Summertime Salads

In conclusion to my Favorite Foods post I wrote yesterday; these are my favorite salads and dressings. I have so many dressings that are staples in our home; I decided they had earned their own post this year. Enjoy!

 

Homemade Ranch Dressing

My kids reach for this at least once, if not twice, a day to eat with their fresh veggies. This is easily the most popular dressing I make. We have friends that insist I bring it along every time we get together for a meal.

The Best Balsamic Vinaigrette

I just discovered this recipe a couple months ago and I have already made it several times. This dressing is so versatile, I've used it on salads, roasted vegetables, and drizzled it over chicken in a wrap. Just a touch of sweetness with the tang of the balsamic, there are very few recipes on my blog that I dare to label "the Best." This one is worthy of it.

 

Creamy Poppyseed Salad Dressing

This is better than any store bought poppy seed dressing I've tasted. I made this dressing numerous times last fall when peaches were in abundance. The Stone Fruit Salad in this photo was my lunch for days at a time.

Grape and Candied Walnut Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Sweet grapes, salty cheese, candied walnuts and baby spinach combined with a tangy sweet dressing to make this a huge hit each time I made it last year.

Bacon and Egg Garden Salad

Hot salty bacon and hard boiled eggs still warm from the pot, topped this basic garden salad of romaine, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes. This is my favorite salad to make on the weekend.

Carver's Salad with Honey Cider Salad Dressing

I originally made this for our Thanksgiving meal, to go along with the Carver's Salad pictured above. I enjoyed the dressing so much I've made it numerous times since then.

 

Irresistible Mandarin Broccoli Salad

Best. Salad. Ever. With crisp lightly roasted broccoli and savory bacon pieces, sweet oranges and tangy onion tossed in the slightly sweet dressing, this salad will be on my favorites list for a long time. I have made this salad countless times. It is almost indescribably delicious.

Cashew Chicken Salad with Grapes

This is a very simple chicken salad, minimal ingredients and truly delicious. I make this almost every time I have leftover chicken. I love the chicken and sweet grapes with the tangy dressing.

 

Roasted Potato Salad

Roasted baby potatoes that are crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside combine with hard-boiled eggs, olives and a light pickle flavor to create a classic potato salad with a twist.