Halloween Slug Salad Ham Salad With Aspic Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Mix ham,celery,carrots,relish and mayonnaise in bowl.
• 2. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon gelatin over 1/4 cup water in a small pan. Let stand one minute. Heat softened gelatin over low heat until dissolve, stirring constantly. Cool slightly and mix into ham salad. Chill.
• 3. Cut out a large slug shape from cardboard (or pizza take out box); cover with foil. Mold ham salad into slug shape on cardboard, pressing tightly to form; refrigerate.
• 4. FOR THE ASPIC: (the skin of the slug) in large bowl, sprinkle remaining gelatin over 1 cup cold tomato juice;let stand 1 minute. In a large sauce pan, heat remaining 3 cups tomato juice to a simmer. Pour hot juice in bowl over gelatin mixture and stir until gelatin completely dissolves, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and salt, let cool,then chill until thick but not set. Place chilled slug on wire rack set over baking sheet to catch excess aspic. Slowly spoon 1/2 tomato aspic over ham mold; reserve remainder at room temperature.
• 5. Refrigerate ham slug mold for 20 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and pour aspic over slug to cover evenly. Chill 1 hour, or until firm.
• 6. Black olive bugs: Optional: Because, you know, the slug salad isnt gross enough! :) Make a clear gelatin mixture with 2 teaspoons gelatin in 1/2 cup water. Pour into small cups (mini muffin tins work well) press black olives with carrot slices for legs into gelatin. Chill until firm.

Steps:

• To caramelize the almonds: Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and saute until golden, about 2 minutes.
• Add the brown sugar and stir to combine. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet, separating them. Set aside to cool. When completely cooled, the almonds will have a hard, candied coating.
• To assemble the salad: In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with the red onion, blue cheese, mandarin oranges, and dressing to taste.
• Sprinkle the almonds over the salad and serve immediately.