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Monday, July 16, 2012

Salad Bar Night


I love salad bars. Our kids all love salad bars too. But I don't love salad bar prices. So, we had a salad bar at home instead.

It was fun for all of us to be able to put together our own salads (just like at the salad bar). Our 6 y.o. foster daughter said it was her favorite day and I thought my salad was as good as any $8 salad I've had.

Obviously, there is no recipe here. Just put out all the stuff you like in your salad and go at it. Most of the things I used were canned or produce that required no cooking, just wash and your done. I made hard boiled eggs and homemade ranch, that was the extent of my cooking.

I won the prize for using the most items in my salad (I'm sure this had nothing to do with me being the one putting the salad bar together).


Kidney beans, garbanzo beans, olives, green bean salad, grape tomatoes


Cheese, pickles, beets, hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese(not pictured), bacon bits, croutons, assortment of dressing (including homemade ranch).


I love making ranch at home. It's super easy and tastes so much better than anything you can get in a bottle.

There really isn't a recipe as it is all done to taste and personal preference. But, here's how I make it:

*1 part mayo (any kind - light, fat free, olive oil mayo, whatever)
*1 part sour cream (any kind - light, fat free)

(if you like a more sour flavor, change the ratio to more sour cream than mayo) If I were not using equal parts, I'd use more mayo than sour cream but that's my personal preference.

*Milk (any kind) to thin to your preference. If you like a thick ranch, use less milk, more milk for thin ranch.

*Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder - to taste

In this recipe, I actually use real measurements for a thin ranch coleslaw, if you must measure.

This was perfect for our large family and would be good for a get together. I imagine there would be tons of leftovers for a smaller group though. What would you put in your salad bar?










7 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I love it. I can't wait until we have our kitchen island again and have more room to do this! Thanks for stopping by the Sit and Relax hop. But, your link is going to some weird website. Can you re-link? Thanks!
    Michelle

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  2. The new link on the hop works! Thanks and have a great weekend!

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  3. This is such a cute idea! And no worries about who is touching your food either! My kids would just adore it! Thanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party~
    xoxo
    Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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  4. New follower from blog hop everyday. Love for you to stop by and return the follow. Also, hosting Favorite Product Friday. Love for you to link up a fabulous review or product you love. Hope to see you there!

    www.thenaptimereview.com

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  5. I really like this idea. Perfect for too-hot to cook summer dinners. What a great idea. Thanks for the ranch recipe

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  6. hi, i'm following the "bloghop till you drop" friday bloghop. i would love for you to visit my blog and follow if you like it.

    http://www.blackinkpaperie.blogspot.com

    thanks
    new follower bev

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  7. I love salads too. I go crazy with mine. I put lettuce, cukes, tomatoes, peppers, croutons, bacon bits, pineapple tidbits, raisins, salad dressing and of course cheese on mine. A pickle on the side and some salad crackers and I am good to go! Nice looking salad bar you have there! New follower here from the Friday Blog Hop!
    http://lovejoyjunction.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete