Orzo Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes

Tags

artichokes, asparagus, feta, orzo, salad, side dish, tomato

This snowy, coldness is getting on my nerves. I don’t want to be stuck inside any more. I am craving some “trail therapy” and the smell of the woods. Fresh produce and the bright flavors of spring. Until then, I will just do my best to create the illusion of such things. This salad reminds me of summer picnics and my gardening. How many more days until spring??

Orzo Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes

• 12 oz. orzo
• 1 bunch fresh asparagus with woody ends removed
• 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
• Marinated artichoke hearts, halved
• 2 Tbs. fresh parsley, minced
• Kosher salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• Feta
• Vinaigrette of preference (bottled or homemade)

Bring a pot of water with salt added to a boil. Cook the orzo per package directions. Drain and set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a cookie sheet, add the asparagus. Season with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast until just turning bright green. Remove from the oven and cut into 1 inch pieces.

In a bowl, combine the orzo, asparagus, tomato halves, feta, parsley, and vinaigrette. Toss until evenly mixed. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Can serve room temperature or cold. Serves 6.

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Bright Berry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Tags

blueberries, gluten free, pecans, poppy seed dressing, raspberries, salad, strawberries, vegetarian

Kentucky is suffering “WINTER STORM 2015” according to our local weather. Dramatic much?! It really is pretty snowy though. We have about 7 inches right now. Not much for the Yanks but a pretty good snow for us Kentuckians. Thankfully it is a light powdery snow so maybe we will keep our power throughout the night. The next few days promise to be miserably cold. I am not excited.

I am excited about this salad though. It is delicious and beautiful. I can’t wait to take it to work. I won’t be tempted to order out when I know I have this meal waiting on me.

Bright Berry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Salad:

• 2 cups leaf lettuce
• 1/3 cup raspberries
• 1/3 cup blueberries
• 1/3 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/4 cup toasted pecans
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup croutons

Poppy Seed Dressing:

• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
• 2 tbsp white vinegar
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp honey
• Salt and pepper, to taste

In a large bowl, add the lettuce. Top with berries, pecans, onions, and croutons. In another bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients together until smooth. Pour desired amount over salad. Serves 1.

Sunshine Salad

Tags

avocado, blueberries, cucumber, pecans, pineapple, pomegranate, salad, sunshine

This salad is a flavor explosion in your mouth. It is the perfect antidote to the winter gloom. Top with chicken or shrimp for some added protein.

Sunshine Salad

• 2 cups romaine lettuce
• 1/4 cup pineapple, chopped
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/8 cup chopped pecans
• 1/4 avocado, diced
• 5 to 10 slices of cucumber
• Diced onions, to taste
• Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Top lettuce with the fruit, nuts, and dressing. Serves 1.

Arugula Salad with Prosciutto, Pomegranate, and Feta

Tags

arils, arugula, feta, gluten free, pomegranate, prosciutto, salad, walnuts

I listen to the America’s Test Kitchen podcast every week. I love that show! Practical advice, interesting interviews, and excellent audience interaction. I always learn something I didn’t know. A couple of weeks ago, the Test Kitchen reviewed prosciutto, an Italian ham that is dry cured in salt for at least 9 months. Apparently not all prosciutto is the same. Some American commercially sold prosciutto has ingredients similar to salami, which of course alters the pure umami flavor. The Test Kitchen tried several different brands and found that the prosciutto with the least number of ingredients (two – pork and salt) were the best. Luckily, Boar’s Head, the only brand available to me, is made of just those ingredients. The saltiness of the meat and feta is offset nicely by the sweetness of the pomegranate, the spiciness of the arugula, and the buttery walnuts.

Arugula Salad with Prosciutto, Pomegranate, and Feta

• 2 cups of arugula
• 2 slices of prosciutto, torn into bite size pieces
• 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
• 1/8 cup feta crumbles
• 1/8 cup toasted English walnuts
• Pomegranate Vinaigrette

On a plate, lay out the arugula. Top with the prosciutto pieces, pomegranate arils, feta crumbles and the walnuts. Dress with pomegranate vinaigrette. Serves 1 but could easily be multiplied.

Pomegranate, Kale, and Wild Rice Salad with Walnuts and Feta

Tags

appetizer, feta, gluten free, kale, pomegranate, salad, vegetarian, walnut, wild rice

It is so cold here!! A record low of 24 today! All I can do is shake my head and seek solace in food. But as I mentioned earlier, I don’t want to gain extra weight before the holiday eats. This salad is delicious, low calorie, and easy to assemble. If I was hosting Thanksgiving this year, I might consider serving a small version of this as first course.

Pomegranate Kale, and Wild Rice Salad with Walnuts and Feta (from Pinch of Yum)

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds
• 2 cups chopped baby kale
• 2 cups cooked wild rice
• ¼ cup toasted walnuts
• ¼ cup feta cheese
• Pomegranate Vinagrette or this onion dressing

Prepare your salad ingredients and separate into 4 bowls. Top with desired amount of dressing.

