Aldi Single Serve Salad

If you need to grab a quick lunch, try Aldi single serve salads. They come w/ a fork for eating. This is the one I had recently. I'd buy it again. There are a couple of other combinations. The accoutrements are packaged separately, so if you are a vegetarian no worries about the bacon in this salad. It never touches the other ingreds. Everything is sealed.

It had spinach in the bottom of the bowl. 

 In the top, there was:

  Sweet Onion Dijon Vinaigrette dressing

uncured bacon bits 

 hard boiled egg 

dried cranberries 

sunflower seeds

crispy noodles 

one fork for eating

It was yummy.

Spiced Holiday Cider Type Beverage Reduced Carb

There are two options that are really tasty. To spice the drinks  I used a mulling spices in a tea bag I found at Trader Joes. You use one tea bag per 8 ounces of beverage.

Option 1:

1 part sucralose  sweetened tea, 1 part 50%/Light   Cranberry Juice (Great Value Brand, it's sweetened with sucralose and other juices), and one mulling spice bag per 8 ounces liquid. Steep 5 mins.


Option 2:

One part unsweetened tea, one part 50%/Light Cranberry Juice and two parts prepared  Crystal Light Peach Mango Green tea, and one mulling spice bag per 8 ounces liquid. Steep 5 mins.


Note: I find the Crystal Light Peach Mango Green tea to be very sweet, hence I use unsweet tea. You may prefer it sweeter than I do, if so, use sweet tea.

If you can't find the mulling spices tea bags, you can use your own spice mixture and strain it. The bags I found at TJ's had cinnamon, clovers, ginger, orange peel and lemon peel. It looked like a powder in the bag.

There are commercially prepared mulling spice powdered mixtures but they are all sweetened with either sugar or other sweeteners. The amount needed to spice the beverage makes it too sweet for my taste, hence I prefer my mulling spices to have no kind of sweetener in them.

Holiday Roll Up

You will need: Cream cheese, Ranch salad dressing (not the dry stuff in a packet, the bottled kind), grated Colby Jack cheese, bacon bits, a dash of tobacco,  and flour tortillas.

Or you can use this to fill small bell peppers or celery if you want to limit carbs.

Alternatively you could make it into a cheese spread for  crackers or as a dip for celery. If it's too thick thin it with a bit of milk or preferably cream. Don't add more ranch, it may make it too salty.

I like it best rolled up in a tortilla and sliced.

Method: to softened cream cheese add enough Ranch salad dressing to flavor the cream cheese and soften it, making it easy to spread. You don't want it runny so don't add too much. To this, add the grated cheese and bacon bits. That's it.

Spread this onto the tortilla, and roll it up, Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a couple of hours or longer, if you plan on slicing it. Alternatively, if you wish to eat it right away, skip the chilling  and slicing process.

For vegetarians you might try replacing the bacon with imitation bacon.

 For pescatarians try some  chopped shrimp, adding a bit of liquid smoke for a bit of smokiness

Not a fan of bacon? Ham might be a good sub for the bacon.  And chicken, might work too; again I'd add a bit of liquid smoke with the chicken.

When ready to serve, if slicing, place on a festive platter or tray.

I found that the Ranch salad dressing added plenty of salt and flavor, so taste before you add salt or other seasonings.

The beauty of this recipe, if you can even call it that, is that it's easy to make with stuff you probably have on hand.

Enjoy.

Note: you might make it into a cheese ball but if you do I suggest using the dry ranch seasoning so it will form a nice ball. It may be too loose with the prepared Ranch salad dressing.

Sunny Salad Americana

American salad mix**

fresh baby spinach 

sweet onion

tomato 

cucumber

avocado

Kraft Creamy French Dressing

Y**U**M**

No pretentious ingredients here.
Good ole down to earth salad.

**Ready to eat, comes in a bag, has iceberg lettuce, carrot, and sometimes a bit of purple cabbage.

No Tomatoes Salad

fresh baby spinach

diced apple

walnuts

apple cider vinagrette

Apple Cider Vinagrette Recipe:

equal parts cider vinegar and sugar

salt to taste

a dab of honey mustard

 oil: 2 or 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil per 1 tablespoon vinegar

Beat w/ a whisk while dripping/drizzling in the oil.

Continue to beat until it is thick and creamy.

ENJOY

Pineapple Cheese Salad

You will need:

• one 3 oz box pineapple or lemon gelatin
• 2 cups liquid (water or pineapple juice and water to equal 2 cups)
• one 15 oz can crushed pineapple, drained  ( I use the one in juice vs syrup) 
• 2.5 cups of mini marshmallows
• one 8 oz carton Cool Whip thawed
• 4 oz grated sharp cheddar cheese
• mayonnaise 
• pecans: optional, about 2 oz or more as desired.

Method:

In a saucepan drain pineapple and add enough water to equal 2 cups. Bring to a boil. Remove and add the marshmallows. Stir until they are melted. Add the  drained pineapple and stir to mix.

Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl and place in the fridge to thicken. (It should be thick like egg whites.)

