Tomato, Mozzarella and Avocado Salad

• Serves 4

• Ingredients
• 150g packet of mozzarella cheese - sliced
• 3 large vine tomatoes - sliced
• 8 sun dried tomatoes, drained with oil reserved
• 2 medium avocados, peeled and sliced
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh basil to garnish

• Method
• Arrange the cheese, tomato and avocado slices on four individual plates
• Slice the sun dried tomatoes and scatter over the salad with the basil leaves
• Mix the reserved oil from the tomatoes with the oil from the tomatoes with the olive oil and lemon juice.
• Season with the salt and pepper and pour over the salad

Crab Salad

• Serves: 2

• Preparation time: 20 min

• Ingredients

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp natural yogurt
• 8 oz (225g) crab meat
• half cucumber, diced
• 2 tomatoes, skinned and cubed
• 2 oz (50g) pasta shells, cooked
• pepper
• lettuce, shredded
• cucumber and lemon slices, to garnish

• Method

• Mix together the lemon juice, mayonnaise and yogurt.
• Combine the dressing with remaining ingredients, except the lettuce and crab.
• Serve the crab on a bed of shredded lettuce on top of the other ingredients, garnished with cucumber and lemon slices.
• Serve with buttered brown bread.

Cucumber and Fruit Salad

• Preparation Time 25 mins

• Ingredients
• 1 cup of cucumber- thinly sliced
• 2 cups of orange pieces
• 2 cups of honeydew melon pieces
• 1 cup of purple grapes
• 6 tablespoons sour cream dressing
• 3 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
• Pepper to taste

• Method
• Mix all fruit and cucumber together in a bowl - chill for 20 minutes
• To make dressing - beat sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, dill and pepper in a bowl
• Divide fruit between 4 serving bowls and top with dressing

New York Caesar Salad

• Preparation Time:-10 minutes
• Cooking Time:-12 minutes

• Ingredients
• 4 thick slices white bread - crusts removed
• 6 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cos lettuce hearts
• 50g/2oz parmesan cheese

• Dressing
• 2 teaspoons capers (optional)
• 2 clove garlic
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 6 tablespoons single cream
• Quarter teaspoon dijon mustard
• Salt and black pepper

• Method
• Cut the bread into 1cm cubes
• Heat the oil in a frying pan
• Fry the bread cubes for 8 minutes - turning occasionally until golden
• Tear the lettuce leaves and put into salad bowl
• Shave half the cheese into curls and grate the rest
• Add the curls to the bowl with the croutons
• For the dressing
• Chop the capers if using and peel and chop the garlic
• Set the pan over a medium heat and add the olive oil, capers, lemon,garlic, cream, mustard and grated cheese
• Heat, whisking all the time until well blended
• Season to taste and pour over the salad
• Toss to serve

Greek Salad

• Serves: 4 - 6

• Preparation time: 10 mins

• Ingredients

• 1 Cos lettuce, shredded
• half a cucumber, cut into chunks
• 8 oz (225g) feta cheese, cut into cubes
• 4 tomatoes, skinned and sliced
• 6 large black olives, halved
• large pinch of dried marjoram
• 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley
• freshly ground black pepper

• Dressing

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh mixed herbs
• 4 spring onions, chopped
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper

• Method

• Place the shredded lettuce in a serving bowl and arrange the cucumber, feta cheese, tomatoes and olives on top.
• Sprinkle with the marjoram, parsley and plenty of black pepper.
• Place all the dressing ingredients in a screw-topped jar and shake well.
• Pour evenly over the salad and serve.

Coleslaw

• Ingredients

• 2 carrots, peeled, washed and grated
• Half a Medium white cabbage, washed and shredded
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• Salad cream (light)

• Method

• Place shredded carrot, cabbage an onion in a bowl and add enough salad cream. Mix well
• You could also use seasoning e.g. ground pepper and half a teaspoon of mustard