Green Leafy Lettuce Salad with Avocado and Parmesan

I'd never before tried green leafy lettuce so figured it was about time that I did. After buying it I thought about what might go well with this gorgeous head of red and green lettuce, and the following recipe is what I came up with.

Salad Before Dressing Added

Ingredients

• 1/2 head of green leafy lettuce washed dried and ripped into bite size pieces
• 1 avocado peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks
• lemon juice
• garlic powder
• 2 Tbs. of roasted red peppers
• 4 thinly sliced red onion slices
• Baby Parmesan cheese thinly sliced (as little or as much as you like)
• 1/8 cup of sunflower seeds
• Salad dressing (I used Renee's Sweet Onion Vinaigrette) 

 Instructions 

Tear up your lettuce

Prepare the avocado

Toss and coat with lemon juice and garlic powder

Add avocado to the lettuce and gently toss

Add the roasted red peppers and gently toss

Add the sliced red onions

I use a vegetable peeler for my parmesan 

Add the parmesan cheese and toss gently

Just before you're ready to eat add your salad dressing and sunflower seeds.
Serve and ENJOY!

Hearty Minestrone Soup

Hearty Minestrone Soup

A very hearty and fulfilling minestrone soup. My family went back for seconds and thirds. Serve this with an Italian bread or buns and make it a meal.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbs of olive oil
• 1 large carrot sliced thin
• 2 ribs of celery chopped
• 1 large onion diced
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 8 cups of vegetable broth (2 boxes)
• 1 can of stewed tomatoes
• 4 Tbs. of tomato paste
• 3 cups of water
• 1 tsp. of basil 
• 1 tsp. of oregano
• 1 tsp of thyme 
• fresh ground pepper
• 2 medium potatoes washed and cubed
• 1 can of kidney beans rinsed and drained
• 2 cups of shredded cabbage
• 1 cup of uncooked elbow macaroni (or pasta of your choice)

Instructions 

1. In a large stock pot heat the olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic to the pot and stir fry until onions are opaque. 
3. Next you want to add the vegetable broth, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste and water.
4. For the spices you can add more to your own taste.
5. Stir and bring to a boil.
6. Next add the potatoes, kidney beans and shredded cabbage.
7. Turn the heat down to medium - low and continue to cook until cabbage and potatoes are cooked.
8. While the soup is cooking boil the uncooked pasta until it is almost cooked.
9. Drain and add the pasta to the soup.
10. Let everything simmer for twenty minutes or more.
11. Serve when ready and ENJOY!