Easy Coleslaw Dressing

We aren't huge coleslaw eaters at our house.  In fact, I have only made coleslaw twice in my life.  But a few weeks ago my family was getting together for Sunday dinner and my mom was making bbq pork sandwiches, so naturally I felt like we needed some coleslaw to go with them.  I bought a big bag of shredded coleslaw mix at Sam's Club but couldn't find any dressing to go on it.  I figured that I could find a pretty easy recipe online so I started looking around and this is the result of that searching.  A combination of a few basic recipes.

1 cup mayo
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
a few shakes of lemon pepper
salt/pepper to taste

*Stir all ingredients together and mix in with your coleslaw right before serving.

Basil Cous Cous Salad

Basil Cous Cous Salad

Yet another recipe from my friend Susie.  I get all my good ones from her.  This salad will knock your socks off.  Throw some grilled chicken on it to make it a meal or keep it as a side.  Sorry for my phone pictures.

Basil Cous Cous Salad

Ingredients:
1 large package spinach
1/3 cup craisins
1/3 cup asiago cheese
2 cups white corn
1 pkg. couscous (olive oil and garlic flavor - prepared per package instructions

Dressing:
1 cup fresh basil leaves roughly chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 shallot
1 cup buttermilk
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
Directions:
Add ingredients in blender and blend well.  Salt and peper to taste.  Toss with salad just before serving.

Black Bean Quinoa Salad

I always get excited about going to a baby or bridal shower.

I mean, who doesn't love a social gathering where they get to visit with friends while eating a sampling of various people's favorite recipes.  Because you know when you are asked to make food for a shower, you always make something that you love and that you think others will love to.

It was at a baby shower for one of my cousins that i was introduced to this beautiful quinoa salad.  One bite and was I like, oh man, I am going to need that recipe a-sap.

So many great flavors and colors in one dish.  Eat it with pita chips or just dig in with a spoon.

Thanks, Amber, for sharing this recipe!!

2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled to room temp
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium mango, peeled and diced
1 red pepper, diced (or you could use tomatoes)
4 green onions, diced (or 1/4 cup diced red onion)
frozen white corn (take a handful and run it under warm water to thaw)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 Tbs. red wine vinegar
1-2 Tbs. olive oil
1-2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1/2 packet of Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
1 ripe (but not squishy) avocado, diced
salt and pepper to taste

*Put everything together in a bowl, in the order listed above.  Stir well and add avocado last so it doesn't get mushy.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine.

*This recipe is very adaptable.  You can improvise on any ingredient depending on what you like.  I added 2 mangoes instead of 1 and more cilantro than it asked for.

Greek Salad

I got this yummy recipe from my sister-in-law while we were up in Utah. We had it with our 4th of July BBQ and it was perfect!  Its easy, healthy, and perfect for summer. 

Chop up the following veggies:

1-2 cucumbers

2 handfuls grape tomatoes

1 red pepper

1 small red onion

Add some feta cheese

Dressing:

1/2 Cup olive oil

1/8 Cup Lemon Juice

1/8 Cup Red wine vinegar

2 tsp. oregano

2 cloves garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix all the veggies, feta cheese, and dressing together!

*I didn't use all of the dressing. About 1/2 or 3/4 is enough. Also, I just noticed that I actually used apple cider vinegar on accident. It tasted just fine! Blame it on my pregnancy brain.

Spinach Fiesta Salad

I just sat here for 5 minutes staring at this picture, trying to come up with a name for this salad.  I try not to list all of the ingredients of a recipe in the name of the recipe, so "fiesta" is the best I could come up with.  Anyway...

