Summer Spinach Salad

I made this salad for a family get together today. I pretty much threw whatever I had on hand into the bowl, then called Karen for a good dressing recipe! It turned out so yummy!

1 bag baby Spinach
2 cups Bow tie Pasta
2 cups red grapes (sliced in half)
1/2 cup candied walnuts
(easy to do. cook walnuts with 1/2 cup sugar, until sugar is dissolved and nuts are well coated. let cool before adding them to the salad)

You could also add sliced Avocados and Mozzarella cheese. Sometimes I do Apples, Strawberries or Mandarin Oranges...just whatever sounds good.


Dressing
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2 cups Olive oil ( I used Vegetable Oil, and it still turned out great)
1/4 cup onion (I used a couple of Tbsp dried onion)
2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp poppy seeds

Put everything but the Poppy Seeds into a blender, and blend on high for a minute or two. Add the Poppy Seeds and mix with spoon. Pour over salad just before serving.

**This makes a ton of dressing, so I only did half a recipe for the one bag of Spinach. **

Asian Wonton Salad

We made this at the Relief Society Birthday Dinner, among other things, and many people were wanting the recipe for it.

Ingredients:

1 head lettuce, chopped {I usually use romaine though, or at least a mixture of romaine & iceberg so it’s not just iceberg}
4 chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 pkg wonton wrappers, sliced and fried
2 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted
2Tbsp almonds, slivered and toasted

Dressing:
1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 c. ketchup
1/4 c. water
3/4 c. sugar
2 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP cornstarch mixed with 4 TBSP water

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook on medium heat until clear and bubbly. Layer lettuce, then wontons, shredded chicken, onions, almonds, and the sesame seeds. Drizzle dressing on top and serve immediately.

Summer Cucumber Salad

1 large cucumber, unpeeled, sliced very thin
1/4 cup red onion, sliced very tin
1/2 cup rice vinegar
3 T water
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t fresh ground pepper

-Slice the cucumber and red onion and place in large bowl
-In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients, stirring well.
-Pour over cucumbers and onion, tossing to ensure good coverage.
-Refrigerate. Let the cucumbers sit for several hours before serving if possible.
-Makes 4 servings as a side dish but can easily be doubled or tripled.

Really refreshing and light. Perfect side dish when it's hot outside!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

1 pint Sliced Strawberries
1 lb. Spinach
½ cup Slivered Almonds (optional)

Dressing: (this dressing is AMAZING!)
½ cup Sugar
1 Tbsp. Sesame Seeds
1 Tbsp. Poppy Seeds
1 ½ tsp. Onion (dried or fresh)
¼ t. Paprika
¼ tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
½ cup Oil
¼ c. Cider Vinegar

Toss salad adding dressing just before serving. Be careful not to bruise spinach. (Another option is adding fresh blueberries or substituting Mandarin Oranges for the berries)

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

3 large tomatoes

8 oz. mozzarella cheese slices

1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

3 tbls. olive oil

3 tbls. balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

1. Arrange tomato and cheese slices on a serving platter, overlapping slices

2. Combine olive oil an balsamic vinegar in small bowl. Stir and add salt and pepper to taste

3. Drizzle over tomatoes and cheese slices. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil and serve

This is also good when you take a slice of the tomato and cheese and put it on a piece of sliced french bread that has been brushed with olive oil and slightly toasted in the oven. Also excellent on top of a cheese pizza. So fresh and healthy and a great alternative to a typical salad..

Suzanne's Chicken Salad

My friend Suzanne made this salad for me one day. It only took once, and I was hooked! Do not be thrown by the array of strange ingredients. I promise, this is a yummy salad!

6-8 chicken breasts, cubed and cooked
3 cups Bow tie pasta
1 cup chopped celery
1 red apple, chopped
1 green apple, chopped
1 can crushed pineapple
1 cup each green grapes and red grapes
1-2 Tbsp dry onion
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
1 8 ounce Cool Whip
salt to taste

After cooking the chicken, and boiling the pasta, throw it all into a giant bowl and chuck the remaining ingredients in. Chill well before serving.

I know seeing all of these ingredients together looks a little freaky, but it is so delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day.