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Jul
7
2011
Summer Salad Round Up
Well it’s safe to say that summer has been kicked off with a bang around here. Our family from AZ has been visiting all week long and we’ve been hitting the beach…. often. These pictures of my boys make me smile, they are really living it up in the sunshine 
Have I said how much I enjoy Instagram on the iPhone?! You must get it if you have an iPhone, such fun pictures.
To celebrate summer, I have highlighted some of my favorite summer salads, some older as you will be able to tell from the photos (however still delicious) and some newer. At any rate, they are perfect for any summer table to cool you off.
Enjoy!!
1 Cup uncooked quinoa
1/4 Cup “Feast from the East” Sesame Dressing from Costco (this is such a great dressing)
1/4 Cup green onions, chopped (the green parts)
1/2 Cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 Cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 Cup fresh chopped cilantro leaves
1. Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Transfer to a large bowl. Mix in dressing, onions, feta, peppers and cilantro. Cover and chill until serving.
8-10 servings
1 lb whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles
2 Tablespoons sesame oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1/2 Cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Cup hot water
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 Cup finely chopped white onion
1/2 Cup finely chopped red or orange bell pepper
1 Cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
1/4 Cup finely chopped cilantro leaves (missing in picture, it’s much better with cilantro)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 Cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
2 Tablespoons sesame oil
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 (1 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled
1/2 Cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 Cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 Cup hot water
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 Cup finely chopped white onion
1/2 Cup finely chopped red or orange bell pepper
1 Cup cooked, shredded chicken breast
1/4 Cup finely chopped cilantro leaves (missing in picture, it’s much better with cilantro)
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 Cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
1. Cook noodles according to package. Drain, rinse with cold water, place in large pasta bowl and toss with sesame oil. Set aside.
2. Place garlic and ginger in food processor until well chopped. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar and red pepper flakes. Pulse until well combined and slowly add hot water. Set aside.
3. Place olive oil in hot skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes or until softened. Stir in chicken breast, cilantro and salt. Stir until heated through.
4. Add sauce and chicken mixture to noodles. Toss to coat and garnish with peanuts and sesame seeds if desired.
6 servings
1 loaf whole grain baguette
4 large Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
8 large fresh basil leaves, stacked, rolled then thinly sliced
3 cloves roasted garlic, smashed (Place bulb of garlic in lightly wrapped tin foil, bake in oven at 375 degrees F for 50-60 minutes, peel and ready to use)
2 pinches coarse salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
4 large Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
8 large fresh basil leaves, stacked, rolled then thinly sliced
3 cloves roasted garlic, smashed (Place bulb of garlic in lightly wrapped tin foil, bake in oven at 375 degrees F for 50-60 minutes, peel and ready to use)
2 pinches coarse salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Slice baguette in ½ inch slices and place on baking sheet or tin foil. Brush lightly with good extra virgin olive oil. Bake for 5-6 minutes until lightly toasted.
2. Place tomatoes, basil leaves, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil into a large bowl and mix well, making sure garlic is well incorporated.
3. Place heaping Tablespoonfuls of tomato mixture over each toasted baguette slice and serve!
2 15 0z cans garbanzo beans, drained
1 Cup chopped roasted red pepper, drained
1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 fresh lemon squeezed
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
1 bag of fresh arugula
1. Place garbanzo beans and peppers into a mixing bowl. Place olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a bowl and whisk to combine. Toss over garbanzo beans and toss to coat. Spoon over a bed of fresh arugula leaves and toss. Serve room temperature or chilled.
4 servings
3 Cups thinly sliced Green Leaf Lettuce
1/4 Cup corn
1/4 Cup black beans
8 grape tomatoes, halved
1 cooked grilled chicken breast
1/4 Cup favorite BBQ Sauce
1/4 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 Cup prepared ranch dressing
1 heaping Tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro leaves
1. Place lettuce into a salad bowl. Layer with corn, black beans and tomatoes. Dice cooked chicken breast and mix with BBQ sauce. Top over salad and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
2. Place ranch dressing and cilantro leaves into a small bowl to combine. Drizzle over salad and serve.
**This recipe is for 1 large serving, double accordingly**
1 box Near East couscous, cooked according to package
3/4 Cup red bell pepper, diced
1/2 Cup yellow bell pepper, diced
4 oz container crumbled Feta Cheese
3/4 Cup Kalamata Olives, sliced
1 Tablespoon fresh minced garlic
1/4 Cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Pinch of salt and fresh black pepper
1/2 Cup fresh parsley, chopped
1. Place cooked couscous into a large bowl. Let cool (put in the fridge to speed up the process). Add the bell peppers, feta cheese, olives and garlic to the couscous. Mix to combine.
