Weight Loss Goddess

A fun and sophisticated salad, great with poultry or pork.

What You Need:

 

6 T olive oil

1/4 C orange juice

1/4 C white balsamic vinegar

1/4 C fresh cilantro, minced

2 T honey

1/2 t chili sauce

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 t salt

2 large apples cut into wedges

1 (5 oz.) pkg. spring mix salad greens

1 C walnut halves

1/2 C blue cheese, crumbled

 

How to Make It:

 

Place the olive oil into a mixing bowl.

Add the orange juice and the vinegar.

Whisk well to combine the ingredients.

Gently stir in the cilantro.

Whisk the honey and chili sauce into the mixture well.

Add the garlic and the salt and mix to completely combine the ingredients.

Pour 1/4 C of the mixture into a sealed plastic bag.

Add the apples to the bag.

Seal and turn to coat the apples well.

Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Cover the remaining dressing and refrigerate until ready to use on the salad.

Drain the apples from the marinade but save the marinade to use for basting.

Thread the apples onto 6 soaked wooden skewers.

Place the apples over medium heat on the grill.

Cover and cook 6 minutes or until golden brown.

Turn and continue cooking an additional 6 minutes or until the apples are tender.

Place the greens into a large salad bowl.

Add the walnuts and cheese and toss to combine well.

Add the apples to the salad.

Pour the refrigerated dressing over the salad and toss.

 

Serves:  4

 

The best apple to use in this recipe would be one that is crispy with a sweet tart flavor.  Fuji, Golden Delicious or Gala work very well. Apples are very healthy foods.  They are fat free and contain no sodium or cholesterol. 

Another type of fruit salad is a citrus salad. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes all make great fruit salad ingredients. Add some additional toppings or elements and who knows you may even have the kids begging for more.

 

These types of salads can have a little bite so add some whipped topping or a brown sugar or honey based dressing to keep those lips from puckering up too much.

 

Exotic fruit salads are making a place on the table these days. Even less known fruits such as pomegranate, papaya, star fruit and kiwi are showing up more and more in local supermarkets. These tasty treats can make a fruit salad stand out both in presentation and taste. And a single kiwi has more Vitamin C than 3 oranges.

 

Fruit salads are easy to make. With the many varieties of fruit available like grapes, cherries, apricots and of course all those berries you can make this type of salad a constant at the table.

 

A fruit salad can be made simple with canned fruits, extravagant with fresh fruits or even fun with dried fruits. No matter which way you decide to go, fruit salads are sure to be hit with everyone, especially once the weather starts to get warmer. They even make a great substitute for dessert if you are watching your weight.

 

When we think of a salad the first thing that comes to mind is usually lettuce. Although lettuce makes a great salad, it’s not always a necessity. Salads can be made up of just about anything these days,  and now that fresh produce is so easy to get all year round, fruit is a great way to change things up a bit.

 

Fruit salads consist of, you guessed it, fruit. Of course they can include lettuce if you like, but the main component is fruit. Think of all the different types of fruit we have to choose from. Now imagine all the different ways of using those fruits in luscious salads.

 

Traditional fruit salads are quick and easy to prepare. For instance if you have a couple cans of fruit cocktail in the cabinet just drain them, dump them in a salad bowl and add a few little extras. Extras can consist of whipped topping, marshmallows, nuts or even a sprinkle of coconut.

 

You can go even farther and healthier by adding fresh fruits to your fruit salads. Berries aren’t the only fruits that work well. Peaches, pears, oranges or, well just about any fruit can make a fruit salad that’s fit for any occasion.

 

Traditional fruit salads can be used as a side dish or even as a dessert on any menu. Basic fresh fruit salads can be the perfect addition to any breakfast or can be used to please that hungry stomach at snack time.

Pasta salads are a great take along for a potluck dinner or family picnic.  These salads are simple to make but taste great.  Shrimp works well in a salad of this type, for example, a  shrimp Caesar salad with fusili.  Orzo or couscous make wonderful bases for picnic style salads as well, for example, in Tabbouleh.

 

Orzo and couscous are a type of pasta that resembles rice grains, but are of wheat also.  These types of pasta can be used to create warm or cold salads that will stretch to feed a crowd.  They are dense and filling, without a lot of calories.

 

Pasta salads can be quite healthy also.  Use whole wheat pasta, add fresh vegetables, and a low calorie or low fat dressing, and you have a whole meal.  It will taste so good no one will even realize just how healthy it is. 

 

Pasta salads are easy to make and the possibilities are endless.  Start with your favorite pasta as the base line.  Add your favorite vegetables, nuts or other favorite ingredients and a dressing.  Before you know it you will have a salad that everybody wants the recipe for. 

 

Pasta salad is a dish that anyone can create. There are plenty of pasta salad recipes that we already know and love. Mix up the menu a bit and add pasta salad as a side dish or main dish every once in a while, and see how tasty and how much fun eating healthy can be.

In recent years, pasta salads have taken center stage on salad bars everywhere.  People are bringing them to potluck dinners, creating them for family reunions, and ordering them in their favorite restaurants.

 

Why not create your own pasta salad for the dinner table at home? Pasta is versatile, easy to make, even better, a pasta salad can be really delicious, and can also be fun for the whole family.

 

Pasta comes in many shapes, sizes and colors these days. From angel hair pasta to spaghetti and elbow macaroni to tiny shells, pasta has claimed its place on the grocery shelves. Pasta comes in so many different varieties it might be hard to decide which one to use.

 

One favorite pasta salad that has been around for years at picnics and family reunions is macaroni salad.  It can be made in many different varieties.  With a little mayonnaise, mustard, dill, sweet pickles and even hard boiled eggs you can make macaroni salad in no time.  Add onion or even cubes of cheese to give it your own personal touch.

