Spinach and Berry Salad

Happy Memorial Day!
I'm going to try to post every night after dinner, but if I don't, then just know that by the end of the week, there will be 5.

And, since I'm not used to taking pictures of my food, I forgot. So, these are from elsewhere on the internet. This recipe has many variations, so feel free to do whatever you feel like.



In a large bowl add:
Approx. 6 cups fresh spinach (or however much you think you need.)

1 quart berries (strawberries or raspberries) sliced or halved

1-2 cooked chicken breasts cut into bite-sized chunks. ( I used one of the roasted chickens from the grocery store and just did 1 of the breasts and it was a lot.)

Dressing:
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp poppy seeds
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/8 cup white vinegar
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp Worcestershire sauce (I didn't have any, so I didn't add it)
1/2 Tbsp minced onion (that seemed like too much work too)

Combine all ingredients well. The recipe says to refrigerate it for an hour. I didn't read that well and added it to my salad immediately. It was just fine.

Toss and enjoy. You can also add slivered almonds, or chopped nuts, feta or gorgonzola cheese, or anything else you think would be yummy.

Serves approximately 4

Raspberry Pretzel Salad

This is soo good enjoy!

Bottom Layer:

1 1/2 cups crushed pretzels
1/2 cup sugar
1 cube (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Mix and press into the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Put into the oven at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Let this cool off completely.

Middle Layer:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
8 oz. cool whip

Mix together. Spread this over the pretzels. Refrigerate until cool.

Top Layer:

6 oz. raspberry jello
2 cups boiling water
1 bag unsweetened raspberries

Dissolve jello in the water and then add the raspberries. Pour over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until set.

*You can use strawberries instead of raspberries. This is great for bbq's, Thanksgiving, special events, etc.

Chicken Won Ton Salad

This is an easy to throw together salad that we use as a main dish or a side dish.  You can eat a ton of it, so get plenty of lettuce.  All the amounts are personal preference.  Hope you enjoy!

Lettuce (green leaf/Romaine with iceberg)

Chicken breasts diced and sautéed

Sesame seeds-toasted with little oil

Won ton wrappers lightly fried

Tear lettuce to bite-sized pieces, top with sautéed chicken, and toasted sesame seeds.  Top with dressing and slightly crushed fried won tons.

Dressing-

½ c sugar

1/2 c white vinegar

2 Tbsp salt

Combine the ingredient in a pan and bring to boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Let cool, then add:

½ tsp pepper

½ c vegetable oil

Spaghetti Salad

1 lb. thin spaghetti
2 lg. tomatoes, diced
2 lg. cucumbers, diced
1 can black pitted olives, sliced
1 (18 oz.) bottle Italian dressing
1 jar McCormick salad supreme seasoning (do not substitute this seasoning)

Cook spaghetti; drain well and rinse with cold water. Mix spaghetti and vegetables. Add olives and salad dressing.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Dressing:
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 t dried mustard
1 t salt
1 1/2 T dried minced onion
1 cup canola oil
1 1/2 t. poppy seed

Mix ingredients. Let sit for 30 minutes, then shake well. Serve with baby spinach, sliced strawberries, thinly sliced red onions* and sliced almonds.

*I never add the onions cause I don't like them.

This dressing makes a good amount, but keeps well in the fridge. Just make sure to shake before drizzling over your salad. Yum!

Balsamic Chicken Salad

I made this last night and it was so easy, but really good and filling.

3 cups diced cooked chicken, chilled (I never do things in advance, so mine was hot and still good)
1/2 cup diced apple
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup dried fruit (we used cherries. Cranberries would be good too)
3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
5 Tblsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Croissants, pita bread or other rolls

Combine all dry ingredients. Combine vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Pour dressing over other mixture. Chill or serve immediately on the bread.

Chicken and Strawberry Salad (Or salad with chicken and strawberries)

This may seem simple, and when I think of chicken salad, I think of mayo, but that is not the case here. We eat this a lot during the summer because it is simple, fast, and low on the heating-up-the-kitchen scale.

For two people:
Two small chicken breasts (or one large), grilled. (we season with lemon pepper)
One pound or so strawberries, hulled
4 oz. cheese (your favorite variety - we use cheddar or swiss)
Romaine lettuce, enough to make two entree sized salads - add some spinach if you like it
Briannas Poppyseed dressing - this makes all the difference, but we have also used Briannas Honey Mustard dressing and it is almost equally yummy.

Cut up the chicken, strawberries and cheese into bite-sized pieces, distribute them over the two bowls of salad, and top with the dressing.
This is a meal in itself, but we have paired it with corn on the cob too - double yum.

I hope you like it as much as we do!

Summer Salad

Cut up:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, and carrots into SMALL pieces.
Add:
Italian Dressing over the top, mix well. Chill.

I love how this is healthy, EASY, and great for summer BBQ's.
*And a good way to get the kids to eat their veggies!