As I sit down to write this post I remember that the oven hasn't been on in over four days. Wow. Is that a new record for me? I think so. The heat and the humidity have taken over very early this summer and the last thing I want to do is add more heat. So I've been eating a lot of salads, subs, tomato & mozzarella, etc.. and of course ice cream.
I asked on twitter what ya'll wanted me to post next and almost everyone said salad. OK. To be honest I never thought to share salads, but maybe someone out there will dig it as much as I do. My salads are a little out of this world, but that's because I love my salads kicked up too, just like my desserts and meals. But I think you might like this salad as it has a lot of flavor and textures going on in it. Not to mention protein. It's pretty easy to guess what's on this one: avocado's, tortilla strips, black olives, feta, red kidney beans. The dressing is catalina. Yeah big gourmet surprise. But have ya'll tried Catalina? Man that stuff is goooood. I've just tried it in the last two years. That stuff goes with everything. Amazing in taco salads too. What's not in the photo are banana peppers; I saw those in the fridge last minute and had to have them.
What's your favorite way to kick up a salad? Do you eat more salads in the summer?
Rica, pero que muy rica ensalda. Saludos
ReplyDeleteLooks AWESOME! I love having a big salad for dinner. Not only is it delicious and filling, but a great way to eat raw without too much work.
ReplyDeleteCurrently loving fruit in my salad. Mangoes, sliced apple, pear, and going to add fresh cherries to the next one.
I'm hungry!!
I love salads that don't have any veggies. Mine favorite always includes bacon, gorgonzola, sometimes filet, maybe mushrooms, but other fun, non-veggie things. This salad looks fabulous to me, though!
ReplyDeleteSalads rock! I enjoy tossing in some blueberries into the mix. It takes things to another level. Perhaps creamy raspberry poppyseed dressing as well?
ReplyDeleteDawn, you know my feeling about salads since I spent an entire summer eating lettuce in 1986....but I have to say this picture looks positively amazing! You really are talented and creating food AND taking the pictures!
ReplyDeleteAt first I thought your dressing was hot sauce. That'd be awesome. ;)
ReplyDeletethis is a salad? dang its got all the food groups - nice!
ReplyDeleteYummy! In fact I am eating a salad right now. I love carrots, olives, sundried tomatoes, banana peppers, fermented cabbage (sometimes kimchee)beans and DEFINITELY cheese on my salads -and usually nuts too. Sometimes hard-boiled eggs or tuna. Man, I love salads!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh I want a salad just like that right now!!!!
ReplyDeleteSummer is all about salads. It's way to hot to spend too much time in the kitchen
ReplyDeleteYou know I love a good salad! Avocado is amazing is a salad....it adds such a great creaminess. And you are so right...PERFECT for summer...with some ice cream or frozen yogurt ;)
ReplyDeleteNot a great idea to switch on the oven now. It's so hot! This looks os colourful and refreshing!
ReplyDeleteThat salad looks amazing! I haven't had catalina dressing in ages. I've got to get some!
ReplyDeleteThis looks perfect for summer when turning ont he oven is pure torture!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Catalina... In my side of the world we have our salads with olive oil, salt and vinegar and that's all. My favourite salads are the one with pasta and 2 things I love in my salads are olive and fetta!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to hear a comment by someone who's actually tried this recipe. Everyone says it "looks good." Well, yes, but how does it taste!? And did anyone tweak it in any way? To me, that's what comments are all about(?)
ReplyDeleteWow, what a lovely salad...and it is sure a meal by itself...sure a nice meal for Summer :-) Beautiful colors!
ReplyDeletepj:
ReplyDeletewhy don't YOU give it a go and see.
That is a beautiful salad and a well-balanced meal for a hot summer's day. But I'll skip the Catalina, much as you love it.
ReplyDeletei've never tried/heard of catalina before. but i'll take your word for it!
ReplyDeletefantastic salad! Right now I'm all about hot bacon dressings on salads but loved Catalina as a kid.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing salad! I do eat more salad in the summer..."diet days" hee
ReplyDeleteTomatoes, garlic, salt & pepper, fresh basil. Drizzle with olive oil and a good balsamic vinegar (ever try Williams Sonoma Olivier balamic vinegar? They should sell nips of it!). Add some good toasted rustic bread, like ciabatta,chopped up. The bread will soak up all that juicy goodness, and you will be transported...your taste buds will thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis really is one kicked up salad! I can't believe all the components. I could never tire of it.
ReplyDeleteI love a great salad and this one looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteA salad that's a complete meal is a total winner! We usually have a small salad with dinner, unless I make a particularly vegetable-laden meal; it's the usual lettuce and tomato but I like to add seeds or nuts, rather than cheese. As for dressings, I'm really partial to Asian-flavored ones, like ginger-soy-sesame. 8-)
ReplyDeleteI eat more of them in the summer but mainly because the lettuce is so much nicer then. Plus=eating them makes me think I will look better in my shorts the next day. It never helps, but I like to think it will...
