Spinach Salad

Brrr it's cold out....and getting colder!

I should be posting about some WARM soup. But today I have a simple spinach salad to share.

This bright colored salad is sweet and salty....

 The dressing is slightly sweet with a bit of a tang from the vinegar, while the bacon is crisp and salty. We love the chunks of red onion, and actually adding some chopped tomato would make this very festive for Christmas!

Spinach Salad

1/2 c. sugar ( I used 1/4 c.)

1/2 c. canola oil

1/4 c. white vinegar

1/2 tsp. celery seed

1 bag spinach

1 small red onion, sliced

5 hard boiled eggs,cooked and  sliced

10 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Stir the sugar,oil, vinegar and celery seed until combined. In a 9 x 13 glass dish, layer the spinach, onion, eggs and bacon. Repeat. Pour dressing on top and serve!

Crunchy Poppyseed Coleslaw

I have really been into salads lately and one of my favorite bottled dressings is Panera's Poppyseed. I usually like to make my own dressings, but I do keep a few bottled on hand for quick meals. I tried it in one of my coleslaw recipes, and it was a winner!

Crunchy, sweet and a bit salty...it was a perfect side for some grilled pork chops.






Poppyseed Coleslaw

1 pkg. angel hair coleslaw

1/2 c. dried cranberries

1/2 c. honey roasted slivered almonds or peanuts

3/4 c. poppy seed salad dressing ( I used Panera)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix and chill 1 hour before serving.

Lemon Blueberry Fluff

I had some leftover Blueberries from Easter, so I threw a quick fluff together....Brent will eat anything with whipped cream  in it! 

I LOVE anything lemon, especially lemon yogurt, that and vanilla are my favorites, so I always have both on hand. This makes such a quick and easy dessert....can't go wrong with this!

Lemon Blueberry Fluff

8 oz. Cool Whip

1 c. blueberries

6 oz. lemon yogurt

Mix the cool whip and yogurt, fold in blueberries and chill until serving.

Quinoa Salad

I really like quinoa, although I never cook much with it, so I decided to remedy that!

I've been pouring over recipes and found quite a few to try. This one combines a couple of them.

 Brent really liked this too. The lime gave it such a fresh taste,and we loved the zip from the spices. Next time I will make just half a batch though, as we were eating this for week....it makes a ton. It was awesome on it's own for a quick lunch, and perfect as a side with grilled chicken!

Quinoa Salad

1 c. quinoa, rinsed

2 c. chicken broth

Boil according to directions, set aside to cool.

Mix dressing and set aside:

4 Tbsp. lime juice( about 2 limes)

1/4 c. olive oil

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 tsp. garlic salt

2 tsp. chile powder

2 tsp. cumin

Combine:

1 can black beans, rinsed

1/2 c. frozen corn

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

4 sliced green onions

1/4-1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro

Add the quinoa to the mixture, and toss all with dressing. Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours.

Tangy French Salad Dressing

We have gone back to eating lots of salads lately, and I always like to make my own dressing. Tangy French Dressing is a favorite. 

 My daughter and son in law gave me this Oxo Salad dressing Shaker a few years a go, and it's one of the most used tools in my kitchen. I love the tight seal and pour spout. The dressing stays fresh for days.

I'm kind of a french dressing girl, while Brent's favorite is always ranch. But when I make this simple french dressing, he has no complaints! It's just the right blend of ingredients and the chili sauce gives a nice lil tang!

Tangy French dressing

1/4 c. vinegar

1/4 c. sugar

1/3 c. chili sauce

2 Tbsp. grated onion

1 c. oil ( olive or canola)

Special Christmas present....

Hi everyone!

I have something fun to share today....a VERY special present I got for Christmas this year from my daughter. She made me a recipe book, filled with some of her favorites. Complete with photo's and handwritten recipes. A few years ago, she made one for me, and I treasure it! I couldn't believe she made me ANOTHER one...they take SO much time...but she did.... AND the cover is my favorite color!

