It's Too Hot To Cook

Healthy Food Bytes: It’s too hot to cook!

Try these simple nutritious salads for your next summer meal:

Caprese Green Salad

regular caprese just doesn’t have enough veggies for me J

4 c. of dark green lettuce (red leaf and green leaf are my favorite)

½ c. multi colored mini heirloom tomatoes

½ c. fresh mozzarella – chopped

Sliced sweet onion (such as Maui)

Bunch of basil leaves – ciffonade (you know, roll it up tightly and slice to get thin strips)

For the dressing

2 tbs. canola oil

2 tbs. good extra virgin olive oil

1 tbs. good quality balsamic vinegar

2 tbs. Agave nectar (natural sweetener that doesn’t spike blood sugar like table sugar does – looser consistency than honey - has a milder taste than honey)

Sea Salt and pepper to taste

Spinach Salad with Pecans, Feta Cheese, Pears and Cranberries

4 c. of spinach (baby or regular)

½ c. pecan halves

1 thinly sliced pear

¼ c. feta cheese crumbles

2 tbs. dried cranberries

Sliced red onion

For the dressing

2 tbs. canola oil

2 tbs. good extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs. unfiltered apple juice

2 tbs. natural unfiltered apple cider vinegar (for probiotic benefit)

2 tbs. Agave nectar

Sea Salt and pepper to taste

Note: you can swap out an apple for the pear.

Quick Curry Chicken Salad

Buy 1 Rotisserie Chicken (go ahead, you can cheat, it’s hot – remember)

Shred 2 cups of chicken (discard skin, save the rest for another meal)

Hand full of grapes (any variety, cut in half)

Hand full of walnuts (chopped)

¼ cup water chestnuts (chopped)

1 garlic clove - pressed

2 tbs. chopped sweet onion

For the Dressing

2 tbs. canola oil real mayo

2 tbs. organic plain yogurt

2 tbs. natural ranch dressing (in produce section)

1/8 t. turmeric (tumeric has all sorts of great health benefits – used in Auyervedic practice in India for thousands of years to reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system)

1/8 t. coriander

1/8 t. cumin

Sea Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together, pour over chicken, grapes and walnuts

Mix well, serve in cups of Bibb lettuce - enjoy whole grain crackers on the side.

You can add more or less of whatever you like. Make these salads to your liking.

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