Recipe request - cold salads

[Stu Gotz]

Anyone have any good sesame noodle or chicken salad, etc. meals.

I really dislike cooking for myself and thought that if I made about 4 of these salads on a Sunday while watching the boob tube, voila, no cooking for the week.

Let 'er rip.

[AntiSoCalSkier]

It's not a salad, but if you don't like cooking for yourself, might I suggest purchasing a gas grill, and some random meat? It's really easy to come home from work and toss stuff on the grill, because there's basically zero prep time (turn on grill, open package of meat, and maybe season it), very little cooking time (a steak takes about 10 minutes), and clean up is trivial (if you have sausages, or burgers, you don't even need to use a plate or silverware).

[Max Gosey]

Don't need chicken for a meaty salad.

If you can find crab, toss that with some spinach and tomatoes and maybe some feta. Add a little light vinaigrette and you are good to go. Proportion the ingredients as you see fit. More crab = mo' betta since it has more sustenance, but if your guests/eaters are little eat-like-a-bird health nuts, then just add small dabs of crab. (We're talking blue crab here, not snow, but I'm sure snow would be pretty nice too).

[cololi]

I'm assuming you are not talking about green salads, because making a green salad days in advance is not a good idea. Unless of course you like soggy, blackened lettuce. In which case checking out a dumpster at Sizzler will work for you.

[LAN]

I've got 3 easy salads that are pretty hearty.

CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD

combine:
lettuce (gourmet blend from a bag works)
cubed grilled chicken
mandarin oranges
sliced almonds
crunchy chinese noodles
sliced green onions

top with grocery store asian sesame dressing

COBB SALAD w/ CHICKEN FINGERS:

combine:
lettuce
sliced carrots
chopped tomatoes
crumbled bacon
chopped chicken fingers
chopped hard boiled egg
chopped celery
croutons

top with dressing of choice

LAN'S AUTUMN SALAD:

lettuce (fancy grocery store in the bag stuff)
golden raisins
cranberries
chopped braeburn or fuji apple
mandarin oranges
honey roasted macadamian nuts or candied walnuts

top with vinegarette and serve with cornbread (it's a heartier meal than you'd think)

[Stu Gotz]

Originally posted by AntiSoCalSkier
It's not a salad, but if you don't like cooking for yourself, might I suggest purchasing a gas grill, and some random meat? It's really easy to come home from work and toss stuff on the grill, because there's basically zero prep time (turn on grill, open package of meat, and maybe season it), very little cooking time (a steak takes about 10 minutes), and clean up is trivial (if you have sausages, or burgers, you don't even need to use a plate or silverware).

That would be too sweet. I would if I could. Live in a 10 story apt. building. Best I can do is the George Foreman. And while I think Mr. Foreman makes a really tasty burger and a nice piece of chicken, I am attempting to pick the brains of the collective for a little variety.

I am hoping I can make the salad, throw it in the fridge and then ladle it out when needed.

[lemon boy]

I don't have any that are a good meal in and of themselves.

tomatos
green onion
english cucumbers
salt
oil
(eat it all the time)

cucumbers sliced REALLY THIN
onions slivered
salt pepper
sauce: rice vinegar heated on stove with 1:1 sugar
mix well and cool for 1/2 hr in fridge

Things that I'm sure you can look up which make a lot and are not particularily difficult:
beef stroganoff
beef bourgingion
trailer steaks
steaks
porkchops
CHILI
Stew

Cooking for a solo act fucking blows. I never cooked when I was, now I cook more than my lady.

but really, I say that for a sunday cookup that is easy and goes a LOOOONNNG way it is Chili!

[Max Gosey]

Ladel it out when needed? Hmmph. I'm gonna go with cololi on this one. I would not prepare salads for several days of use, especially not with the dressing/seasoning already on.

If you're gonna do it like that, keep a couple separate bowls right next to each other so you can just throw together the ingredients at will. I have found that salads do NOT do well in the refrigerator for more than about a day.

[Buster Highmen]

Revenge!

or

gazpatcho:
INGREDIENTS

1 small sweet onion, quartered
1 large green bell pepper, seeded and quartered
2 medium cucumbers, scrubbed and coarsely chopped
1 rib celery, coarsely chopped
3 large cloves garlic, peeled
2 large fresh ripe tomatoes, quartered
2 cups tomato juice, or use canned whole tomatoes with their juices
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
Hot sauce (optional)
Place the onion, pepper, cucumbers, garlic and fresh tomatoes in a processor; process until very finely chopped. Add the tomato juice, basil, salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil and optional hot sauce. Process until soup is the desired texture. Taste for seasoning; chill for at least one hour before serving. If desired, garnish with finely chopped cucumber or whole basil leaves.

[Max Gosey]

Buster I like your style, man.

I think you have a winner, Stu...

[optics]

1. Bag o'tomatoes, preferrably the heirloom variety that make you wonder what the hell that is when you see them.

2. Bunch o' basil that smells good and isn't black.

3. Fresh mozzarella. non-fresh will yield vomitous results.

Cut the tomatoes in quarters, squish out the seeds. Cut into knuckle-sized pieces.

Tear the basil into small pieces, or alternatively, smash it with something, then cut it up.

Stir tomatoes and basil together, add good extra-virgin olive oil. Add salt, let sit for a while in the refer.