I found this recipe on Pinterest but really it was just a picture with all the ingredients listed under it.  No measurements or detailed directions, but you can't really go wrong when you're dealing with delicious things like avocado and cilantro.  It's going to taste good no matter how you throw it together.

spinach
black beans, drained and rinsed
tomatoes, diced
cucumber, diced
avocado, diced
cilantro, cut into pieces
lime juice
olive oil
salt/pepper

*Fill a bowl with spinach and add as much of the rest of the ingredients as you would like.  Drizzle on some lime juice and a little olive oil and toss the salad.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Spinach Apple Salad with White Balsamic Dressing

If you're like me, you buy a big box of spinach from Costco or Sam's because it's so much cheaper than buying a little bag of it at the grocery store.  But then you have a whole lot of spinach to use before it goes bad.  I put it in my smoothies, but that hardly puts a dent in that big box.  So I decided to make a spinach salad on Sunday.  Normally I would make a spinach salad with strawberries in it but since my strawberry-loving-daughter ate all the strawberries on Saturday night and I was too lazy to go to the store, I went with a spinach/apple salad instead.  Using what my mom and I both had a hand, we came up with a pretty tasty salad if I do say so myself.

Spinach
3 apples, diced (I used Pink Lady)
Sliced almonds
Craisins
Shredded parmesan

Dressing:
3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 lemon (not a huge one)
1 Tbs. honey
salt/pepper to taste

*Toss the salad using as many toppings as you like.  Mix up the dressing really well and drizzle over salad right before serving.  We don't like a ton of dressing so we didn't use all of it.  Just drizzle to your liking.

Homemade Italian Salad Dressing

Remember the days of Pampered Chef parties?  Do people still have those?  I haven't been to one in many years but I used to love those parties because you got to eat free food.  Plus, I really do love their kitchen tools.  Everything I bought from them back in the day is still in my kitchen and gets used regularly.  Anyway, one of the gadgets I have is a salad dressing mixer/container and it has recipes on the sides.  This Italian dressing recipe is one of them and I tried it on Sunday and loved it.

1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. sugar
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. salt

*Mix or shake really well and serve over salad.

Peach Spinach Salad

I linked this salad a few weeks ago and said it was my favorite salad of 2011.  I am now thinking that it could be my favorite salad of the decade.  I want to make it for every meal.  So in case you are not a link-clicker, I decided I had better put the recipe on here so you will make it and love it.  It's from Trainer Momma.

This salad is perfect for all those amazing Utah peaches we are enjoying right now.  I look forward to peach season all year and it's finally here!  If you live in Arizona, please go to Nielsen's frozen custard and get the fresh peach concrete or the homemade peach cobbler.  But don't blame me if you get addicted and spend way too much time and money there.

baby spinach (enough to fill your serving bowl)
fresh peaches, cut up (2 or 3)
fresh blueberries
cucumber, peeled and diced
green onion, sliced
asagio or parmesan cheese, shredded
dried cranberries
candied pecans or sliced almonds

*Toss these together in the amounts that you like.  If you don't have one or more of these ingredients, it's ok...it will still be good.  Toss with white balsamic vinegar dressing right before serving.

Dressing:
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper

*Shake up really well until it's all combined.  I don't use all the dressing because the spinach gets too soggy and wilted.  The flavor is great and you don't need a lot.

Two Recommendations

I have two food recommendations for you on this fine Tuesday night.  First...if you live by a Trader Joe's, you should try this Mandarin orange chicken from the frozen section.  It tastes every bit as good as any restaurant orange chicken and has way less fat and calories.  My kids love orange chicken and were so impressed when I "made" it for dinner.  Score.

If you don't live by a Trader Joe's, I think you should move.

Second...if you love a sweet, spinach, fruity kind of salad...you have got to make this one from Trainer Momma.  This wins my vote for best salad of 2011.  I loved it and loved it some more and then ate it until it was gone.  She will link you to the dressing recipe and the dressing was divine so make that, too.  I found the white balsamic vinegar at Trader Joe's but I'm sure there are other stores that carry it.  Happy eating!

Candied Pecans

Our sweet and very talented aunt, Nanette, sent out an e-mail a few weeks ago with a recipe for candied nuts.  I was so excited to see such an easy recipe because I had a big bag of pecans in my freezer that I wanted to use for something.  This turned out to be way easier than I thought it was going to be and so delicious I can't stop eating them.  Perfect for salads or just for snacking!

