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Easy Picnic Side Dishes: Chili Rice, Pasta Salad, Pineapple Casserole and Baked Beans

© Shawn Price

If you've been asked to bring a side dish to a picnic, try some these. They travel well and may be made ahead of time, and are a nice change from the ususal macaroni salad or potato chips.

Chili Rice and Cheese
Very easy to make and a good use of leftover rice.

• 1 c. white rice
• 2 c. sour cream
• 1 can (7 oz) chopped green chillies
• 1 lb grated cheese (cheddar, or pepper jack for spice)

Boil rice in water for 20-25 minutes. Mix together the rice, sour cream, chillies, and 3/4 of the cheese. Pour into a buttered 2 quart baking dish and top with the last of the cheese. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

Pineapple Casserole
A good side dish or dessert.

• 6 eggs
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/3 c. flour
• 4 c. chopped fresh pineapple (or 2.5 lb canned pineapple)
• 8 slices bread, cut into cubes
• 1/2 lb melted butter
• 1 t. ginger
• 1 t. cinnamon
• 1/2 t. nutmeg

Combine eggs, sugar, flour, pineapple, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into a buttered 9X13 baking dish. Toss bread with butter and use to top the pineapple mixture. Bake for 1 hour at 325.

Spicy Baked Beans
Easy, tasty, and a nice change from the standard fare.

• 2 lbs canned pork and beans
• 1/2 c. maple syrup
• 1 t. dijon mustard
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 t. chili sauce (or ketchup)
• 6 bacon slices

Mix all of the ingredients together. Pour into a covered 2-quart baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes at 325. Remove the cover and bake for 15 minutes longer.

Seaside Salad

• 1/2 c. slivered almonds
• 1 c. sliced celery
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 8 oz can sliced water chestnuts
• 1/2 lb cooked shrimp
• 5 chopped radishes
• 1/2 c. mayonnaise
• 1/4 c. sour cream
• 2 t. curry powder
• 1 t soy sauce
• 1/2 t. honey
• 5 c. torn greens

Mix together celery, onions, water chestnuts, shrimp, and radishes. In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, curry powder, soy sauce, and honey. Blend celery mixture and dressing. Serve over torn greens and top with almonds.

Spicy Pasta Salad
A little South-of-the-Border and a little Mediterranean.

• 3/4 lb pasta
• 1/4 c. olive oil
• 3/4 c. salsa
• 1/4 lb feta cheese, crumbled
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 can (2 oz) sliced black olives
• 2 tomatoes, chopped

Boil the pasta in water for 10 minutes. Drain and toss with the rest of the ingredients. Cover and refrigerate.

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