Monday Menu ~ Crunchy Romaine Salad

Menu...food...what a day to be thinking of that!  My mind is reeling with the realization, thanks Brenda, that my son is needing lots and lots of calories right now.  In the neighborhood of 3000.  So that constant kitchen raiding that has been going on is legitimate.  The choices of food purchased at school to support his caloric need is not.

So now I'm on a mission to figure out what to stock my kitchen with that will both satisfy him and satisfy my need to fuel him with healthy food.  I could do a whole post and then some on why this is important to me.  Same reason it was important to me to take such care with what I ate when I was growing him in my belly.  I feel an obligation to do my best to give him the healthiest start to life that I can.  What he does as an adult is up to him, but "while he's under my roof!" (I said in my best parental voice), I want to do all I can to give him health.  Plus, I'm discovering that teenage boys need every single brain cell they can possibly use.  There is no wiggle room.  Sometimes that boy needs a point in the right direction to find his way from the refrigerator to the table.  Sheesh.

Anyway, in the interest of all that is (moderately) healthy and non-chocolate, I give you a salad!!

Once again, no picture for this recipe.  Not hard to imagine...just picture lots of green with some slightly golden brown squiggles on top!  This salad is my go-to salad.  I haven't gone to it in awhile, and I need to go back.  She's missed me.  I've missed her.  So this is on my own menu for this week, and it should be on yours, too!

Crunchy Romaine Salad

1 (10 oz.) pkg. romaine
1 1/2 cups chopped broccoli
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 (3 oz.) pkg. Ramen noodles
2 TBSP butter
1/3 cup sugar (I said moderately)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tsp. soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid (or even in a bowl with a good wisk), combine sugar, oil, vinegar, soy sauce, salt and pepper.  Shake (or wisk) well.  In a small pan, saute broken ramen noodles (discard seasoning packet) in butter just until barely golden brown.  In a large bowl, toss together romain, broccoli, onions and sauted noodles.  Just before serving, toss with walnuts and dressing.  (I usually use about 1/2 the dressing.  Go light and adjust for your taste.)

And, yes, the above mentioned growing boy will eat heaps of this.  It is super yummy, even if you aren't much of a salad eater.  Which he is.  He's just an eater.  Except for...bananas with any brown spots, trail mix that he's eaten more than a couple times, and applesauce without cinnamon.  Really.  I just asked him.  And that's about all he won't eat.  "Sometimes I don't really like everything that much,but I'll eat it.  Cuz I'm hungry."  Poor little thing.