 I look at it every day. 

Sometimes more than once a day!!! 

And her sweet pups are even in it!

The recipe cards are all different:

.

And the photo's make me SO hungry:

The recipes are fun to try, and I have many more to go!

I love the cute stickers!

This is sinful...yes we tried it already....sinfully bacony good! Is that a word? It should be!

Here is the last page:

I think you can see why I love this gift!

One of the first recipes I tried was Pioneer Woman's Mexican Salad. 

My daughter has all of her cookbooks, and has tried tons of her recipes. It was awesome!

Here it is:

1/2 c. mayo

1/4 c. milk

1/4 c. sour cream

3 Tbsp. minced cilantro

1/4 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. cumin

hot sauce to taste

1 clove garlic, grated

salt and pepper to taste

Mix well. Serve on greens,tomato,black olives, red onion, tortilla chips,cilantro, shredded cheese ..any toppings you like!

Have a great day!

Broccoli Apple Salad

If you like a salad with lots of crunch, this is it!

Besides having lots of crunch, it has lots of flavor,too. It's full of chopped broccoli, apples,bacon, and onion, all tossed with a creamy ranch dressing.

The big bonus is how quick and easy it is to make using the already prepared salad dressing!

 Broccoli Apple Salad

3/4 lb. broccoli,chopped

1  apple, chopped

1/2 c. red onion, chopped

3 Tbsp. bacon pieces

1/2 c. ranch dressing ( I use Hidden Valley)

4 1/2 tsp. sugar (optional)

Combine the ranch dressing and sugar, toss with the rest of the ingredients and chill until serving.

Caramel Apple Salad

Hi everyone!

I have a delicious, quick and easy salad to share with you today. Actually, I suppose it is more like a dessert!  Caramel Apple Salad really does taste similar to caramel apples, a creamy version. It's chock full of chopped crunchy apples, covered with creamy butterscotch and topped with salty peanuts. A great combo!

I usually have all the ingredients on hand, so I make it quite often. I like to stir the pudding mixture together, take half of it and add 2 c. chopped apple and top with the 1/4 c.peanuts. The other half I put in the frig to make the next day, and stir in the apple before serving. That way the apples are fresh and crunchy.

This is another of those recipes one can find in many church cookbooks around here. It's a pot luck favorite!

Caramel Apple Salad

1 c. cold low fat milk

1 package (1 oz.) sugar free fat free instant butterscotch pudding

2 c. reduced fat Cool Whip, divided

3 to 4 cups chopped unpeeled apples

1/2 c. chopped peanuts

Mix 1 c. milk with butterscotch pudding mix, whisking for 1 minute until thick. Whisk in 1 c. cool whip. Fold in the apples, and the remaining cool whip. Refrigerate until serving. Top with chopped peanuts to serve.

Creamy Raspberry Salad

Hi everyone!

I'm sharing a family favorite today..Raspberry Salad. I make it for almost every family get together, my hubby and son LOVE it!

Well, it IS sweet and creamy!

It goes well with a ham or turkey dinner, and you all know in Minnesota ....it's not a complete dinner if there isn't some come kind of jello or hot dish!

Raspberry Salad

3 oz. raspberry jello

3 oz. vanilla cook and serve pudding

 1 package frozen raspberries, thawed

8 oz. cool whip

Drain the thawed frozen raspberries, reserving the liquid. Pour into a measuring cup and add water to the 1 1/2 c. mark.( you can just use water too, I just hate to throw away that good raspberry juice!) Cook the liquid with the jello and pudding until thickened and clear. Cool. Add the cool whip and stir until smooth, fold in the raspberries and pour into a bowl. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Lemon Cilantro Tomato Salad

Hi everyone!

I forgot to post this salad I had made quite often this summer, so I thought I would share it now. Looking at this photo makes me wish for fresh garden tomatoes! Yum, I can't wait!

