Artichoke Tossed Salad

I went to my In-Law's for dinner on Sunday and they served this salad. Ever since I have been craving it! I'm sharing it here in hopes that you'll love it as much as I do! Thanks Laura and Jess for sharing!

Salad:
1 bunch Romaine lettuce (about 1 lb)
1/2 lb Cooked Bacon, crumbled
4.5 ounces Marinated Artichoke Hearts- drained and sliced
1/2 Cup Blue Cheese-crumbled
1/2 Cup Celery-sliced
1/2 Cup Sweet Red Peppers-chopped
1/2 Cup Sweet Yellow Peppers-chopped
1/2 Cup Craisins

Reserve Blue Cheese, but combine and toss all other ingredients in a large salad bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Dressing:
3 Tbsp Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Chopped Onion
2 tsp Brown Sugar
2 tsp Spicy Brown Mustard
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
2 Tbsp Oil

In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients except the oil and blend until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the oil as the dressing is processing and mix until the oil is well incorporated.

Toss Salad mixture, blue cheese and dressing and serve.


*We did not add the yellow or red peppers because I forgot to pick them up at the grocery, but it was still amazing!

Barbacoa Pork Taco Salad

There is a restaurant near our house that makes the most amazing Pork Barbacoa and I just happened to luck into the recipe to make all the components to make the most amazing tacos, salads and burritos. Use these ingredients to make an amazing salad with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and tortilla strips, or wrap in a tortilla to make the best burrito ever!

Pork Barbacoa:

3 lb Pork Roast
16 oz Salsa
12 oz Coke (DON’T use diet soda)
2 Cups Brown Sugar
1 packet Taco Seasoning
1 can Diced Green Chiles

Trim visible fat from roast and put in the slow cooker on high; cover half way with water. Cover and cook on high for 5 hours. Remove pork and drain water. Cut pork roast into three or four sections and place back in slow cooker. In a food processor, puree remaining ingredients and pour over roast and continue cooking on high for an additional 3 hours. Shred pork and simmer in sauce until ready to serve.


Black Beans:

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves
1 tsp Cumin
1 cans Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Tomato Paste
1 Cup Water
½ tsp Salt
2 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro

Combine all ingredients and cook in a saucepan until beans are soft.

Lime Cilantro Rice:

2 Cups Chicken Broth
1 Cup Water
¼ Cup Lime Juice
4 tsp minced Garlic
1/3 Cup fresh Cilantro
1 can Diced Green Chiles
¾ tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Butter
½ Onion, chopped
3 Cups Jasmine Rice, rinsed

Place all ingredients in a rice cooker and heat until fluffy.
If you don’t have a rice cooker, use a pot with a tight fitting lid. Put all ingredients, except rice in the pot, cover and bring to a rolling boil. Add rice, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 30 minutes, until rice is fluffy.


Tomatillo Ranch Dressing:

1 dry Ranch Dressing Packet
½ Cup Milk
1 Cup Mayonnaise or Sour Cream
2 Tomatillos
½ Cup fresh Cilantro
1 or 2 Garlic Cloves
1 Tbsp Lime Juice
1 jalapeño

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth; refrigerate until thick.