Cut pieces of mozzarella into chunks the approx. size of the tomato pieces. Add to bowl, mix up, let sit a few minutes.

Add salt + pepper to taste. Add a little bit of balsamic if you like tha kind of thing.

Accompany with minimally-seasoned, well-prepared piece of flesh of your choosing, and crusty bread, best if somewhat dense for soaking up the nectar once the salad's gone.

That damned tomato-salad juice rules. This is my choice for summer meal at least once or twice a week when the tomatoes are good.

[johannus]

Originally posted by Max Gosey
Ladel it out when needed? Hmmph. I'm gonna go with cololi on this one. I would not prepare salads for several days of use, especially not with the dressing/seasoning already on.

If you're gonna do it like that, keep a couple separate bowls right next to each other so you can just throw together the ingredients at will. I have found that salads do NOT do well in the refrigerator for more than about a day.

Yeah, do not store your salad with any fixins'. Best way I've found is following MG's rec's on keeping separate bowls of ingredients/dressing and throw together when you need it.

As for storing the greens, prep them (de-core, wash & dry) then place in an airtight container in the fridge. Airtight is key. The greens will stay crisp and won't wilt and turn nasty on ya.

[altagirl]

Grill two chicken breasts and chop them up to mix in with the rest. Add:
a can of corn
a large tomato - diced
a can of black beans
a large onion - diced
juice from one lime
tablespoon olive oil
fresh cilantro
crushed red pepper/salt and pepper/whatever other spices you want

Easy and it tastes better after being stored in the fridge overnight so it's great for making a big batch and eating all week.

[Woodsy]

Cowboy Caviar-keeps forever, good solo or with tortilla chips

5 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 can (15 ounces) corn, drained
1 can (15 ounces) black-eyed peas, drained
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini or Great Northern beans, drained
1 can (7 ounces) diced green chiles
6 green onions, sliced
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Juice of 2 or 3 limes
Lime slices for garnish

Instructions:

Combine tomatoes, corn, peas, beans, chiles and onions in a large bowl.

Mix seasonings with lime juice in a small bowl or jar and pour over the bean mixture.

Serve garnished with lime slices.

also pasta salda ( recipies are endless)
just cook any type of pasta throw in your favorite others ( olives, tomoatoes, cukes, tofu, onons, etc) add some decent dressing mix & store,
good any night or day.

Favorite cold salad this time of year is heirloom tomatoes & cucumbers fresh from the farmers marketcut em add balsamic & yum. dont prepare because refigerating heirlooms is a fakkin crime

[Stu Gotz]

Thanks to all.

But Altagirl is right on the money with that tasty treat.

Keep 'em coming if you are all so inclined.

Edit - Woodsy also reports for duty with some good eats. Although I must admit that I have committed the crime of putting hierlooms in the fridge. Thomas Keller I am not.

[yogachik]

I live on greek salad (I made up this particular one), make it one day and eat it for about 3.

Peeled, seeded and chopped cucumbers (2 big ones)

Chopped Roma tomatoes (4 or 5) (or cut the cherry ones in half, this time of year they're amazing - one box)

Chopped red onion (one medium)

Fresh Feta (I buy mine from the farmers market, but Whole Foods has a great one, so does Gelsons. Don't buy packaged feta, it needs to be in liquid and moist because it becomes part of the dressing).

Combine with very little salt (feta is salty), ground pepper (lots), olive oil and balsamic (dash of vinegar and about 1/4 cup oil). mix and mix and mix so that all those juices from everything become the dressing. Yum

[Baconzoo]

Everything is better with BACON!

Spinache
Ze red onion
De pine nut
Toss chopped bacon and onion mix with spin and nuts then throw in the blue cheese crumbles....

Ooops, semi hot salad.

[Max Gosey]

Altagirl: add some lime flavored tortilla chips and you have a seriously kick ass salad. Applebee's has something very similar to that. HUGE salad, and it is GOOOOOOD.

I love stealing recipes from restaurants and putting my own tweaks on them. They usually turn out right.

P.S. : I ganked this one from Semolinas:
Take Bacon's recommendation on the bacon (also works with ham)
Get a light sweet balsamic-type vinaigrette (raspberry would work too)
Spinach
White onion
Pecans/Almonds/pine nuts (pecans are probably best, esp. if chopped)
Pinch of sugar
And the icing on the cake: Granny smith apple, chopped small

Again, mix proportions as you see fit.

Hehe, I am a much better contributor to cooking threads than anything even remotely ski related... Sorry bout that.

Enjoy. You guys are making me hungry!!!!!

[half-fast]

made these last week-were a big hit at my daughter's birthday party foodtv recipe for cold sesame noodles

[irul&ublo]

Originally posted by Stu Gotz
Anyone have any good sesame noodle or chicken salad, etc. meals.

I really dislike cooking for myself and thought that if I made about 4 of these salads on a Sunday while watching the boob tube, voila, no cooking for the week.

Let 'er rip.

So Stu's looking to get his salad tossed.

[Stu Gotz]

Originally posted by irul&ublo
So Stu's looking to get his salad tossed.

Always.

[snowsprite]

LAN those salads sound awesome...and are making me hungry!

Sprite

[edg]

What ever you do, throw some pine nuts on... They're sweet and tasty, and also are fun to hunt in between the leaves...

edg