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Posts tagged ‘salad’

May 21

4 Comments

Thai Broccoli + Red Pepper Salad

2011-07-23 13.20.21

If you cringe at the idea of eating broccoli, read this post.  If you absolutely love broccoli and would eat it in raw handfuls, read this post.   You see, broccoli is one of those foods that people feel strongly about in one polar direction or another – you either love it or you hate it.  What I am trying to do is spread the word that there is no need to hate it… EVER.  There are so many ways to prepare broccoli and make it taste like the best thing on earth.

This salad is just one exquisite example of how to do it… so I’m sorry, but there are no excuses anymore.

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May 13

7 Comments

Bruschetta Chicken Salad

2011-07-08 12.11.52

One of my favorite things that happens when I’m cooking is I tend to get inspired to create entirely different recipes using the ingredients or concepts that I am using at that given moment.  Am I making sense?  Let me explain a little further.

A couple of weeks ago, I was making tomato bruschetta for a dinner party we were having.  (Side note:  one of the best party foods ever, just FYI. ) I started daydreaming about how I could translate the exact same flavor experience into a salad with some tender protein on top.  Hence, this Bruschetta Chicken Salad was born!

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Apr 30

5 Comments

Roasted Butternut Squash + Cranberry Salad

2011-04-01 13.21.57

 

I am not ready to stop cooking with butternut squash yet.  No no no, not doing it.  While squash is typically a fall and winter ingredient, I don’t really care because (a) I like how it tastes and (b) this one from the grocery store tasted perfectly perfect.

I love this salad because it is simple but there are so many different flavors going on.  Sweet butternut squash, tart cranberries, earthy greens and the light crisp of toasted pecans.  I highly recommend investing the effort to make the homemade Apple Cider Vinaigrette dressing, too!  It is a great addition to an already perfect plate of goodness.

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Apr 29

4 Comments

Mandarin Quinoa Salad

2011-07-02 10.22.04

I was so lucky to grow up just minutes away from the most charming, intimate organic and natural foods coop.  Even though it is a ways away from where I live now, I still love to drive back to buy groceries there to continue to support such a great business.  Not only is the produce the best, the brands ethical and the staff welcoming, but it is also the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat in the cafe area or to take with you from the deli.

One of my favorite salads there for years has been this asian-inspired quinoa salad with hints of citrus, mint and nuttiness.  The other day, I finally attempted to recreate it… and I did it for only a fraction of the cost!

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Apr 23

5 Comments

Balsamic Strawberry + Bacon Salad

2011-06-25 13.57.15

This is yet another one of those “recipes” that I came up with completely on accident.  I was in my kitchen around lunch time last weekend making something entirely different using strawberries and basil, and I realized that I have never eaten bacon with strawberries.  I knew that I had some bacon in the freezer and it started to sound really, really good.

The combination of sweet strawberries, fragrant fresh basil, acidic balsamic vinegar and salty bacon makes this salad quite the experience!  It’s pretty, it’s unique and I am honored to share the idea with you.

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Apr 15

5 Comments

Shrimp, Avocado + Carrot Salad

2011-06-18 14.21.21

For me, eating is just as much of a visual experience as it is a tasting experience.  There can be the most flavorful, decadent, rich pile of white mush and I won’t enjoy eating it… simply because it isn’t pretty to look at.

All kidding aside, this salad is absolutely beautiful.  I created it based of off a salad that my parents are always eating whenever I visit them around dinner time.  It’s simple, it’s easy to make and looking at it reminds me of a sunny, tropical oasis.

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Apr 11

5 Comments

German-Style Potato Salad

2011-06-11 12.50.49

The idea of potato salad always evokes images of summer gatherings for me.  BBQ’s, potlucks, picnics; it is a staple dish at most gatherings that involve the sun and good company.

In order for potato salad to be “german-style” it pretty much just needs to replace the mayonnaise with olive oil and vinegar in some way.  From there, you can get a bit creative.  So, as I sit inside on this snowy night longing for the summer, I find a little warmth in writing about a recipe I came up with that reminds me of it.

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Mar 31

5 Comments

Sunday Afternoon Salad Assembly

2011-04-23 11.36.39

I am a huge proponent of packing snacks and lunches during the work week. It is so important to have plenty of high-quality food to sustain us through the work day since our brains use up so much energy and it is nearly impossible to concentrate and perform well when you’re hungry.  I have developed all sorts of strategies over the past few years, but this one is definitely my favorite.

Since I like to spend my week nights socializing, working out, exploring the cities and studying, there is no time to be fussing around in the kitchen.  I spend a couple of hours on Sunday afternoons getting lunches ready for the week and I want to share what my assembly line looks like.

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Feb 23

4 Comments

Caramelized Leek Salad w/ Asian Tofu + Pear

2011-04-29 12.33.22

Sometimes it surprises me when some of the most beautiful and delicious meals come together simply because I am trying to use up certain ingredients before they get too old.

This afternoon was definitely one of those meals but man oh man, this did not taste like an accident at all. I had some leeks that I wanted to use up and a pear that was bordering on being too ripe and I started envisioning a salad with Asian flavors, like soy sauce, toasted slivered almonds and sesame oil. 20 minutes later I had a masterpiece salad that was sweet, salty, juicy, crunchy and fresh tasting all at the same time.

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Feb 17

2 Comments

Upscale House Salad

2011-04-23 11.00.51

Last night my loves and I went out for a late dinner + drinks at a new restaurant to enjoy each others’ company until the early hours of the morning.  It was 9 pm and I wasn’t too hungry, but wanting to be a good patron, I ordered the House Salad w/ chicken and a Crispin Hard Cider (and another… and then a beer… but we won’t go there for the purposes of this post.)

It was the BEST house salad I’ve ever had because there were minor enhancements that made the salad so much more enjoyable.  Who knew that a traditionally boring house salad could actually be so delicious? It’s amazing how far a little attention to detail can go so I recreated something similar to enjoy again for lunch tomorrow.

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Feb 11

1 Comment

Mixed Berry + Spinach Salad

2011-04-13 14.35.13

After yesterday’s deep fried adventures, my body was in the mood for a bit of some greens, purple, reds, blues… and some nuts.

It’s a simple salad but it is beautiful and an absolute juicy joy to eat.  Making your own candied pecans is fun, too!  Pack it for lunch or grill some chicken and have it for dinner.

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Dec 24

Beet Salad with Citrus, Walnuts & Goat Cheese

2011-02-26 12.09.10 - Copy

Juicy, tender beets combined with sweet seasonal oranges, toasted walnuts, creamy goat cheese and a splash of acidity from the vinaigrette make this recipe to-die-for.  I love it because there are very few ingredients, allowing you to really taste each one and realize how they influence one another.

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Dec 18

All Hands on Deck

My family has this great tradition where we have dinner together once a week.  This usually involves cooking together on a Sunday afternoon while we have football on in the background.  The concept might sound simple, but it’s the strategy we use to stay in touch amidst all of the ever-increasing responsibilities of our adult lives. Cooking with my family is always the highlight of my week.

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Dec 4

Egg White Breakfast Salad

egg

In my ideal world, I would spend a significant amount of the day writing recipes, cooking, photographing the end product and then enjoying my creation slowly while sitting and reading the newspaper. That routine isn’t realistic for me or the majority of students or working adults because we’re just too busy… right?

Not an acceptable excuse, my professional friends.  We must make time to fuel our amazing bodies with nutrient and energy-dense foods otherwise all areas of our being – both physical and mental – will suffer.

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