Southern Tomato & Cracker Salad

 

Tomato & Cracker Salad is a simple southern dish that is a must for summer if you love fresh tomatoes. I know it sounds strange, but if you like tomato sandwiches, you’ll like this. Ripe summer tomatoes are combined with mayonnaise and broken saltine crackers. This is a recipe that’s been made throughout the south for many years. There are slight variations on the recipe. The basic recipe includes chopped ripe summer tomatoes with seeds & pulp removed, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and broken crackers. I like it best while the crackers are still crunchy, so serve it immediately. After about an hour, the crackers soften to the consistency of mashed potatoes. Some people like me add minced fresh basil, chopped green onions, and garlic. Another group add a chopped egg. With the egg addition, it gives you protein for your lunch. If you haven’t tried Tomato & Cracker Salad, remember it when you have loads of fresh tomatoes and want to eat them fast. 

 

Southern Tomato & Crackers Salad

Use organic when available. Serves 6

Ingredients

• 4 ripe fresh medium tomatoes of choice – heritage, Campari, cherry
• 1 sleeve saltine crackers broken into bite-sized pieces
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 oz chopped fresh basil
• 1 green onion sliced
• pinch of garlic powder
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• optional chopped hard-boiled egg

Instructions

• Seed and chop tomatoes
• Place tomatoes on a paper towel for 5 or 10 minutes
• Combine mayonnaise, salt, pepper, garlic, and basil in large bowl
• Whisk to blend
• Fold in tomatoes
• Fold in broken crackers
• Optional add chopped hard-boiled egg
• Serve immediately    

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Cucumber, Corn, Black Bean & Avocado Salad

 

 

 

 If you love vegetables, today’s recipe is a tasty, filling salad that has great flavor from the mix of ingredients. It’s perfect for using up summer produce from the garden or farmer’s market. It’s topped with a lemon vinaigrette. You can easily adapt it with what you have on hand with additions or subtractions.

 

 

 

 

Cucumber, Corn, Black Bean & Avocado Salad

Use organic when available. Serves 4

Ingredients

Salad

• 1 seedless cucumber diced
• 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 1/4 cup corn (frozen and defrosted or leftover cooked corn cut from cob)
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 avocado diced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro or parsley chopped

Lemon Vinaigrette

• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro or parsley
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• dash of hot sauce optional

Instructions

• Toss cucumber, black beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, and onion together in a large salad bowl.
• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and cumin together in a bowl
• Add cilantro or parsley, salt, and pepper to taste (plus hot sauce if using)
• Drizzle over salad
• Toss gently to coat
• Refrigerate 30 minutes
• Serve chilled

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

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Best Healthy Tri-Color Sweet Cole Slaw Mayo-Free

 

 

In the past, I’ve shared multiple salad recipes with shredded cabbage. I just love cabbage. I’m a fan of any crunchy slaw that comes together fast and balances out a meal. Then I discovered broccoli slaw and fell in love again. Most of the cabbage/broccoli salads used a creamy dressing that contained mayonnaise and few were sweet. My sister’s family is definitely a fan of sweet slaw. Today’s version of healthy coleslaw is vegan, Paleo, and dairy-free. 

 

 

 

 

 

Tri-Color Sweet Cole Slaw

Use organic when available. Serves 6

This healthy coleslaw with a sweet vinegar dressing is a no-mayo alternative to the classic creamy coleslaw version.  It is vegan, paleo & dairy free   

Ingredients

Slaw

• 1/2 medium red cabbage head shredded
• 1/2 medium green cabbage head shredded
• 2 heaping cups shredded carrots
• or use 1 lb package of tri-colored slaw or broccoli slaw
• 2 tbsp optional thin slivers red onions

Dressing

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 to 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard  
• 1 tsp optional caraway or celery seeds
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• In large bowl, mix all slaw ingredients
• In small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients together until sugar dissolves
• Pour dressing all over the slaw and toss well to combine
• Cover and place in refrigerator for at least 1 to 2 hours
• Serve cold

Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Peach Coleslaw

 

I’m doing my recipe early due to Memorial Day in a couple of weeks. Traditionally, summer starts with Memorial Day. I'm wishing you all a day of safe time with family, with a few moments remembering those who served our country. Now let’s talk about coleslaw.

