Tomato Salad with Fresh Herbs and a Balsamic Reduction

I found this recipe in the September 2011 issue of Food Network Magazine. I had all the ingredients on hand and knew it would make the perfect side dish to the kebabs I was making for our dinner guests. There is something so delicious about fresh tomatoes with good herbs and a tasty balsamic reduction... perfect summer food! This recipe was light, delicious, and a big hit with the adults and my

Caprese Pasta Salad with a White Balsamic Vinaigrette

This recipe was inspired by my oldest sister Dana. She called me recently and suggested I make caprese salad combined with pasta and since I am a dutiful younger sister I complied. I decided to dress the pasta salad with a simple white balsamic vinaigrette and it turned out fantastic! I really loved the fresh basil, combined with the creamy cheese, sweet tomatoes, soft pasta, and tangy

Spinach Salad with Strawberry, Walnut, and Parmesan Shavings

I had some really sweet and delicious strawberries in the fridge as well as leftover baby spinach that needed to be used up, so I decided to combine the two and make a salad. I tossed in some toasted walnut pieces and shaved Parmesan then drizzled the salad with a balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It was light and beautiful salad that was so delicious.Spinach Salad with Strawberry, Walnut, and

Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Grilled Vegetables

I am in love. Truly. This side dish was so good that I could eat just it for a meal and be perfectly happy. I planned to cook the veggies on the grill but it started raining so I decided to do the next best thing and use my grill pan. It worked perfectly. I loved the flavor of the grilled vegetables with the creamy orzo and tangy dressing. I served this orzo salad with the Mediterranean Pork

Green Bean Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

I found this recipe on Culinary Cory and decided to make it tonight. I made the vinaigrette earlier in the day and let the flavors mingle together. This salad is colorful and flavorful and was a hit with all of us. I loved, loved, LOVED the vinaigrette and look forward to trying it with other vegetables. Thanks for the excellent recipe Cory!Green Bean Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette:Adapted

Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad

I needed to make a dish to take to a friends house for dinner so I decided to do a caprese salad. Instead of using plain raw tomatoes I decided to roast them. I drizzled really good balsamic vinegar over the tomatoes before plating them with the mozzarella and basil. It was SO DELICIOUS!! I don't think I will make a caprese salad any other way ever again. Simple, quick, beautiful, and delectable

Thai Chicken Salad

I recently had a delicious Thai chicken salad at Panera that I loved so much that I decided to recreate it at home. I used mixed greens, leftover chicken, bell pepper, edamame, shredded carrot, cilantro, wonton strips, peanuts, and a spicy peanut vinaigrette for this salad. I thought all of the flavors and textures were fantastic together - this is definitely a new favorite salad.Thai Chicken

Mixed Greens with Apples, Sunflower Seeds, and Croutons with a White Cheddar and Chive Vinaigrette

My friend Kyle found a new vinaigrette that was filled with white cheddar and chives so we put together a very simple salad using mixed greens, apple, sunflower seeds, and croutons to go with the Cheese and Potato Soup we were having for dinner. The dressing was a bit sweet and tangy with a wonderful white cheddar and chive flavor and it paired nicely with the simple salad. I typically wouldn't

Wilted Spinach Salad with Caramelized Shallots

I had some spinach to use up so I searched online and found this recipe on Martha Stewart. This salad turned out to be very quick and simple to make and it made a wonderful and healthy side dish to go with our roasted chicken dinner.Wilted Spinach Salad with Caramelized Shallots:Adapted recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.netOriginal recipe by Martha Stewart2-3 tsp olive oil4 shallots,

Cilantro and Lime Crab Salad in Avocado Halves

I picked up a tub of lump crab meat recently so I decided use some of it to make a quick and delicious salad to put into avocado halves. I found a recipe on Epicurious that looked simple and delicious. I tossed the crab with a bit of lime, cilantro, light mayonnaise, and red onion. The crab salad tasted so good with the creamy avocado. My husband and I both enjoyed this dish and I look forward to

