Jacque Made: a place to share my creative side.

I've been on a salad kick lately. I found these Skinny Girl brand salad dressings at Walmart, and I love them. They are fat free/sugar free, and they are quite tasty. I feel like a good yummy salad will have a few qualities -- 1. A mix of textures 2. A variety of flavors that go well together (for example, fruit, nuts, and cheeses go well together) and 3. Lots of color! It's so true that we eat with our eyes first. When I look down at a pretty salad, I am so much more excited to eat it! I try to have my pantry and fridge packed well with things I know I like in salads -- a variety of fruits (fresh and dried), veggies, proteins, greens, nuts, crunchy foods like chow mein noodles and tortilla chips, cheeses, and dressings. Here are some salads I've enjoyed.. I hope they inspire you to make a salad for yourself soon. They really are so tasty and satisfying. And I have to say that I always feel great about my day when I know I've had 2-5 servings of...

This salad is delectable. The flavors are so robust and the textures are incredible together. It was delicious in every way. Kelsey Nixon is a master chef. Every recipe of hers I try makes me love her even more.  Here's the printable recipe . Ingredients : 1 loaf french bread, cut or torn into 1 inch cubes (about 6 cups) extra-virgin olive oil kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch dice 1 orange bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 inch dice 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, grated or pressed 1/2 cup olive oil 8 oz. smoked mozzarella, cut into 1/3 inch dice 8 oz. sugar snap peas, trimmed and sliced into thirds on the bias 8 oz. cherry heirloom tomatoes, halved 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn Directions : Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, toss the cubed bread with enough extra-virgin olive oil to coat liberally, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the...

This is one of my favorite salads ever. I've had a few different versions of it in the past - with slight differences in the dressing or toppings. This particular dressing recipe is my friend, Lynsi's . Just like her, it is lovely and sweet. I could seriously eat this salad every day, every meal. It is so light and refreshing and satisfying, too. And it makes a great go to salad for parties or baby showers or whatever shin dig you want to impress at. Try it; you'll love it. Green Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients: Spinach or Spring Mix 1/2 cup Craisins 8 oz. chopped pecans (you can toast and sugar these if you want - I only do if I have time) 1 cup sliced strawberries 1 cup avocado diced 1/2 cup Feta cheese Other possible toppings : pomegranate seeds green apples gala apples raspberries blackberries blueberries walnuts almonds blue cheese goat cheese mandarin oranges grapes Dressing : 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 3/4 ...

I have to admit that I've been in a total cooking slump lately... cooking the same ol' stuff over and over. Thankfully Jaime introduced me to this recipe. And I have to say, I am in love. It's so tasty and so worth any extra time put in to making it. Try it soon! You'll fall in love, too. Rachael Ray's Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders with Tangy Maple Syrup Dressing Ingredients: Vegetable oil, for frying 1 1/3 to 2 pounds chicken tenders Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 eggs, beaten with a splash of milk or water 1 cup plain bread crumbs 1 cup pecans, processed in food processor to finely chop 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated or ground 1 orange, zested Dressing: 1/4 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup tangy barbecue sauce 1 navel orange, juiced 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 hearts romaine lettuce, chopped 6 radishes, thinly sliced 6 scallions, trimmed and ch...