Simply Salads

"It is just sensible."exclaimed my friend. She was referring to the large plates sitting in front of us loaded with everything imaginable. As though, it was sensible ingesting a mountain of lettuces, sliced boiled eggs, chunks of ham, shredded cheeses, tomatoes,avocado's and bacon rinds smothered in a creamy salad dressing. To another friend, a salad and a soup was a lunch of supreme importance. Somehow, salads were a part of our meals and also our lives. From the simple varations of salad greens tossed with a classic vinaigrette to the more complex salad ingredients served with various blended or whisked salad dressings, salads are a compliment to any meal.

A salad meal begins with a meatless vegetable soup that is filled with chunks of vegetables and topped with some shredded parmesan cheese.

Meatless Vegetable Soup

(Serves 4 bowls or 6 cups)

¾-cup celery, chopped
½-cup onion, chopped
1-large Russet potato, cut into one-inch chunks
2-whole carrots, sliced thin
1-cup cabbage, sliced
¾-cup fresh or frozen corn
1-large can stewed tomatoes, chopped
¾-cup fresh or frozen English peas
4-cans chicken broth
2-cans of water
½-cup fresh parsley, chopped
¾-cup fresh or frozen green beans
3-cloves garlic, sliced
1-Tlb. olive oil
¼-tsp. salt and cracked black pepper
1-Tlb. parmesan cheese(per bowl)
1-tsp. parmesan cheese (per cup)

Directions: In the one tablespoon olive oil, sauté the onion and the garlic until they are wilted. In a soup pot or a dutch oven add all of the raw vegetables plus the sautéed onions and the garlic. Cover the vegetables with the chicken broth and the water. Season with the salt and the pepper. Simmer the soup on medium low for one hour or until the vegetables are tender. Serve in individual bowls or cups and sprinkle the top of the soup with the parmesan cheese. Serve the soup with a tossed green salad of: mixed green lettuces, roma tomatoes, radishes and green onions. Salad dressing: In a bowl combine 2-Tlbs rice wine vinegar, 1-Tlb sugar, 3 or 4 drops hot sauce, and 2-Tlbs. mayonnaise.

Nothing is better than a bowl of fresh salad greens enhanced with a classic vinaigrette.

Simply Green Salad

1-head bib lettuce

2-heads red tip lettuce
2-heads butter lettuce
2-green onions, sliced
3-Tlbs olive oil
2-Tlbs red wine vinegar
1-tsp.dry yellow mustard
¼-tsp sea salt
¼-tsp cracked black pepper

Directions: Rub a salad bowl with a clove of garlic. Whisk the three tablespoons of olive oil, the two tablespoons of red wine vinegar and the one teaspoon of dry yellow mustard until they are well combined. Add the salad greens and toss until the salad greens are well coated with the vinaigrette. Serve with a slice of French bread and some butter.

The combination of bacon and avocado that has been combined with shredded bib lettuce and a blended blue cheese dressing has fewer calories than a sandwich made with the same ingredients.

Bacon And Avocado Salad
(Serves 4)

1-head bib lettuce, shredded
1-medium tomato, chopped
¾-cup bacon, cooked and cut into pieces
1-medium avocado, chopped
2-green onions, chopped

Blended Blue Cheese Dressing (Makes 2 cups)

1-egg
¼-cup sugar
1-Tlb. fresh lemon juice
1-tsp. yellow mustard
2-cups canola oil
1-medium chunk blue cheese

Directions: Add the first four ingredients and set the blender on low. After they are combined, slowly add the canola oil. When it is of a mayonnaise consistency, cut the medium chunk of blue cheese into pieces and pulse the blender for a few seconds until the blue cheese is incorporated into the salad dressing.

The dessert for a healthful salad meal is a chocolate cake so rich and dense that it totally indulges all of the senses. The recipe below is from The Texas Cookbook and it is over a hundred years old.

