• Tomato, Avocado, Walnut Salad
    Salads

    Tomato, Avocado, Walnut Salad

    I received free samples of California Walnuts mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by California Walnuts and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time. Do you like your salads sweet, creamy, or savory? I like my salads sweet! This is my go-to salad whenever I am feeling like a light meal, or adding a healthy side salad to my main dish. My favorite salad is mixed greens, which could be baby kale, spinach, arugula… Then, for the toppings I add fresh cherry tomatoes, chopped avocado, cranberries and walnuts. A handful of California…

  • Southwest Quinoa Boats
    Main,  Salads,  Sides,  Snacks

    Southwest Quinoa Boats

    Romaine lettuce adds a refreshing taste to these lime-flavored quinoa boats. Did you know that quinoa is not considered a grain, but a seed? It is a very healthy food, since it is high in protein, fiber and vitamins. I like to eat it more often than rice these days. The most popular colors are white, red and black. White is the least crunchy and softer than the other colors, and it also cooks faster (in about 12 minutes). In this southwest quinoa recipe, a mix of red quinoa is tossed with chopped avocado, black beans, corn, cilantro and lime. One tip to making soft, fluffy quinoa is to cook…

  • Kale Cabbage Carrot Salad
    Salads

    Kale, Red Cabbage and Carrot Salad

    We all know that kale is an incredibly healthy green, but not all of us like the taste of it. It took me a while to warm up to kale. Now I like it sautรฉed or fresh as a salad. Apparently massaging kale lessens its bitter taste, but I have never tried it myself. Instead, I coat it with a honey-sweetened salad dressing and add sweet ingredients to my kale salads, like dried cranberries. In this kale salad recipe, I added honey roasted pistachios, which you can buy at the store or make them yourself with regular shelled pistachios. These help balance the bitter flavor of the chopped kale. The…

  • Beet Apple Salad
    Salads

    Beet, Apple, Walnut Salad

    I am the only person in my family who actually enjoys eating beets. I think they are delicious in salads or just by themselves. Since they have health benefits like antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, I try to sneak them in and make my family eat them too. They are also a great source of fiber. This beet, apple and walnut salad is one recipe they will eat! The dressing is a little sweet from the honey inside of it. If you let the salad chill overnight, it tastes even better the next day when the flavors marinate together. To make things easier, you can buy already cooked beets at the…

  • Peach Tomato Salad
    Salads

    Peach Tomato Bocconcini Salad

    This super simple salad reminds me of summer. When peaches are not in season, I sometimes use peaches in a jar. All you need for this easy salad is peaches, cherry tomatoes, bocconcini (little mozzarella cheese balls) and balsamic glaze. I always have store-bought balsamic glaze in my pantry, because I use it often, but you can also whip some up at home in less than 20 minutes using balsamic vinegar and honey or brown sugar. A drizzle of balsamic glaze makes everything sweeter and prettier. My 4 year old loves this peach tomato mozzarella salad, and I often make it for her and I as a quick healthy snack.…