Spinach and Strawberry Salad

I used to be very against fruit in a green salad but this has won me over! I got his recpie from my "aunt" Stacia. I say "aunt" because I am a year older than her! :) Thanks Stacia!

In a bowl combine:

Bag of spinach or you can use romaine (or use both!)

mushrooms (sliced)

sugared almonds (optional)

red onion

strawberries (sliced)

Dressing:

1/2 cup of sugar

1 cup of olive oil

1/3 cup of white or rice vinegar

1 1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp poppy seeds (this can be optional!)

and some of the red onion chopped

add all of the ingredients into a processor or I use my blender and mix it together.

It is so good and I have been using it with the Parmesan Chicken dish instead of the lemon vinaigrette salad. A very nice fresh and light summer salad. I have cut the dressing recipe in half before . It just depends on how much of the salad you want to make.

Brown and Wild Rice Italian Chicken Salad

After just having a baby, I have not been in the mood to cook and make things in the kitchen... So I came across this website and found this recipe, (http://www.pickypalate.blogspot.com/) It's super easy to make, if you have things on hand and no cooking needed! It's fabulous and it's also my husband's latest favorite dish (we'll see how long that lasts). I'm also posting a picture, doesn't it make it even more tempting?




Brown and Wild Rice Italian Chicken Salad


2 Cups uncooked brown rice

8 oz cooked wild rice (I get it precooked at Trader Joes)

1 ½ Cups cooked shredded chicken breast

3.5 oz package of crumbled feta cheese

10 oz package of grape tomatoes, quartered

10 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

½ Cup-3/4 Cup Italian Dressing (I used Ken's Italian)

Pinch of salt and pepper

Fresh Baby Spinach leaves


1. Cook brown rice according to package directions (use rice cooker, if available, much quicker). Let cool or refrigerate. Once cool, place all ingredients except spinach, into a large bowl. Lightly toss to coat. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste and serve over a bed of fresh baby spinach leaves. Drizzle top with additional dressing if desired. Serve cold.

Mama Jarman's Taco Salad

Here is my husband's favorite meal. Whenever I tell him we're having it he goes "Yesssssss!" We don't have it all that often because I only kind of like it, but I guess the infrequency of it makes it even more of a treat for him. It's really simple.

Ingredients
Salad greens; we usually just get a bagged salad
Veggies; tomato, cucumber, carrots, etc. (whatever you like)
Grated cheddar cheese
About a half pound of cooked ground beef.
Dorritos cheddar chips.

Combine all the ingredients in a big salad bowl, breaking up the chips on top. Serve with Ranch dressing.

There's a debate in the Jarman family as to whether or not you combine everything in one bowl or if you let people build their own salad, but I have it on authority from Mama Jarman herself that it should all be combined in one bowl.

Strawberry and Mandarin Orange Salad

This salad is so fabulous, I can hardly wait for strawberries to get back in season for this salad. I think the dressing is what really makes the salad!

Salad

Spinach

Strawberries

can mandarin Oranges (drained)

*bacon crumbles

*shredded montery jack cheese

*candied pecans

*optional


Dressing

1/2 c. veggie/canola oil

1/3 c. sugar

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

1 clove garlic finely minced

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of paprika

dash of white pepper

Just combine all ingredients in the salad, and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Combine dressing ingredients and mix well. Add to salad before serving or serve it on the side. Enjoy!

Variation of Sarah Salad

1 head of romain lettuce (or whatever your favorite is)
swiss cheese (grated)
4-5 green onions
6 slices of Turkey Bacon
1/2 cup of frozen peas
Salt and Pepper to taste
miracle whip
mayonnaise

Fry up the turkey bacon, cool and set aside. Thaw the peas in the some warm water. Wash and cut up the lettuce put in a big bowl. Cut up the onion and the turkey bacon, add to the lettuce. Now add peas and grate however much swiss cheese you want right into the bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste. Now add equal parts of miracle and whip and mayo, not a lot, just enough to coat all the ingredients.

Very light and tasty. I usually eat just that for lunch or dinner.