Apple Parmesan Salad

I adore apples.  Especially this time of year when they are at their peak. Fresh, crisp, delicious!!

This salad is a fabulous way to use some of those incredible apples!  The dressing perfectly compliments the crisp apples and the parmesan adds a bit of "bite" so it's not too sweet.  And the pine nuts add great texture!  It is one of my favorite salad recipes.

I think it would be wonderful served with some seasoned grilled chicken on top for lunch or dinner!

APPLE PARMESAN SALAD

1/2 cup olive oil

2 T. balsamic vinegar

1 T. lemon juice

2 tsp. dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

Romaine or Baby Salad Greens, chopped

2 medium apples (sweet not tart)

(Gala, Fuji, Ginger Gold, or Golden Delicious)

1/2 cups pine nuts, toasted

4 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated

Whisk together first eight ingredients.  Put chopped lettuce in bowl.  Core, halve, and slice apples and add to the lettuce.  Whisk dressing again and add sparingly to the lettuce and toss.  Sprinkle with pine nuts and Parmesan cheese. Serve remaining dressing on the side.



Winter Fruit Salad

This fruit salad is perfect to make in the winter when fresh fruit is expensive and not as plentiful!

You won't be sacrificing flavor though!  This is very yummy and refreshing!

Someone always asks for the recipe when I make it!

I can't take the credit for this recipe though!  It is from my wonderful Mother :) 

 Thanks Mom!

WINTER FRUIT SALAD

32 oz. can of sliced peaches in syrup

32 oz. can of sliced pears in syrup

12-16 oz. bag frozen raspberries

12-16 oz. bag frozen strawberries

12-16 oz. bag frozen blueberries

Drain juice from peaches and pears into a large bowl.  Put fruit onto a cutting board and slice into bite size pieces.  Put into bowl with drained juice.

Cut strawberries into bite size pieces.  Put all frozen fruit into bowl with the peaches and pears and juice.

Mix together and place in refrigerator until frozen fruit is thawed.

Serve and Enjoy!

You could add your favorite canned or frozen fruit to this also! Such as frozen cherries or blackberries, canned mandarin oranges, or pineapple!

Chef's Salad

I wouldn't call this a recipe.  

Just an idea for an easy lunch or dinner!  Sometimes a person just needs ideas!! :) 

Basically I cleaned out the refrigerator!

We had some leftover lunch meat that needed to be used up, so instead of another sandwich, we did a salad!

I probably could have made it look a little nicer, but I was starving!  So I just piled it up high!

Here is the "salad bar"

Romaine.  It speaks for itself! I love it! Crunchy, mild, and full of fiber! Yum!

Carrots, broccoli, red onion, chopped boiled eggs, turkey breast, roast beef, and ham.  

(I try to buy low sodium deli meats if at all possible...too much sodium is not a good thing!)

Also some freshly grated Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese. 

 I always buy block cheese.  It is usually cheaper plus it tastes so much better!  And it really doesn't take much time to grate!  But if you want to use the pre-shredded kind...don't let me stop you!! :)

And some Croutons...Sunflower Seeds would be my pick, but I was out of them.

Usually I make my salad dressings from scratch, but this one is really good!

Add on the dressing and you have a delicious meal!

(I very much enjoyed it!)

Perfect Winter Salad

Salad doesn't have to be boring!  Bring lettuce to life with a succulent dressing, dried cherries, red onion, parmesan cheese, and pecans!  And if you want to make a meal out if it, add some seasoned grilled chicken!  This salad is so good it could almost be dessert!

My taste buds tell me this recipe is a winner!

I really enjoy romaine! It is so crispy and green!

I just love looking at a pile of greens!

In case you haven't used shallots, this is how I buy them. They are usually located near the onions.

PERFECT WINTER SALAD

1/4 cup reduced fat mayonaise

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

3 T. white wine vinegar

2 T. shallot, minced

2 tsp. sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

2 pkg. (5oz.) spring mix (I just used 1 head of romaine)

2 medium tart apples, thinly sliced

1 cup dried cherries

1 cup pecan halves

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

In a small bowl, combine the first five ingredients; whisk in oil. Chill until serving

In a salad bowl, combine the salad greens, apples, cherries, pecans, onion, and cheese.  Just before serving drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.