ReplyDeleteThis is my kinda salad...and I love Catalina dressing. It's been awhile since I had any though. :)
ReplyDeletekidney beans and avocado--yum. my salads usually consist of whatever's lingering in the fridge or clogging up the garden. i don't get too inventive, but i always, always include nuts. 'cause i'm nuts about nuts. :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks pretty incredible :) Love salads all the time, but in the winter i often put warmer things like roasted veggies on top. In the summer it's more cool toppings, and fruit!
ReplyDeleteps- i'll be back at the cape this summer :)
I love Catalina and it is definitely salad season by now:D
ReplyDeleteAhh so funny as I am about to post something almost exactly like yours. Dawn- yah know- great minds think alike!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had Catalina dressing in awhile! This salad looks amazing.
ReplyDeletethe weather here in so cal is still pleasant so haven't switched to salads yet. but i have been grilling a bunch. Catalina? reminds me of my childhood- you are right it is good on taco salad.
ReplyDeleteI DO eat more salads in the summer. In California, we're so blessed to have such great produce for salad fixin's, too. My favorite way to kick it up a notch? With additions like crumbled blue cheese or goat cheese or fresh herbs or homemade sourdough croutons.
ReplyDeleteDawn, That is one healthy salad!
ReplyDeleteYes, I enjoy more salads all the ~summer~
I eat more salads in the summer time and I like to add as much fruit as possible or like you do, protein. Mostly fruit because it's in season, fresh and sweet. I usually do chickpeas as my protein addition to a salad. I like catalina dressing, but I tend to reach for vinegarettes or blue cheese.
ReplyDeleteI've been eating a lot of salads lately. I like to add something crunchy like sesame sticks or almonds. Beans if I remember to cook them ahead of time. The best thing I've added lately is juutso cheese just warmed a little in a skillet.
ReplyDeleteGreat salad and congrats on not turning on the oven in 4 days. :) Summer heat + oven heat = WAY TOO HOT to stay in the house.
ReplyDeleteI just had a salad, it looked nothing like your :-/. Your salad rocks!
ReplyDeletePepperoncini always do the trick. Avocados, mango, feta cheese. All awesome salad additions. Oh and cold roasted beets. Hmmm, would this make a good salad together? Ha!
ReplyDeleteI love summer salads. This one is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThat is my kind of salad - salad as a meal. I am just about to post about the ubiquitous French salad - something I used to always have for lunch. I like the portions here!
ReplyDeleteI just made an healthy asian inspired salad for dinner tonight, I saw it on the new cooking channel yesterday. I love salads too!
ReplyDeleteHere's a good one: years and years ago we used to marinate our chicken in Catalina before we threw it on the grill!
ReplyDeleteYour salad is marvelous, Dawn. So many goodies all on one plate!
That is one hearty and tasty looking salad!
ReplyDeleteThat salad looks AMAZING!! I definitely eat more in the summer because everything is fresh and cheaper! The colors do it for me!
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That looks yummy!! I love to have fresh tomatoes from the garden added to my salads and this year I planted basil, so add some of that and YUM!
ReplyDeleteNow that's the way a salad should be! I've actually never had that dressing so I'll have to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteI eat a -lot- of salads in the summer. They're just so easy to throw together, refreshing, and a good way to use up whatever you have in the fridge. I'm currently obsessed with adding tofu "feta" to everything, but the standard roasted sunflower seeds are always a nice addition, too.
ReplyDeletelove the red bean salad portion of yours. I've done one very similar and it's still very popular on my site. and for turning the oven on, yeah not so much over here except to bake some flat bread so I can munch on at midnight!
ReplyDeletemy favorite dressing is Catalina....wow!! your salad looks like a hybrid cobb....also my favorite.....it just looks so darn good!
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing
Dennis
Nice looking salad! Although I prefer mine with more vegetables, heh. Salads are the base of my meal, usually I'll have cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes/bell peppers, little mix of frozen vegetables and something to add protein like cheese, fish, beans or tofu. Even though I eat salads all year round, they are especially a summer food! No heavy dishes in this heat!
ReplyDeleteLove summer salads! This looks great and yummy!
ReplyDeleteHappy Summer!
Looks great Dawn! I never ever buy salad dressing. I prefer making my own vinegrettes. I wonder how Catalina is made? Would be interesting to try and make a homemade version of it.
ReplyDeleteTwitter: JoMakesStuff
That salad looks heavenly! It is perfect for a hot summer night :)
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