Asian salad

For lunch today i was feeling like i needed a bit of an asian kick, but without resorting to a Chinese luncheon. So i put this together:

Spring greens
Julienned carrots
chopped raw cauliflower
red onion
wasabi peas
pepitas (ive been known to use dry-roasted peanuts, but sometimes that throws off the flavors)
garlic and ginger wonton strips
Marie's sesame ginger dressing

As desired, toss everything together.
Serve with a crisp and cold pinot grigio, maybe a sauvignon blanc. ICE COLD.

Father's Day salad

The menu was fit for a summer barbeque--hamburgers and hot dogs, potato salad and cole slaw. And i wasnt' cooking (nor cleaning, since this was at someone else's home). I was in charge of a 'regular' salad. I wanted to make it 'manly,' since the company was all going to be fathers whose children (and their children) live far away.

Taking this into consideration, I came up with these ingredients. I chose them for their nutritional value to men's health, so they can continue to be the awesome fathers they are. From these simple pieces (and an easy grab from the grocery store on the way...), nothing but rave reviews.

As always, I rely on the big wooden salad bowl my sister gave me about 10 years ago. And all the pre-made fixings at the local grocery store.

Serves six generously, eight possibly

Bag of baby spinach, rinsed
Bag of julienned carrots, rinsed
Red onion, sliced thinly
Ranch Dressing. I really much prefer Kraft Peppercorn Ranch, but they don't make it anymore. Second choice is their Buttermilk Ranch, as desired
Bag of Kraft shredded medium cheddar cheese, 8 oz.
Small bag of Hormel REAL peppered bacon
Bag of Safeway Herb croutons

Toss the vegetables together in a salad bowl and refrigerate. No small task in Arizona in summer, but the crispiness of the spinach is essential to a nice experience.

Plate up with a portion of salad and the next ingredients in order, divided by number of servings.

It goes without saying, "Who doens't like bacon?" I think that's the part they really liked.