CHICKEN BERRY SALAD

1 (3/4 ounce) packet honey mustard salad dressing mix
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
8 cups mixed salad greens
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
8 ounces sugar snap peas
1/2 cup toasted pecans

In a medium bowl, prepare the dressing according to package directions, using vinegar and oil, and substituting orange juice for the water; set aside. Preheat the grill for high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill the chicken 6 to 8 minutes on each side, or until juices run clear. Remove from heat, cool, and slice into strips. In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, salad greens, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peas, and pecans. Pour in the prepared dressing, and toss to coat.

CREAMY THREE - MELON SALAD

1 8-ounce package softened cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sugar (or to taste depending on how sweet the melon is)
8 cups well drained cold melon balls (canteloupe, honeydew, watermelon)
2 cups diced celery
1 cup toasted pecans

Beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, vanilla, and nutmeg together until light and fluffy. In a large chilled bowl beat the heavy cream and sugar until soft peaks form. Fold in the cream cheese mixture. Fold in the celery. Gently toss the dressing with the melon balls and refrigerate for up to 3 hours before serving. Sprinkle with the pecans before serving.

CRUNCHY BROCCOLI SALAD

1 large head broccoli
6 to 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup raisins, optional
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, cut into very small chunks
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Trim off the large leaves from the broccoli stem. Remove the tough stalk at the end and wash broccoli head thoroughly. Cut the head into flowerets and the stem into bite-size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Add the crumbled bacon, onion, raisins if using, and cheese. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, stirring well. Add to broccoli mixture and toss gently.

FRESH BEAN AND TOMATO SALAD

1 pound green beans (or a mix of green and yellow beans)
1 pound cherry tomatoes
1 large shallot
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Chopped basil or dill

Clean and trim the beans and cut them into large segments. Boil the beans gently in salted water until just tender, about four to five minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking, and spread them out to cool. Cut out the stems from the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half.

For the dressing: Peel and mince the shallot and put it in a bowl with the vinegar and salt and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust the balance with more vinegar, oil, or salt, as needed. Toss the cherry tomatoes in with the vinaigrette and let them sit for a while. Do not add the green beans until just before serving. Garnish with chopped basil or dill.

POLISH POTATO AND EGG SALAD

3 pounds red potatoes
6 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped celery
3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise
1 to 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped dill
1 tomato, sliced
1/2 cucumber, sliced

Scrub the potatoes well -- or peel them. The salad looks very pretty if you leave the red peels on. Cook the potatoes in salted water until just tender. Cool and slice into large chunks. Peel the eggs and cut into thick slices. Combine potatoes, egg, onions, and celery in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and mustard, add dill, and salt and pepper to taste. Add more mayonnaise or mustard to achieve the desired consistency. Then add the dressing to the potatoes and eggs and toss gently. Check for seasoning. Top salad with thinly sliced tomatoes and cucumber. Garnish with more dill. Chill well before serving.

POLISH CUCUMBER SALAD - MIZERIA

3 medium cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
3 tablespoons dill, chopped
Dill leaves, for garnish, optional

Place sliced cucumbers and chopped onion in a medium bowl. Add salt. Mix lightly until salt adheres evenly to cucumbers. Cover and refrigerate for one hour. Drain juice from cucumbers. In a small bowl, combine the remainder of the ingredients. Add to cucumbers, mixing gently. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with dill before serving.

SHRIMP AND ARTICHOKE SALAD

1 clove garlic
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh basil leaves - shredded
1 red onion - thinly sliced
1 ripe avocado - thickly sliced
16 ounces cooked shrimp - peeled, tails off
14 ounces (1 can) arichoke hearts - drained
1/2 head of iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 bag or container of mixed greens
salt and pepper to taste

Chop garlic. Place garlic and salt in a medium bowl and mix with mustard to form a paste. Beat in the vinegar and then pour the olive oil into the bowl slowly, whisking it in to make a thick and creamy dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Add basil and onion and stir. Let dressing stand for at least 30 minutes at room temperature. Stir in shrimp and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.

To serve the salad, drain the artichokes and cut in half. Peel and slice the avocado.
Make a bed of both lettuces mixed together on a large platter. Spread artichokes and sliced avocado over lettuce. Immediately before serving, pour shrimp and marinade on top of the salad. Garnish with additional basil leaves. Serve with toasted and quartered pita bread.