2 cups whole nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbs. butter
1 tsp. vanilla

*Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and set aside.  Heat a skillet on stove over medium-high heat.  Melt the butter and add the sugar and nuts.  Cook while stirring constantly until the sugar melts and turns a golden brown.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Stir vigorously.  Pour nuts onto the cookie sheet and spread out evenly.  Cool completely before eating or using.

Chicken Pasta Salad

My friend Heidi Sherman introduced me to this a while ago and ever since then it has been one of my favorite pasta salads. I love the sweetness of the fruit in it and the crunch of the pecans. Thanks Heidi for introducing me to this yummy salad.

4 c. bow-tie pasta (i used penne that's what I had)

4 c. Chicken, cooked and cubed

1/2 c. green onions

1 (20 oz.) can pineapple tidbits, drained

1 1/2 c. mayo.

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 c. red grapes

1 c. pecans, coarsely chopped

1/2 c. craisins

Cook pasts according to package directions; drain. In large bowl, combine all ingredients except grapes, pecans, and craisins. Marinate mixture in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. Add grapes, pecans and craisins just before serving. Makes about 12 cups.

Cashew Apple Salad

Aren't we always looking for new salad recipes?

I love a good salad with lots of stuff in it and homemade dressing to top it off.

Trainer Momma is always a good resource for healthy recipes and that's where I got this salad recipe.

I will definitely be making this again.  It was a great combo of fruity/nutty/cheesy/sweet and salty.

Bag of spinach
Romaine lettuce, cut up (I added that)
Swiss cheese, diced (I shredded it)
2 large apples, diced (she used 4)
Cashews, lightly salted
(I also added some Craisins)

Dressing:
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup canola oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 Tbs. poppy seeds
1 tsp. dry mustard

*Blend the dressing in a blender for a few minutes until well combined.  Toss with salad.
I barely used maybe 1/4 of the dressing.  It's super thick and goes a long way once you start tossing it around in the salad.

Pasta Spinach Salad

A couple of weeks ago, our nephew got baptized and Brett's mom brought this salad to the luncheon afterwards.

It was love at first sight and then love again at first bite.

It's one of the best pasta/spinach/chicken salads that I've ever had.

I got the recipe and made it for the Super Bowl gathering at Ryan and Jen's house.

4-5 chicken breasts, grilled and cubed
16 oz. bowtie pasta, cooked and cooled
1 red pepper, diced
1/4 cup red onion, diced
1 can black olives (I left those out)
1/2 cup Craisins
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 package baby spinach

*Toss together and add this dressing:

1 cup oil
1 1/2 Tbs. red onion
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. tarragon
1 Tbs. poppy seeds

*Blend in blender for 2 minutes.

*Refrigerate salad and dressing separately until ready to serve.  Add dressing right before serving.  After adding dressing (you might not need all of it) sprinkle sugared pecans or walnuts on the top.  You can make them yourself or just buy some honey-roasted pecans or walnuts in the baking aisle.

Caesar Salad

I've been trying to focus on salad ever since I overdosed on all things sweet in December.

When your birthday is the first day of December, it just goes downhill from there.  In a good way.

I don't usually order Caesar salads at restaurants because if they are authentic, they have anchovy paste in the dressing and that is just too much for me to stomach.

This dressing recipe is a Pampered Chef recipe and contains no anchovy paste or anything even remotely related to anchovy paste.

Salad:
Romaine lettuce, washed and torn
grape tomatoes, halved
Parmesan or romano cheese, shredded
Caesar style crutons

Dressing:
3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup grated parmesan
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. black pepper

*Mix dressing really well and drizzle over salad just before serving.

Spicy Quinoa Salad

I am trying to branch out and try new things in my cooking.

I kept coming across recipes with quinoa in them so I decided this was something I needed to try.

I found this recipe on Tasty Kitchen and decided it was too colorful to pass up.

I loved it.  I can't say that it's the most kid-friendly dish, because it's spicy.  But I loved it and I think it would be perfect for a bridal or baby shower, bunco night, book club or some fun get-together like that.  I do have one child who likes spicy food and he ate a whole bowl of it with some tortilla chips.

