Caprese garlic toast with avocado


Ingredients
One Container of Cherry Tomatoes(Halved)

          

A fresh mozzarella ball chopped into pieces
I always use Bel Gioso( it is the Best!)

One large ripe avocado

Fresh Chopped Basil 1/8 of a Cup

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh Lemon Juice

Herbamare Italian Blend Seasoning salt(You can find this in the organic section!)

Black pepper

Garlic ciabatta bread or your favorite garlic infused bread

(I used Naan garlic flatbread in the picture but ciabatta bread works better.)

Recipe

1. Place your tomatoes, mozzarella and basil in a bowl.

2.Drizzle olive oil over your salad ingredients just enough to coat.
3.Add in few splashes of fresh lemon juice and mix gently.

3.Season to taste with Herbamare and pepper

Refrigerate for one hour.

Peel and chop your avocado and add to your salad.

Warm up your garlic bread in the oven.
About ten min at 350 degrees
Spread your salad over top and serve immediately.

This is one of my favorite summer recipes. 

It is just so refreshing, easy and delicious.

It also happens to pair nicely with a bottle of Cupcake's Moscato ;)

Oriental chicken salad!

The easiest oriental chicken salad you will ever make! (Inspired by Applebees)

This salad is superb!  It is wonderful for lunch, but also substantial enough for dinner.  I love how super simple it is to throw together.  All you need is:

Chopped lettuce, a bag of pre-done coleslaw, chopped sweet onion, crispy chow mein noodles(I used La Choy), Perdue breaded chicken strips (found in the refrigerated section).  To finish the salad you will need Kraft's creamy poppy seed dressing.

I use about two parts chopped lettuce to one part coleslaw mix. Then I add in the onion and sprinkle the chow mein noodles over top.  Last I lay on the sliced chicken strips(I used the whole grain version.)  Complete the salad by drizzling with your poppy seed dressing and Enjoy!

As the warmer months approach I am always on the look out for salads and lighter recipes, so feel free to share any of your favorites! 

Happy Tuesday!

Honey barbecue chicken salad!

Honey barbecue crock pot chicken salad!

This is one of my favorite salads to prepare for lunch(and dinner!).  The barbecue sauce, cheese and tomato provide enough flavor to allow you to skip the dressing, but it is heavenly with ranch! I always use this scrumptious recipe from stick a forkinit.blogspot to make my barbecue chicken in my crock pot.

It is the best BBQ chicken recipe I have ever used. I make it often and my boys love it which solidifies it as a staple meal in our home!(They are some finicky children if I may add)

You will need:

For the chicken

One bottle sweet baby ray's Honey BBQ sauce

4-6 boneless chicken breasts

1/4 C vinegar

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 C brown sugar

1 tsp garlic powder

Whisk the sauce ingredients together. Place your chicken in your crock pot coat with sauce and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

For the salad I used a combination of romaine lettuce, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped fresh tomato, sliced sweet onion and topped it off with chopped up honey barbecue chicken.  

I prefer to serve the chicken over the salad while it is warm.

It is delish with ranch dressing, so make sure you try it that way!

What are some of your family's favorite meals?

Kid friendly meal suggestions are always welcome around here. : )

Perfect Caprese Salad!

Perfect Caprese Salad ♥

Caprese is easily the most fabulous variety of salad you can make. It is

so simple to prepare yet really adds a pretty touch to your meal. It pairs well as a side to chicken or pasta dishes.  I love to have it for lunch. Make it a meal on it's own by serving it with some good bread, or mix in some mini shell noodles for a caprese pasta salad.  Here's the recipe

Ingredients
One Container of Cherry Tomatoes(Halved)
I suggest the brand One Sweet Tomato or Nature sweet.(Both brands always taste perfect and fresh even when tomatoes aren't in season.)
One 8 Oz Container Mozzarella Pearls or buy a fresh mozzarella ball and chop into pieces
I always use Bel Gioso( it is soooo good!)
Fresh Chopped Basil an 1/8 of a Cup(Feel free to add more if you'd like, I go light on the basil)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 splash of Fresh Lemon Juice
Herbamare Italian Blend Seasoning salt(You can find this in the organic section!)
Sea salt

Instructions

1. Place your tomatoes, mozzarella and basil in a bowl.

2.Drizzle olive oil over your salad ingredients just enough to coat.
3.Add in a splash of fresh lemon juice and mix gently.

3.Season to taste with tiny bit of Sea salt and your Herbamare seasoning.(You won't need much)

Diced red onion is also a nice addition to consider

Pour a glass of wine and Enjoy! I recommend Cupcake's Riesling.
Not only are their wine's amazing but they come in the cutest bottles!
Yes, the cuteness of the bottle plays a part in determining which wine I will choose(sometimes) and I don't think I'm the only girl that feels this way! lol

Buffalo Chicken Salad

My Favorite Salad!

Buffalo chicken salad is one of my favorites to make because its easy, fast and full of flavor.

Ingredients

Chicken Strips or Grilled chicken if you prefer

(I like to use Perdues found in the refridgerated section)

Franks Red Hot Sauce

Olive oil or Butter

Iceberg Lettuce

Sweet Onion

Small Tomato

Cheddar Cheese(shredded)

Ranch Dressing

Instructions

Heat about a Tablespoon of Franks Red hot in a pan along with about a 1/2 TBS of oil or butter.  Cook the chicken until lightly browned on each side(the chicken I buy is already fully cooked) then set aside on a chopping board.  Chop the chicken into smaller pieces.

Assemble the salad with the lettuce, a little bit of chopped onion, and some chopped tomato.

Put the chicken on top.  Sprinkle a little cheddar cheese on top.  Then add Ranch dressing if desired. 

If you want to keep things a little lighter you can opt to use grilled chicken strips ,or even skip the dressing.  The salad will still have plenty of flavor from the chicken tomato and cheese.