There's nothing like sitting on the porch swing with a cool
salad, a cool glass of tea, and a favorite romance during
the Dog Days of August! Mary
Ellis is sharing her favorite summer recipe and giving
one lucky winner 3 of her Amish romances, LOVE COMES
TO PARADISE , THE AMISH
MIRACLE , and A PLAIN
MAN .
Mary’s Secret Recipe Four Bean
Salad
Combine in large bowl:
1 can green beans
(note: all beans can be either home-canned or store-bought)
1 can yellow beans (wax beans)
1 can kidney beans (light red or dark)
1 can garbanzo beans
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped peppers-sweet (green, red or yellow or
combination)
½ cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped black olives (optional)
Add only enough dressing (recipe below) to lightly coat
salad, then chill in refrigerator several hours or
overnight. Before serving, if desired, drain off any runny
dressing and add fresh. (1 or 2 tablespoons, or to
taste)
Dressing:
2 cups oil (I prefer olive)
1 1/3 cups cider vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 1/2 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
2 tsp. prepared mustard
1 tsp. celery seed
1 tsp. Hungarian paprika
1 tsp. parsley (fresh or dried)
Heat oil and vinegar together, stirring in sugar and
seasonings. Heat only until sugar is completely dissolved
and seasonings are blended. Do not boil. Let cool and stored
in a sealed jar in the refrigerator to use as needed. Shake
well before using. This can be used on coleslaw and lettuce
or spinach salad too. I never make this recipe the same way
twice, so play around with the quantities (celery etc.) or
types of peppers, etc. to suit your taste.