2. In a separate bowl whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper until well combined. Pour over couscous and mix to combine. Stir in fresh parsley and serve! Refrigerate leftovers.
4 servings
_______________________________
Had a blast at Balboa Island last week
Hope everyone has a great rest of your week and weekend!
Be sure to stop by tomorrow for a Big and I mean BIG giveaway!
Other recipes you may enjoy...
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Crispy Southwest Chicken Wontons
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Quinoa Tabbouleh Arugula Salad
Smoky Turkey and Saffron Red Rice
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Jenny all your salads look great! I love salads in any form..especially those with peanut sauce, or any of the GREAT and creative dressings you posted with them. YUM!
Thank you Averie
Love a good summer salad!
What wonderful shots of your family! The quintessential summer photos!
Thanks for the great salad ideas. Can’t wait to try them!
Thanks!!
What a great roundup! I love summer salads!
Isn’t instagram great I love it! What beautiful photos of ur family. You’re salads look so delish I just got a basil plant (my very first time testing out my green thumb I was told to try basil because it’s easy hehehe) so I’m excited to try out your bruschetta recipe thanks for sharing!
My Adventures in Mommyland
Gorgeous salads! The Chicken Peanut Thai Noodles is right up my alley…I can’t wait to make it!
That one is one of my very favorites!! Enjoy!!
i love salads! I don’t get how some people say they are boring! you can do so much with a salad! I’m loving your bbq chicken salad! sounds and looks amazing!
I totally agree Jenna!!
Oh love these recipes! I am all for the bruschetta and thai noodles! Hmmm mm! You’ve ot such great recipes! Check out my walnut-coconut crusted tilapia with pineapple salsa!
http://www.MrsCapretta.com
Recipes Fashion Marriage
Loving the sound of that tilapia recipe Emily!!
Some yummy looking salads! Not sure which one I would start with, though I am leaning towards the BBQ Chicken Salad. You should try ourMint Orange Couscous Salad, I think you would like it:)
Yum Chris, I’ve got to go check out your couscous salad!!
All of these salads look amazing and I love that each has a little fiber mixed in! I’m not sure which is my favorite – perhaps the Feta Mandarin Asian Quinoa Salad? YUM!
The Feta Mandarine one is a great place to start
bring on the bbq chicken recipe. yummy
Everything looks fantastic!! BBQ Chicken yummy
Oh yah, that BBQ chicken one is one of my fav’s!
Oh my goodness – these all look soooo good! that first one sounds awesome
Thank you Kelley! The first one is divine
All these recipes look delicious and easy to make! I can’t wait to try the bruschetta, chickpea, and cous-cous salad! Thank you for posting!
Hope you enjoy Risa!!
These salads sound absolutely delicious, Jenny. Can’t wait to try them!
Jenny-Your boys are so cute! We just got back from Cali last week. I could seriously sit on the beach each and every day and just watch my kids play. How fun for you guys. I’ve decided that it’s time for my Spritz Sister to go on the Next Food Network Star show. You would take it all girl. Tell Cullen hi. Enjoy your summer.
I agree Libby, it’s so nice to just sit on the beach and watch the kids play. Glad you guys had fun!! …Lol on FN Star…no way girl!!
How adorable! I love those photos of the boys at the beach, they look so much like you! It’s always so much fun to have family in town. Can’t wait to see what the giveaway is!
Thank you Jessica!
mmm wheres the oven give away? Got a *hint* from Amanda
You provided a plethora of salad recipes. Thank you, thank you! You have inspired me for the weekend!
Fun! We are headed to the beach today!
Oh this is such a great round up of salads! I’m a huge salad lover. Especially with quinoa.
What a great list, hard to pick which one to try first. Here’s another good one with quinoa, roasted red pepper, feta, mint and almonds.
http://eatlittleeatbig.blogspot.com/2011/07/recipe-for-quinoa-salad-with-roasted.html
Love this idea of these fun summer dishes. The quinoa is a great gluten-free option that I can’t wait to make.
Thank you; I just found your blog and it’s wonderful!
whoah this blog is great i like studying your articles. Keep up the good paintings! You already know, many individuals are looking around for this information, you could help them greatly.
Beautiful food dishes
This is the first time I see such dishes o.o