Look how beautiful the salad is up close!

Pinto Bean and Hominy Salad

Tags

gluten free, healthy, hominy, pinto beans, protein, salad, side dish, vegetarian

The holidays are just around the corner and I am sure that at least 75% of people have already thought about the possibility of gaining that extra holiday weight. Who can resist all the deliciousness? Rather than deprive myself, I am trying to eat really healthy beforehand.

This recipe is full of fiber and protein to help you stay fuller longer. It’s cheap to make and delicious. You could serve it as a side dish or as a vegetarian main course.

Pinto Bean and Hominy Salad (from The Homesick Texan)

• 2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained
• 1 (15-ounce) can hominy, drained
• 1/2 sweet onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 cup cilantro, roughtly chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, seeded, and diced
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced
• 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl, add the pinto beans, hominy, onion, garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, and peppers. Toss to combined.

Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, cumin, and smoked paprika. Pour over the salad and stir. Add the feta cheese, salt, and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

Chicken Caesar Salad

Tags

anchovy, caesar, chicken, dressing, easy, garlic, quick, salad

I love a good Caesar salad. It is simple, savory, and delicious. Plus it is super easy to make. I am a hard core believer in homemade salad dressing. Bottled Caesar is disgusting compared to homemade and this one is so simple there is no reason not to make it.

Chicken Caesar Salad

• Cooked chicken (I use leftover rotisserie chicken)
• Croutons
• Parmesan shavings
• Lettuce
• 2 garlic cloves
• 4 anchovy fillets
• 2 egg yolks
• Salt and pepper to taste (I don’t use salt because the fish is salty enough)
• 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil

Get out a small bowl in which to combine your dressing ingredients. On a cutting board, finely chop the garlic and anchovies together until they make a paste. Add to the bowl. Add the egg yolks and mix together well. Add the mustard and lemon juice. Stir again. Add the olive oil and whisk vigorously, until the dressing looks creamy.

In a bowl, add lettuce, chicken, croutons, and Parm shavings. Top with desired amount of dressing.

A Carrot Salad to Perk You Up

Tags

carrots, chipotle, cumin, gluten free, raisins, salad, side dish, vegetarian

From now on, let the winter of 2013-14 be known as the “Unending Winter.” It has made me blue and miserable. Oddly enough, it has even put a damper on my desire to cook. I just want to hibernate under the covers with a good book. After a week of my pouting, it is clear Mother Nature just doesn’t care that I am sad. So I will shake the dust snow off of my feet and keep going.

The first recipe in my recovery is bright, flavorful, and easy to construct. I love the contrast of the spice with the sweetness of the carrots and raisins.

Chipotle Carrot Salad

• Servings: 4
• Time: 10 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 tbsp honey
• 8 oz shredded carrots
• Raisins to taste

In a small bowl, combine first six ingredients. Pour over carrots and raisins. Stir to coat. Refrigerate until serving. 

 

Indonesian Slaw with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Tags

Asian, cabbage, Indonesian, peanuts, salad, slaw, spicy, vegetarian

This winter weather is getting on my nerves. I am tired of the wind, the snow, the cold, the lack of flowers. I am tired of it all. I want to get away to a sunny land with sand and bright colors. Alas, there are no travels in my future. Until then, I will comfort myself with this delicious and happy salad. The crunch of the veggies really makes you feel like you are eating something of substance. And the flavors!!! Oh My! They just pair so perfectly. I think this is my new favorite salad…. You absolutely MUST try this! You can thank me later.

• Servings: 4
• Time: 20 minutes
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Salad:

• 1/2 large cabbage, thinly shredded
• 1/2 pineapple, sliced into thin strips
• 2 carrots, peeled and shredded
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 green onions, diced (I used red onion)
• 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• Handful peanuts, roasted, salted and chopped

Dressing:

• 1/3 cup all natural peanut butter, smooth
• 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
• 2 tbsp tamari sauce (or soy sauce)
• 2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce, more or less to taste
• 1 large garlic clove, minced

Toss all salad ingredients except the peanuts into a large bowl. Set aside in the fridge. In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. Blend or whisk to combine. Top individual salads with desired amount of dressing. Top with chopped peanuts. This amazing recipe is from Just a Smidgen. 

 

Bacon Avocado Macaroni Salad

Tags

avocado, bacon, lemon, macaroni, salad, thyme

I love this salad because it is light and flavorful without being overwhelming. The lemon thyme dressing and avocado add a nice creaminess that is complimented by the bacon’s saltiness. I really like the simplicity of this salad; so much so, I have made it twice this week already.

Bacon Avocado Macaroni Salad (from Damn Delicious)

• 12 ounces elbows pasta
• 5 slices bacon, diced
• 2 avocados, diced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

For the Lemon Thyme Dressing:

• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/3 cup olive oil

To make the dressing, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar and thyme in the bowl of a food processor; season with salt and pepper, to taste. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a slow stream until emulsified; set aside.

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, bacon, avocado, lemon-thyme dressing, salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with thyme. Serves 4.