Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad 

1 head of broccoli 
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 c. Raisins
1/2 c. chopped Onion    

Dressing: 
3/4 c. Mayonnaise
2 T. Vinegar
1/4 c. Sugar

Mix dressing and pour over salad ingredients early in day. 

Pasta Veggie Salad

• 1 lb Rotini Pasta noodles, cooked
• Small tomatoes cut ino chunks or grape or pearl tomatoes whole
• Chopped cucumber or broccoli
• Cheese cut into cubes
• Italian dressing

Toss together and serve cold. You can use whatever veggies you desire or have on hand. Same thing goes for the cheese. Great summer side.

Miracle Fruit Salad

• 1 (21 oz) can pineapple chunks
• 1 (21 oz) can sliced peaches
• 1 can mandarin oranges
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp Almond Extract
• 2 C. grapes
• 1 pt strawberries

Mix and chill. Add 2 sliced bananas just before serving (opt). I don't do the bananas usually because they get gross so quickly. Very tasty.

Cajun Chicken Pasta Salad

• 4-5 chicken breasts
• season salt
• 2-3 Tbs butter
• Cajun seasoning spice for poultry (comes in jar)
• Steak sauce
• 2 16oz bags Rotelli or bow tie pasta
• green, red, and yellow pepper (1 each)
• 1 jar sun-dried tomatoes, packed in olive oil (must be packed in olive oil)
• 1/2-1 C pine nuts (opt)
• 1 red onion
• 1 bottle Caesar dressing
• 1 bottle Newmann's balsamic vinegar

Season chicken breasts with season salt, grill; shred into bite-sized pieces. In frying pan, melt butter. Stir in grilled chicken and cajun seasoning spice to taste. Coat chicken lightly with steak sauce, set aside. Cook, rinse, and cool pasta; set aside. Cut peppers into strips and then in half again. Cut sun-dried tomatoes into tidbits and chop as much red onion as desired into small strips. Overnight or several hours before serving, combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, pine nuts, peppers, onion, and dressings in a large serving bowl. Refrigerate. Serve cold.
Chicken may also be cooked in chunks in a frying pan.

Cashew Salad

• 1 pkg shell pasta - cooked (1 lb/16oz)
• 2-3 chicken breasts - cooked and cut
• 1 C. celery
• 2 green onions
• 1 1/4 C. grapes - or more
• 1/2 C cashews - or more
• 1/2 C mayo
• 1/2 C pineapple tidbits - or more
• 8 oz French dressing

Mix together.
Leave out cashews till ready to serve.

Black Bean Salsa

• 2 cans black beans
• 2 cans black eyed peas
• 2 cans corn (drained)
• 8-10 Roma or plum tomatoes
• 3 avocados (diced)
• Zesty Italian dressing, 1/2 of small bottle
• pure` of lime 

Serve with lime or guacamole chips, or plain tortilla chips.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

1 lb. bow tie pasta

1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half

bunch of fresh baby spinach

feta cheese 

1 can of garbanzo beans/ chickpeas

Greek Vinaigrette dressing

Cook the pasta for 7 minutes. Chop your tomatoes in half (better to splash the juice in your mouth when you take a bite, mmm). Add it all together and pour the vinaigrette over it. Mix together, sprinkle a little more feta on top (can you tell I love feta?). Serve cold. 

Isaac and my mom like this one better than my cucumber tomato Greek salad. I'm not sure, the other is still my favorite, but this one is really good. 

Garden Salad

Chicken breasts

Fresh spinach leaves, Spring Mix or both

Sliced fresh mushrooms

Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

Thin red onion wedges

Hard boiled eggs, cut into wedges or sliced

Catalina dressing

Prepare grilled chicken either on the stove top or on the grill.

Toss all ingredients. Add dressing and mix lightly. Serve immediately.

Note: Can use crumbled, cooked bacon instead of grilled chicken.

Prepare grilled chicken either on the stovetop or on the grill. Combine

Orange Avacado Salad

Orange-Avocado Salsa

 

I did this with tilapia on top. I made it in a frying pan with olive oil, salt and pepper. It was great! It would also make a great side. 

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon honey

Coarse salt and ground pepper

2 large navel oranges

1/2 firm, ripe avocado, pitted and diced

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

 

In a medium bowl, whisk lime juice and honey until combined. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

Peel oranges and cut each slice in half. Put in a bowl along with onion and avocado; toss gently to coat with dressing.

Greek Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Greek Tomato and Cucumber Salad

 This is my absolute favorite salad!

2 medium  tomatoes, cut into chunks

1 large cucumber, chopped (about 2 cups)

½ cup coarsely chopped green peppers

½ cup thinly sliced red onions

½ cup Feta cheese

¼ cup Greek Vinaigrette Dressing

½ tsp. grated lemon peel

 

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl.

Tip: Making the salad ahead of time allows all the flavors to blend. Cover & refrigerate up to 24 hours before serving.