Salad Ideas

[Loveridden]

Loaded Veggie Salad

2 - 10 oz packages of italian mixed salad greens
2 large avocados, chopped
1 lg cucumber, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
6 oz feta (flavor: tomatoes & basil)
1 cup balsamic vinaigrette

1. Combine all ingredients except vinaigrette in large salad bowl and toss well.
1. Pour vinaigrette over salad mixture and toss gently. Serve.

I haven't tried this one either but I'm sure it's good!

 

[Lisa66]

Wheee! thanks for the recipes, Loveridden.

 

[Loveridden]

Ur welcome!!

 

[Mary Kay]

Whoo Hoo Lots o recipes! Thank you. The winter cottage cheese one sounds familiar. My mom made an abreviated one.
One peach half (no stone fresh or canned) with a scoop of cottage cheese in the hollow. Grate sharp cheese on top and then add a teaspoon of mayo top with a cherry!

 

[Fudgey]

Lots of salads.....yummy!!

 

[classwife]

Loaded veggie salad sounds fantastic !!

Great contribution !!!!!

Thank you !

 

[Crankyfuzz]

I been looking for some good salad combos thanks guys it has just been to hot to cook lately

 

[classwife]

There have been some good ideas in here !

 

[Loveridden]

Couscous Spring Salad

1 garlic clove, minced
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups prepared couscous (PLAIN)
2 cups asparagus spears, cut into small pieces
2 cups seedless cucumber, cut into cubes
1/2 cup pitted black olives
2 large green onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese

1. Place garlic into small bowl. Add lemon juice and mustard. Whisk in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. (I made double of this dressing)

2. Cook the couscous according to package directions. You will use 2 cups of PREPARED couscous. Transfer to large bowl and allow to cool to room temp, tossing occasionally.

3. Chop up veggies. In lg saucepan, bring 2 qts of water to a boil. Add salt. Cook asparagus for about 2 mins, drain, then add back to pot. Add ICE WATER on top of asparagus so it stops cooking and cools. Drain.

4. Mix asparagus, cucumber, olives and green onions into couscous. Add dressing and toss well. Add feta cheese when ready to eat. Refrigerate leftovers.

 

[classwife]

That does sound good (cept for the feta) !

 

[Lisa66]

Loveridden, that sounds like a yummy combination. By couscous do you mean the plain bulgur wheat that you add a cup of boiling water to for every cup of wheat?

 

[DebiMax]

My grandmother's fruit salad

Lettuce
Seedless grapes, cut in half
Apples, diced
Peaches, diced
Diced Pineapples
Mandarin Oranges

Shred the lettuce, drain any of the fruit you bought in cans, add to the lettuce, toss lightly. There's no measurements because my grandmother always added until 'it looks right', lol.

Here's the dressing she used to make for it:

Honey
Lemon and/or Lime juice. (I prefer lime juice!)

No pictures yet, will have add one or two the next time I can make it.

 

[Loveridden]

No, couscous is different, although you can probably try it with bulgur instead if you want to. You can find Near East brand couscous usually in the rice aisle. You would want to get the "plain" flavor. Some stores carry it and some don't. Some have only one flavor and some have a few different flavors. I've eaten the herbed chicken kind before as a side with a chicken dinner. It's very good. Here is a link: Near East 100% Natural Couscous, Rice Pilaf and Pasta Products

I recently picked up a good size bag of "golden couscous" at a store that didn't carry Near East couscous. I had to find an employee of the store to point it out to me tho because it was in a wierd spot. I asked for rice called couscous that resembled little balls lol

Just noticed you can buy them online from the site too if you can't find it in your local store...

 

[Lisa66]

Oh I get it! We call that quinoa........ (pronounced keen-wah). Yes!

 

[Loveridden]

No, it's not quinoa either. I have also eaten bulgur and quinoa. Quinoa is similar, and you can try substituting that as well. Would be a better substitution in the recipe than bulgur I think. Out of the 3 I prefer couscous.

 

[Lisa66]

Gotcha........ I have never used it but I have had it in a restaurant before. I just looked it up and it is made out of semolina flour. The kind I have had must be the golden kind, I think. I was confused because often I see dishes called couscous and I thought it referred to all the ingredients together rather than the individual staple, and sometimes I've seen quinoa salad called "couscous". I would think couscous would absorb other ingredients better.

 

[Loveridden]

I am by no means an expert on quinoa, couscous or bulgur lol. Only introduced to these ingredients by an ex while we were dating, he was big into healthy eating. I believe quinoa is the healthiest of the 3. Probably couscous the least healthiest of the 3 but still not unhealthy either. I find couscous the tastiest, and I like the texture of it the best. The salad recipe I posted previously that is a greek avocado couscous salad...originally was a greek avocado quinoa salad, but I had tried it with couscous instead and liked that better. My ex prefers it with the quinoa. You can try and experiment with them all and see what you like. There are many different recipes that use these, not just salads. I remember I made an oven cooked chicken and quinoa recipe once.....unfortunately I wasn't into it, but I tried quite a few and decided quinoa just wasn't for me...

 

[Loveridden]

Input from my ex (we still talk):

Quinoa is the smallest, then couscous, then bulgar. All three are kinda healthy, but I'd say quinoa is more healthy. There is also different colors of quinoa like red and blue, and they have different textures and taste. All 3 can be used in salads or side dishes, even main entrees. They can make substitutes for rice. Texture of quinoa is slightly firm and chewy. Same with couscous, and bulgar is a little on the chewy side.

I think all 3 are grains. But quinoa is really a seed. Quinoa is really healthy has complete protein among other things.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

I apologize for bringing up an old thread...but I can't help it. I have to share this....

Watermelon Salad
1 personal watermelon cubed without rind.
a lime, squeezed
1 bunch cilantro chopped
And feta cheese...as much or as little as you like.

toss in large bowl to make sure all is well mixed. refrigerate for about an hour and then serve.
we ate this salad with dinner...steamed clams with white wine butter sauce and artisan sourdough bread and grilled oysters... and of course, washed down with a lovely chardoney. its cool, refreshing, with just the right amount of tang. I don't remcommend eating the left over salad the next day...it didn't have that freshness and the flavors blended too much by then. But freshly made and chilled...this is to die for!

 

[Loveridden]

I apologize for bringing up an old thread...but I can't help it. I have to share this....

Watermelon Salad
1 personal watermelon cubed without rind.
a lime, squeezed
1 bunch cilantro chopped
And feta cheese...as much or as little as you like.

toss in large bowl to make sure all is well mixed. refrigerate for about an hour and then serve.
we ate this salad with dinner...steamed clams with white wine butter sauce and artisan sourdough bread and grilled oysters... and of course, washed down with a lovely chardoney. its cool, refreshing, with just the right amount of tang. I don't remcommend eating the left over salad the next day...it didn't have that freshness and the flavors blended too much by then. But freshly made and chilled...this is to die for!

Sounds delish!!! Did the feta kinda melt while the salad was in the fridge. I have had that happen sometimes, where it dissolves some, so I find it best to add feta just before eating, on top of the salad. I will have to try this!