Garden Salad

       Specially on Mondays after the weekend when you go out to eat there is nothing better than a simple salad to make your body feel better. Serve beside roasted chicken breasts and oven baked French fries for a complete meal.

       I like to make my own dressing but when you are in hurry it is a good thing to have alternatives.  I found a good quality raspberry salad dressing in the local supermarket that goes great with this salad.

                     

                           
Ingredients:

Romaine lettuce, torn  
Mini Marzano tomatoes, sliced
Red onion, sliced
1 Cucumber, seeded and sliced
1 Carrot, Julienne cut
1 small red bell pepper, Julienne cut

Homemade Seasoned croutons
Raspberry vinaigrette, store bought

To make the croutons:

2 cups 1/2 in-diced 1 or 2 days old French bread
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley 
Salt and black ground pepper to taste

Set a medium skillet over medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add the olive oil, bread cubes, parsley and season with salt and pepper.  Cook tossing frequently until the bread starts to brown around the edges, 2 or 3 minutes. Add the garlic and continue to cook for a few seconds tossing well. Take special care not to burn the garlic. Transfer to a serving plate.

Arrange the salad in medium plates and pour over the salad dressing and the croutons.

Tips:

You can use the croutons to garnish your favorite soup.