Salads Other Than Macaroni or Potato for Summer

Summer opens the table to creative meals at our house. We have tried lots of different recipes for side dishes and salads here. Our favorites are in fact macaroni and potato, however there are some runner ups.

Some of the salads are more of a "through it all together" kind of dish. Cucumbers and sour cream for example. I just peel and slice the cucumbers up and toss with some sour cream to coat, teaspoon or so of sugar and mmm, mmm, good. Cucumbers and onion and tomato too. I slice these all into thin disks and layer in a dish, cover with Italian dressing and refrigerate for an hour at least.

Some of the bigger salads are even good for a main dish.

Seafood Salad two ways

One 8oz Package Imitation Crab
One 8oz Package of Salad Size Shrimp
One 8oz Package Noodles (spiral is my choice)
One Celery Stalk
One Carrot Peeled and Shredded
Onion and Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Mayo or Dressing About 1 Cup or 1/4 cup Italian Dressing

Boil noodles, rinse and let cool. Chop celery into very small bits.
Mix everything but dressing or mayo. Add the dressing whichever you are using the Italian or mayo.

I like to add any leftovers I have to the Italian dressing version. (lunch meats, cheese chunks, fresh veggies from other dinners like tomato and peppers)

Broccoli and Cheese Salad

One Head of Fresh Broccoli
One 8oz Package of Cheddar Cheese
One Carrot Peeled and Shredded
One small Bottle of Ranch Dressing

Clean and cut up the broccoli into bit size pieces. Mix everything together and refrigerate.

Here's a tip for the frugal minded. If you go to your local deli, they will sometimes give you a sale price on the "ends" of deli meats and cheese. These chunks don't slice easily and have to be used in salads or sold in odd shaped slices. You have to ask for them, and ask for a discount. Anyway, if you cut them into chucks and toss with some pasta and Italian type dressing it makes a great anti pasta.