Salad Jackpot!

We've hit the salad jackpot lately. I've never been one to swoon over salad, since we didn't have it much growing up. Partially because I was such a picky eater that my ideal salad consisted of crunchy lettuce and ranch dressing, but also because my mom thought it wasn't worth the effort. You can get the same amount of nutrients (and often more) by dumping a package of pre-cut pre-washed broccoli into the steamer. But recently, we've found some amazing recipes that make it worth all the effort. We've even started buying spinach in mass quantities from Costco. You know the enormous bag I'm talking about? The one that takes up half your fridge space and usually goes bad before you can even use half of it? Well, we've said goodbye to the rotten stench of old spinach in our fridge and said hello to these amazing recipes. You'll love 'em!

A couple of tips: With each of these, I'm pretty sure the secret is in the homemade DRESSINGS. And for all you moms out there who refuse to become familiar with the internet (specifically my mom), if you don't see the recipe underneath the title, click on the underlined words and the computer will magically take you to the website with that recipe.

From OurBestBites.com:

Candied Walnut Salad with

Honey Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing

From AllRecipes.com:

Strawberry Spinach Salad with my new favorite dressing ever. 

It's so yummy I don't even know what to call it!

Eryn's Salady Goodness:

2 green apples peeled and chopped
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (peeled from a block)
Romaine lettuce
Candied pecans or walnuts
Dressing:
1 lemon, juiced
1/4 c olive oil
2 green onions
salt to taste

Spinach-Craisin-Almond-Poppyseed Salad

1 bunch spinach
1 small red onion, sliced thin
1 small package dried cranberries
caramelized almonds* 
Poppy seed dressing:
  1/4 cup olive oil
  2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
  2 Tbsp. sugar
  1/4 tsp. salt
  1/4 tsp. almond extract
  1 Tbsp. poppy seeds

*In saucepan over med. heat, 

heat 3/4 cup slivered almonds 

with 2 Tbsp. sugar until 

golden brown. Spread on 

foil to cool, then break apart.

Mom's Mandarin Almond Salad

1 head romaine lettuce

1 cup chopped celery

3 green onions, sliced

1 cup mandarin oranges

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Dressing:

1/2 cup salad oil

4 Tbsp. sugar

4 T. vinegar

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

These ones we don't have actual recipes for, but they are big favorites so we've tried to copy them on our own:


Red Robin's Crispy Chicken Tender Salad
crisp greens, lightly fried chicken breast tenders, hard-boiled egg, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon, green onions, poppy-seed honey mustard dressing

Cheesecakes Unlimited's Feta Chicken Salad 

romaine lettuce, arugula, shredded chicken, crumbled feta cheese, cubed cucumber, diced tomatoes, sunflower seeds, sliced red onion, garlic caesar dressing