Salad recipes

Light fluffy and cheesy. A great party in "la bouche" (the mouth). Can be made ahead and popped in the oven when you're ready to bake them up fresh. The probability is that each person will have no problem consuming 4 per serving!

Crispy breaded feta-stuffed chicken breasts baked until golden and served over a fresh spinach basil salad dressed with balsamic vinegar. A light, elegant stuffed chicken breast dinner ready in 40 minutes with tangy, creamy feta in every slice.

Individual crustless spinach and feta pies baked in ramekins with mint, nutmeg, and a bright Greek tomato salad on the side. A Mediterranean appetizer or light main.

Quebec poached salmon steaks gently cooked in a lemon court bouillon, chilled, then cloaked in a vivid green herb mayonnaise of spinach, parsley, scallion, and pepper. An elegant make-ahead cold salmon platter.

Hot artichoke dip baked with mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic, and green chiles until golden and bubbly. Five ingredients, 30 minutes, and always the first thing gone at a party.

Spinach, blue cheese, pecan, and cranberry wraps: a tangy cream cheese spread studded with blue cheese, toasted pecans, and dried cranberries, rolled with crisp apple and baby spinach. A no-cook salad in a tortilla.

Start off with a salad, then serve the spinach tofu pie with wild rice and you've got a great veggie meal.

Tangy vinegar meets crisp spinach, juicy tomatoes, and smoky bacon in this quick 15-minute salad that's both refreshing and diabetic-friendly.

Garlic fettuccine with broccoli and walnuts tossed in a seasoned lemon-basil butter sauce. A quick 30-minute pasta dinner that pairs well with a fresh spinach salad.

Cold cellophane noodle salad with soy-ginger marinated chicken, crisp asparagus, and cucumber in a spicy wasabi dressing. A light, refreshing Asian noodle bowl for warm weather.

Here is a kind of throw together recipe I came up with: If you are entertaining you can garnish with fresh parsley and serve with a caesar salad, garlic bread and a nice chablis. The vegetables can vary. I've used mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower etc. Grouper works well with this because it has a lot of flavor. I've used fresh tuna and halibut but prefer grouper.

Spinach pasta soup with orzo, tomato paste, and chicken broth, ready in 30 minutes. A light, low-sodium soup loaded with fresh greens and tiny pasta in a savory tomato broth.

Baked couscous casserole with black beans, corn, roasted red peppers, and creamy ricotta, served over fresh spinach. A hearty vegetarian one-dish dinner for six.

Sausage, leek and potato stew with hot Italian turkey sausage, cannellini beans, and a bright shower of fresh herbs. A dry white wine deglaze builds depth in this one-pot weeknight supper served with crusty bread.