summer salad |

Make Ahead Taco Salad

September 28, 2012 · by Organizedisland · 11 Comments

Today I am sharing a quick taco salad recipe which is perfect for making ahead. With busy fall schedules, I love making this the day before we have it. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 pkg Taco seasoning (any brand)

1 head of lettuce, shredded

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1 small can kidney beans (rinsed & drained)

1 avocado, peeled and diced

1 tomato, chopped

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 bottle Catalina salad dressing (any brand)

Corn or tortilla chips

Cook ground beef in a frying pan over low-medium heat until brown. Add taco seasoning mix packet, but do not add any liquid. While beef is cooking, combine shredded lettuce, onion ,beans, avocado, tomato and cheese in a bowl. Add ground beef to the mixture. If you are going to serve this the next day or later, cover the bowl and refrigerate until serving time. If you are going to serve soon, add salad dressing (I use about 2/3 of a bottle, but you can add more if you like). Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy! What is your favorite salad for dinner?

Spinach and Blackberry Salad

August 15, 2012 · by Organizedisland · 5 Comments

Spinach & Blackberry Salad - great summer salad

So as you know, I am trying to savor the fruits of summer, before they disappear. This is a recipe for a Spinach & Blackberry Salad. You can use blueberries or strawberries or mandarin oranges if you like.

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup feta cheese

3 tablespoons white vinegar

1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon minced onion

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon pepper

sliced red onion (about 1/4 cup)

1 bag fresh spinach – rinsed and torn

1 oz package of blackberries cleaned

2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Mix together the olive oil, both vinegars, sugar, worcestershire sauce and pepper. Can I just say, that the olive oil and vinegars make a great dipping sauce.

I like to put everything in a mason jar and shake it up.

Chill for at least an hour or so. Prepare the spinach, onion, blackberries, feta cheese and top with almonds. This dressing is a little bit sweet, so it goes great with spinach and fruit. Serves about 4 and can be doubled.

Hope you enjoy it! What is your favorite fruit on a leafy salad?

Filed Under: Recipes · Tagged: blackberries, blackberry salad, easy summer salad, homemade salad dressing, salad, spinach salad, summer salad

Easy Pasta Salad

July 25, 2012 · by Organizedisland · 13 Comments

With these warm summer days, sometimes I just want to have a cool salad for dinner or lunch. One of my favorites is pasta salad, which can be made in about 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 package spiral or rotini pasta (1 lb.)

1 cup chopped bell peppers (I used green and yellow)

1/4 cup chopped onions (I prefer red)

1 large tomato chopped

1/4 cup feta cheese

1/2 can olives (2.25 0z)

Balsamic Vinaigrette or Italian Salad dressing (bottled or homemade)

Cook the pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, chop up the bell peppers, tomato and onions and set aside. When the pasta is ready, drain and rinse with cold water, then drain again. Add other ingredients and mix with salad dressing. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour for best results. This is a great salad to take for lunch. You can add chopped ham or cooked chicken or cucumbers if you like.