Croutons

These croutons are quick to throw together and delicious topping a salad or soup! THey are much healthier then the version at the store because you can use whatever kind of bread you would like!

3 TBSP oil (I used olive oil here)
Seasonings (for me I used garlic, onion, and salt)
6-8 slices of bread cubed

Mix the oil and seasonings and then drizzle over bread. Toss bread and bake at 300 for 15 minutes, stir and cook another 15 minutes or until nice and golden brown!

Broccoli Salad

So, there's no pictures to go with this post but this is by far one of my favorite side dishes. It is GREAT for summer, no cooking involved and very little prep. It would also be great to bring to a BBQ. I can't forget to mention that I am one of broccoli's least favorite fans but I LOVE this recipe! The ingredients might sound a little odd but blend wonderfully! (do keep in mind I am estimating amounts for this salad here... it might need a little more, except for the dressing, I have that right)

5 cups (or so) broccoli florets (I cut mine into teeny, tiny pieces)
1/2 cup real bacon bits
1/2 raisins (golden are best but dark raisins work too)

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
3 TBSP vinegar (I used apple cider most recently but white works too)
1/3-1/2 cup white sugar
sprinkle of black pepper

Mix the top three ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Wisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and pour over the salad. I like to let this chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving. This is certianly one of those recipes that gets better with time!

Optional add-ins:
sunflower seeds
cauliflower
red onion
shredded carrots
green onion

Taco Salad

So, I grew up with traditional taco salad. Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, olives, taco meat, cheese, tortilla chips and ranch dressing. This is a little twist to the traditional salad.

1 head of iceberg lettuce, chopped
1 can olives, sliced
1 lb ground beef, browned and drained (you can add taco seasoning or not, it's your choice)
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups cheddar cheese
1 bag doritos (crunch them all up in the bag)
Catalina dressing

I would normally say to simply toss all of these ingredients but I don't toss them all so that I can save the leftovers without them getting gross. Toss everything but the chips and dressing. WHen serving, add the chips and dressing to each plate. This is such a yummy way to enjoy taco salad! (BTW, this picture is lacking dressing and chips)