Salad recipes

Two-layer molded gelatin salad with lime Jell-O and cucumber on the bottom and a cranberry-cabbage layer on top. Vintage chilled appetizer with retro charm.

This is a great bread to serve with a soup or salad meal.After the first day, it is wonderful toasted. Try it, too, as a sandwich bread.

Toasted hazelnut vinaigrette with lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, and a touch of sugar. A light, nutty salad dressing with only 6 ingredients, ready in 15 minutes.

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 stuffed tomatoes filled with crunchy diced cucumber, cabbage, peppers, and celery, topped with curry-spiked mayo. A retro summer salad-stuffed appetizer that pre-makes for parties.

Thai cucumber salad (ajad) with quick sweet-vinegar dressing, paper-thin onion, fresh red chile, and crunchy roasted peanuts. The classic 10-minute side for satay and grilled meats.

Broccoli with roasted red peppers tossed in a quick water saute with sliced garlic and fresh marjoram. A bright, oil-free Mediterranean side that doubles as a warm salad with a squeeze of lemon.

Instead of guacamole or a salad dish, make these hot stuffed avocado. Creamy, cheesy, warm and packed with yumminess. They are great for Super Bowl or any gather-together occasions.

Sugar-free marinated cucumber salad with vinegar, garlic, and black pepper. Salt-brined thin slices release their water, then soak up a tangy dressing for a crisp, diabetic-friendly side dish.

Dill potatoes toss tender warm russets with sour cream, mayo, fresh dill, and onion for a bright, herb-forward side. A creamy take on potato salad that works hot, warm, or chilled.

Spicy lamb braised in a fresh paste of chilli, lemongrass, galangal, and turmeric with coconut milk, the meat first tenderized with papaya skin. Served with a sharp green papaya salad dressed in lime and fish sauce.

Summer vegetable spaghetti tossed with zucchini, yellow squash and green beans in a light tomato sauce with a pinch of chili powder. Low in fat, no oil needed, and just as good served cold as a pasta salad.

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.

Black-eyed pea cakes with smoky adobo cream and melty Monterey Jack. An 18-minute vegetarian main that fries up crisp on the outside with a tender, cumin-spiced center.

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.