Frank's Southwestern Salad

FRANK'S SOUTHWESTERN SALAD

Iceberg Lettuce
Black Beans
Corn
Tomato
Avocado
Cilantro
Red Pepper
Grilled Chicken (I like to marinate it for a day in a citrus marinate)
Red Onion
Crushed doritos
Shredded cheddar cheese
Ranch Dressing
Frank's Dressing

Frank's Dressing:
1 c brown sugar
1/4 c melted butter
1/4 c Frank's Hot Sauce
2-4 Tbps water

Haylee's Note:
This salad is really easy to make, but it is definitely one of our favorites!  The spicy Frank's dressing with the creamy ranch (which I like to water down a bit), is such a yummy flavor combination!

Nikki’s Cookie salad

NIKKI'S COOKIE SALAD

1 can manderine oranges
1 can pineapple tidbits
1cup of buttermilk
1 pkg vanilla pudding mix
1 pkg cool whip
1 pkg fudge stripe cookies

Dump the pudding mix and buttermilk into a bowl and mix up. Crush cookies into bite size pieces and put them and all other ingredients into your bowl and mix together. Put in fridge for at least 1 hour before eating.

Haylee’s Note:

I knew looking at this recipe that it was going to be a good one, and it did not disappoint!  I had heard of this cookie salad before, but this was my first time having it!  I took it to a family party and it was a HIT!!  Everyone loved it!  I kept seeing all of the kids sneaking back for more and licking the bowl!  Thanks for the recipe Nikki!

My brother Rick, loving the salad!

Ioana’s Peach-Tomato Salad

IOANA’S PEACH-TOMATO SALAD

2 Roma tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 small peaches, pitted and cut into wedges
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Toss tomatoes, peaches and onions in a salad bowl. Drizzle with vinegar and oil, and season with sugar,salt and pepper. Mix well. Let it stand for about 10 minutes, for the flavors to combine.

Haylee’s Note:

Wow!  The flavors in the salad are amazing!  And this recipe is truly perfect for summer!  I love that it is so quick to fix, and it is a flavor powerhouse!  I doubled the recipe and took it to a family dinner!  It was a hit, everyone loved it!  Thanks for the recipe Ioana!

Japanese Salad

JAPANESE SALAD

2 c. cooked chicken
1/2 head chopped cabbage
1 pkg. top ramen broken
1 pkg. ramen seasoning
2 tbsp. silvered almonds
2 chopped green onions
2 tbsp. sesame seeds toasted

Dressing:

1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp vinegar
1/2 c. oil
1/2 tsp. pepper

Haylee's Note:
This salad is really yummy too! I like to cook my chicken in a skillet with a little olive oil and minced garlic! It gives the salad a little more flavor. Darin and I love this salad as a whole meal, but this is also a "classic" for potlucks! Everyone always loves this salad, it goes fast! Enjoy!

Strawberry, Walnut, Spinach Salad

STRAWBERRY, WALNUT, and SPINACH SALAD


Spinach
Fresh Strawberries (sliced)
Candied Walnuts
Goat Cheese
Craisins
Balsamic Vinegarette


Toss all ingredients together!

Haylee's Note:
I got this recipe from my good friend Bridget's brother, Stuart. His recipe didn't include craisins but I threw them in...I also added a little swiss cheese! We had this for Easter and it was super easy but also super delicious!! There are lots of varriations you can do too (ie feta, swiss, poppyseed dressing, etc. etc.) I am finding now that Spinach salad is a fun one to play with.

Caprese Salad

CAPRESE SALAD

3 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices
1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices
20 to 30 leaves (about 1 bunch) fresh basil
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Coarse salt and pepper

Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding a basil leaf between each, on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste

Haylee’s Note:
This is such an easy salad, but it is soooo good!! This is really not a salad you need a recipe for, but I did take this recipe from Rachael Ray here. I love that you can present it is so many ways! I think it is such a pretty salad, and tastes as good as it looks. I also like mine with a little balsamic vinegar! Enjoy!

Yummy Summer Salad

YUMMY SUMMER SALAD

Spinach
Lettuce
Strawberries
Avocados
Candied Walnuts
Mandarin Oranges
Poppy seed Dressing

Cut fruit and vegetables into bite size pieces. Toss all ingredients together and sprinkle with candied walnuts and poppy seed dressing. You can make your own poppy seed dressing or I like to use Brianna’s.

Haylee’s Note:
This is a really yummy salad (hence the name). I really think you can make anything delicious by adding a little candied walnuts! Hope you enjoy this recipe, we sure did!!

