Tag Archives: salad

Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff, Lite and Weight Watcher Recipes, Salads, Side, Weight Watcher Friendly March 22, 2026 Leave a comment

Cooking with fresh ingredients is a delightful adventure that sparks joy and creativity. Making a spinach salad with candied pecans turns mealtime into a fun, vibrant experience, filling my kitchen with warmth and happiness. It’s a simple way to add excitement and flavor to everyday meals.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ cup pecan halves
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of balsamic or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 6-ounce package of baby spinach, long stems removed
  • 1 Pomegranate, seeded
  • ¼ cup feta or Gorgonzola cheese

Directions

  1. Melt butter in a small frying pan over low heat.
  2. Add pecans and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar.
  3. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly until nuts are caramelized.
  4. Spread out on wax or parchment paper to cool.
  5. In a jar with a lid, combine the remaining brown sugar, olive oil and vinegar, shake until sugar is melted.
  6. Place spinach in a large salad bowl and coat with the dressing, mix.
  7. Stir in pecans and pomegranate seeds, sprinkle with feta cheese or Gorgonzola cheese

Optional stir ins:

  • Thinly sliced tart apple
  • Golden raisins
  • Sliced Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blueberries

Broccoli Salad

Dinner Ideas March 19, 2026 Leave a comment

Broccoli Salad is a summer favorite, perfect for potlucks and parties! Use fresh broccoli for the best crunch. If raw broccoli’s too tough, microwave it for a minute with a splash of water to soften those florets. It’s a delicious, fiber-packed dish that’s sure to impress and refresh your gathering!

Ingredients:

  • 2 bunches of fresh broccolis
  • 1 cup of fresh peas
  • 8 slices of crisp bacon, diced into small pieces
  • 1 cup of sharp cheddar, shredded
  • ½ cup of Miracle Whip or mayo or plain Greek Yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
  • ¼ cup sugar

Directions:

  1. Cook bacon until crisp, drain and cut into pieces.
  2. Using kitchen shears or sharp knife, cut broccoli into individual flowerets, add peas and bacon.
  3. Mix mayo (or Greek yogurt), vinegar, and sugar together and fold into broccoli.
  4. Chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours to blend flavor. Top with cheddar cheese before serving.

Additional Optional add-ins:

  • Raisins
  • Red Onion (chopped)
  • Walnuts
  • Chopped fresh cranberries
  • Cooked Tortellini
  • Cherry tomatoes

Toasted Ramen Noodle Salad

Appetizers, Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff, Salads, Side March 18, 2026 Leave a comment

This salad is light, refreshing, and delicious, perfect for summer barbecues or dinners. It features a satisfying crunch from toasted ramen noodles, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds. Feel free to customize the ingredients to suit your taste preferences, making it a versatile dish.

Ingredients

  • 1 16-ounce package of coleslaw mix
  • 4 scallions, sliced or 1/8 cup chopped red onion
  • ½ cup slivered almonds
  • ½ cup sunflower seeds (hauled)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 2 packages of Ramen Noodles, broken (chicken or pork flavor, keep flavor packet)

Dressing Mix

  • ½ cup olive or vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • Seasoning from the ramen packets
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Process

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. (175°C).
  2. Spread broken ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds onto a baking sheet.
  3. Bake noodle mixture in the preheated oven until fragrant and toasted, 10 minutes. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
  4. In a large serving bowl, combine shredded cabbage, onion, cooled almonds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and Ramen Noodles.
  5. To make the dressing: In a jar with a lid combine oil, reserved ramen seasoning packets, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and black pepper together in a jar and shake until the sugar is melted.
  • Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a full meal.
  • Finely chop and add in other veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or thinly sliced bell peppers.
  • Make your ramen noodle salad at least two hours ahead so the noodles can soften in the refrigerator.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Stir them before reserving to refresh the flavors again.

Popcorn Salad

Dinner Ideas, Fun Stuff, Salads, Side March 16, 2026 Leave a comment

Popcorn salad comes across as one of those dishes that sounds quirky at first, then wins you over the moment you take a bite. It’s the contrast that makes it so delicious: crunchy, lightly salted popcorn folded into a creamy, tangy dressing, brightened with fresh veggies like snap peas, celery, or scallions, and often finished with herbs and a touch of sharp cheddar. Every forkful its a different note—crisp, cool, savory, and just a little indulgent, and a great way to get your kids to eat vegetables!

What makes it memorable is how unexpectedly balanced it is. The dressing softens the popcorn just enough to cling without turning soggy, the vegetables keep everything fresh, and the whole bowl feels like a playful twist on a classic potluck salad. It’s comfort food with personality, and it tends to disappear faster than anyone expects.

Ingredients

  • 1 bag of microwave buttered popcorn popped (about 6 cups)
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup of diced green pepper or bell pepper
  • 6 – 8 strips of cooked bacon crumbled (or substitute 1/3 cup bacon bits)
  • 1 cup of roasted corn cut off the cob, or a can of corn, drained
  • 1 cup of the following vegetables can be mixed in for color and flavor:
    • Shredded iceberg lettuce for crunch
    • Cherry tomatoes, sliced or quartered
    • Celery, sliced thin
    • Baby peas
    • Snap peas
    • French cut green beans
    • Grated carrot
    • Sliced water chestnuts, excellent crunch factor
    • Tiny little broccoli flowerets that have been steamed until crunch tender
    • Pomegranate seeds
    • Shredded cabbage, red or white
    • Shallots
  • ½ cup of lite mayonnaise or plain full fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
  • 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Process

Make Dressing

In a blender combine the following and blend until fully incorporated.

  1. Lite mayonnaise or plain full fat Greek yogurt, garlic, Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to taste.

Salad

Mix salad options together in a large bowl:

  1. 6 cups of popcorn, green onion or red onion, green or bell pepper, bacon, additional vegetables of choice.
  2. Pour dressing over salad and top with finely grated cheddar cheese.
  3. Serve immediately.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Dessert, Fun Stuff, Salads, Side December 3, 2025 Leave a comment

Everyone has tried this summer salad at least once. There are many different recipes for Ambrosia available online, making it difficult to choose which one to make. In this blog, I have included the traditional version of the recipe, as well as a new variation that uses Greek yogurt. Try both versions and decide which one you prefer. 

Traditional Version:

Ingredients

  • 2 cans of pineapple tidbits
  • 2 cans of mandarin oranges
  • 1 8–12-ounce container of Cool Whip (or fresh whipped cream)
  • 1 8-ounce container of sour cream
  • 1 bag of mini marshmallows
  • ½ bag of coconut

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to blend flavors.

New Version:

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of fresh pineapple cut into small pieces
  • 2 mandarin oranges or cuties (tiny oranges) sectioned, cut the sections in half
  • ¼ cup slivered almonds
  • Optional add in fruit:
    • Strawberries (sliced)
    • Kiwi (sliced)
    • Blueberries
  • ½ bag coconut
  • 1 bag of mini marshmallows
  • 1 large container of Plain or Vanilla Greek Yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together and serve immediately