Chicken Poppy Seed Salad

Submitted by Brittany on "Sisters Cafe blog"

Spinach leaves
Romaine leaves
Grilled chicken, sliced (grill with lots of lemon pepper seasoning)
Red onion, sliced thinly
Crispy bacon, crumbled
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Toasted almonds (or you can sugar the almonds. Put sliced almonds in a pan with lots of granulated sugar (about equal amounts). Cook on medium heat until sugar melts, coating the almonds as they brown.)

The best part... The Dressing:

1 1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp dry mustard
2/3 cup red wine vinegar
3 Tb Maui or Vidalia onion, chopped
2 cups canola oil
3 Tb poppy seeds

Mix the first 5 ingredients in a blender, then slowly add the oil, blending until thick. Stir in poppy seeds. Toss all ingredients together with generous amount of dressing before serving.

*This makes a lot of dressing! If you need a really big salad for a party then start with a large bunch of spinach, large head of romaine, 4 chicken breasts, 1 lb bacon, etc. I rarely make a salad that big so that is why there are no "amounts". So have fun with it - you're going to love it!

Antipasto Salad

Found on "Big Red Kitchen blog"

It is made in layers and had giardiniera mix, pepper rings, cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled egg slices, roasted beets, red onion slices, black olives, cold cut spirals and flowers, provolone cheese, tiny fresh mozzarella balls, and romaine. Serve this with balsamic vinaigrette made by using a packet of Good Seasons dressing mix, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. It can also be served with homemade Creamy Italian Dressing.

Creamy Italian Dressing
1 Pkt Good Seasons Italian Dressing made according to package directions
3 T. mayonnaise
2 T. sugar
2 T. good extra virgin olive oil
3 T. Parmesan cheese, grated

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Serve over your favorite Salad. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Oriental Chicken Salad

Salad:
1 lettuce shredded
1 package ramen noodles- chicken flavor
1 cup cooked chicken
2 green onions
almonds


Vinegrette:
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1 packet chicken seasoning (from ramen noodle soup packet)
1 dash lemon juice
sesame seed

Directions:
In a bowl, mix your lettuce, chicken, and green onions. Add crushed ramen noodles, and cut almonds. For vinegrette, mix everything together, very well. (It's better to make salad/vinegrette right before serving.) Mix salad and dressing together and mix well. Serve imediately!