Oriental Veggie Salad

I didn't take an original photo and thought this one I found online was too pretty not to post with this. The link is here for this photo which I think you will like for some more salad combinations as well.
I recently mistakenly made this recipe up for a luncheon and candle party at a friend's house. I took it anyway, even though I was unsure because it didn't have any meat in it. Surprisingly, it had rave reviews and so I thought I would post it here. Hope you may like it!

Oriental Veggie Salad

Salad:

1 romaine heart, chopped up (or one bag of romaine lettuce)
1 1/2 c. coleslaw mix w/ purple & white cabbage and shredded carrots (or finely shredded carrots and cabbage)
1/3 c. toasted almond slivers or slices (blanched almonds)
1/2 c. thin tortilla strips

Dressing:

1/3 c. vinegar
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. horseradish or lemon curd
1/4 c. spanish or green onion, finely diced
1 c. canola oil

To make dressing, combine everything but the oil in a blender or food processor and process until liquified.

Continue to blend and slowly drizzle in the oil until blended.

To be really authentic, make coleslaw with the cabbage and the dressing first and top it with the lettuce, almonds and tortilla strips.

I've had good results by layering first the romaine then the cabbage, almonds, carrots and dressing.

Time Saver Note: If you don't have time to make the dressing above, although its really tasty, then I suggest using Ken's Steakhouse Asian Sesame with Ginger & Soy instead. It's a great oriental dressing but it will give the salad a slightly different taste than the dressing above. It will still be good.

Tropical Berry Spinach Salad

I'm always in search of simple salad recipe and I recently found this on the back of a Fresh Express bag of spinach. Give it a try!

Salad:
1 bag (9 oz.) spinach
1 pint strawberries, sliced
3 Kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 handful (about 1/4 cup), chopped macadamia nuts (optional)

Dressing:
1/4 cup canola oil
2 Tbsp. raspberry vinegar
2 Tsbp. raspberry preserves

Mix dressing and refrigerate for at least 15 min. Toss together with salad and serve.
Serves 4.

Broccoli/Cranberry Salad

Salad:
4-5 cups broccoli in 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped red onions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup craisins

Dressing:
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp Red wine vinegar
1 cup light mayo

Mix salad ingredients in a big bowl.

Dressing: Mix together and pour over salad. Let chill for several hours for best taste.

Serves: 8-ish

Strawberry Salad

I know Miss Erika posted a Strawberry Spinach Salad. But here is one that I like to make.
2 bunches of spinach (I used romaine lettuce since that's what I had)
4 cups sliced strawberries

dressing:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp paprika
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp poppy seeds

1. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, toss to coat.

Mandarin Chicken Salad

I really love the Wendy's Asian Chicken Salad with the Mandarin Oranges so I developed this recipe so I can make it at home and enjoy it more often. I took it to our ward's fourth of July Festival pot luck lunch this year & it seemed to have good reviews there. I hope you like it!

Mandarin Chicken Salad
Serves 10.

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb.), cooked, cubed and chilled
2 cans mandarin oranges, well-drained & save juice
1 half of a purple onion, chopped finely
1 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup chow mien noodles, optional
2 heads of Romaine lettuce, washed, patted dry and torn into pieces
Dressing: Ken's Steakhouse Lite Asian Sesame with Ginger & Soy

First, I drain my mandarin oranges and save the juice to use for cooking my chicken in. Next, I cook my chicken in the mandarin juice with a bit of seasoned salt and lemon pepper. Cube the chicken and chill. Then prepare your lettuce, carrots, and onion and toss to combine together. Add your mandarin oranges, chicken, almonds and chow mien noodles just before serving. Toss lightly to combine all. Top with dressing. Take a bite and see what you think.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

This is a perfect summer salad. The dressing is to die for! I get requests to make this salad all the time, and I just made it for my dad for Fathers Day. It was a big hit.

Salad

1 head Romaine lettuce, chopped

1/2 bag of spinach, stems removed

2-3 pears, peeled and chopped into 3/4" cubes

2-3 granny smith apples, chopped into 3/4" cubes

2 cups sliced strawberries

1 package craisins

1/2 package Parmesan cheese

1 1/2 cups sliced or slivered almonds

Dressing

1/2 cup oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup sugar

juice of 1 lemon, plus the zest

1 tea dry mustard

1 TB poppy seeds

Mix well and pour over salad before serving, or put the dressing in a small pitcher, and let everyone pour their own. The only risk to doing it that way is that some people will opt out of the dressing, and seriously, the salad is 100 times better with it. This one is a total crowd pleaser, a perfect mix of sweet and tart.

PS This makes a LOT of salad, you might want to cut the salad ingredients in half for a regular family meal.