Summer Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette

During the SUMMER we eat salad almost with every meal...I love salads. During LUNCH I usually have a salad because the kids are usually eating a pizza or chicken nuggets etc. Its quick and healthy. I got this recipe from a friend of mines. I use this dressing alot but I mix up the salad mix all the time. Depending on what I have on hand.


INGREDIENTS:
10 oz SPRING mix (I usually buy one of those large box from Sam's or Costco)
1 cup toasted pecan halves
1/2 cup dried cranberries or craisins
1 can (20 oz) mandarin oranges--DRAINED
1 package ramen noodles--broken into very small pieces and toasted (don't use the seasoning package--discard)
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/2 cup crumble feta cheese

In a LARGE SALAD bowl..start building your salad. Toss when you are ready to serve.

Red Wine Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crush black pepper
 In an airtight bottle or container combine all the ingredients and SHAKE really well. Refrigerator for at least 1 hr. Right before serving give it another GOOD SHAKE and pour over salad bowl and SERVE IMMEDIATELY.
(I usually like to just pour my dressing as I served because I don't like my salad all soggy)
Enjoy!!

****This salad also goes really well with some grill chicken breast. 

Blacken Shrimp

While the kids had their swimming lessons this morning, I took the opportunity to prep some of my meals  for this week. Most of what we are eating this week deals with shrimp or crawfish... So I peeled 4 pounds of shrimps and portion them out to each meal. So during the week all I have to do is.. Grab a container and season it the way I like. 

Since I already had the shrimps out and peeled .. I decided to make lunch and dinner with the shrimp. 

Blackened Shrimp to go with my Caesar Salad for lunch and dinner it's gonna be Shrimp Tacos (all I have left to cook is the chicken.. sauté the onion and bell peppers) 

Ingredients: 

1 pound peel and clean shrimp 

1 tsp blackened seasoning 

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1/4 onion powder 

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 

1/2 tsp paprika 

1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil 

I mix all the seasoning up with the peeled shrimp.. Marinate for about 30 minute to 1 hour in the refrigerator 

In a grill pan.. With a little olive oil.. Pour the whole container into the grill pan. Try to lay the shrimp in 1 layer .. Keep a close eye for they cook really fast.  I cooked it for about 5-7 minutes. 

Garnish with sliced green onions. 

Enjoy!!