Asian Salad

I first had this salad many moons ago at a Christmas brunch at a friend's house.  I asked for the recipe and she shared.  I have since made this salad for many a get-together and at almost every one of those get-togethers, I have been asked for the recipe as well.  Most recently, I made it for a cub scout function and was again asked for the recipe.  My husband was ready to tell the mom about this blog, but I had to interrupt to tell him it wasn't on here yet.  He looked genuinely shocked.  The fact is, I have made it a thousand times, but each time, I forget to take a picture of the final product before we zip out of the house or before people arrive at our house.  So, one day, I will add a finished product picture to this page, but in the meantime, it is about time it got posted!  Enjoy!  (And be ready to share the recipe!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 head of celery cabbage (I often substitute Romaine and have most recently been using spinach)
• 3-4 green onions, chopped
• 1 package Ramen noodles (broken)
• 1 bag of sweet glazed Almond Accents (there are often newspaper coupons for these)

dressing

• 1/2 c balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 c vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix all dressing ingredients and allow to sit for best results.
2. Mix greens.  Add Ramen noodles, almonds, and dressing right before serving.

Difficulty: very easy

Time: 15 minutes

Source: A friend from aerobics many years ago

Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette

Looking on the positive side, with the number of doctor and therapist appointments there were this summer, I had the opportunity to peruse some good magazines and the time to make a grocery list for the new recipes I found in those magazines.  Waiting rooms are good for some things, I suppose.  I found this recipe in Southern Living, and I feel like I hit the jackpot in doing so.  It is so good, and with the companion recipes that were in the magazine, such as Tomato and Gorgonzola Pasta Salad, I can't get enough. I love easy, homemade dressings! (Look for the Pasta Salad recipe here!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, minced
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Stir together lemon juice and shallot; let stand 5 minutes.
2. Whisk in remaining ingredients.  Refrigerate for up to one week in air tight container.

Difficulty: very easy

Time: 10 minutes

Source: Southern Living magazine, July 2014

Apple-Walnut Chicken Salad and Balsamic Apple Vinaigrette

Spring is finally here!  And so is our next Gooseberry Giveaway!!  We are thrilled to have the opportunity to review a new cookbook by Gooseberry, and - even better - to have one to give to one of you!  101 Farmhouse Favorites is a fantastic, full-color cookbook from Gooseberry's photo series.  I always love the opportunity to see an image of the final product before I attempt a new recipe, so I really appreciate the color photograph of each of the delicious looking recipes in the book.

101 Farmhouse Favorites is filled with great ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, and even has an entire section called "Classic Country Canning," with recipes and instructions for even the most novice of canners (like me).  The salsa, pesto, and spaghetti sauce are on my "must-try" list from that chapter.  But as I dove into the book for the first time, the "Garden-fresh Soups and Salads" chapter is what really caught my eye.

From "Mommy's Pasta Fagioli" to "Best-Ever Spinach Salad," I couldn't decide where to begin!  In the end, I decided I had to share this delicious salad.  There is just something about an easy, homemade dressing, and this one is superb!  I also love having a great use for the rotisserie chicken leftovers that I tend to have.  Flavorful, refreshing, hearty, and crisp, this is a salad that I will make again and again.

WE ARE SORRY BUT OUR GIVEAWAY OF 101 FARMHOUSE FAVORITES HAS ENDED.

INGREDIENTS:

For the salad:

• 6 cups mixed field greens or baby greens
• 2 cups deli roast chicken, shredded
• 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1 Fuji or Gala apple, cored and chopped

For the Balsamic Apple Vinaigrette:

• 2 Tbsp frozen apple juice concentrate
• 1 Tbsp cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/3 cup olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large salad bowl, toss together all salad ingredients.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients.  
3. Drizzle dressing over salad, tossing gently to coat.

Difficulty: easy

Time: 15-20 minutes

Source: Gooseberry Patch's 101 Farmhouse Favorites, Copyright 2012

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