Elaine J. StandridgeSoup and Salad Bar Dinner
The best way to make a salad bar is to use items you already have on hand, but if your fridge and pantry is running low on stock a deli tray and chopped salad will be a quick fix.
Ingredients for Salad Bar
4 to 6 generous handfuls of greens , such as lettuce, spinach, dark leafies, and/or chicories
1 1/2 to 3 cups raw vegetables or leftover cooked vegetables
1/2 to 1 cup fresh fruit , such as chopped apples or pears, berries, or sectioned citrus fruits
1 to 2 cups beans , legumes, and/or grains
1 to 2 cups other protein-rich foods , such as cooked chicken, turkey, hard boiled egg, tuna, salmon, beef, tofu, pork, ham, or lamb
1/2 to 3/4 cup shredded , crumbled, or cubed cheese, such as feta, Cheddar, Swiss, blue, or goat cheese
1/4 to 1/2 cup nuts and/or seeds , such as almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
1/4 cup fruit such as raisins , dried cranberries, chopped apricot, chopped dried plums
Croutons
Favorite dressings
Soup of course, is always warm and comforting! Cheesy Vegetable is delicious! One of my favorites!
Cheesy Vegetable Soup
I use frozen pre-cut vegetable packs to make this recipe less time consuming.
6 tablespoonsButter (divided)
1 Small Onion (chopped)
1 cup Celery (chopped)
1 cup Carrots (chopped)
3 Garlic Cloves (minced)
3 cups Chicken Broth
3 cups Potatoes (peeled and cut into one inch cubes)
1 cup Broccoli (chopped)
1 cup Cauliflower (chopped)¼ cupFlour
3 cups Half And Half
2 cups Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
add Salt and Pepper
Instructions
In a large pot over medium-high heat add 2 Tablespoons butter and melt. Saute onion, celery, carrots, and garlic until tender. Add the chicken broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. Add the broccoli and cauliflower the last 5 minutes and cook until tender.
In a medium-sized saucepan add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter and melt over medium-high heat. Add the flour and create a roux cooking for 3-4 minutes. Slowly whisk in the half and half.
Pour into the soup and stir. Add the cheese and stir. Let simmer until thickened and cheese has melted. Salt and pepper to taste