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Debi's Hot DishesRefreshing Summer Salads |
Who says salads can't be good for you and taste great, too?
I have included a few salad tips with these recipes: mix dark greens, like spinach with crisp greens such as romaine, curly endive, red leaf, red cabbage and radicchio. This provides texture, color, extra vitamins and flavor. After washing your lettuce, blot dry the leaves as the salad will hold the dressing much better. Greens will keep better and look fresher if torn into bite-sized pieces rather than cut. Pour dressing onto the salad just before serving, using just enough to coat the leaves lightly, and then toss.
Pizzazz Salad
- 1 bag of romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup of cashews
- 1/2 cup of craisins
- 1 cup diced Granny Smith apple
- 1/2 cup diced pear
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Pizzazz Dressing
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1/3 cup of honey
- 1/3 cup of lemon juice
- 1/3 cup of vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2/3 cup oil (salad, olive, canola, your choice)
Mix all together and serve.
Mandarin Salad
- 1/4 cup of almonds
- 1 T and 1 tsp of sugar
- 1/2 bag spinach leaves (torn into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 bag of romaine leaves (torn into bite-sized pieces)
- 2 T thinly sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup of diced pear or Granny Smith apple
- 1 cup of chopped celery (optional)
- 1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges
Cook almonds in sugar over low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and almonds are coated; cool and break apart. Prepare dressing and toss before serving.
Sweet and Sour Dressing
- 1/4 cup oil
- 2 T sugar or honey
- 2 T vinegar
- 1 T chopped parsley (fresh, if possible)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Dash of pepper
- Dash of Tabasco sauce
Shake all ingredients together and refrigerate until serving.