 

Tired of those mashed potatoes or rice dishes every night?  Why not make a pasta salad in their place.  Pasta salads make great side dishes.  They go well with pork, beef, chicken and fish.  Everyone will enjoy the change.

 

When making pasta salad, remember to cool the pasta before adding any vegetables or dressings.   Fresh or frozen vegetables can be added to these great creations.  For the dressings most pasta salads are made with Italian or Ranch dressing but you can always use your favorite to see how it tastes.

Go ahead and add those veggies to your main course salad. Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms are the perfect main course salad enhancers.

 

The more fresh veggies you can pack in the better. You can’t go wrong when it comes to vegetables, and if they taste good to you, throw them in.   

 

Lettuce and veggies aren’t enough to fill really hungry stomachs, however. For that you need protein, and a bit of fat. Chopped, sliced or diced meats such as pork, beef or chicken can be added to your salads to make them tastier and more filling as well.

 

Turkey, ham or seafood such as shrimp can also be a great addition. Additions such as meat and eggs will give your salad some added protein and will enhance the flavor as well.

 

Don’t forget those toppers. Nuts, seeds, bacon bits and croutons are always a hit when it comes to creating a salad. Your main course salad should be no exception. Add some cheese and sliced hard boiled eggs for even more substance to your salad.  Just remember that nut can pack on pounds if you are not careful.

 

Main course salads can be made with Mexican or Asian fixings as well. Add some chow mien noodles and more to give the salad an Oriental flare. Don’t forget your dressing. There are a vast amount of flavorful dressings available these days to top any great salad.

 

Salads don’t have to be what was once known as rabbit food anymore. Have fun creating your main course salads and remember to let your taste buds and health consciousness lead the way.

 

When it comes to salads most of us think of that little dish that comes with lettuce, some veggies, cheese and dressing we have before our main meal.

 

Others see abig salad bar with all the fixings.

 

The good news is that these are not the only ways to enjoy a salad any more. Why not make your next salad the main course of your meal?

 

Salads have come a long way now that more of us are trying to eat in a more healthy way. Main course salads have become a hit and people are finding ways to make these salads a delightful treat. They’re simple to throw together and can fill up any stomach – no matter how big it might be.

 

These main course salads can be served in many different ways. Use a salad plate or a pretty, decorative salad bowl.

 

Taco salad bowls are also a great base for your salads. You can find them in almost any grocery store and they don’t have to be filled with just taco fillings. Pita bread or taco shells can also be used to make a great main course salad base.

 

Most main course salads start with lettuce. Whether you’re fixing a vegetable salad or a meat enhanced salad, lettuce is the perfect filler.

 

On the other hand, if you’re making a pasta salad with some shrimp or tuna you can still use lettuce leave as a bed for the salad.

 

The main thing to remember is that a salad bar, or salad, can be unhealthy if you add too much cheese, cream-based dressings, nuts, or mayonaisse to your tuna, chicken, or egg salad. Just because it is a salad does not mean it is instantly healthy for you. And salad bars can be a danger because you are hungry and get dazzled by the array of seemingly healthy ingredients.

What You Need:

 

1 (4 oz) pkg. pepperoni slices

6 large hamburger buns

1 C pizza sauce

1 C Mozzarella cheese, shredded

 

How to Cook It:

 

Place the oven temperature on 375 degrees and allow it to heat.

Place the pepperoni slices on a flat surface and use a small heart shaped cutter to cut each slice.

Lay the hamburger buns out flat on a baking sheet.

Cover each bun half with the pizza sauce.

Add the cut pepperoni hearts.

Sprinkle each bun half with the cheese.

Bake the buns for 8 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted and the bun is slightly crisp around the edges.

 

Serving Size:  12

 

These appetizers work very well at a teenagers Valentine’s party.  All teenagers love pepperoni pizza and these are an easy way to give them what they want.  To make more just double the recipe amounts and you can have 24 delicious treats.

What You Need:

 

4 (6 in) soft tortilla shells

1/4 (8 oz) container strawberry cream cheese

4 T strawberry jam

 

How to Cook It:

 

Spread each of the 4 tortillas with the strawberry cream cheese to the edges of the tortilla.

Spread 1 T of strawberry jam down the middle of each of the tortillas.

Fold the end of the tortilla in about 2 in.

Grab the front edge of the tortilla and roll until completely closed.

Cut into 2 inch bites.

 

Serving Size:  24

 

These little treats can be wrapped and placed into lunchboxes or used as appetizers for a special Valentine’s Day treat. 

White Wine

 

This wine goes well with several dishes. Your sweetie will be impressed that you know how to put wine together with food for the perfect complement to the Valentine’s Day meal.

 

If you like the taste of Chardonnay, they you have a tendency towards fruity flavors. There are many California chardonnays on the market if you prefer a U.S. wine. Choose from medium or full-bodied varieties.

 

White wine goes well with:

·         Pasta dishes

·         Chicken

·         Fish

For a lighter bodied white wine that includes a nuttier flavor, opt for a Sauvignon blanc or a white Zinfandel.

 

Red Wine

Red wine is an acquired taste. Choose from Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Port. Red wines have a variety of flavors that range from light to full-bodied. There is a hint of fruit combined with bolder flavors like licorice, spice, and woodsy flavors.

 

If you plan on serving red meat or a stew, consider serving a red wine with the meal. Pinot Noir is also an excellent choice for chicken dishes, salmon, and pork.

 

What are you serving for dinner this Valentine’s Day? If you are going for the romantic touch and an eventful evening, serve some wine with your meal.