Retro to Raw: Sunshine Salad & Candied Sunflower Seeds

Yay! It's one of my favorite segments: 

Retro to Raw Recipes!

I have to thank my little Sis for this one. After taking "fridge inventory" with her assistance yesterday, we both grabbed one of my favorite Vintage Cookbooks each, and thumbed through the pages trying to find a Recipe for today's post.
When I heard her say out loud: "Sunshine Salad! I Remember this one!"

I replied: "What's that? Read me the recipe ingredients." 

After she broke it down, and proceed to tell me when, where and why she had ever eaten such a thing - I knew I wanted to make my own version - with more of a dessert twist.

Another thank you goes out to my still favorite Cookbook Auther, Meta Given. Wherever you are Meta - all my love!

I just can't seem to get away from her recipes. This is another adaptation from "The Modern Family Cookbook" - a wonderful collection of flavors and recipes. I recommend buying this gem if you should ever find yourself in the Cooking section of a used book store and see it there. Such a treasure!

Important Note About This Recipe

I've included a special BONUS recipe for Candied Sunflower Seeds in today's post. They are such a wonderful addition to this salad. Serve them as a garnish in a fancy bowl - encouraging your guests to add a heaping Tablespoon-full to the top of their Sunshine Salad. My wonderful Sister made these candied treats all by herself, while I stood in the far corner of the kitchen (as a sort of playful exercise in surrendering control), and gave her recipe directions and measurements from "off the top of my head". Having never made these candied seeds myself, I'm elated to say that the recipe turned out perfect, and the learning/teaching process was really rewarding too!

Mint: 

Even though it's optional - I urge (no, beg) you to try adding fresh Mint to this Salad. It may seem a bit "odd" as an addition, but I assure you this leafy green herb elevates this salad to a gourmet level of flavor that will knock your knickers off and have you heaving sighs between every bite!

One last thing: 

Since this is a Retro to Raw Recipe, I'd like to recommend that you listen to some appropriate music while you're in the kitchen. Any of the Retro Shopping Compilations by Ultra Swank will do wonderfully. You'll find me on just about any given day listening to Ultra Swank Compilations, happily donning my apron, and mincing veggies while tapping my toes at the same time. 

Do join me!!

Now onto the food...

AtV's Sunshine Salad

This recipe yields enough for 4 small decadent side dish servings or 2 generous portions. 

Double (or even triple) this Salad recipe if you plan on bringing it with you to a Potluck or Barbecue. Those who might remember this dish in it's original form (with mayonnaise and gelatin *gag*) won't know what hit them as their only thoughts will be about licking the plate clean and going back for seconds!

Step 1. Sunshine Salad Components

1 & 1/2 c Pineapple - sliced and chopped 

1 & 1/4 c Orange Sections - sliced and chopped

1 c Carrot - Shredded

Into a bowl goes all of the above:

I recommend keeping your Orange and Pineapple relatively
close in size/shape. 

Move on to the next Step...

-

Step 2. Sunshine Salad Dressing

In a small mixing bowl combine the following:

1/4 c AtV Sour Cream

3 Tbsp Date Paste

2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp Vanilla

Whisk it all together!!

(It's seriously like Lemony Cool Whip)

Now you get to add your Sunshine Dressing to your Sunshine Salad Components:

Mix it all together...

Oh  but we're not done yet...

Place your Sunshine Salad in a pretty dish with a lid - okay, okay, you can try it if you have to.

In my opinion this is one of my favorite new ways to consume vitamin C!

You really should make some Candied Sunflower Seeds to make your Sunshine Salad Complete...

Quick & Easy Candied Sunflower Seeds

2 heaping Tbsp Date Paste

3 Tbsp Water

3/4 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Lemon Juice

1 pinch of Sea Salt

Whisk/Mix together all of the above...

Those aren't my hands - I'm "letting go of control"!

Now, once you've mixed together all of your "Candied" wet ingredients, add your Sunflower Seeds:

Fold your Seeds into your wet ingredients:

Warming/Making your Seeds into Candy

From here you will need either a Dehydrator or an Oven. 

Pick one of the methods below and you'll be almost finished!

Conventional Oven Method: Line a baking sheet with Parchment Paper and spread your Sunflower Seeds evenly onto  the sheet like so:

Once you've evenly flattened and spread out your seeds proceed to sprinkle over the top of your seeds: 

1 tsp of Coconut Crystals 

1 pinch of Sea Salt

You get an unexpected sneak peek of my "gadget corner"
in this photo also.

Place your Baking sheet with Candied Seeds into your Oven set at its very lowest heat. Leave the Oven door cracked open, and warm/dry your Seeds for 30 minutes. Remove seeds and let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes. They may stick to the Parchment Paper a bit, but that's totally okay. Scrape 'em off, store them in an air tight container in your fridge. Enjoy them as a topping to your Sunshine Salad!

Dehydrator Method: Follow all of the directions noted in the Oven Method, spreading your seeds out into your Dehydrator sheet (rather than a baking sheet, of course). Warm/Dry your seeds for 30 to 45 minutes. Remove them and let them cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Store in an air tight container in your fridge. Enjoy your Candied Sunflower Seeds as a topping to your Sunshine Salad!

Salty/sweet Candied Seeds....so easy and so good!

Don't forget the Mint! 

Ahem - I mean, pretty please give it a try!

Chiffonade 8 or 9 Mint Leaves and mix throughout your salad, or garnish on top.

xoxo,

Sarahfae - AtV