19 - Layered Tomato Basil Salad

Day # 19

This salad taste divine and looks absolutely spectacular, no one believes me when I tell them how easy it is to make!

What you'll need:

1 cup fresh sweet basil leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1 T Dijon mustard
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 t salt
4 large sliced tomatoes, season with salt
14 slices of fresh mozzarella

What you'll need to do:

In a food processor blend the fresh basil, olive oil, vinegar, honey and Dijon mustard. Add the heavy cream and salt in the food processor.

Layer the tomato and mozzarella, starting and ending with the tomato. After each layer add basil dressing. Garnish with fresh basil and Enjoy!!!

18 - Carrot Raisin Salad

Day # 18

Carrots are colorful and tasteful. They taste delicious all alone and combined with other fruits, they taste out of this world. This one is very easy to make!

What you'll need:

3 cups shredded carrots or finely sliced
1 diced apple
2 T raisins
1 T lemon juice
1 T honey
1/4 cup almonds
Salt to taste

What you'll need to do:

Mix all ingredients together and Enjoy!!

17 - The Original Tabouleh Salad

Day #17

This salad is a staple in Middle Eastern restaurants. Of course, it's not one of my favorites (I don't like greens) but I am probably the only person that doesn't absolutely love this salad. It is filled with vitamins and health benefits which is why I felt I must include this in my new diet. Filled with flavor, I'm sure you're going to love it.

What you'll need:

2 cups chopped parsley
1/2 cup diced tomato
2 T bulgar wheat #1 (can be found at any major supermarket)
3 T olive oil
4 T fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste

What you'll need to do

Mix chopped parsley, diced tomatoes, bulgar wheat, olive oil, lemon juice and salt in bowl. Enjoy!!

16 - Red Cabbage & Cranberry Salad

Day # 16

I don't usually eat red cabbage, I actually hardly ever buy it but the bright color captivated me at the supermarket and I felt a calling to get it and try something outside of my usual comfort zone. I'm glad I did, because this salad taste excellent! Red cabbage, apples, cranberries; sweet, crunchy and flavorful.

What you'll need

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 medium unpeeled diced apple (either Gala, Red Delicious, or Fuji apples)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
5 cups coarsely shredded red cabbage
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup toasted pecan halves*
salt and pepper to taste

*optional

What you'll need to do:

Whisk both vinegars and mustard in small bowl.

Gradually whisk in the honey and olive oil.

Toss apples with lemon juice, shredded cabbage, and dried cranberries.

Add dressing and toss.

Add salt & pepper

Stir in pecans, if using.

Best if refrigerated before serving.

Enjoy!

15 - Steak and Feta vinagrette

Day # 15

The variety of flavors in this salad and wonderful way they blend together make this salad a bit hit. Filled with greens and vegetables, it definitely fits the description of going green.

What you'll need:

Whisk together and set aside

1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1 t salt
3 cups thinly sliced English cucumber
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced red onion

(For vinaigrette - blend in food processor)

1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
2 T minced shallots
3 T honey
1 T Dijon mustard
1 T lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Marinate and grill

1 lb steak
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper

Layer

2 sliced avocados drizzled with lemon juice
2 sliced tomatoes
1/2 cup torn fresh basil
pickled cucumber and onions
3 cups salad greens
top with grilled steak


What you'll need to do:

Whisk together cucumbers and onions and set aside

Blend ingredients for vinaigrette in food processor and set aside

Season steak with oil, salt and pepper. Grill steak and set aside.

Layer salad; avocados, tomatoes, basil, pickled cucumber and onions, salad, steak topped with feta vinaigrette. Enjoy!!

14 - Feta Cheese Tomato Salad

Day #14

This salad taste excellent with any kind of meat, kabob or gyro dish. It is a middle eastern inspired salad with the combination of black olives and distinct taste of feta cheese. Very tasty and refreshing!

What you'll need:

4 cups chopped lettuce
1 cup diced red pepper
1/2 cup black olives
1/2 cup Roma tomato diced
1/4 cup minced Basil
1/4 cup chopped Parsley
1/4 cup Olive oil
2 T Lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

What you'll need to do:

In medium sized bowl add lettuce, red pepper, black olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese.

In separate bowl whisk together basil, parsley, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Toss lettuce mix with vinaigrette. Enjoy!!

13 - Radish Lemon Salad

Day #13

This salad is definitely for those individuals that love soury dishes. Extremely simple to make and very few ingredients needed. It's also good to note that button red radishes are ideal for weight loss and maintaining optimum health! Simple, tasty and healthy!

What you'll need:

2 cup of shredded button red radishes
4 T lemon juice
1 T chopped parsley
Salt to taste

What you'll need to do:

Wash and shred the red radishes. Remove all but a little bit of its juice.

Add lemon juice, parsley and salt. Add more lemon juice if desired. Enjoy!!

12 - Arugula Mushroom Salad

Day #12


Arugula is an excellent source of vitamins and taste delicious in salads! It is best known for its richness in phytonutrients, which may reduce the risk of several kinds of cancer, most notably colon, stomach and breast. Best part is that it's only 5 calories!

What you'll need:

3 cups arugula
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes
3 T Balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup sliced mushrooms (either button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms)
1 T grated parmasean cheese for garnish
salt to taste

What you'll need to do:

Toss all ingredients together except for parmasean cheese.

Garnish with parmasean cheese right before serving.

Enjoy!

11 - Guacamole Lime Salad

Day #11

Avocados are so good they taste delicious independent of any other ingredient but when combined with lime and onions, its irresistible!

What you'll need:

2 avocados
2 medium sized Roma tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced red onion
1/4 cup lime juice
2 T chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

What you'll need to do:

Dice the avocados and tomatoes.

Toss all the ingredients together

Enjoy!!!

