Salad ideas wanted
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive December 2005 :
Salad ideas wanted
DH and I will be eating Christmas dinner at my friend's new home. There will be about 15 people total for the meal. She really has everything pretty much covered, but I want to bring something. She likes my made-from-scratch cornbread dressing, but I don't know if I'll be able to get it done. Her DH is making stuffing, but she said *if* I was up to it, she'd love to have mine too.
So I asked her if I could make a salad. And, I'd like some fresh ideas. They are only having one *real* vegetable dish with the meal - green bean casserole - and a spinach/artichoke appetizer, so I personally would *really* like another vegie with the meal and she agreed.
This is what I usually do. I use red leaf lettuce. I make my own salad dressing with:
Extra virgin olive oil
White Balsemic vinegar
Fresh pressed garlic
Fresh ground pepper
Zatarains Creole mustard
Fresh lemon juice
Dash of Worchesershire sauce
I toss the lettuce with that and fresh crumbled goat cheese and whatever nuts/seeds I happen to have handy.
Is this *special* enough for the Christmas meal, or does anyone have any great salad ideas????
I've had a raspberry salad before that was delicious, but I've never made one. Here's a recipe I found. Now only is it yummy, but a very festive Christmas red and green.
Spinach and Raspberry Salad
Ingredients:
Raspberry Dressing
2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar or red
wine vinegar
2 tablespoons raspberry jam
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Salad
8 cups torn fresh spinach
1 cup fresh raspberries, divided
3/4 cup chopped pecans, divided
3 kiwi fruit, sliced
Instructions:
For the dressing, whisk the raspberry vinegar and raspberry jam in a medium mixing bowl. Add the oil gradually, whisking constantly until smooth.
For the salad, toss the spinach with half the raspberries and half the pecans in a shallow salad bowl. Add the dressing, tossing to coat.
Top with the remaining pecans, raspberries and kiwi fruit.
Nutrition Facts:
Amount Per Serving: Calories 201
Fat 17 g, Cholesterol 0 mg,
Sodium 26 mg,
Quantity:
Serves 8
Oh Pam, that looks great!!
This is wonderful! It's really yummy and easy. It was served at an event I went to recently and it was gone within mintues and everyone was asking for more! Just bring the dressing on the side and toss right before serving. BTW-I just bought the baby spinach and then I didn't have to tear it into pieces.
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
1 pound spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook and stir
almonds in butter until lightly toasted. Remove from heat, and let cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the toasted almonds and
cranberries.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds,
sugar, onion, paprika, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, and vegetable
oil. Toss with spinach just before serving.
My mother makes one identical to Pam's recipe and it is a party favorite. We all love it and she takes it to a get together once a month because people expect it.
That sounds like it would be really pretty on the table, and I love the raspberry part, but I, and some of the others who will be there, don't like spinach salad. 
Thanks for the suggestion... anyone else have any ideas?
Would you be interested in a cottage cheese salad? I used to bring it to potlucks and whatnot when I was a teacher and it was always gone by the time we had our first break. Let me know so I can (literally) dig it up for you. It's pretty simple.
I do a pasta salad. Just cook bowties, mix in a cup of mayo, some sugar, some herbs (i have to look up what I use) and some dried cranberries.
Enchens I'd be so interested in the cottage cheese salad! My boyfriend and I love cottage cheese and I get so tired of eating it "plain".
Catherin,
You got it. Give me 'til tomorrow to dig it up. I'm pretty sure I know which box it's in.
I picked up some Craisins last night and some more pine nuts and sunflower seed kernels. I'm going to make the usual salad, the goat's cheese will flavor it and the Craisins will give it colore and a little bit of *zing*.
Eve, that looks yummy too! Maybe I'll make 2 salads this weekend!
Here's the cottage cheese salad recipe.
Cottage Cheese Salad
Ingredients:
-cottage cheese
-sunflower seeds
-sesame seeds
-carrots
-tomatoes
-celery
-cucumber
-sprig of fresh parsley
-lemon juice (about a teaspoon or two)
-alfalfa sprouts
-cherry tomatoes
-boiled eggs (1-2)
1) Roast sunflower and sesame seeds. Let cool.
2) Finely chop carrots, tomato, celery, and cucumber.
3) In a bowl, add cottage cheese, seeds, and chopped vegetables. Add lemon juice. Mix.
4) Garnish top with alfalfa sprouts and chopped egg whites.
5) Sprinkle egg yolk over top.
6) Add sprig of parsley and place cherry tomatoes.
7) Refrigerate until ready to serve.
(Sorry, no exact measurements were given. You may also omit or add ingredients)
Thank you so much Nancy! That looks so good and it uses the things I normally have in the house! I'll have to make it for him the next time he comes over
That does look so good! So nice and light for lunch. Thanks for posting that.
That DOES look good. I'm going to save that one.
The ones with spinach look good too, I'm thinking just substitute the spinach for lettuce!!
Thanks for all the ideas!
|
Members
