Melon Salad with Prosciutto

We made this on Father's Day - it was fantastic!!!!

2 C sliced seeded watermelon
2 C sliced seeded honeydew melon
1/3 C very thinly vertically sliced red onion
2 ripe nectarines, pitted and sliced
1/4 tsp kosher salt
3 T lemon juice
2 T olive oil
1 1/2 T honey
4 C Arugula or Baby Spinach
1/4 C torn fresh mint leaves (optional)
3 oz. prosciutto, very thinly sliced and pulled into pieces
1/2 ounce Romano cheese, shaved.

Combine first 5 ingredients.
Sprinkle with salt.
Combine juice, oil, and honey, stirring well.
Drizzle dressing mixture over fruit mixture; toss gently.
Arrange Arugula or Spinach on a platter - or you can do individual plates.
Top with fruit mixture, then Prosciutto, then cheese.

*You can add one VERY small minced serrano pepper to the fruit mixture, but it makes it VERY hot.

Margarita Chicken Salad

Did you ever think to use a drink mix as a marinade?  Well, surprise surprise!

Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 1/2 C margarita drink mix (without alcohol)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp lime zest
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 T lime juice
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
4 med. tomatoes
2 med. avocadoes, halved and sliced
1/2 med red onion, sliced

1.  Place chicken in a plastic bag set in shallow dish.  In bowl combine margarita mix, cumin, and lime zest.  Pour over chicken; seal bag.  Regrigerate 2 - 8 hours.  Drain marinade and discard.
2.  Grill chicken for 12 - 15 minutes turning once halfway through grilling.
3.  In med. bowl combine mayonnaise, lime juice, and cayenne.  Slice or cube chicken.  Add to mayonnaise mixture.  Gently toss.  Line plates with tomato slices.  Top tomatoes with chicken, avocados, and red onion.  Sprinkle with black pepper.

Black Bean and Salsa Salad

1 - 12 oz can corn, drained
1 - 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 C chopped celery
1/2 C chopped green onion
1/2 C chopped fresh cilantro
1 - 14 oz can S&W ready cut salsa
3/4 C lite red wine vinegar dressing

Combine first 5 ingredients.  Combine salsa and dressing.  Pour over salad and toss well.  Cover and chill.
*Note:  You can't always find S&W salsa.  I've used S&W tomato garden mild Mexican sauce and it works fine, or substitute Old El Paso salsa.

Orange Sherbet Salad

Okay, I'm not a huge jello salad fan, but this one is way YUMMY and perfect for summer!

Ingredients:
1 6oz. pkg orange jello
2 c boiling water
1 pint orange sherbet
1 11oz can mandarin oranges, drained
1 20oz can crushed pineapple, drained

Mix jello and boiling water till dissolved.  Add sherbet and stir until melted.  Add oranges and pineapple and pour into a 2 quart dish.  Chill 4 - 6 hours.  Can add cool whip to top.

Double the Meat Cobb Salad

My favorite marinade turns this salad upside down!  This is our favorite Sunday dinner of the summer!

2 lb flank steak
8 pieces chicken tenders
Avocadoes
Grape tomatoes
2 bunches watercress-trimmed (any lettuce will do)
8 strips bacon (or bacon bits if you're in a crunch)
1 lemon, zest and juiced
Salt and pepper
Blue cheese (or Feta)

Marinade:
3 cloves garlic - minced
2 T montreal steak seasoning
2 T hot sauce
4 T worchestershire
4T red wine vinegar (or balsamic)
1/3 C extra virgin olive oil

Marinate meat for at least 15 minutes prior to grilling!
Serve over salad sprinkled with lemon juice and red wine vinegar for dressing

Tortellini Salad

This was the salad I made over the weekend when Tawni came to town.  I had lots of requests for the recipe, so here you go!

Ingredients:

1 package of cheese tortellini, cooked, drained and cooled

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1 cup cherry tomoatoes, halved

1/4 cup red onion, chopped   

1/2 cup mozzerella cheese, cubed

1/2 cup salami, sliced thinly

While tortellini is cooking (follow directions on package-but make sure not to over cook your pasta), chop all your ingredients.   When pasta has cooled, combine. 

Dressing

6 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 cup olive oil

2 teaspoon dijon mustard

2 teaspoon dried basil

1 garlic clove, minced

salt and pepper

Combine ingredients and mix well. Pour over salad. The longer the salad marinates in the dressing, the better! Enjoy!