Texas Cake

2-cups flour
2-cups sugar
½-cup shortening
½-cup butter or margarine
4-Tlbs. cocoa
½-cup water
½-cup buttermilk
2-eggs, slightly beaten
1-tsp. salt
1-tsp. baking powder
1-tsp. cinnamon
1-tsp vanilla

Directions: Sift the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and the cinnamon. In a saucepan,combine the shortening, water and the cocoa slowly bringing the ingredients to a boil.Remove the ingredients from the heat and add the eggs, the buttermilk, and the vanilla stirring until they are well combined. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and combine them. Flour and grease a nine-to-thirteen inch cake pan. Evenly coat the greased cake pan with the cake ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for thirty-five minutes.

Frosting:
½-cup butter or margarine
4-Tlbs. cocoa
6-Tlbs.milk
3-1/2-cups of powdered sugar
1-tsp vanilla
½-cups pecans

Directions: In a medium saucepan combine the butter, cocoa and the milk slowly bringing the ingredients to a boil. Remove from heat. Add the powdered sugar mixing well. Stir in the vanilla and add the pecans. Frost the cake while it is still hot for a fudge texture. Serve slices of cake with a dip of homemade vanilla ice cream.

Cooking since the age of fifteen, the author had always enjoyed making salads.

---

How to Make a Seductive Chili

Dedicated Chili cooks always seem to be looking for an... Read More

Frugal Microwave Cooking

Microwave cooking can save you time and energy all year... Read More

Easy-Cheesy Casserole

I have always loved mac-n-cheese, and this variation is one... Read More

Tayberry Jam

The taste of Summer, bursting with flavour and anti-oxidant effects.... Read More

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Experience

Just about everyone loves freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Many... Read More

Hot Barbeque Recipes

Anyone can create delicious homemade hot barbeque recipes once they... Read More

Ribolitta: The Italian Way Of Having Your Five Veggies A Day!

Ribollita is a delicious low fat Italian soup, a bit... Read More

How to Bake Quick Bread: Apricot-Orange Nut

We love moist, fruity quick breads--and this is one of... Read More

Zucchini Carrot Salad

Summer is nearing and it is time to start thinking... Read More

Cinco de Mayo Recipe

My ex reminded me last week that the holiday that... Read More

Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate

Serendipity frozen hot chocolate is a signature dish at the... Read More

Use Up Those Leftovers!

Managing leftovers is a challenge we all face! Throwing food... Read More

Holiday Leftover Ideas

The holidays are a time for friends and family and... Read More

Cooking Roast Prime Rib on the Grill

Love the taste of prime rib? Love the taste of... Read More

Easy to Make Guacamole Dip

You can make guacamole that people will rave about! It's... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Crustless Quiche

Crust-less QuicheQuick and easy, this meal is great either hot... Read More

Rowan Jelly (Mountain Ash - Pyrus aucuparia)

Sharp and sour but sweet and succulent all at the... Read More

Easy Gourmet Recipes You and I can do!

So, you don't think you can find easy gourmet recipes?... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Spicy Chicken Cacciatore

Just because you are watching your weight, doesn't mean the... Read More

Chicken Mushroom Marsala ? Easy and Elegant for the Amateur Gourmet

If you are having company and want to make something... Read More

How to Make a Delicious German Crumble Cake in 4 Simple Steps

In high school, learning a new recipe (especially dessert recipes)... Read More

How to Make Beer

Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun.... Read More

Mrs. Butters? Secret Key Lime Pie Recipe

"Frozen Key Lime Pie recipe?" Fern Butters asked. "Child, I'll... Read More

Do You Ever Search For Quick recipes?

In the quest for more time, searching for quick recipes... Read More

Spanish Food - The Tasty Tortilla

It certainly is a poor man or woman who cannot... Read More

Cookbook Publishing - The Basic Ingredients and the Secrets to Success

You are about to embark on the most exciting enterprise... Read More

Vegetarian Diet Tips: Make Your Vegetarian Diet A Balanced Diet!

The world has opened eyes to the harmful side-effects of... Read More

Texas Pecan Treats

Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than... Read More

Stuffed Shrimp Recipes

Stuffed shrimp recipes will help you celebrate any special occasion... Read More

Cucumber & Pork Soup

Due to the fact that cucumber is rich in all... Read More

Braised Fish in Soy Sauce (Hong Shao Yu)

Braised fish in soy sauce is the basic craft of... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Veal Mango

Just because you are watching your weight does not mean... Read More

Dining With The Romans

Numerius was a slave and ate one meal a day... Read More