The recipe calls for cherry tomatoes, but I use whatever I have on hand. For this one I chopped up some yellow tomatoes. They look so pretty with the green cilantro! Quick, EZ and refreshing!

Lemon Cilantro Tomato Salad

2 pts. cherry tomatoes

1/2 c. chopped cilantro

1/2 c. olive oil

juice of one large lemon

salt and pepper to taste

Mix and serve!

Black Bean, Corn and Tomato Salad

I made this salad a few weeks ago with some fresh corn and tomatoes from the Farmers Market. It was such a great side dish for Mexican Chicken Kiev..you can find that recipe here. It makes a large salad, enough for a few meals for the two of us. We love the combo of flavors and bit of zip from the cumin and chili powder. It's a winner!

Black Bean, Corn, and Tomato Salad

1/2 c. veg. oil ( can use olive oil)

juice of two limes

3/4 tsp. cumin

3/4 tsp. chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 c. cilantro,chopped

1 can black beans,rinsed

1 red pepper,chopped (optional)

chopped jalapeno pepper (optional)

1 and 1/2 c. chopped tomato

1/2 c. chopped red onion

1 and 1/2 c. fresh (or frozen thawed) corn 

Whisk the olive oil,lime juice,cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Combine with the rest if the ingredients and toss. 

Orange Poppy Seed dressing

This is a fun variation to poppy seed dressing. 

The orange adds a bright citrus flavor that tastes so fresh and light. I served it on top of greens and mandarin oranges. I also added some toasted walnuts. 

It makes a nice side for grilled chicken or steak!

Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

1/2 c. orange juice

1/2 c. mayo

1/2 c. sour cream

2 tsp. sugar

2 tsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. poppy seeds

dash pepper

Shake well and pour on salad.

Amish Macaroni Salad

I've been hanging out at Allrecipes again! That's always trouble for my waist!

 I found a BUNCH of recipes I want to try. This Amish Macaroni Salad was one of them. I have to say this was one of the creamiest macaroni salads I have ever had. It makes a ton of dressing, so I used only half of it, and then added a bit more right before I served it. It also calls for alot of sugar, so I cut down on that, and it tasted great!

Amish Macaroni Salad
allrecipes

2 c. uncooked macaroni (then cooked and drained)
3 eggs, hard boiled and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
2 Tbsp. dill pickle relish
2 c. mayo ( I used lite Hellmans)
3 Tbsp. mustard
1/4 c. sugar
2 1/2 tsp. vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. celery seed

Mix the mayo, mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt and celery seed. Toss with rest of ingredients. Chill.

NOTE: I mixed about half of the dressing in before chilling. Then added some before serving to make it creamy. I did not use the whole recipe. This recipe also called for 3/4 c. sugar but I used only 1/4 c. then added a bit more to taste.)

Citrus Salad Dressing

I'm back today with another low sodium, super easy salad dressing!

 This makes enough for two, and is very light and refreshing. I love it with a handful of blueberries on top!

Citrus Salad 

juice of 1/2 lemon or lime or orange..you choose!

2 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

Combine and shake well. Pour over salad.

Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

Just a quick and simple salad dressing to share today...perfect for just the two of us!

Honey Mustard Salad Dressing

1 tsp. Dijon 

1 tsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. honey

2 tsp. olive oil

Shake well and drizzle over salad.

Crunchy grape pecan salad..pinned it and tried it

This is just sinful.

But it's SO good!

Pinned it, tried it, and LOVED it!

Crunchy Grape Pecan Salad

Deliciously Sprinkled

2 c. green grapes

2 c. red grapes

1 c. sour cream

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. sugar ( I used 1/4 c.)

2 tsp. vanilla

Topping:

1 c. brown sugar ( I used 1/4- 1/2 c. c.)

1 c. chopped pecans ( I used 1/2 c.)

1 c. chopped walnuts( I used 1/2 c.)

Mix the cream cheese, sour cream and vanilla together. Stir in the grapes. Refrigerate 2 hours. Combine the brown sugar and nuts, sprinkle on top before serving.