Mediterranean Roasted Potato Salad AND the Giveaway Winners

I wanted to use up some fingerling potatoes and grape tomatoes I had on hand so I decided to make a Mediterranean potato salad. I roasted the fingerling potatoes then tossed them in a lemon vinaigrette and let them cool. I then tossed the cooled potatoes with grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, and feta cheese along with the remaining vinaigrette. It was a quick and simple recipe that

Spinach and Avocado Salad

I had a bag of baby spinach to use up and two ripe avocados so I decided to make a tossed salad with a few of my favorite ingredients. I tossed this salad with my favorite dressing - Fran's Simple Vinaigrette (Fran is my mother in law). It was a simple salad to make and tasted fantastic! I love the creamy avocado, sweet craisins, crunchy croutons, salty Parmesan, and the tangy vinaigrette - it

Avocado and Tomato Salad

I found some beautiful tomatoes at the store recently and decided to make a very simple salad featuring the tomatoes and fresh avocado. I seasoned them simply with sea salt, freshly cracked pepper, along with a drizzle of olive oil and red wine vinegar and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro. It was simple and so delicious - we all loved this salad. I served this dish with the Slow Roasted Chicken with

Spinach Salad with Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette

I've been wanting to make this salad for a long time because it looks so flavorful and delicious without being too bad for you. I finally had all the ingredients on hand and decided to make it and I am so glad I did. I loved the flavor of the vinaigrette with the spinach and the crunchy apples and bacon bits gave this salad a great texture. We all loved it and gobbled up every last bite.Spinach

Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad

I saw a recipe for a delicious Greek style pasta salad over at Cathy's site, Wives with Knives, that I couldn't wait to make. I added a few extra ingredients like artichoke hearts, grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and red onion. We had this salad as our main entree and we all enjoyed it, especially my son, who had two helpings. I ate some of the leftovers the following day and it tasted delicious.

Chicken Rice Noodle Salad with Peanuts and Spicy Lime Vinaigrette

I found this recipe on the Thai Kitchen website and was excited to give it a try. My family loves Asian noodle salads so this one was sure to be a hit. It was easy to make and took very little time. The noodles cook quickly so you don't have to heat up your kitchen (which is great for the hot summer days). I loved the flavors and textures of this salad. The soft noodles, crisp vegetables, and

Grilled Chicken Salad with Spicy Pineapple Dressing

My generous neighbor Jack gave me some fresh picked green leaf, red leaf, and romaine lettuce from his garden. I couldn't wait to make a summer salad using it. I found this recipe from the Cooking Light July 2010 issue and couldn't resist giving it a try. I loved the simply seasoned chicken mixed with the crunchy jicama, red pepper, and onion. The spicy pineapple dressing was AMAZING! This salad

Green and Yellow Beans, Tomatoes, and Basil in a Balsamic Vinaigrette

I haven't felt like cooking any big meals due to the hot and humid weather here in Portland. I found this green bean salad on Myrecipes.com and it looked too good to resist. I adapted it a bit by using balsamic vinegar and garlic. It took only minutes to make and tasted fantastic. It was light, flavorful, and healthy... perfect for a hot summer day. Green and Yellow Beans, Tomatoes, and Basil in

Mixed Greens with Herb Goat Cheese and Wildflower Honey Vinaigrette

I have loved every cheese that I received from Ile De France and I couldn't wait to try the herb goat cheese. I decided to make a simple salad with a light vinaigrette to showcase the creamy texture of the goat cheese as well as the wonderful herb flavor . I recently bought some wildflower honey vinegar from the farmer's market and decided to use it to make a simple vinaigrette to go with the

Spicy Orange Chicken Salad

Here is the last recipe that my friend Lori made for us while visiting her family last weekend. This salad is very simple to make, only has a few ingredients, and tastes fantastic. I loved the heat from the dressing with the sweet oranges. The chicken made this salad hearty and filling and the celery gave it a great crunch. Thanks again for an incredible weekend and for cooking such wonderful