Cheddar and Almond Broccoli Salad

I mixed all the wet ingredients first - cream cheese, mayo, vinegar, garlic, ginger,etc with the cheddar, then added the broccoli.  I liked the taste of the dressing but once I added the broccoli the flavours kind of got lost.  It was ok but just not great.

I liked this, although I did make some changes...I blanched fresh broccoli, added some sliced celery and green peas and omitted the onion and ginger.  I thought the dressing was good (used homemade mayo) and I also liked the addition of cream cheese.  I'm accustomed to a "sweet" broccoli salad with dried fruit and sugar in the dressing, but I found this savory version to be a nice change-up.  Made this to go with sloppy joes, and served it right away but it will probably taste even better tomorrow.  I left out the onions because my husband doesn't like them but I may add these next time. 

Mom makes something similar though her version has bacon and cranberries in it too - oh and lots more mayo.  I really liked the combo of mayo and cream cheese.  It is only meant to be a light coating on the broccoli.  Hubby liked it too.  I steamed the florets for about 5 minutes then added them still warm to the rest of the ingredients, which helped the shredded cheese melt a bit.  Then refrigerated.  Will make again.  Very good for a "light" recipe.  Next time I will double for lunch the next day.

Made to recipe, working with broccoli crowns rather than pre-packaged florets.  Good but not very attractive.  Served with its' CL dinner tonight partner, Spicy Buttermilk Chicken.  Flavorful dinner.

It wasn't bad, but a little cheddar and red onion on broccoli isn't amazing.  I'll keep looking for a better one. 

 Made this last night after receiving my magazine a couple days ago and it was delicious!!!  Nice light salad as a side to greek kabobs.  Only subsitution I made was, greek cream cheese, reduced fat cheddar and I only had ground ginger.  But otherwise everything else was exact.  Will for sure make again in the future!!