peace maker". Sure, I get my feelings hurt just like everyone else does, and I hate arguments especially if they're so trivial as me laughing and saying "Ick." I find it extremely rude to correct people on something so minor especially when it's obvious there was no intent on insulting anyone. I said it good heartedly. Just as I said the word "Yankee." Others have been calling themselves Yankees on this board all the time, but when I say it, it's considered offensive? I just get the feeling that some people here, but not all and just a minority, love to nitpick and bicker with others ad nauseum. We were having a fun and fascinating conversation about sandwiches and Miracle Whip vs. Mayonaise, until... I even found a place that sells the Mayo the "southerners" here like that I can order it online. Now, as far as being southern, I think I said this before. Both of my parents were born and raised in southern Virginia, and moved here to Oklahoma after they married. My father is a graduate of VA. Tech. Every single person in my family except my brother and myself are from Virginia. My uncle had a tobacco farm. I grew up with parents dipping cornbread in Buttermilk. ICK!!!! lol. See? I'm laughing about it, I still laugh at it to my mom when she does it! It's not a derogatory term because it's FOOD. But if you were to serve it to me, I'd be polite and eat it and if I didn't like it, you'd never know. Talking about food tastes is one thing and to turn it into nasty, nasty personal insults is another. Which I know you didn't do. I do however take offense because you are insinuating I am not "sophisticated" because I don't like fruit and nuts in my sandwiches. What? You have no idea what I eat. BTW, if anyone even cares at this point, I decided to make some Vegetable Bars and Tuna Salad finger sandwiches. :)

Here are a couple of make ahead salad recipes. COPPER PENNY SALAD 4 cups sliced carrots-----------------cook 10 minutes in salted water 2 medium thinly sliced onions 1 medium diced green pepper 1-10 oz. can tomato soup ½ cup oil 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp. dry mustard 1 tsp. worchestershire sauce ½ tsp. salt To cooked carrots add onions and peppers. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over vegetables. Let stand 1 day Will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. BEAN SALAD Drain in a colander, in order 1 can of Kidney beans, 1 can cut of yellow beans, 1 can of cut green beans OptionalÂyou can add a can of chick peas. 1 small to medium red or white onion cut in ringsÂvery necessary as they add flavor to the salad Dressing ½ cup white or red wine vinegar ½ cup sugar ½ cup salad oil 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp dried basil (2 if itÂs fresh) 1 tbsp. prepared mustard Mix together and pour over beans and onions. Refrigerate for a few hours or overnight before using. Keeps for 2 weeks in the refrigerator. A couple of make ahead breakfast recipes. You make them up the night before and pop them in the oven in the morning.Both use bread cut into cubes CHRISTMAS MORNING WIFE SAVER 6 cups bread cubes 1 1/2 cups of 1/2 inch ham cubes 1/4 cup chopped green onions 1-1/2 cups shredded chedar cheese 6 eggs beaten 1-1/2 cups milk or buttermilk 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp pepper Generously grease a 9x13 pan. Spread half of the bread in the bottom of the pan. Scatter the onions and hamon top. Sprinkle on the cheese. Cover with the remaining bread crumbs. Beat eggs until they are frothy. Add milk, salt and pepper. Blend well. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate over night. In the morning, remove from refrigerator while the oven is heating. Bake @350 for 1 hour. This recipe is very forgiving. The bread, cheese, egg and milk must stay the same but you can add anything you would use in an omelet to the inner layer. APPLE FRENCH TOAST 10 slices day old french bread--I have used raisin bread--very good 6 eggs lightly beaten 2/3/4 cups milk 2/3 cups sugar (divided) 1 tbsp. vanilla 4 medium apples-peeled and thinly sliced. 2 tbsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1 tbsp. butter or margarine Arrange the bread to cover completely the bottom of a well greased 9x13 pan. Combine eggs, milk, half the sugar and vanilla. Pour half over the bread. Combine the rest of the sugar with the spices. Layer on the apples sprinkling with half the sugar mixture. Pour over this the rest of the egg mixture and sprinkle with the rest of the sugar mix. Cover tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator while the oven is heating. Bake uncovered @350 for 1 hour or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean One of these is usually standard fare in our house Christmas morning. A few hints for you. If you are bringing hot dishes a crock pot is ideal. It can be plugged in as soon as you get there. If it's hot a square tinfoil roaster filled with ice makes an ideal holder for salads and things you want to keep cool Deligate certain chores to other family members--don't try to do everything yourself. Good luck--I hope everything goes well

CUCUMBER TOMATO SALAD Diabetic Exchanges Serves: 14Â.. Plan aheadÂneeds to refrigerate for atleast 1 hour. 2 large cucumbers, peeled and diced 2 large tomatoes, diced 1 medium green pepper 1 medium onion, diced 1 bottle (8 oz.) fat-free Italian salad dressing Sugar substitute equivalent to 2 tsp. sugar In a bowl, combine the first 4 ingredients. Combine salad dressing and sugar substitute; pour over vegetables. Refrigerate for atleast 1 hour. Serve with a slotted spoon. Nutritional Analysis: One 1/2-cup serving equals: 29 caloriesÂ0 fatÂ0 cholesterolÂ230 mg sodiumÂ6 gm carbohydrateÂ1 gm fiberÂ1 gm protein ++++ Exchanges: 1 vegetable

In the summertime, I like this fruit salad for a dessert. FRUIT WITH CANNOLI CREAM (4 servings) 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese 1/3 cup sugar 3/4 tsp. orange zest 3 Tbs. orange juice 2 Tbs. mini chocolate chips 1 apple, cored and cut into 8 wedges 1 pear, cored and cut into 8 wedges 1 plum, pitted and cut into 8 wedges 1 pint strawberries, hulled In a blender or food processor, combine the cheese, sugar, orange peel and orange juice and process until smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and fold in 1 Tbs. of the chocolate chips. Place the fruit on a platter and spoon the ricotta mixture over it. Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips, and serve. Note: You can also arrange the fruit in four large goblets or wine glasses and top each portion with some of the sauce and chips. Other fresh fruits can be substituted. Apricots, raspberries and blueberries are all good in this recipe.