CILANTRO TACO SALAD

Honestly this recipe doesn't need the homeade chickpeas and chips. Just buy roasted chick peas and tortilla chips save yourself some time..lol

tortilla chips lightly crushed or tortilla strips
taco seasoned roasted chickpeas
6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
1 cup chopped red cabbage
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 cup fresh corn kernels
1 large avocado, pit removed and sliced
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Dressing: Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette:

1 shallot, minced
2 cups packed fresh cilantro leaves, stems removed
1 large clove garlic
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS:
make the cilantro lime vinaigrette. In a blender or food processor, combine the shallot, cilantro, garlic, vinegar, lime juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
place lettuce in a large salad bowl. Top the lettuce with red cabbage, tomatoes, corn, avocado slices, cilantro, spiced chickpeas, and baked tortilla strips. Drizzle the salad with cilantro lime vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Bacon Chicken Ranch salad

I'm sure every family makes this salad but I'm including it because we love it

Roasted chicken chopped about 1 cup (I often use rotesserie chicken from the grocery store)
Bacon (cooked and chopped into bits)
hard boiled eggs (1 or 2) chopped
1/2 cup shredded cheese (whatever you have on hand)
1/2 head lettuce chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
1 Avocado chopped
shredded or chopped carrots
toss all ingredients
serve with
Ranch dressing (we like to make if fresh from the dry mix)

Mom's Taco Salad.. or Dorito Salad

This is a recipe my mom would make us growing up and I loved it then. It was my favorite but I have added a few things over the years. who knew Doritos could make a Salad???

I bag Doritos (old school nacho flavor please)
1 pound hamburger
dry taco seasoning (any brand)
1/2 can beans drained (black or kidney)
head of lettuce chopped (small or 1/2 Large)
tomatoes chopped (2 med)
avocados chopped (1 or 2)
1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar OR mexican mix)
1/2 cup sour cream

cook hamburger use taco seasoning per instructions, add beans to the simmer part

In a large bowl add 1/2 bag chips and all other ingredients, leaving sour cream and meat mixture for the last. Toss all together and serve. Add more chips as desired.
This salad is best served immediately with the warm meat and melty cheese and crispy chips. The chips will get soggy 2nd day but its still yummy day 2

Asian Noodle Salad

8 ounces thin spaghetti
8 ­ounce bag julienne/fine­cut carrots
(about 1 1/2 cups)
6 ­ounce bag baby sweet peppers,
seeded and sliced thinly into rings (about
1 cup)
4 ­ounce bag bean sprouts (about 1
cup)
3 English cucumbers, halved, seeds
removed and sliced
3 scallions, sliced
Up to 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1/2 head or more napa cabbage, sliced
1/2 head or more purple cabbage, sliced
1/2 bunch kale, leaves torn off the stalks
and shredded
2 cups peanuts, chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup low­sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar

Thai QUINOA Salad

Ok let me just start out by saying we are not a kale and quinoa kind of family. I'm not a health food guroo, we like good and yummy food and salads are something we are just starting to love. Here is one that I found on facebook and my family loves it!! It has a yummy peanuty dressing and is super crunchy

SALAD

1 large carrot, julienned
2 cups cooked quinoa
3 cups sliced Red Cabbage
1 cup chopped Red bell pepper
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 cups kale, removed from stems, washed, dried and chopped
1/4 cup cashews , chopped
1/2 small lime ( to squeeze over salad before the dressing

PEANUT GINGER SAUCE

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Combine all salad ingredients, toss with lime juice, toss with dressing..done

Israeli Couscous Salad

I just mostly eyeball amounts in this recipe. It's my favorite salad and I got it from my dear friend Shannon

Ingredients:
Couscous cooked and drained (about 1.5 cups)
fresh spinach
feta cheese
red onion
kalamata Olives
sun dried tomatoes (the wet kind)

Chop up all ingredients

Dressing...Lemon Juice (2 lemons)
olive oil
sugar
fresh mint (chopped)
garlic (chopped)
oregano -
sea salt

Tomato Basil Brown Rice Salad

1 cup short brown rice
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/4 cup Champagne or rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon good olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ripe tomatoes, large-diced
1 cup packed basil leaves (1 large bunch), chopped
2 cups Spinach
Directions
Bring 2 1/4 cups water to a boil and add the rice and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Return to a boil, cover, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until the rice is tender and all the water is absorbed. Transfer the rice to a bowl.

Whisk together the vinegar, sugar, olive oil, remaining teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Pour over the rice. Add the tomatoes and basil. Mix well and check the seasonings. Serve at room temperature.

Shrimp/Pasta Salad

This recipe is in the works still. But I am developing it.

1 pound large shrimp (frozen from costco works great) cooked in some water
1 box penne or other large pasta shell
3/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped onion (green if possible)
1/8 t salt
large pinch pepper
1 t dried parsley
1 t dried dill
2 T olive oil
1/3 cup mayo
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 T dry ranch dressing mix

combine all. let chill so flavors combine

Buca Di Peppo warm Tomato and Spinach Salad

1 red onion ( cut in wedges or slices)
4-6 roma tomatoes
16 oz fresh baby spinach
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled

Balsamic Vinagrette:

1/2 cup balsamic vinagrette
1 garlic clove (minced)
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 cup extra virgin olive oil

Place vinager, garlic, and sugar in mixing bowl, whisk rapidly by hand while drizzling in olive oil, mix well. Store in fridge until ready.

Pecans:

1 cup pecans
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Heat oven to 350. melt butter in saute pan, add sugar, cinnamon, salt, cayenne pepper & pecans. Spread pecans on cookie sheet and bake about 5-7 minutes, (watching carefully not to burn) Let cool.

1)Place Red onions and tomatoes in med glass bowl. microwave 2-3 minutes

2)Place spinach on large platter. spoon tomatoes and onion to the side of the spinach. pour dressing over spinach and lightly toss. Sprinkle salad with pecans and goat cheese.

Spinach Salad

I got this recipe from my cousin Kara, who made it for an easter dinner we had at my Aunt Kathy's house. I found out later that she got the recipe from my sister Jenna originally

1/2 head of lettuce
1 package of spinach (or equal amounts to 1/2 head lettuce)
1/2 red onion sliced very thin
1 pound grated swiss cheese
sliced mushrooms (1 pkg) I give them and extra chop
1/2 pound bacon (cooked and crumbled)
1 cup frozen peas
optional add ins:
slivered almonds
chopped hard boiled eggs
Cooked chopped chicken


Dressing:
1/3 cup white vinager
2 or 3 chopped green onions
3/4 cup oil
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp celery seed
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup olive oil (add oil last and drizzle in while whisking ingredients to combine)

It's a good idea to make the dressing ahead so the flavers can blend (a few hours)
toss together just before serving

Mom's Shrimp Salad

I thought this was my mother's recipe growing up but I think it was grandma Baker's. Uncle Doug and Aunt Kathy make a version of it as well. I get requests to bring this salad to George's family events. We all love it!

2 cups uncooked macaroni - small salad size
cook and drain, sprinkle with salt and pepper, set aside to cool
5 or 6 hard boiled eggs - peeled and chopped
3 stalks green onion - chopped small
1 cup chopped celery
1 small can peas (drained)
1 can bay shrimp or 1 cup or so small frozen shrimp (pre-cooked)

In large bowl make dressing:

1 cup Mayo (miracle whip is best)
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp sugar

Stir dressing, then add noodles, celery, onion, peas, then toss in eggs and shrimp last