Crazy Good Salad

If you follow me on Instagram you've probably noticed that I absolutely adore a good salad. It's a daily bowl of love for your body that provides tons of crunch, is packed with flavor, and it's a great way to get your daily dose of high fiber nutrients. Of course, eating it straight out of a huge bowl is essential too. I know, it sounds like I might have watched too many Hallmark movies but I guarantee if you make a great salad you'll fall in love too!

Here are my five rules to making a Crazy Good Salad:

1. Crunch. This is non negotiable. Think crispy lettuce, cabbage, apples, celery, nuts. You catch my drift?

2. Ton of Flavor. Pick things you love and compliment one another.

3. Big Bowl. This will make your salad not only look more appetizing but makes it easier to toss all the ingredients. Bonus, it's super fun to cozy up and eat out of a big bowl.

4. Bite size pieces. I always find that if I chop ingredients into bite size pieces It's a great way to get my family to eat more vegetables and fruits. Yes, they're spoiled but in this case it's okay because I know they're getting great ingredients!

5. Kick @$$ Dressing! Let's face it, a great dressing is the perfect vehicle to make every bite taste like you want to eat the entire bowl. Homemade dressing takes seconds to whisk up, you know exactly what you're getting, and it's way more cost effective than pricey store bought dressings that are often filled with preservatives and artificial ingredients.

Here's on of my favs that I my family thinks is "Crazy Good". It's perfect for on a hot summer night when you want something refreshing and cold. Make it a complete easy meal but adding in your favorite protein. I love it with grilled shrimp. Warning...Once you start making this you better keep the ingredients on hand because you will crave it!

Serves 4 to 6

The Dressing:

Whisk the following in a small bowl until well blended.

1/3 Cup Olive Oil

3 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

1 Tbsp Oregano

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Sea Salt

1/2 tsp pepper

The Salad:

In a large bowl, combine all the following ingredients.

1 Head Romaine, washed and chopped

1 Hear Iceberg, washed and chopped

1-15oz Can Garbanzo beans, drain & rinse

1/4 Red Onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup Chopped Pitted Olives (any you love)

1 cucumber, washed and chopped

1 can Hearts of Palm, sliced

1 Lg Tomato, diced

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Pour on the dressing and toss until every bite is well coated.

Enjoy! xx