10 Salads That Look Beautiful in a Jar & Taste Even Better

So, have you seen all the fabulous photos of beautiful salads-in-a-jar that have been all over Pinterest?  I'm here to testify that they are as beautiful as the pictures and it ACTUALLY DOES WORK!

The concept is really simple.  You build your salad in a "Mason-style" jar.  Always put your dressing at the bottom of the jar to keep the lettuce from getting soggy.  Layer your meat and vegetables next, and then lettuce, cheese or garnish on top.  Close your jar and keep crisp in the refrigerator overnight or two.  When you are ready to eat, just shake it up and pour out on your plate.  This method works great for just about every salad you can conjure.   

These are the salads I built this morning
for the Co-op Teachers.

Here are some of our favorite super salads for your jars to hold:

1.  Oriental Chicken Salad - Love this salad! (Substitution: We don't use chow mien noodles.  Instead I fry up rice noodles in coconut oil and use that as the garnish.)
2.  Turkey Chef Salad - Our basic romaine salad with cheddar, hard boiled egg, sliced turkey and ranch (made with yogurt).
3.  Chicken Caesar Salad - Just your garden variety Caesar Salad with grilled chicken and this healthier dressing.
4.  Spinach Salad - We just throw your basics together: mushrooms, spinach, cheddar, purple onions, hard boiled egg, turkey bacon bits and this fabulous Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.
5.  Taco Salad - Simple Taco Salad with no carbs.  The kids and hubby can just add a few chips at the top.  We also use plain yogurt and salsa to garnish our salad.
6.  Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad
7.  Blackened Tilapia Salad - Better than Cotton Patch Cafe!
8.  Norwegian Salmon Salad - Great summer time cool down salad.
9.  Chicken Salad with Tomato (Substitution: We use Greek or Plain Yogurt, no dressing or mayo.)
10. Avocado & Corn Salad + we add grilled chicken to ours.

Hope you enjoy shaking up a few Mason jars too!

Happy eating!

 
The Joyful Socks Mom 

Where we are at? 

Top Ten Tuesday








Homeschooling on the Cheap 

Here are some more homeschool resources we recommend: 

• Notebooking Success is the #1 Notebook Resource! This teacher gives this eBook an A+ 
• No "falling" behind on Homeschool organizing! Get the Weekly Homeschool Planner today!
• Bright Ideas Press - The curriculum that Moms Love! Home of the Mystery of History.

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The blog owner receives a smallportion of sales generated from these links, which helps to support this blog. The blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog. Thank you for your kind consideration.

Lessons From The Bee Hive eBook {Review & Giveaway}

Bees.  Unusual insects made by the Creator, to defy the laws of aviation and perhaps to teach us a few lessons.  In fact, Lessons from the Bee Hive eBook proves to guide you through learning science, language and even math, from nature's friend, the bee.

{PHOTO CREDIT}

This little gem of an eBook is a great unit study using real encounters with bees in nature as a spring board for learning, across the curriculum.  Carol Alexander from Lessons from the Homestead website, the author of this booklet, is a long time homeschooler with a driving passion to share her love for education and bees.  This little 18 page eBook is chalked full of lessons to utilize while home educating your child.

{PHOTO CREDIT}

Lessons from the Bee Hive includes hands on science experiments, easy to follow online resources to printables, lapbooks and notebooking pages, online video links and resources to find at the library. This makes it a thrifty choice for starting your academic year.

This is a great little unit study, that is well written and easy to maneuver around any of your set curriculum.  This unit study is well suited for using with students that are at multiple stages of development, which makes it great for the entire family.

Wondering what science topics you will find in this eBook? - Basics about bees, honey crystallization, pollination, flowers, and even a bit about NASA.  In addition, you will experience learning opportunities in geography, math, art, language and home economics.  Carol is the author of this wonderful ebooklet, plus additional ebooklets that teach 50 lessons or more using the homestead as the back drop for many great hands-on learning opportunities.  Check out these additional titles: Lessons from the Hen House, Lessons from the Seed Catalog, Lessons from the Tree House.

I enjoyed all of the ideas provided by this eBook.  I am currently beginning to use these ideas for planning our early spring curriculum and use this ebook along with our Nature Study.  Although, I am not sure that I am brave enough for the all-out hive!  Try Carol's eBook today for just $3.99 and begin getting dirty and learning, together.

