Taco Salad Dressing

My sis-in-law gave me this awesome recipe for an easy, healthy, and delicious salad dressing that satisfies my current lime and cilantro obsession!

Ingredients:
2 cloves garlic, pressed
4 oz fresh lime juice, lemon will also work if needed
1/4 tsp. salt
splash of tobasco, optional
finely snipped cilantro to taste (between 1-2 TBS)
8 oz. olive oil

Directions: Mix all the ingredients except for the olive oil together really well then add 8oz. olive oil and mix again. Try to make it early in the day to let it sit so the acidity of the lime juice will blend the flavors well.

Super easy chicken salad tip

As I mentioned before, I've been making my poppy seed salad dressing all the time because I'm loving the fresh strawberries and greens I have been getting from my CSA. I had some left over cooked and shredded chicken from another meal I had made and decided to try a new chicken salad recipe because my old one isn't that healthy. (Now I have to apologize, because I didn't measure one bit! But that's why I called this a tip and not a recipe, ha, ha :) So I just mixed in some of my homemade poppy seed dressing with some sour cream, mixed it with some chicken and chopped grapes, and had a fabulous, easy, healthy chicken salad! Next time I'll measure for ya but I wanted to blog it before I forgot it :)

Basic oil blend for salad dressings

I've been wanting to make my own salad dressing since we eat salads often and are utterly addicted to Ranch or Poppyseed dressings. So I was excited to find this basic oil blend that is super healthy and I can use it in any dressing recipe I find that I like. The basic proportion is to use 2/3 of this mixture to 1/3 of a type of vinegar (my favorite is apple cider vinegar :) I found this blend in THIS book.

Basic oil blend for salad dressing
I cup of coconut oil, gently melted
1 cup of expeller-expressed or cold-pressed sesame oil
1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil

Mix all ingredients together in a glass jar, cover tightly, and store at room temperature

Lynne's Delicious Cranberry Salad

Mark's Mom made this for Thanksgiving, and no one could get enough of it! Its really like a dessert, but super yummy on turkey!

Ingredients:
1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
1 tall can crushed pineapple, juice reserved
2 small boxes raspberry jello
1 cup hot water
1 cup cool water, including pineapple juice
1 cup finely chopped apples

Directions: Dissolve jello in hot water. Add cold water with pineapple juice and let set til thickened. Add crushed pineapple, cranberry sauce, and diced apples. Let set til thickened.

Mom's Quick 5-cups Salad

This is so easy and so yummy!

Ingredients:
1 cup sour cream
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup coconut
1 cup mini marshmallows

Directions: Mix all ingredients together; chill.
**I also use chopped apples or grapes – any kind of fruit you like will work great!

Nacho Taco Salad

Mark absolutely loves this salad, but prefers the Ranch Doritoes :)

Ingredients:
1 head or bag of lettuce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 small can of black olives if desired
6 oz Nacho Doritos, crushed
1 pound ground beef, browned, with taco seasoning
Ranch dressing or Thousand Island
1 can Kidney beans if desired

Directions: Mix all ingredients and serve immediately

Mandarin Chicken Salad

Another great salad for a covered dish :)

Ingredients:
2 Tbs butter or margarine
1 pkg (3oz) Oriental flavored ramon noodle soup mix
2 Tbs. Sesame seed
Sweet and Sour dressing
2 cups cut-up cooked chicken
¼ cup toasted almonds or dry roasted peanuts
4 medium green onions, sliced ( ¼ cup)
1 bag coleslaw mix
1 can (11oz) mandarin orange segments, drained

Directions: Melt butter in skillet over med. Heat; stir in seasoning packet from soup mix. Break block of noodles into bite-sized pieces over skillet; stir into butter mixture. Cook noodles 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in sesame seed Cook about 2 minutes longer, until noodles are golden brown; remove from heat. Add noodle mixture and remaining ingredients; toss
**If taking to a potluck, toss everything except noodle mixture and dressing in a large container. Once its time to serve, add noodle mixture and dressing, then cover and gently shake.

Dorito Chicken Ranch Salad

I ate this at a luncheon for teachers and just had to get the recipe. A lot of times we have this with grilled chicken leftover from a cookout the night before :)

Chicken Ranch Salad
Ingredients:
1 head or bag of lettuce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 small can of black olives if desired
6 oz Cool Ranch Doritos, crushed
3 cups chopped cooked chicken or turkey
Ranch dressing

Directions: Mix all ingredients and serve immediately.