 Peaches are one of my favorite fruits.  Peaches are available from April to October.  Since Florida is a hot state, you probably think we don’t grow peaches.  Peaches do grow here, in mostly the north part of the state.  Our peaches are available April and May. By June, our markets are selling Georgia peaches.  No matter the state where they are grown, I just love fresh ripe peaches. I love them as my snack or dessert and also like adding them to many dishes.

 

 

 

My Peach Coleslaw is to similar dishes in some restaurants, and even Trader Joe sells it.  My recipe is similar to Trader Joe's with a few modifications. 

 

Peach Coleslaw

Use organic when available. Serves 6

Ingredients

• 16 oz bag of coleslaw or mix of shredded cabbage and carrots
• 1 cup raisins
• 2 large ripe peaches diced
• 1/3 cup diced red onion
• 2 tbsp unfiltered apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• In small bowl mix vinegar and sugar
• Optional – Add diced red onion and let it quick pickle for about 5 to 15 minutes
• Optional – Drain onions and reserve vinegar for dressing
• In large bowl combine cabbage/carrots with onion and raisins
• In the bowl of vinegar solution, add mayonnaise, salt and pepper
• Mix dressing well
• Toss cabbage mix with dressing
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve
• Toss diced peaches into slaw right before serving cold

 

 

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Shrimp & Asparagus Salad With Oranges

 

 

When you need a lighter, healthy meal, an entree salad can hit the spot and make you smile.  My shrimp and asparagus salad with oranges is a perfect example. It’s a delightful spring salad with fresh greens, orange segments, asparagus,  shrimp, and a lovely citrus vinaigrette. It’s fast and so tasty.  In 20 minutes, you can be sitting with your family and friends and enjoying the flavor.   You can serve a small version of this salad as a first course, but I love it as an entrée.  I’m using quick broiled shrimp, but you can also use any cooked shrimp like grilled, boiled,  or sautéed.

My fresh greens today are arugula (rocket).  The arugula adds a peppery note to the salad. You may use all arugula, a mix of arugula and baby spinach, or even all baby spinach if you’re not an arugula fan.

 

 

Shrimp & Asparagus Salad With Oranges

Use organic when available. Makes 2 entrée salads or 4 first course salads

Ingredients

Salad

• 1 lb medium shrimp peeled and de-veined
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups asparagus chopped about 1" (about 1 lb)
• 2 oranges
• 5 oz fresh greens: arugula, baby spinach or mix of both

Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp orange juice from segmenting oranges
• 1 tbsp balsamic or red wine vinegar
• squeeze of a fresh lemon
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard 
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Salad

• Preheat broiler
• Bring a medium pot of water to a boil
• Place shrimp in large bowl and add lemon juice and 3 tbsp of olive oil with dash of salt
• Stir and coat shrimp well
• Cover broiler pan with non-stick foil and place shrimp in single layer on pan
• Place pan on the top rack, a few inches below the element
• Broil about 1½ minutes or more per side, just until shrimp turn pink
• Let shrimp cool while you make salad
• With a sharp knife carefully slice off the top and bottom of each orange over bowl
• Slice the skin away from the flesh and discard
• Remove any remaining white pith
• Cut between the membranes to segment orange retaining any juices in bowl for vinaigrette
• Squeeze membranes for more juice into bowl
• Set juice aside to make vinaigrette
• Add chopped asparagus to boiling water
• Cook asparagus 3 to 4 minutes until bright green
• Remove asparagus from hot water and plunge into cold water to stop cooking
• In large serving bowl mix orange sections with cooled asparagus and shrimp
• Pour vinaigrette over and toss to coat
• Divide fresh greens onto 2 plates for entrées or 4 salad plates or bowls for 1st course
• Top with shrimp and asparagus/orange mix
• Optional garnish with seeds or nuts for crunch
• Serve with crusty rolls or bread

Vinaigrette

• Combine ingredients in a blender and process until smooth, about 20–30 seconds
• Store in glass container with lid

 

 Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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