Fresh From the Farmer's Market: Old-Fashioned Cucumber Salad

We've been getting a LOT of cucumbers from our CSA lately.  And even a really big lettuce salad only needs about half of a cucumber.  Some people make pickles with their cucumbers, but I didn't have time to try that this year...maybe next year!  Instead, I've made a couple batches of this fresh-tasting cucumber salad.  The vinegar in the dressing gives it a little kick, balancing out the cucumbers perfectly.

Nectarine and Blue Cheese Salad

(This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad 7/8/12 - 7/14/12)

This simple salad was inspired by one I saw on Rachael Ray's website.  I've wanted to make it for a few weeks now but our nectarines keep disappearing!  The combination of fruit and cheese reminded me of this salad, but with a shorter ingredient list.  I added walnuts for some crunch, and I wasn't a big fan of Rachael's suggested dressing, so I used an old favorite instead.  The result was amazingly delicious, if I do say so myself!  The main ingredients are on sale at Meijer this week, but you can also find lettuce and nectarines at your local farmer's market this time of year.

Blueberry Salad

(This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad 7/1/12 - 7/7/12)

Looking for an easy and delicious side dish to bring to your Independence Day picnic?  This salad comes together in less than 5 minutes, and the bowl is always scraped clean.  It's also an easy treat to make while camping or vacationing.

Taco Salad

(This recipe was originally posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 5/27/12 - 6/2/12)

This main dish salad makes a huge batch!  It's tasty, easy, and uses basic ingredients.  Perfect for your potluck picnic!

Cookie "Salad"

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 5/27/12 - 6/2/12)

This "salad" is a fun change from the average jello.  It's definitely kid-friendly, both in flavor and ease of preparation.  The combination of ingredients might sound a little strange, but it's actually pretty good!

Sunshine Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 5/13/12 - 5/19/12)

This fluffy, fruity salad pairs perfectly with pasta, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, or anything else that you might normally serve with a jello salad.  The sweet lemon flavor makes it the perfect summery side dish.

Bow Tie Chicken Pasta Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad Week of 4/8/12 - 4/14/12)

My sister-in-law recommended this refreshing salad recipe from her church cookbook.  I gave it a try the last time avocados were on sale, and we loved it!

Warm Fruit Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with Meijer Ad Week of 3/18/12 - 3/24/12)

Here's another "meal brought to us after we had a baby" recipe.  It's also another "dump and go" recipe that takes only minutes to put together!  It makes a huge batch, so it's perfect for taking to potlucks.

Strawberry Jello Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 3/4/12 - 3/10/12)

This fruity, fluffy salad comes together in no time, and is perfect as a side dish for pasta, burgers, or pizza.

Fruity Lettuce Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 2/26/12 - 3/3/12)

This summery salad is so easy to throw together.  It's the perfect accompaniment to almost any entree, from burgers and chicken to pizza and casserole.

Waste Not, Want Not: Fruit Salad and more

What to do with this week's leftovers:

Bacon, leftover from making Spinach Salad:

Put all leftover pieces on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Put in the oven, then set temperature to 400 degrees. (Yes, put the bacon in while the oven is still cold!) Bake 17 minutes or until slightly under-done. Drain and blot grease, cool, and then freeze. When frozen, transfer to ziploc freezer bags and return to the freezer. When you are ready for a few strips of bacon, microwave the frozen strips for 10-20 seconds, depending on how crispy you like them and how many strips you are microwaving at a time.

Spinach Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 2/19/12 - 2/25/12)

I've tried quite a few different spinach salad recipes, but this basic one is still my favorite!

Broccoli Apple Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 2/12/12 - 2/18/12)

A friend brought us this yummy salad as part of a post-baby meal.  We all loved it, which meant that I had to get the recipe!

Feta Pear Salad

(This recipe was first posted in conjunction with the Meijer Ad Week of 2/5/12 - 2/11/12)

I can't see pears and bagged lettuce on sale together without thinking of this salad!  If you make this for company, be prepared to give out the recipe!

Waste Not, Want Not: ScrapPasta Salad and More

What to do with this week's leftovers:

Peppers, mushrooms and green onions (left over from making Chicken Primavera) are my favorite kind of leftovers because you can do so many things with them!  Saute and use for:

1.  French Dip Sandwiches

2.  Omelets

3.  Quesadillas or Fajitas

4.  Smothered steak or chicken

5.  Pizza topping (you don't even have to saute them for this)