I'm also a sucker for cilantro and this has the perfect amount.
And the dressing.  Oh my gosh.  My favorite part.

1 1/2 cups cooked organic quinoa (cook according to package directions)
1 Tbs. salt (add when boiling quinoa)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (I used the frozen white corn from TJ's)
1 cup finely chopped sweet bell peppers
1 whole jalapeno, seeded and chopped finely
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped green onion

*Mix these all together with the cooled quinoa and set aside.

Dressing:
5 Tbs. lime juice
1 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. pepper

*Mix well and toss with salad.
Salad tastes better after being refrigerated for a while.

Spinach Apple Salad

One time I read that Jennifer Anniston ate the same salad everyday for lunch while taping "Friends."
I thought that was weird...until I started eating the same salad everyday for lunch.
This is my new favorite salad.

Baby spinach
Diced up apple
Grated parmesan
(My favorite parmesan is the Grana Padano from Costco)
Chopped up almonds
(I use dry roasted almonds and chop them with my chopper)
Balsamic vinaigrette
(My favorite is the one from Fresh and Easy)

*Start with the spinach in a bowl and then add as much apple, parmesan, almonds and dressing as you like. 

Restaurant Coleslaw

We had a church social the other night and my assignment was to bring coleslaw.  I'm not a huge coleslaw lover, but I was determined to find a crowd-pleasing recipe.  I scoured the recipe universe online and found this easy recipe on Allrecipes.  It had lots of good reviews and a promise that it tasted like restaurant slaw.  I liked the way it turned out and it tasted even better the next day after it had been swimming around in the juices all night in the fridge.

1 bag (16 oz.) coleslaw mix
2 Tbs. diced onion
2/3 cup creamy salad dressing (like Miracle Whip)
3 Tbs. vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbs. white vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

*Combine coleslaw mix and onion in a large bowl.  Whisk together the other ingredients really well and pour over slaw.  Toss well to coat.  Chill for at least a few hours or overnight.

Cafe Rio Dressing

You can find this recipe on a lot of different recipe blogs. Chances are you already have it in your files. But just in case you don't have it and you want it...here it is. This dressing goes great with sweet pork, shredded beef, bajio chicken, or just plain salad. Great flavor and fun green color!

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 bunch of cilantro

1 small jalapeno (remove seeds)

1 cup mayo

1 tsp. lime juice

2 tomatillos (remove papery skin)

1 clove garlic

*Blend in blender until mixed really well. Chill in fridge.

Lite Dinner

Here is our favorite go-to meal when we are in need of something light and fresh. My husband and I both love this salad. And the french bread from Fresh and Easy is delish! It's so soft and makes for some yummy garlic bread. This is a perfect summer dinner.

Romaine Salad (re-post)

1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
5 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled (I use turkey bacon)
1 tomato, diced
handful of parmesan cheese
handful of swiss cheese

Dressing:

3/4 cup olive oil
juice of 1 large lemon
3 cloves garlic, minced
couple shakes of salt and pepper

Mix until combined and pour over salad.

Garlic Bread:

1 loaf french bread
butter
garlic salt
parmesan cheese

Slice bread. Top with butter, garlic salt and cheese. Broil in oven for 3-5 minutes until toasty.

Cornucopia Salad

Yes folks... now that I'm jobless and actually have time to make dinner, you might see a post or two from me from now on. A miracle I know. I'm loving it though.
This salad is from the "Favorites" cookbook that a few of you might own, I know Holl and Rach do. Its pretty easy, something different, and really just divine!

1/4 C slivered almonds
1 Tbls sugar
*Caramelize the almonds

1 head green leaf lettuce
1 head Romaine
1 C chopped celery ( i leave this out)
1 (11-oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
2 avocados cut into chunks
2 apples diced
1/2 C dried cranberries
1/2 C crumbled blue cheese (i use feta b/c i'm not a blue cheese fan)

Dressing:
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp grated onion
1/2 tsp salt
1 C vegetable oil (i use olive)
1/3 C apple cider vinegar
1 tsp dry mustard
3/4 tsp poppy seeds

*Toss salad, almonds, and dressing just prior to serving.