SALAD SERIES

I am facing one of the ultimate 20-something struggles... lunches. No one warns you about the lunch issue. You know, when you work 10 hour days and you don't want to eat out every day because it adds up, and it's hard to find quick things for lunch that don't leave you in a coma at your desk or a hole in your pocket.

"Pack your lunch," they say. Who has time for that? It's hard enough fighting traffic, making it home, and cooking dinner. Let alone prepping another meal that will be fresh the next day and that's easy to pack. I have had a pretty hard time with this (if you can't tell by my ranting.)

I want something that's appetizing. I don't want to eat cardboard for lunch. It's my hour break in the day and I want to look forward to what I have waiting for me to eat. I am usually slammed in meetings and starved by the time I get to break for lunch. Like I said, I also want something that's not so heavy that it puts me in a coma the rest of the day. Something that's easy to prep, easy to transport... it's like i'm solving a riddle here.

Ergo: my two favorite salads.

First things FIRST: I am not a salad girl.I am a potato, pasta, burger, steak, chocolate, kinda gal. I DO love veggies though, and I think I have found two ways to spice them up and make them great for lunch. These salads are light, but filling, and YUMMY.

You will look forward to having these for lunch! Let's not hate on salads. Salads can be exciting too. Salads are joining the lunch party.

First is my version of a Crunchy Asian Ramen Salad.

I also have to confess: I am a cheater.

When you work 10-hour days, it's okay to cut corners. And that is what I have done here.

I bought the prepped stuff! I was in the grocery aisle shopping for cabbage and snap peas.. and then I saw THIS. What a life-saver! Do it, buy the pre-chopped stuff, whatever makes life easier, I am all for it.

The best part about this salad is the crunchy Ramen noodles on top.. it makes this salad so refreshing and exciting. Yes, exciting.

Taken your Ramen noodles and break them into bite-size pieces and throw in the oven for 10 minutes. They get brown and super crunchy... so good.

I topped with my favorite Asian Sesame dressing.. the bottled stuff. They paired perfectly.

Tip: Don't add the crunchy salad toppings until you're ready to eat. Put them in a baggy and bring them with you to have on your lunch hour, throw them on right before you dig in. If you put them on the night before, they will be soggy.

My second fav, is this .Roasted Corn, Avocado, & Feta Salad.

These pair so well and it is so refreshing and filling! And who doesn't love a dish that you can throw together? I just chopped everything up and tossed it into my favorite mixing bowl, added salt, pepper, and Feta cheese (lots, of Feta cheese), viola. I topped this one with my favorite Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing, I could eat this stuff by the spoon full.

Tip: After you cut the corn off the cob, brown it in a skillet with a little olive oil. It gives the corn so much flavor and really sends this combination into salad Heaven.

I plan to add the leftovers from this mixed veggie salad to tacos tonight, who knew salads could be so versatile right?

Share your favorite non-boring salad recipes with me! I would love to have more go to's :)

ENJOY!

XO