Summer Salads for Any Occasion
July 24, 2008 by admin
Filed under Entertaining, Featured, Food Articles, Salads
Summer salads are great accompaniments for summer foods, especially with all the barbecues that will occur. Whether it’s a Flag Day party, the Fourth of July, or a family reunion, plan to take a summer salad. For any occasion under the sun, these salads will be a hit.
Cool and crisp is what most people are looking for during the heat of summer. They want something that will not be heavy to eat. To ensure everyone’s safety, remember that if you’re taking cold salads they must be kept cold, especially if they contain mayonnaise. This is easily accomplished by placing the bowl with the salad into a larger bowl and place ice between them. If you want to be fancy, place the two bowls together, carefully pour water between the bowls and place flowers, shells, or any item that will fit and put the bowls into the freezer. When you are ready to leave for your outing, put the salad into the inner bowl.
Nothing is better on a hot summer’s day than a huge bowl of fresh fruit salad. It’s not hard to make, either. It may be time-consuming, but the effort will be so worth it. Purchase your favorite fruits, cut them up, and place them in a large bowl. You don’t have to use a dressing for fruit salad, but you probably want to squeeze lemon juice over it to keep the fruits from discoloring.
If you do choose to put a dressing on a summer fruit salad, consider adding one package of vanilla pudding to the fruit. This option also works well for those with diabetes as they can add sugar-free pudding. You may also choose to use yogurt or whipped cream.
People are used to having potato salad, especially during summer barbecues. Recipes for potato salad vary according to region and family. Some families use mustard, others use a vinegar base, and some add sour cream to theirs. No matter what you add, potato salad is something that families across the country will enjoy.
Cole slaw is another quick summer salad, and again it’s something that each family makes differently. The major ingredient, of course, is cabbage; what you add to it is what makes it different. Many people use a cider vinegar in their cole slaw, but you may prefer to leave it out.
Are you looking for something different to take to a summer party? Are you tired of tossed salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and dressing? Are you sick of potato salad or cole slaw? Consider taking a broccoli salad instead. It’s very easy to make.
Broccoli Salad
2 lbs. chopped broccoli
2/3 cup mayonnaise
½ cup grated cheese
¼ cup sugar
4 strips crumbled bacon
4 tsp. vinegar
1 diced red onion
Fry the bacon until crispy; drain well and then crumble. Add the bacon to the broccoli, onion, and cheese. Mix the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar together in a small bowl and then pour that over the salad. Toss well to evenly coat the broccoli. Chill well before serving.
Warm weather is a great time to make summer salads for any occasion. They’re healthy, quick to fix, and won’t heat up your kitchen. All in all, they’re the perfect summer fare for any event you need to attend.