Heather’s Chinese Salad

HEATHER’S CHINESE SALAD

Salad:
Iceberg lettuce
Strawberries
Water chestnuts (sliced)
Mandarin Oranges
Wontons
Grilled Chicken (optional)
Cilantro and/or green onions

Dressing:
4 tsp rice vinegar
4 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
¼ c. oil
Poppy seeds (opt.)


Fry the wantons in oil until lightly browned. Break up pieces into triangles and arrange along the side of your serving bowl. Toss remaining ingredients together. Add dressing right before serving

Haylee’s Notes:
Do you sometimes feel like I should change the name of this blog to “Heather’s Food”? I feel like 90% of my recipe’s begin with “Heather.” Anyway, if it does start with Heather, you know its going to be good!! I love this salad because it is really easy to mix up, and you can change it up in so many ways. You can make this a main dish by adding the chicken or a side and without the chicken! Hope you enjoy it! We sure did!! Thanks again Heather!

Cafe Rio Salad

CAFE RIO SALAD

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa

5-6 lb. pork roast
21 oz. Coke
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
7 oz. can chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
6-ish oz. red taco sauce (I used hot)
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Place roast in crock-pot, cover half-way with water and cook on low for 12 hours. After 12 hours, drain pork. Mix remaining ingredients until sugar dissolves.

Creamy Tomatillo Salad Dressing

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
3 tomatillos (remove papery skin), rough chop
1 cup mayo
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup (or more) cilantro, rough chop
3 cloves garlic
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp green Tabasco sauce
juice from 1 lime

Dump everything in a blender and blend until smooth.


Assemble your salad with tortilla, cheese, beans, rice, pork, lettuce, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, and dressing.

Haylee's Note:

Who doesn't LOVE Cafe Rio Salad!!? I know I do!! So, here is a way to make it at home!! For the origial recipe click here

Bean Salad Wraps

BEAN SALAD WRAPS

4 8 inch tortillas (flour or flavored)
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1/2 c. green sweet peppers
2 tbsp. snipped fresh cilantro
1/3 c. miracle whip
1 tbsp. lime juice
Lettuce

Stack tortilla and wrap tightly in foil. Heat in a 350 oven for 10 min. to soften. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl mash black beans slightly; add pepper and cilantro. Stir in miracle whip and lime juice. Spread bean mixture evenly over tortillas. Top with lettuce leaves roll up tortillas.

Haylee’s Note:
These may seem bland, but they are so yummy!! It is such a good meal during these hot summer days! I also added a little tomato to my wrap. You could add lots of things to yours, but it really doesn’t need anything else! Enjoy!! (this is another recipe from Better Homes and Gardens)

Salmon Salad

SALMON SALAD

Grilled Salmon (In a teriyaki sauce)
Lettuce
Cheese
Grilled bacon
Tomato
Sea Salt
Fresh ground pepper

Toss all ingredients together except for salmon, and lay salmon on top. Drizzle with your favorite salad dressing (we love blue cheese).

Haylee’s Note:
Mmmmm….nothing like a salmon salad!! This recipe is our version of the Outback Steak House Salmon Salad! OH man!! I want another one right now!! Give it a try!

Heather’s BBQ Chicken Salad

HEATHER’S BBQ CHICKEN SALAD

Grilled BBQ chicken cut into strips
Lettuce
Black beans
Corn
Cilantro
Avocado
Tomato

Toss all ingredients into a salad. For dressing mix ranch salad dressing and BBQ sauce and drizzle over salad.

Haylee’s Note:
I asked my sister for some meal ideas for the upcoming week, and when she said this one, I had to make it that night! I also squeezed a little lime juice over the salad, and it was DELICIOUS!!! Salads are always great in the summer, and this was especially good! Thanks Heather!

Grandma Welling’s Broken Glass Torte

GRANDMA WELLING’S BROKEN GLASS TORTE

3 oz. package green jello
3 oz. package red jello
1 package knox
1/4 c. pineapple juice
1 pint cream
1/2 c. sugar
1 can pineapple tidbits
Banana
Pecans

Mix 1 1/2 cups of hot water with the green jello and dissolve. Cool and let set up. Mix another 1 1/2 cups of hot water with the red jello, dissolve, cool, and let set up. Mix 1 package of knox with 1/4 cup of cold water then add 1/4 cup of hot water and 1/4 cup pineapple juice. Let cool and set up.

Next, cut up the jello into 1 inch squares. Whip cream and add 1/2 c. sugar. Fold in gelatin, cubes, pineapple, pecans, and bananas.

Haylee’s Note:
This is so yummy!!! You will love it!! It is really fun to make for Christmas because of the red and green colors. I made it during the summer but used green and orange jello. Give it a try, I know you will love it!