Once thickened remove, and fold in the Cool Whip. Make sure everything is  completely blended. Be sure to fold gently so you don't deflate it.   If you are using the pecans add those now.

Pour into a glass 9x13 dish. (if you use metal it needs to be non-reactive like stainless steel). Not necessary to grease the pan.

Place uncovered in the fridge and chill til set.

When it's set, spread with a thin layer of mayonnaise. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Put back in the fridge, covered, until your are ready to serve it.  It will be firm enough to cut into squares.

Cook's notes: I have made this with sugar free gelatin and low fat Cool Whip( to make it lower in calories) with good results.

Garlicky Cheese Melts

When you want/need a quick snack or appetizer:

Spread Ritz crackers with:

• cream cheese
• drop of hot sauce
• sprinkle of garlic powder
• a good pinch of bacon bits
• a nice mound of grated sharp cheddar cheese

Place on a baking sheet and warm in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is melty and warm.

Or put on a plate and nuke at 10% power until the cheese is melty and warm.

These are addictive.  Enjoy.

AnD YeT MoRe BeANs!!

Another delicious easy bean meal:

• one baked white potato
• butter
• diced onion
• one slice of American Cheese
• heated-- until boiling --canned pork 'n beans

Delicious.  Truly.

Autumn Salad Number Four

 salad greens

diced cabbage

sliced celery

sweet onion or french fried onion rings

cucumber diced

bacon pieces

cheddar cheese

ranch salad dressing

This uses foods that keep fresh for a long time, are in season in the fall, and it has lots of healthy filling fiber.

Tip for keeping celery fresh for 2-3 weeks:

Leave it in the store package.  Place that in a plastic grocery bag and roll up so it's wrapped around itself; secure w/ a rubber band or place flat so it won't come unrolled.  Celery will stay crisp for a long time.

Autumn Salad Number Three

mixed salad greens

pineapple chunks

grated cheddar

sliced almonds

bacon pieces

sesame oil salad dressing

****************************************************

Salad dressing recipe: 

•  5 TB mayo
• 2 TB honey
• 1 TB white vinegar
• 1 tsp honey mustard
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil 

Combine with whisk until smooth.

If you don't have honey, you can substitute sugar.

Autumal Salad Number 2

INGREDIENTS

greens of your choice: I like Romaine, Ice Berg and a little chopped cabbage

Small pieces of fresh chopped Broccoli

Red apple, if you can, leave the skin on

grated sharp cheddar cheese

bacon pieces

golden raisins

french fried onion rings

curried honey mustard dressing

METHOD 

Amounts are left to your discretion. I like to simply layer them in a shallow bowl, and make it look pretty.

The dressing: use your favorite honey mustard dressing and add a bit of your favorite curry powder.

Simple!

Here is my easy cranberry honey mustard dressing which is an option for the salad above; it can be mixed up quickly.  The amounts given are for a single serving. This is delicious on a turkey or ham sandwich with hot cheese like habanero jalapeno jack cheese.

2 TBSP mayonnaise

1/2 tsp mustard

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp rice wine vinegar

1 tsp honey

1 tsp whole berry cranberry sauce

Note: You can substitute honey mustard for the honey and mustard in this recipe; also white vinegar can be used in place of the rice wine vinegar, but you may want to use a little less and  add a little salt.

More Beans: "So lets have beans for every meal!"

Quick, economical, yummy goodness and delicious:

• one baked sweet potato
• butter
• hot canned black beans (heat --do not drain--until boiling)
• grated cheddar
• sour cream

On the face of it this may not sound so good, but it is DeLIciOus.

Really.

Hearty Late Summer Chopped Salad

• 3 ounces cabbage slaw mix(contains  green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrot)
• 3 ounces baby spinach
• 1 rib thinly sliced celery
• 1 cup well drained crushed pineapple
• sliced almonds, as desired

 In large bowl combine cabbage mix, baby spinach, and celery.  Top with the pineapple.

 Salad Dressing

•  10 T mayo
• 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp honey mustard
• 4 T honey
• 2 T white vinegar
• dash sircacha optional

In small bowl combine mayo, honey, mustard, oil and siracha.  Mix together.  With a small whisk blend the vinegar a tablespoon at a time until smooth.

Drizzle over salad.

You can adjust the amounts of the ingredients to suit your personal preference.  If you're not a fan of pineapple, mandarin oranges or diced canned peaches make a good substitute. 

Spring Salad

No tomatoes necessary..............

• mixed greens
• well drained mandarin oranges
• slivered almonds
• cooked bacon pieces
• dried cranberries
• optional: grated cheddar cheese 

Layer in shallow bowl and drizzle with this dressing:

• 5 tablespoons mayonaise
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey mustard
• scant 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil

Combine in a small bowl and whisk together until well blended. 

Enjoy.

Autumnal Salad Number One

Enjoy this delicious nod to autumn.

 

• mixed greens
•  diced apple
• dried cranberries
• pecans or walnuts
• shredded cheddar cheese 
•  diced roasted chicken breast, optional (I add this to make it a main dish salad.)
• apple cider vinaigrette 
• apple chips, optional***

On a plate or shallow bowl layer the above ingredients.  Drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle a few apple chips around the edges.