Carol J. Alexander, the eBook author, has graciously agreed to give a FREE copy of her eBook, Lessons from the Bee Hive, to one of my fortunate readers.  Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win this great little eBook for your family.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* I recieved a copy of this ebook from the author for review on this website.  I was not compensated in any way for my opinion of this product.  I have attempted to give my accurate and honest opinion of this product.

 
The Joyful Socks Mom 

Here are some more homeschool resources we recommend: 

• Notebooking Success - Get started Notebooking today with this wonderful eBook.  Jimmie gets an A +++ from this home educator.
• No "Falling" behind on Homeschool organizing! Get the Weekly Homeschool Planner today!
• Bright Ideas Press - The curriculum that Moms Love! Home of the Mystery of History.  Our entire family loves learning together with this curriculum!

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The blog owner receives a small portion of sales generated from these links, which helps to support this blog. The blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog. Thank you for your kind consideration. 

S.H.A.P.E.ing the Week Lunch Menu - Week #3

This is a weekly update post for those of my readers that attend the S.H.A.P.E. Academy homeschool cooperative.  For my regular readers, this is a local Christian classical cooperative in our area.  I cook there, as the "healthy" lunch lady, 3 days a week.  I serve the students hot, fresh meals and my kids get to eat with their friends.  (Just in case my readers are going, huh?  Now you know.)

Greetings to all you S.H.A.P.E. families staying healthy with us in the Lunch Room!  Here is a look at the lunch menu for week #3 at cooperative:

MONDAY, September 4, 2012

REGULAR LUNCH OPTION - 

Bean & Beef Burritos, Chips & Hot Sauce, Cheese, Lettuce, Fruit & Cinnamon Sticks

GLUTEN FREE OPTION -

Beef Tacos, Chips & Hot Sauce, Cheese, Lettuce, Fruit & Baked Cinnamon Apples

HEALTHY OPTION -

Taco Salad, Salsa, Cheese, Black Beans, Baked Cinnamon Apples

WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2012

REGULAR LUNCH OPTION - 
2 Slices Pizza (Pepperoni, Hamburger, or Cheese)
Salad
Cinnamon Sticks
(Extra Pizza - $1.00 for 2 slices, $1.00 EACH additional slice)

GLUTEN FREE OPTION -
Crust-less Pizza (Pepperoni, Hamburger, or Cheese)
Salad
Baked Cinnamon Apples

HEALTHY OPTION -
Crust-less Min Quiche, Garden Salad, Fruit Smoothie

THURSDAY, September 6, 2012

REGULAR LUNCH OPTION - 
Baked Potato Soup, cheddar cheese, turkey bacon bits, fruit & rice krispie treat

GLUTEN FREE OPTION -
Baked Potato Soup, cheddar cheese, turkey bacon bits, fruit & rice krispie treat 

HEALTHY OPTION -
Baked Potato Soup, Garden Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Greek yogurt

ALL LUNCHES SERVED WITH YOUR CHOICE OF THE FOLLOWING BEVERAGES:
Bottled Water, Sweet Tea, or Milk

*LUNCHES MUST BE PREPAID TO SECURE MEAL SERVICE*
Please message me with a comment below and I will send you my mailing address so you can order before school begins.  ORDERS received ON the day of lunch purchase will be charged a late lunch fee.

Children who do not bring their lunch will be given a Sacked Lunch: PBJ Sandwich, apple and bottled water - $2.00 will be billed to the parent.

Please let me know if you have any menu questions.  I will be happy to help.

Have a super S.H.A.P.E. week!
 
The Joyful Socks Mom 

Here are some more homeschool resources we recommend: 

• Notebooking Success - Get started Notebooking today with this wonderful eBook.  Jimmie gets an A +++ from this home educator.
• No "Falling" behind on Homeschool organizing! Get the Weekly Homeschool Planner today!
• Bright Ideas Press - The curriculum that Moms Love! Home of the Mystery of History.  Our entire family loves learning together with this curriculum!

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The blog owner receives a small portion of sales generated from these links, which helps to support this blog. The blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog. Thank you for your kind consideration.