Creamy Lemon Dressing

This dressing is so good! I have been using it all over the place, but especially on my favorite salad.
Ingredients
1/4 c sugar (I used sucanat, but agave would work as well, you might be able to even decrease to 2 TB agave!)
1/2 c lemon juice
2 t onion
1/2 t salt
2/3 c  Olive oil
1-2 T Poppy Seeds (Opt.)

Combine everything but the oil and poppy seeds in blender or food processor, blend until well blended. Slowly add oil in steady stream until slightly thickened and smooth.  Add poppy seeds and blend for a few seconds.
Serve on your favorite salad, especially great with salads that have fruit in them.  This is enough for 2 good size salads.

My Favorite Salad (Right Now) Mango Kiwi Salad

Ingredients:

Spinach, or romaine lettuce, or a mix of your favorite greens.

2-3 mangos peeled and diced

3-4 kiwis peeled and diced

1/4 c dried Cranberries

1/2 c chopped almonds

Lemon Dressing

Place clean greens in a large bowl Pile remaining ingredients on the top and drizzle with dressing.

Serve and enjoy.

To make chopping the mango easier, if you are like me and terrible at it, peel them first. Then set them on your cutting board and cut down lengthwise about 1/3 in from the side.  Continue to make small slice in from the side to get as close to the seeds as possible.  Then flip and repeat for the remaining 3 sides.  The pieces that have been cut off are then easy to slice cleanly.  I then scarp all that I can from the seed/pit with my teeth and throw it in the compost heap.

Mexican Squash Soup

This is yummy! I made it a few years ago and we all liked and I forgot I had the recipe. We made it tonight and loved it, the kids even ate it.

Spiced Mexican Squash Soup

1 ½ T Olive Oil
2C chopped Onion
6 garlic cloves (minced)
1 tsp Oregano
1 Butternut Squash (peel and dice into ½ inch cubes)
3 C Water
1 tsp Salt
¼-1/2 tsp. Cumin
1 ½ tsp chili Powder
2 C fresh Tomatoes (diced) or 1 can
2C Red or Green Peppes (chopped)
2 C Corn Kernels
1 can black Beans (15 oz- drained and rinsed)

Saute Onion/Garlic with Oregano
Add in Squash with the water and remaining spices. Simmer 5-10 min, add tomatoes and peppers and simmer 10 more minute.
Stir in corn and black beans and simmer few more minutes until corn is tender.

Serve with Tortilla chips and avocado dices
(optional: serve with sour cream and shredded cheese)