well… maybe not banish but know that there are options out there.
You know how when you got to a restaurant and some of the fancier salads look sooo good… but you have a hard time shelling out 13 bucks for a salad..
yeah me too. Here’s the thing.. you can make these at home!! Now I know some of you are like, “duh? is she going to seriously walk us through salad making 101?”
yes. Because I have a few friends whose diets have changed and they need to add more fruits and veggies into their diet & want to show the amazing amount options that are out there. If you already know all of this.. I apologize…. just scroll to the bottom to help answer a question about my next giveaway.
WHOA!!! wait.. YOU!… get back up here.. I’m not done yet.
We’ll start with making a dressing…. yes.. making it is super simple.. and there are 17,000 combinations that you can create… just use a basic formula and add the flavors that you like!
1~ an acid.. either vinegar, lemon or lime juice, wine…. 1/8 cup
2~ an oil…. olive oil, canola oil, sesame oil.. coconut oil ( my new FAVORITE! ) 1/4 cup
3~mustard… again… SO many flavors out there… play with it! 1 tsp
4~ honey.. or maple syrup ( the real stuff) or agave…. 1 tsp
5~ (optional) herbs.. fresh or dried… or sesame seeds, or crushed garlic….. 1/2-1 tsp.. depending on how strong you would like ( always start with less then add more)
6~ sea salt and pepper….. I have a slight salt obsession as well….. we’ll chat about this later 🙂 remind me if I forget.
simply add everything to a small ball jars
put the top on the jar and shake….
you just made dressing 🙂
trust me.. you can’t get that out of a bottle…. anywhere.
I don’t like overly dressed salads, so I usually use about a tablespoon per salad.. if you like more, then add more… I mix it with whichever greens I am using so that they are coated, then place in serving bowl… top with toppings…
like the quiche ‘recipe’ ( are you starting to get my method of cooking… it’s always a formula, then playing with ingredients… because I am a firm believer in play! <—- please read this post, it’s one of my favorites 🙂
so.. you will want
1~ green of choice… baby spinach, arugula, mesclun, romaine, butter lettuce..
2~ dressing of choice
3~ ( optional.. ) protein of choice… ( chicken, beans, salmon, beef, tofu, edamame.)
4~ other veggies.. just pile them on!
5~ (optional ) cheese
6~ (optional) something for crunch.. croutons, sunflower seeds, pepitas, sliver almonds
7~ (optional) dried cranberries or apricots or mandarin orange wedges
and you, my dear have just made a killer salad worthy of any restaurant.
here’s your 13 buckaroos back 🙂
baby spinach
basic vinaigrette
topped with edamame ( I used trader Joe’s ).. about 1/2 cup
black beans .. about 1/4 cup
1/4 avocado, chopped
1/4 cup cranberry goat cheese ( if you are vegan, by choice or m=by force, eliminate it… the avocado give the same mouthfeel… and you probably wont miss it)
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
finish with sea salt and pepper..
I ate this for lunch yesterday and it kept me full all afternoon! ( and peeps ask me all the time where I get my protein from 🙂 )
so be brave…. look beyond iceburg, cukes and tomatoes ( not that there is anything with it, it’s the only way I can get my kids to eat a salad, so I still make it… ) and have fun!!!!
NEEEEXXXXTTT…
I have fallen in LOVE with Greek Yogurt. Have you tried it yet? I buy the non fat plain and it tastes just like sour cream. I sub it out for sour cream all the time. It is also a perfect base to make granola parfait but also… to make some ‘creamy’ sauces! like this
Chipotle cream sauce
I used about 1/2 the can of peppers.. if you like it more mild, use less
about a cup of the Greek Yogurt
half a lime
I put them all in the magic bullet looking thing and blended
if you don’t have one of these babies, you could use a blender, just keep scraping down the sides.. or use a food processor.
that’s it folks… does it get simpler than that? I think not.
