Salads

I LOOVE a good salad. I really do. I could eat a salad everyday forEVER and be perfectly satisfied probably.

Here are two of my favorites:

Asian Spinach Salad

8 T. Olive Oil
3 T. Sugar
3 T. Unseasoned Rice Vinegar
3 T. Soy sauce

1 3-ounce package Asian noodle soup mix (like Top Ramen), noodles coarsely broken
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 T. Sesame seeds
1 10 oz bag spinach leaves
1 bunch green onions, chopped

Whisk 6 T oil, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce in small bowl to blend. Season w/salt and pepper.

Heat remaining 2 T. oil in heavy medum skillet over medium heat. Add noodles from soup mix, nuts, and sesame seeds. Stir until noodles, nuts and seeds are toasted and golden, about 8 minutes. Pour contents of skillet into large bowl and cool 10 minutes. Add spinach and green onions to same bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Serve.

This would also be good topped with some mandarin oranges.



Yummy Garlic Swiss Salad (not sure of the real name...but my sister in law made this one famous in our family)

1 head of romaine, and 1 head of green leaf lettuce
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 T. Lemon juice
1/2 tsp. pepper
3/4 tsp. salt
8 strips bacon (optional for the vegetarians), crumbled
1 cup of swiss cheese grated or in small chunks
1 small pkg of sliced almonds
1/4 to 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Mix in a mason jar, oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper, bacon (again, optional), swiss cheese, and almonds all together. Mix into lettuce and top with parmesan cheese.

**note: If you take this to a gathering, leave dressing in jar until just before ready to serve.