Creative Salads

With so many people making resolutions to eat healthier and get in shape, January is a big month for salads. Since one cannot live by lettuce alone, we offer you recipes for creative salads that may help you keep your resolutions on track.

Baby Spinach, Bacon, Chicken & Blue Stilton Salad
1 9 oz. bag baby spinach
2 cooked chicken breasts, thinly sliced
6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
3 oz. pecans, toasted
3 oz. blue stilton, crumbled

Dressing
3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1 clove garlic, crushed

Place spinach, chicken, bacon and pecans in a large serving bowl. Combine dressing ingredients, drizzle over salad and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle cheese on top of salad. Serves 3.

Cotswold Salad
5 oz. Cotswold cheese, cubed
1 lb. baby new potatoes, cooked
1 2.25 oz. can sliced black olives
6 scallions, chopped
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz. green beans, halved and blanched
1 9 oz. bag baby spinach
Balsamic dressing

Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle with balsamic dressing and toss to coat evenly. Serves 4.

Fiery Chicken Salad
2 chicken breasts
Fajita seasoning
1 15 oz. can black beans
1 11 oz. can sweet corn
1 16 oz. jar spicy salsa
1 10 oz. bag mixed lettuce
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
6 oz. pepper jack cheese, grated

Rub chicken breasts with fajita seasoning and grill until temperature reaches 165°. Arrange lettuce on a platter, top with the black beans and corn. Spoon the salsa over the vegetables and arrange the onion and tomato on top. Slice the chicken and add to the salad. Top with grated cheese. Serves 4.

Cranberry and Orange Salad
2 navel oranges
12 red grapes
12 oz. spring mix
4 oz. creamy white stilton with cranberries, cut into small cubes

Dressing
2/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup orange juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1-1/2 tsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Peel orange and cut into segments. Combine oranges, grapes and spring mix in a large bowl. Sprinkle cheese on top. Whisk dressing ingredients together. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss to coat evenly. Serves 4.