Taco Salad (healthy)

Ingredients & Directions:
~ Romaine Lettuce (or any other dark leafy greens)
Place lettuce on plate and top with:
~ ground turkey, cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning (can use ground beef or chicken too)
~ Sprinkle of cheddar or Mexican style cheese
~ olives, sliced
~ fresh tomatoes, chopped
~ Kidney or pinto beans, drained
~ a dallop of sour cream
~ generous serving of salsa
Mix slightly and enjoy your deliciously healthy meal without the calories of dressing, and you won't even miss it!

Delicious Salad

I had this salad at a friend's house and it was delicious! It's very quick to make too.

(Picture coming shortly)

~ 1/4 c. slivered almonds
~ 1 T sugar
In a small, shallow frying pan, caramelize almonds in sugar over medium heat. Cool on tin foil or wax paper. (caramelizing almonds is optional. You can just add slivered almonds for a quicker salad option!)

Dressing:
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 2 T vinegar
~ 2 T sugar
~ 1/4 c. veg. oil
~ 1 T parsley
Combine all ingredients. Drizzle over:
~ 1 head lettuce or spinach
~ 1 c. chopped celery
~ 1 (11 oz) can mandarin oranges, drained
~ 3 green onions
Sprinkle with almonds and enjoy!

Oriental Chicken Bowtie Salad

(Picture Coming Shortly)

Ingredients:
~ 4 uncooked chicken breasts, cubed

Marinade and Dressing:
~ 1/4 c. rice vinegar
~ 1/4 c. vinegar
~ 1/2 c. soy sauce
~ 1/2 c. sugar
~ 1 tsp. sesame oil
Whisk ingredients until sugar dissolves. Marinade chicken overnight. Cook over med-high heat until done. Drain off excess marinade. Put in fridge to cool. Meanwhile, mix remaining ingredients:

~ 3/4 c. slivered almonds
~ 1/4 c. sesame seeds
~ 1/2 lb-ish bowtie pasta
~ 1 bunch green onions
~ 1 large or 2 small bags fresh spinach

Top with cooled chicken. ENJOY!

The Bomb! Messy Taco Salad

This is the best taco salad I've ever had. We had it at my baby shower and it was a huge hit as well as our family reunion and my sister-in-law's baptism. It feeds as many or few people as you'd like, just make it bigger.


Ingredients:
~ Iceberg or Romaine lettuce, rinsed and torn (spinach and fancy lettuces don't hold up well)
~ 1 lb. ground beef, seasoned with 1 packet taco seasoning, according to package directions
~ 1 can kidney or pinto beans, drained
~ Tomato, diced (as much as you like)
~ Olives, sliced (as much as you like)
~ Chips (I like Doritos but I've had with tortilla)
~ Cheddar cheese (as much as you like)
~ Ranch Dressing (your fav brand)

Directions:
Toss all ingredients in a large bowl. Be sure you use PLENTY of ranch...this is what makes it soooo yummy. If you're counting calories the day you think about making this...make something else!!

Recipe from: My sister-in-law, Liz

Summer Spinach, Strawberry & Bacon Salad (the one you've been waiting for, friends!)

Absolutely mouth watering! This has been a hit every single time I’ve made it! You just can’t go wrong with this salad. There are a lot of different recipes for this type of salad floating around and this has combined the best parts of a few of them to come up with the PERFECT spinach salad.


Ingredients:
¼ c. vinegar
½ c. canola oil
1/4 c. chopped onion
2T plus ½ tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground mustard
1 squirt of bottled mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp poppy seed
8 c. torn fresh spinach
1 ½ green onions (optional) I never have them so I do without
6 strips bacon, cooked crispy and chopped OR packaged real bacon bits
fresh strawberries, sliced
Sliced mushrooms
Mozzarella cheese
½ c. or more of slivered almonds, caramelized (see below)

Directions:
In a small bowl mix oil, vinegar, onion, sugar, mustard, salt & poppy seed. In a separate large salad bowl place spinach and top with remaining ingredients. Toss with dressing. You probably won’t use all of the dressing, it makes a lot. Just use enough to make the salad moist and yummy. Also, if using packaged bacon bits, quickly fry them in a pan to return moisture and freshness.

Caramelizing almonds: In a saucepan, place almonds with sugar. (always use about 1/4 as much sugar as almonds). Cook and stir over medium heat. DO NOT BURN! When sugar melts and caramelizes, place almonds onto wax paper (aluminum foil works also). Separate and allow to cool. Add to salad.

Recipe from: friend, Renee Vankampen

Quick and Delicious Dinner Salad w/ Homemade Dressing

This salad goes with any dinner and I also eat it by itself for lunch. Quick and easy and definitely a crowd pleas er. I have another recipe that friends LOVE, (no, I still haven't posted it yet, I know!) it's quite a bit more work than this one but they're similar in taste.

Ingredients:
(Salad)
1/4 c. slivered almonds (I crush whole if that's all I have)
1 T sugar
1 head lettuce or spinach
1 c. chopped celery
hand full of craisins OR 1 (11 0z) can Mandarin oranges (for a more oriental salad)

(Dressing)
1 tsp salt
2 T vinegar
2 T sugar
3 green onions
1/4 c canola or veg oil
1 T parsley

Directions:
Caramelize almonds by heating them in a small skillet with the sugar until sugar caramelizes onto almonds. Place almonds on a baking sheet or aluminum foil, separate and let cool. (If you're short on time, skip this step and just sprinkle with almonds)

Salad: Tear lettuce or spinach and combine with celery and craisins or oranges.

Dressing: combine all ingredients, drizzle over salad and toss. Sprinkle with caramelized almonds.

Recipe from: a friend of a friend

Quick and Healthy Spinach Salad

This is a very quick recipe that I LOVE for both its flavor and super easy prep, not to mention that it’s incredibly healthy. It’s a great last minute salad and goes well with any meal!



Ingredients:
• Spinach leaves
• Strawberries
• Mushrooms
• Feta cheese
• Balsamic vinaigrette

Directions:
Place spinach leaves in a serving bowl, top with remaining ingredients and toss. Serve immediately.

Recipe from: my sister, TRICIA