The girls had this on their tacos last night & I topped my tostada with it.
the girls’ taco filling is made with lean ground chicken, then when I add the taco seasoning ( only half the package… it’s so loaded with sodium.. a little goes a long way.. you also can make your own, considerably knocking the sodium down, but I had it so I used it) and when I add the water I add a can of refried beans. They blend in perfectly… it stretches the filling and boosts the protein 🙂 I’ve been doing this for years..
It also freezes and defrosts well, so you can make double the amount and have it in the freezer for a super quick dinner…. If you need to cook for one, make a batch and freeze it into individual portions… again.. quick dinner for one
*if you have dinner for one, please do me a favor and do it by candle light.. you are special and should have a nice dining experience.. if you want you can face time me and we can eat dinner together 😉 *
My filling was chopped mushrooms, sautéed in oil, then I mashed some back beans and lime juice in, seasoned with sea salt, cumin & chile powder
I placed it on a small flour tortilla that I heated in my cast iron skillet ( I CANNOT say enough how much I love cast Iron to cook with)
top with cheese ( if vegan, try the daiya cheese shreds.. it’s very good, melts and stretches like cheese and can be frozen.. It is on the pricey side ( $5 a bag) but it does freeze, and I just pull out what I need when I need it )
the I added avocado.. fresh salsa.. Chipotle cream sauce and some plain Greek yogurt.. YUM! ( and sooooooo easy )
As far as the rest of the chipotle peppers ( I’ve never had a recipe that I’ve used the whole can ) I take a freezer bag & label it… place in a jar
then press out the air & seal
Whenever I need some for a recipe, or a burst of flavor, I just break a piece off! No waste here.. yo!
so now that I’ve made you hungry… I have a question for all of you.
I have a fun company that has offered for me to give away one of their products. I have the choice…
1~ 1 big gift for one lucky recipient…
OR
2~ 10 small gifts ( of the same item) so that TEN of you can win….
so whatcha all think? 1 big winner or 10 smaller ones???
smooches friends!! oxooxo
10 prizes…..and now I’m starving
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I hope that you made a salad 🙂 oxox
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10 prizes 🙂 And YUM!!! Love the blog!
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thanks!! I appreciate it.. wait until you see what it is.. it’s so cool!!!!!
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Yum sounds great although I am too full from our great lunch! And now you are on my home page. Soooooo cool. Love it! Love you!
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love you too!,, no dinner needed tonight….. good thing that tomorrow’s recipe which is on my stove now isn’t to eat 😉 !
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Awesome ! I love making my own dressings. But now I’m thinking I need a magic bullet. I’ve been using a blender.
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Mine is a bella cusina.. The generic. Version of the magic bullet. It works great. I bought it on sale at Macy’s but kohls has them too if you can find a 30% coupon!!
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10 prizes.. now im off to order a magic bullet AND now i know what i am looking for when i need chipotle peppers lol … damn im hungry now. Thanks alot.
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Sorry :). See my previous comment about buying one.. I always have a hard time finding them but when I do I buy a couple of cans. I find that shaws has a better international dept than stop and shop. Good luck!!
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10.
I freeze chipotle in adobo like that, works great.
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I refuse to throw anything away!!! Lol. (( chipotle in adobe…)). And now *I * am hungry!!
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I say 10 as well! Btw, I see your Scentsy plug in!! 🙂
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LOL! I was hoping you would!! I love it!! thank you 🙂
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I’m voting for one big grand prize, but I see I’m outnumbered here 🙂 A magic bullet would probably be a good idea for me – I usually make sauces in big batches and end up throwing out half (I get sick of them and DBF doesn’t usually like them).
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Christina.. this would be another wise investment for you.. The really good thing is that they come with covers so you can store your leftover dressing in the same container in the fridge and just quickly whirr it again when you need more! ( just remove it from the fridge about 15 min before so that the oil starts to liquify again 🙂
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and Pam just gave me ANOTHER coupon code for Kohl’s!! It’s Fate 🙂 xoxo
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CLEARLY a sign from
above 🙂
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