Fruity Rice Salad (gluten-free)

This recipe from the "Taste of Home Summer's Best Recipes" is just delicious.  The dressing isn’t the usual whipped cream or topping with marshmallows…it’s much better.  This is a wonderful fresh salad, great with anything from the grill or as the star of a front porch supper, with cold cuts and fresh rolls.              

This is also a great gluten-free salad for those whose diets are restricted.                    

 Fruity Rice Salad

  3        Ounces  Cream Cheese -- softened

     ½    Cup  Plain Yogurt -- or Sour Cream

     ¼    Cup  Honey

  2        Tablespoons  Lemon Juice

  2        Cups  Rice -- cooked, cooled

  3        Each  Peach or Nectarine, pitted and chopped

  1        Cup  Green Grapes -- halved

     ½    Cup  Celery -- sliced

     ½    Cup  Raisins (I used golden raisins)

     ½    Cup  Pecans -- chopped

In a large bowl, beat the first five ingredients until blended.  Stir in the remaining ingredients except the nuts.  Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hours.

Just before serving stir in (or sprinkle on) the pecans.

6 servings

2012 Cost:  $5.03 or 84¢ per serving

Per Serving: 502 Calories; 16g Fat (27.7% calories from fat); 8g Protein; 85g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 24mg Cholesterol; 66mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 3 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 3 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.