10 - Sweet, Sweet Potato Salad

Day # 10

If you love yams, this salad will hit the spot. Although this salad taste as sweet as dessert, it will still give us the vitamins that we need for the day. Rich in vitamin A and an excellent source of vitamin C make this a salad that will help our quest of going green, a.k.a going healthier.

What you'll need:

3 large sweet potatoes cut into cubes
1 T vegetable oil
1 T sugar
1 t salt
1 t red pepper flakes
1/2 cup sliced red onion
1/4 cup apple jelly
3 T apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup toasted pecans
2 1/2 T lime juice
1 T sliced scallions

What you'll need to do:

Preheat oven to 425

Toss cubed sweet potatoes with oil, sugar, red pepper flakes and salt.

Roast sweet potatoes in oven for 30 mins

Saute onions, add jelly and vinegar.

Toss potatoes with onion mixture, toasted pecans, lime juice and scallions and ENJOY!

9 - Beet Salad

Day #9

This colorful salad will take minutes to make but the benefits will last much longer. It is rich in nutrients and contains a wealth of fibers which play a role in fighting fat! More importantly, the main reason for going green (although in this case it's "going purple/Burgundy") is for the benefits such as protection against heart disease, birth defects and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. You're going to really enjoy this salad!


What you'll need:

1 can of red beets
1 t garlic mashed
2 T lemon juice
2 T olive oil
Salt to taste
Parsley to garnish

What you'll need to do:

In small bowl mix lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic.

Open can of beets and drain beet juice.

Mix the sliced beets with the garlic dressing. Add salt. Garnish with parsley and Enjoy!

8 - Romano Basil Salad

Day # 8

The first day of our second week! I decided to go with something refreshingly cold and nothing hits the spot like iceberg lettuce with crunchy green peppers. Very easy to make and taste delicious!

What you'll need:

2 cups iceberg lettuce
1 cup sliced green peppers
1/4 cup sliced red onion
1/4 cup goat cheese
2 T Wish Bone Romano Basil Vinaigrette dressing

What you'll need to do

Toss lettuce, peppers, onion and cheese with Vinaigrette and Enjoy!!

7 - Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Salad

Day # 7

We made it through a full week! Yay, I feel healthier already. Today’s salad is for the smoked salmon lovers. Very easy to make and taste superb. Enjoy!

What you’ll need:

2 cups loosely packed spring mix
¼ cup diced red onion
¼ cup sliced smoked salmon
1 T olive oil
2 T lemon juice
2 drops of honey
Salt and pepper to taste


What you’ll need to do:

In small bowl, combine oil, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper and set aside.

In large bowl combine spring mix, onion, and smoked salmon.

Toss salad with vinaigrette and Enjoy!

6 - Tahini Salad

Day #6

This is a Middle Eastern inspired salad that tastes just as refreshing as it looks. It's yummy to eat for lunch or to accent a rice and kabob dish. Enjoy!

What you'll need:

1/2 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 cup diced cucumbers
1/4 minced red onions
1 T lemon juice
1 T olive oil
2 T Tahini paste (can be found at any speciality store and some major supermarkets)
1/2 t dried minced mint
Salt to taste

What you'll need to do:

Add tomatoes, cucumbers, & onion in a bowl.

In separate small bowl mix lemon juice, olive oil, Tahini paste, dried mint and salt.

Toss salad with Tahini dressing and voila! Enjoy!!

We've almost completed our first week. Hurray!

5 - Pear Walnut Salad

Day #5

The pear in this salad add a sweet juicy crunch that blend very nicely with the vinaigrette and soft blue cheese. You're going to love this one, it's one of my favorites!

What you'll need:

2 T white wine vinegar
1 T minced shallots
1 T honey
1 T Dijon Mustard
Salt and Pepper to taste
3 1/2 T Olive oil
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
2 T unsalted butter
2 T sugar
8 Cups loosely packed spring mix or arugula
1 cup radicchio sliced *
1 Bosc pear, thinly sliced
2 T Blue cheese

What you'll need to do:

In small bowl, mix the vinegar, shallots, honey, Dijon mustard, salt & pepper. Gradually add the olive oil.

Toast walnuts in unsalted butter in skillet for about 4 minutes, stir in sugar, let it coat for about 1 minute then remove.

In large bowl, combine spring mix, radicchio, pear slices, blue cheese and walnuts. Toss with vinaigrette and Enjoy!!!

4 - Sweet Heat Salad

Day #4

We're almost done with our first full week of going green! This salad is spicy, tangy, and sweet. It's refreshing in a hot way. Great to serve with Asian cuisine or on a hot summers day. Enjoy!

What you'll need:

2 medium sized cucumbers, thinly sliced
1/3 cup diced yellow or red bell pepper
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
4 T MaGGI Sweet Chili Sauce (can be found at any major supermarket in the Asian/speciality food aisle)
3 T thinly sliced fresh basil
2 T diced red onion
salt to taste
3 T unsalted chopped peanuts*

*optional

What you'll need to do:

Combine all ingredients except peanuts. Refrigerate at least an hour for vegetables to really absorb the flavor. Sprinkle with peanuts and Enjoy!!

3 - Lemon-Honey Strawberry Salad

Day #3

It seems strawberries are in season because they are extra big, extra bright, extra juicy and extra yummy. I thought it only appropriate to take advantage of this and make a strawberry salad with a light lemon-honey vinaigrette. Enjoy!

What you'll need:

2 cups loosely packed spring mix salad
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 T lemon juice
1/2 T honey
1/2 T olive oil
1 T dried cranberries*
salt and pepper to taste

*Optional

What you'll need to do:

In bowl, whisk together lemon, honey, olive oil, salt & pepper.

Add salad mix, strawberries and toss to coat.

Top with dried cranberries and Enjoy!