Going to a BBQ, Church Function or Family Reunion? Recipe Wednesday

Do you stress out trying to figure out what side to bring to your friend's BBQ, church function or family reunion? I made these for Kate's Birthday Party and several people asked me for the recipes. Here they are.. two EASY and wonderful recipes to bring to those special events.

The recipes are Cream Cheese Fruit Salad and Texas Ranch Potato Salad.

The recipes are of course from All Recipes - with my changes.

Cream Cheese Fruit Salad (serves 8)

(**Note - you can use your favorite fruit)

2 pears
2 apples, cored and chopped
2 ripe bananas, sliced
1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced
3 cups seedless grapes
1/2 lemon, juiced
8 ounces fat-free strawberry cream cheese
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup fat-free pretzels, broken (I left these out because I didn't have any.)

DIRECTIONS
Combine the pears, apples, bananas, strawberries and grapes. Add lemon juice and toss.
Blend together the cream cheese, brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon; add the fruit and pretzels. Fold together. Serve immediately with a dollop of lite whipped topping or refrigerate until chilled.

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Texas Ranch Potato Salad (serves 16)

INGREDIENTS
1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup chopped green onion
1 pound bacon slices
5 pounds unpeeled red potatoes

DIRECTIONS
-Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add whole potatoes, and cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain, run under cold water to cool, and chop into 1 inch cubes. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and refrigerate until completely chilled, about 2 hours.
-In a small bowl, stir together the ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, sour cream and green onion. -Cover, and refrigerate for about 2 hours to blend flavors.
-Wrap bacon in paper towels and place on a plate. Cook in the microwave until crisp, about 15 minutes depending on the power of your microwave. Cool.
-Stir the mayonnaise mixture into the bowl of potatoes. Crumble bacon into the bowl, and stir to distribute. Serve.