Tortellini Salad

I still remember the packaged pasta salad kits that were sold when I was a kid - and how much I disliked the weird dressing mix!  However, my dad's company always had an annual family picnic and they always served an amazing chilled tortellini marinara.  Pasta salad, but better, right?

I like to combine those childhood memories and use delicious, cheese-filled tortellini with a simple, creamy dressing!

Creamy Cucumber Tomato Salad

Summer is coming, and with it barbecues, picnics and potlucks.  A good guest always brings something to the party and a quick salad is always a winner!

You can chop the cucumbers and tomatoes in advance and premix the the dressing ingredients, but it is best to mix everything together right before you are ready to serve the dish.  If you do want to make it all in advance, you should seed the tomatoes and cucumbers to remove the excess liquid and keep the dressing thick enough.

Kicked Up Tuna Salad

I don't care what anyone says, I love a good tuna sandwich.  I was that kid that was more than happy to take it for my school lunch, regardless of any complaints about the smell.  I used to just mix it with mayonnaise and pepper and call it a day, but now I like to add a few more ingredients for extra enjoyment.

Asian Chicken Noodle Salad

I spend a lot of summer weekends barbecuing with friends and family, and I always like to bring something to the party.  This noodle salad is light and refreshing and always seems to be a big hit!

Roasted Caesar Salad

I have to admit that I actually love salad; there's nothing like a nice big bowl of vegetables to make me happy.

I went to a restaurant with a couple of girlfriends and we decided to try their grilled Caesar.  It sounded great but, unfortunately, it was soggy and bland.  However, I loved the idea of a grilled salad, so I decided to try it at home.  And, being the vegetable lover that I am, I added lots of lovely extras!

Mixed Bean Salad

A simple bean salad is great for BBQs and summer events.  Beans are incredibly easy to use and work with many flavors.

Beet Caprese Salad

I love the freshness of Caprese salad and the richness of beets, and I have found that beets actually add a nice dimension to a Caprese salad.