Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Estimated Cost:  $10.00

Prep Time:  20 minutes

Pasta Cooking Time:  10 minutes

Serves:  6

An elegant salad that comes together in a jiffy.  I keep a few bags of diced oven roasted chicken breast in the fridge so I can whip this salad up on short notice.

6 oz. dry fettuccine pasta, uncooked
2 pkgs. (6 oz. each) refrigerated diced oven roasted chicken breast
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
2/3 cup creamy Caesar salad dressing
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 pkg. (9 oz. each) chopped romaine salad
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Break pasta strands in half. Cook according to pasta package directions. Rinse with cold water to cook quickly; set aside.

2. In a large-bowl, stir together chicken, drained tomatoes, dressing, and onion. Add cooked pasta.

3. Add lettuce to pasta mixture; toss to coat ingredients evenly with dressing. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

Mike’s comments:

This recipe is easily adaptable. Try substituting a different kind of pasta or lettuce.

Recipe: Easy Crunchy Taco Salad

Estimated Cost:  $11.00

Total Time:  30 minutes

Serves:  10

I’ve made variations of this salad for years.  It used to be my standby addition to the company potlucks back when I spent most of my day in a cube.  I always got positive feedback in our post-potluck-productivity meetings.

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 head iceberg lettuce, broken into small pcs.
2 med. tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup ripe olives, sliced
4 med. green onions, sliced (approx. 1/4 cup)
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
2/3 cup Italian dressing
1 bag tortilla chips, coarsely crushed

1. In 10-inch skillet, cook beef and taco seasoning mix as directed on seasoning mix package.

2. In large salad serving bowl, gently mix lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions and cheese. Add beef mixture; stir gently to mix.

3. Just before serving, add dressing and chips; toss.

Mike’s comments:

I much prefer using Doritos Nacho Cheese tortilla chips for this recipe. I think they add a little flavor punch that standard corn tortilla chips lack. Personal choice on that call, however.

Recipe: Connie’s Romaine and Strawberry Salad

Estimated Cost:  $5.00

Prep Time:  10 minutes

Serves:  4 – 6

No time to throw together an elegant salad?  Kitchen Survival to the rescue! For just five bucks and about 10 minutes you can put together a delicious summer salad your guests are surely going to love and remember.  I’ve always been a fan of simple recipes and this one gets top marks.

1 head Romaine lettuce
1 lg. red Bermuda onion, sliced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbs. white vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 pint strawberries, sliced

1. Place Romaine leaves in a large serving bowl and toss with onion slices.

2. In a small blow whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and milk.

3. Add the strawberries and pour over salad just before serving.

Mike’s comments:

The dressing for this salad couldn’t be simpler. You won’t believe how tasty it is. Try this one!

Recipe: Mom’s Wilted Lettuce and Bacon Salad

Estimated Cost:  $4.00

Prep Time:  10 minutes

Total Times:  20 minutes

Serves:  6

Yum Factor:  TBA

My mother had to think of creative ways to get me to eat salads as a youth, and as an adult too.  This was one of her sure-fire tricks to get me to eat and enjoy ALL of my salad.  This recipe was a summer tradition at the my house growing up. My grandmother passed this recipe down to my mother. Mom said they raised all their own vegetables for this recipe when she lived back in Pennsylvania growing up.

5 slices bacon
2 Tbs. vinegar
1 Tbs. lemon juice
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 head leaf lettuce – rinsed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces
1 red onion, thinly sliced

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown. Remove from skillet, crumble and set aside.

2. To the hot bacon drippings, add the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and pepper. Stir over medium heat until hot.

3. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce and green onions. Add the warm dressing and toss to evenly coat. Sprinkle with bacon and serve.

Mike’s comments:

If you wanted to get fancy you could use a red wine vinegar or even a balsamic in the dressing. Different greens can easily be substituted for the leaf lettuce.

Tip: Entertaining on the Cheap – Sunday Spaghetti Supper Menu

It can certainly be frustrating to entertain on a shoe-string budget, but like most things just a little forethought and planning can make it happen.  I can think of few things better then a Spaghetti supper.  As a boy I used to look forward to the nights Mom would serve a very similar menu.

Whether you are feeding your family, or entertaining guests, I present a menu that feeds up to six, costs less then $35.00, and is a guaranteed winner.  Main course, salad, bread, and dessert – it covers all four of the Yum Food Groups!

Here are links to the four sure-to-please recipes for a scrumptious Sunday Spaghetti Supper:

Mike’s comments:

Bon Appetit (for under 35 bucks, w00t!)