HEALTHY BLACK BEAN AND AVOCADO SALAD

1 (16 oz) can of black beans
2 vine ripe tomatoes
1 red onion
1 ripe avocado
1 clove garlic, crushed
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Using colander, rinse and drain black beans. Finely chop onion. Coarsely cut tomatoes and avocado into chunks. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Polish cuisine is rich with many delicious and unusual soup recipes. A traditional Polish dinner always starts with a soup course, that's why so many soup recipes have been created over the centuries. Dinner is not considered dinner if it does not start with a soup!

In the summertime, cold soups made from either fruits and vegetables are very popular. Here is a sampling of Polish summer soups, both hot and cold!

Leek, Asparagus and Spinach Soup

For a nice fresh taste of summer, try this leek, asparagus and spinach soup your entire family is sure to love.

2 leeks, 1 onion, 2 Tbs butter, 3 potatoes,
2 carrots, 8-12 asparagus spears, 1 10-oz bag of spinach leaves, 1/4 cup uncooked rice, 1 cup half and half, salt to taste, 10 cups of hot water

Carefully rinse and clean the leeks, then slice them thinly, discarding the dark green parts. Finely chop one onion. Heat the butter in a large saucepan and then add the leeks and onion. Toss the vegetables in the butter and sauté over low heat, covered, for about 5 minutes (do not allow to brown). Add finely diced carrots and roughly chopped potatoes, hot water, and salt.

Bring to a gentle boil, then lower heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Add rice, mix well to prevent sticking, and cook for another 15 minutes.

In the meantime, prepare the asparagus spears by peeling them and cutting off the tough lower stems. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces and add to the pot. Cook for another 10 minutes. Wash and cut spinach into thin strips, add to soup and cook for 10 minutes more. Slowly add the half and half, bring to boil, cover and refrigerate for a day. To serve, heat while stirring. Serves 8.

Cold Beet and Cucumber Soup

A Polish summertime favorite is called "chlodnik" which is a soup served cold. This chilled beet and cucumber soup is a tasty-and healthy-treat on a hot day!

1 lb cooked, peeled, and sliced beets (or 1 can sliced beets); 1 1/2 cups buttermilk or plain kefir; 1/4 cup sour cream; 1 small seedless cucumber, peeled and quartered. 1 hard-boiled egg, quartered; salt and pepper to taste; extra cucumber slices, sour cream, and dill
for garnish.

Place beets in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and puree until thick and creamy. Adjust seasonings. Chill for two hours or overnight. Serve in small glass bowls or goblets, garnished with an extra cucumber slice, a dollop of sour cream, and dill. Serves 4.

Strawberry - Rhurbarb Chlodnik

This classic combination of the two best tastes of summer, strawberries and rhubarb, comes together well in a cool, refreshing soup that is often served over noodles for lunch on hot summer days.

1 pound rhubarb, trimmed, peeled, and chopped, 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed, hulled and halved, 5 cups water, 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup yoghurt, 1/2 to 1 cup sugar (to taste), 8 oz. kluski egg noodles, 1/4 cup sour cream.

Place rhubarb and water in large pot. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until rhubarb is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove pot from heat. Puree in blender in batches. Return to pot and heat slowly. Dissolve cornstarch in milk and whisk into hot soup. Bring to a boil and simmer 3 minutes. Chill soup in an ice bath and refrigerate. Before serving, puree fresh strawberries with yoghurt and sugar and add to rhubarb mixture. Taste and add sugar and more milk if needed. Cook kluski, drain, and divide among four plates. Ladle soup over kluski and add a dollop of sour cream and a fresh strawberry for garnish.

Chilled Blueberry Soup

This soup is tart and refreshing and bursting with the tastes and smells of summer. Serve it as a first course for luncheons, picnics, or dinners served outdoors. Not only is this soup delisious, it is also good for you. Blueberries are a power food, packed with valuable vitamins and antioxidants.

3 cups blueberries, 4 cups water, 1 pinch salt, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cup sour cream or yoghurt, 3 Tbs flour, 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Boil 2 cups of blueberries in 4 cups water. Stir in salt, cinnamon, and sugar. Remove from heat. Whip flour into the sour cream gradually until well blended, then whip both into the hot liquid, stirring until smooth, return the pot to the heat and bring to a slow boil. Reduce heat and stir until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries, and chill in refrigerator. Before serving, stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of blueberries, check for sweetness and add more sugar if desired, and ladle into bowls. Serves 4 as a first course.