Chicken Wanton Salad

CHICKEN WANTON SALAD

Salad:
2-3 chicken breasts (cooked and chopped)
1 head lettuce
1 c. water chestnuts
Wontons
Mandarin oranges
3 whole green onions

Microwave wantons until crunchy. (Or you can fry them). Add all ingredients in a bowl put the salad dressing and the wontons on last.

Dressing:
2 tsp. rice vinegar
4 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. oil

Haylee’s Note:
Another great recipe from mother dearest! I love eating salad when the weather is warmer, so this is a great recipe to try! We love this salad!

Blue Cheese Dressing

BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

1 cold pack bleu cheese (broken up)
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 c. milk or sour cream
1 pt. mayonnaise

Heat milk. Add 1/4 of the cheese to the warm milk. Cool. Add the mayonnaise and the lemon. Add the remaining cheese. Serve over your favorite salad.

Haylee’s Note:
Another great recipe from mother. I will admit I am a fan of buying my salad dressing, but it is always good to know how to make your own just in case. My family also seems to like this dressing better than any blue cheese dressing you can buy at the store. Enjoy!

Non-Traditional Taco Salad

NON-TRADITIONAL TACO SALAD

1 head lettuce
2 c. grated cheese
2 c. Fritos
2 tomatoes
1 sm. Onion (rings)
½ c. sliced celery
1 green pepper sliced
1 can black or red beans (I like the red for this)
½ lb. cooked hamburger
1 avocado

Dressing- make in blender
1 can tomato soup
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. oil (opt)
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp chili powder
pepper

Haylee’s Note:
If you are wanting the traditional taco salad, I suggest you go to Jadi’s version here. Although this is not traditional taco salad it is really good. You can serve these with or without the taco shells. Also, you can layer the salad with the different ingredients and put dressing on top, or you can just put them all together and mix it in one big bowl (that is the way I like it). Also as a suggestion, put the Fritos on last on top, because they will get soggy!

Jadi's Taco Bowls

JADI'S TACO BOWLS

I got this idea from my sister-in-law Jadi on her cooking website here. If you have never made your own taco salad bowls you should give it a try. It is so easy! All you have to do is spray a flour tortilla with cooking spray and lightly sprinkle with chili powder. Crumple up a ball of tin foil and drape the tortilla over the tin foil on a cookie sheet (With the sprayed side facing up). Bake @ 425 degrees for 6-10 minutes or until the bowl is crisp and holds its shape. That's it!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

Dressing Ingredients:
2-3 lemons 1/2 c. white wine vinegar
3/4 c. sugar 1/4c. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. Poppy seeds

Salad ingredients:
1/2 c. sliced natural almonds, toasted 16-oz. (2 cups) strawberries, sliced
1 med. Cucumber, sliced and cut in half 1 small red onion, sliced into thin wedges
1 package baby spinach.

Dressing:
Zest lemon to measure 1 Tbsp. zest. Juice lemon to measure 1/2 c. juice. Combine zest, juice, vinegar, sugar, oil, and poppy seeds. Blend well and refrigerate until ready to use.

Almonds:
Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Spread almonds in single layer of baking pan. Bake 10-12 min. or until lightly toasted. Remove from oven and cool in pan.

Mix cut strawberries, onions, cucumber, spinach, and toasted almonds in a bowl. Either top with dressing or put dressing on the side.

Haylee's Note:
I got this recipe from Darin's cousin Lisa Houston. It is really easy to make, and I always love homemade salad dressings! This one is especially good!

Quick and Easy Pasta Salad

QUICK AND EASY PASTA SALAD

1 small box bowtie pasta
1 bunch chopped green onion
1 can sliced black olives
2 sliced cucumbers
1 cup cherry tomatoes
italian dressing

Cook pasta. Add the rest of the ingredients. Add italian dressing to taste. Serve cold.

Haylee's Note:
I got this from Darin's cousin Lindsay. She gave me this salad idea 20 minutes before I had to be to the party with the salad. It really is quick, and people seemed to enjoy it! I love that it is so easy!

Macaroni Grill Salad

MACARONI GRILL SALAD

Toss:

1/2 pkg. cooked orzo
1/4 c. sun dried tomato
1/4 c. diced tomato
3/4 c. pine nuts
1-2 bunch finely chopped spinach
2 chicken breasts cooked/diced
1/2 bottle capers
1 can chopped olives

Dressing:
1/4 c. water
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. orange juice concentrate
1 T dry italian dressing

Haylee's Note:
This salad is pretty much amazing! It is one of our favorites!! Great as a whole meal! I served this with warm sliced Ciabatta bread that we dipped in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a little ground pepper! It is pretty expensive for a salad, but it is really good!!