Best Salad Recipes

Italian Hoagie Salad

A reader-favorite (and reader-created!) recipe, this satisfying pasta salad was inspired by the classic sandwich and is a tried-and-true crowdpleaser. Easy to make too! It is always a joy to receive recipes from those who read my newspaper column or blog. When readers send me their family favorites, I am always happy to cook them…

Walking Tacos

Walking Tacos offer a fun, portable way to enjoy the traditional taco salad and are perfect for kids’ parties and casual dinners. Those who prefer a plated taco salad may absolutely eat the meal that way. Both of my sons are swimmers and, like so many sports activities, the summer swim meets are always over…

Corn, Cucumber and Avocado Salad with Homemade Ranch

Fresh, flavorful, and versatile, this speedy salad is a great way to use leftover corn on the cob, but frozen and thawed works well too.  A few months ago, I was the emcee of a heart health expo. At one point in the program, I was asked to speak about some of the tips I…

Blueberry Avocado Salad with Nancy’s Sweet and Tangy Salad Dressing

After a yoga class one day, my friend Daina told me about her favorite salad. ย Daina is a master gardener and grows much of what she eats this time of year in her own backyard. She mentioned that her favorite greens are dandelion greens and that she doesn’t use dressing on her salads. Preferring my…

Nancy’s Sweet and Tangy Salad Dressing

While attending a dinner a few months ago where my mother received a well-deserved award for her many years of service to our local Boys & Girls Club, a family friend approached and told me of his wife’s incredible salad dressing.  “Nancy always has a jar of her special dressing in the fridge and everybody…

Sweet Cherry & Feta Quinoa with Peach Vinaigrette

A light, flavor-packed salad that’s delightful paired with virtually any grilled protein but stands alone as a complete vegetarian meal. For a vegan alternative, simply omit the feta. And try substituting dried cherries or cranberries when the fresh cherry season has ended. 🍒 Every summer, I make several varieties of homemade jam that we enjoy throughout the…

California Potato Salad

Buttery avocado, juicy tomatoes, and a bit of crisp bacon will shake up your potato salad routine for a light yet filling spin on the classic dish.     This absolutely delicious reader recipe was sent to me by Leola, Pennsylvania native Nancy Irvin James, who mentioned that the recipe got its name because she developed it…

Strawberry Pesto Pasta Salad

This recipe came from Genevieve, an English teacher at Lancaster Country Day School. Another teacher told Genevieve she simply must share this recipe for the Summer Salad Challenge conducted by The Lancaster Sunday News and me.  The recipe came from Genevieve’s sister and, conceptually, it caught my attention right away.  Beyond offering a novel, seasonal…

Sesame Peanut Noodles

Bold, Asian-inspired flavor is the hallmark of this versatile salad, which allows for a variety of veggie add-ins and can be enjoyed as a plant-based entree or heart side dish. I have two favorite preparations for noodles in a peanut sauce so, before I chose one for this space, I made them both for dinner…

Spring Millet Salad

This springy salad is equally delicious served warm, chilled, or room temperature. And though you could replace the millet with couscous or quinoa, the tiny grain has a mild, corn-like flavor that offers a great way to mix things up.   As I continue to experiment with recipes using millet, I have made variations of…

Spiced Pecans

These crisp, sweet nuts are easy to prepare and make a delightful hostess or holiday gift. Sprinkle in salads or enjoy by the handful! My aunt, who grew up in the original Fountain Avenue kitchen, shared this simple recipe with me years ago, and it has been a favorite in our house ever since. These…

Turkey Cobb Salad with Honey Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

Do you ever eat a meal at a restaurant and want to replicate it at home?  Do you often think that salads you eat at a restaurant taste better than what you make at home?  My friends and I have joked many times that food always tastes better when someone else makes it for you!…

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