Vinaigrette Recipe:  In a deep bowl whisk together 2 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.  Add salt and  pepper to taste, and a heaping teaspoon of  honey mustard (or more if you prefer; you can taste and adjust at the end).  

Whisk together briskly, while dripping in 5 tablespoons of canola oil. (You can use any mild tasting oil.  If you use olive oil use light olive oil.  Regular olive oil has a taste that will overpower the taste of the other ingredients.) 

As an option you can thin with apple cider or replace some of the oil with apple cider to reduce fat calories.

***Apple chips are not dried apples.  They are crunchy chips that look like potato chips.  They are usually found in or near the produce section of your grocery store.  One brand is Seneca . (Click on Seneca to go to the link and view an image of the chips.)

"Bean Salad"

The Components:

• A bed of your favorite greens
• diced cucumber
• a slice of sharp cheddar cheese
• hot baked beans
• Ranch Dressing

To make baked beans using canned pork and beans:

Saute onion, garlic and green pepper.  Add beans and season to taste with brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard.  Baked at 400 degrees until hot and thickened.

 **************************************************

This is a delicious combination and a money saver.

You'll get your complete protein in the cheese; a 'good carb' in the beans; and two or more servings of vegetables in the greens and cucumber; fat supplied by the cheese and Ranch Dressing.

Enjoy.

Easy Curried Sweet Potato Soup

This serves 1. Multiply for more servings. 

1 cup baked sweet potato cubes

olive oil

diced onion

fresh garlic, 1 clove

Thai green curry paste to taste

yellow curry powder to taste

chicken bouillon to taste--instead of salt

black pepper

coconut milk

In a small saucepan saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent.

Add approximately one half teaspoon each curry paste, curry powder and chicken bouillon. Roast briefly, then add the sweet potato and about 3/4 cup of coconut milk.

Bring to a boil and reduce to  simmer.  While it simmers mash the potato with a fork creating a creamy thick and chunky soup.  Cook until thickened and heated through, about 5 minutes.

This was delicious.

Note:  I used the coconut milk brand So Delicious.  One cup is 45 calories and it can be found on the shelf with the soy and almond milk in quart boxes or in the refrigerated section in half gallons.  You might use the canned coconut milk, but it is much thicker--I reserve it for my curries.

When Is Two Teaspoons of Sweetner Not Two Teaspoons?

When it is a packet of Splenda.

I had to go off Splenda to see if it is causing some digestive side effects.

Imagine my surprise when I added 2 teaspoons of sugar to my glass of tea--same size--and it was as if no sweetener had been added.

Thinking perhaps it had not fully dissolved, I whipped up a simple sugar syrup.

Same deal.  I kept adding and adding.  I was over a tablespoon of sugar syrup when it began to taste sweet, but not as sweet as a single packet of Splenda.

I did not realize how I was sabotaging myself using an artificial sweetener by setting myself up to need a lot of sugar to satisfy my sweet tooth.

I've been weaning myself  back to a normal level of sweetness so I can once again be truly satisfied with a small amount of sugar.

In doing so I am finding my sugar cravings to be lessening and hopefully in time a small amount of sugar will be sweet enough.

 ***************************************************

Wondering:  Maybe sugar today is not as sweet as it used to be?  Or maybe it's just that sugar is added to everything these days.  It's in places I'd never expect it to be.  Like canned kidney beans.  In the form of high fructose corn syrup.

Maybe we are eating more sugar for two reasons these days:  one, by default, in that it is added, i.e. we are not adding it ourselves and two, because it is in non-sweet things so when we eat things that are supposed to be sweet it takes a lot more sugar than it did years ago.

At any rate, I'm checking labels and trying to avoid products without added sugar or using low sugar products. 

Delicious Apple Salad Using Carlsons Lemon Flavor Fish Oil: No Fishy Taste!

This is for one serving.  Multiply for more servings.

• One half cup small dice Granny Smith apple with or without the peel
• A few raisins
• One date diced
• A few walnuts
• A sprinkle of ground cloves
• One teaspoon of Carlsons Fish Oil, lemon flavor

Mix together.  Enjoy.

Pam's Pimento Cheese

 Update:  Add a good amount of Louisiana Hot Sauce for an extra flavor boost.!

My ddil recently introduced me to "Pam's Pimento Cheese' made by Central Market in Dallas TX.  I loved it.  It's a nice change from good ole southern style pimento cheese.  I came up with my own recipe so I can enjoy it at home using the ingredient list on the label.  My version is very close to theirs.

Ingredients

8 ounces cheddar cheese
8 ounces mozzarella cheese
chopped pimentos--1 jar
1-2 teaspoons sugar
1-2 teaspoons vinegar
1.5 teaspoons dill weed
1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
mayonnaise to moisten--about half a cup

Grate the cheeses, add the rest.  Stir to combine.  Enjoy

Note:  This version of pimento cheese is very garlicky and very dilly.  You can adjust the amount of garlic and dill per your taste.  The amount of mayo is personal preference....the store version didn't have a lot of mayo.