Broccoli Bacon Salad

I love this recipe, but it's a hard one to write down. I do it different every time, so hopefully you get the gist of it!

The Goods

4-5 stalks of broccoli, florets only, cut into small pieces

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 package bacon, cooked till crisp

sunflower seeds

red onion

mayo

red wine vinegar
sugar

Fill bowl with cut broccoli florets(eyeball amount), add shredded cheese, sunflower seeds (just eyeball amount), chopped red onion (eyeball amount again). Cook bacon, and crumble. Set aside till ready to serve.

Dressing

1 cup mayo, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tbs red wine vinegar. I usually make a pretty big salad and have to double or triple the dressing, it's another one of those eyeball it moments...

Add dressing and broccoli just before serving and enjoy! I also make the dressing ahead of time and let it sit in the fridge for a few hours.

Garlic Green Salad

I could live on this salad. My sister Heather made it for me once, and I crave it all the time! It has a lot of ingredients and makes a HUGE salad, so I don't make it very often, but it is just perfect.

Only try this if you like the flavor of garlic!

And I can't find the actual recipe so hopefully you will get the gist of it!

Salad

2 bags of your favorite dark greens.

1 package of sliced mushrooms.

1 package of sliced cherry tomatoes.

1 package of your favorite croutons (I personally love Cesar...)

1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese.

3/4 cup of Parmesan.

1 package of bacon, cooked and crushed.

1 cup of toasted almonds. (I bought the side salad bags in the produce section, and they were delish.)

Dressing

2 TB lemon juice.

1/2 cup olive oil.

6, yes 6, garlic cloves, minced.

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Make your dressing a few hours ahead of time. Add bacon, croutons, and dressing just before serving.

Last time I made this the garlic cloves were too big, and the salad wasn't as good as usual. So adjust your garlic as needed!

Forgive this picture, it's the only one I took, and it isn't the best. This salad is beautiful!

Black Bean Salsa

We had way too much delicious food camping, and I wanted to post a few of my favorite recipes. This one is such a pretty and tasty side dish. I love to make it for get togethers and parties.

1 can of black beans, drained
1 can of corn, drained
1 small can of green chillies
2 tomatoes-diced
2 or 3 avocados-diced
1 small red onion-diced
1 bottle of Italian Dressing

Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Add the dressing last-I usually only use 3/4 of the bottle.

Serve with chips or tortilla strips.

Strawberry-Orange Salad with Toasted Almonds and Orange dressing

This salad is beautiful, tasty, healthy, and delicious. I love to make it for get togethers because it is huge and soooo pretty.

1 bag of romaine lettuce

1 bag of baby spinach

1 pint strawberries-quartered

2 cans of mandarin oranges

1 package of toasted almonds

Toasted Almonds-put a package of sliced almonds into a pan and toss with 1/2 cup of sugar. Leave on medium heat and stir constantly. After a few minutes the sugar will start caramelizing-and the almonds will start to brown. Do Not Burn-I usually take them out as soon as they start to color-put them on a plate and let them cool before adding them to the salad.

Before serving toss with orange-Italian dressing.

1/2 tsp grated orange peel

1/3 cup fresh orange juice

2 tbs. red wine vinegar

1/2 cup veg. oil

2 tbs. sugar

1 pck. good seasons Italian dressing mix.

I like to make this the night before so it all marinades nicely before tossing on the salad.

Chicken Salad Croissants

Everyone has their favorite recipe for Chicken Salad Croissants. This is one that my mom loves, and I made it for the first time last night...it was really delicious!

So this is a no measurement recipe....but just do what tastes right.

Instead of using broiled chicken, used grilled and chilled chicken. (I used leftover chicken from my chicken club tacos.) The marinade helped to give the salad extra flavor, and the chicken tasted great. Cut the chicken into bite sized pieces.

Next add some celery. chopped.

Green onions. chopped.

Slivered almonds. (Great for crunch)

I love purple grapes in this too.

Add garlic salt.

Pepper.

Add a few dashes of lemon Juice.

You know the drill and I'm sure you have adapted this to your liking, but I think what makes this recipe so good is the secret ingredient-cream cheese.

Add softened cream cheese and mayo...maybe equal parts. It gives your chicken mixture a great rich taste.

Mix it all together, making sure that there is plenty of the mayo/cream cheese mixture...so it doesn't taste dry, and serve on a croissant.

Sweet Pork Salads

DELICIOUS and EASY!

Sweet Pork

1 pork roast

1 can of coke

1 bottle red enchilada sauce

1 cup of brown sugar

Put roast in crock pot and fill 1/3 full of water. Cook all night long. In the morning the roast should be tender and able to shred with a fork. After shredding, mix the rest of the ingredients and let simmer all day.

Hints:leave the lid off to thicken. If you want it sweeter add more brown sugar to taste. The red enchilada sauce comes in mild and medium so you can pick how hot you want it.

Cilantro Lime Rice

This is sooo easy! Simply cook the rice in chicken broth and lime zest. (I use 1 bag of rice, 3 cans of broth, and the zest of 2 limes.) When it is all cooked add chopped cilantro to your liking.

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing. MMMM.

1 cup mayo

1 package of Buttermilk ranch dressing

2 tomatillos

1 jalapeno (the more seeds you add the hotter it gets)

1/2 bunch cilantro

1/2 lime juice

Blend in your mixer or food processor, and devour!

I served mine in these delicious tortilla bowls. Serve with beans (if you like them, we don't so I don't have a great recipe for you.) Lettuce, cheese, guacamole, tomatoes, and whatever else floats your boat. Enjoy!