Tag Archives: salad

I recently had a yummy salad at a brewery we stopped at while traveling out of state and I couldn’t stop thinking about it!  I knew I had to try to recreate it when we got home, and the result is…drumroll please… Arugula Salad with Burrata & Prosciutto. The recipe can be found here. This salad is packed with flavor and is incredibly light and fresh!  The arugula is the base of the salad and has a slightly peppery taste.  The burrata cheese adds a lovely creamy flavor in each bit and pairs well with the salty prosciutto.  I had some extra chopped walnuts lying around from a previous recipe and thought, why not toss those in for a little crunch?  The dressing is a wonderful mixture of tangy balsamic glaze (drizzled over the top) and sweet honey and fig jam (spread on the bottom of the bowl).  You will love this salad and want to make it again and … Continue reading

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Are you in search of a healthy yet classic comfort food?  Look no further!  My recipe for Tomato & Thyme Farro is sure to please.  For those of you that don’t know what farro is, it’s a grain that is nutty and chewy with a texture similar to rice.  This dish is bursting with fresh flavors from the tomatoes, thyme, and basil.  It’s like risotto but much less work to create and uses farro in place of rice. The recipe can be found here. This recipe takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes to make but the result is worth it! Start by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Add the shallot (or use yellow onion) and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.  Add the garlic, salt, and pepper, and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add the farro and stir to combine and coat in the butter.  Let the farro toast for … Continue reading

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Caprese Ravioli Salad is the pasta salad of summer…. or winter…. whenever you are looking for something light and refreshing.  It’s ready in about 20 minutes or less and is packed with fresh flavors of basil, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and balsamic glaze.  This recipe can be served as a side dish or main course.  If serving as the main course, add a garden salad or some fresh veggies and hummus on the side. The ravioli is coated in a wonderful oil and herb dressing.  You can use cherry or grape tomatoes.  I recommend cheese ravioli or perhaps cheese tortellini (if you can’t find ravioli).  Use fresh basil, it’s way better than dried basil.  And use mozzarella pearls or fresh mozzarella slices that are cut into smaller chunks.  The keyword here is FRESH!  You will really notice a difference in the taste and texture of the dish if your ingredients are fresh. The recipe can be found here. Start by … Continue reading

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Farro is something I was recently introduced to and it’s the star of these recipes.  It’s a grain that makes great salads when used as the base or when added to leafy greens.  It’s hearty, has a slightly nutty taste, holds up well with dressing, and makes a great meal.  Farro is something I find myself craving because there is such a wide range for its use, and it can be completely customizable when added to other dishes…. like salads 😊 I’d like to share with you a handful of new recipes I’ve been working on over the past few months, all-encompassing farro.  I will admit, I went on a bit of a farro-kick, but the end result did NOT disappoint!  Here are the recipes: Apple, Gouda, & Farro Mixed Greens Salad Cilantro Lime Farro Mediterranean Farro Salad Summer Farro Salad with Apples, Pecans, and Arugula Thai Peanut Farro Salad Butternut Squash & Farro Salad Greek … Continue reading

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If you haven’t checked out the Meat Counter at your local Festival Foods, I highly recommend it!  You can find plenty of standard meat options; beef, chicken, seafood, etc. …things you would expect to see.  BUT you will also find some specialty items you might not be familiar with.  My favorite items to buy are the encrusted chicken breasts.  They come in a variety of flavors; pecan, parmesan, buffalo, and tortilla are the most common.  If you are lucky, you might find a different flavor from time to time.  They are sold individually or pre-packaged as a pack of 2, depending on the store location. You can typically find some of each in our freezer for a quick and easy weeknight meal.  Most commonly, I will bake the chicken breasts and serve them with a side salad or slice the chicken to eat on top of a bed of lettuce.  You can play around with different flavor combinations … Continue reading

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Summer is fast approaching and one thing I look forward to eating more of is salads.  There is something about a big bowl of leafy greens with all the fixings that screams summer.  It’s a healthy meal and is light and refreshing on a hot day.  You also don’t often feel like you overate with a salad, and you can customize the ingredients to match your tastes. I want to share 4 of my favorite salad recipes with you: BLT Chicken Chopped Salad Grilled Chicken Arugula Salad with Strawberries & Feta Doritos Taco Salad Spinach Salad with Fruit & Maple Dressing   All are simple to make, delicious, and large enough to feed a family of 4.  If you leave the dressing off, you can portion out the ingredients to have lunches prepared for the week or dinner a couple night during the week (just add the dressing when you are ready to serve). … Continue reading

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If you aren’t familiar with Beyond Meat, it’s a plant-based “meat” that is quite tasty and gives you the texture and juiciness of ground beef.  I use it in a lot of recipes but recently tried it in a taco salad.  It was colorful, zesty, and packed full of flavor.  I didn’t miss the meat and don’t think you will either!  So, I recommend adding Beyond Meat to your next salad to give it that high quality, premium, restaurant feel. If you keep reading, you will learn about my recipe for a Vegan Beyond Meat Taco Salad.  The recipe is for a vegan meal.  All ingredients in the recipe are vegan conscious.  If you are not vegan, are working your way towards becoming vegan, or are simply intrigued, please give this recipe a shot!  You can substitute virtually any ingredient and make it your own to suit your taste.  There is a high chance you will eliminate the vegan … Continue reading

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Mediterranean Lemon Garlic Chicken Salad is an incredibly flavorful and filling meal for any time of year!  You want something light and refreshing on a hot summer night?  This is the perfect option.  It’s the middle of the winter and you want a meal that isn’t super hearty and heavy?  Look no further. The chicken is marinated in a lovely blend of lemon juice paired with a variety of seasonings, leaving it perfectly tender and moist.  The chicken is served with a salad, containing only the freshest vegetables, and a side of tzatziki sauce, which if you’ve tasted before, you know how incredibly light and refreshing it is.  The combination of the 3 is absolute perfection! The recipe can be found here. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.  Reserve 1/3 cup of the dressing mixture and … Continue reading

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We recently committed to a vegan diet for about 2 weeks and have to admit, it was delicious!  We had done this once before, but enough time had passed that we wanted to try some different foods and see how we could handle meals without any meat, once again.  We both lost weight, our bodies felt great, and we enjoyed creating recipes. It might be surprising, but some types of food you already eat are vegan, like pasta, if you skip the cheese and use a red sauce.  If you’re up for the challenge, I recommend starting with a week of vegan eating.  If it works out well, try for another week.  Baby step your way into it!  We don’t plan on going vegan by any means.  We love food too much and would miss some of our favorite meals!  BUT… we do plan on incorporating more vegan meals into … Continue reading

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If you are looking for a recipe that is a little on the lighter side, we’ve got something that just might interest you – Thai Peanut Salad (follow the link to skip right to the recipe)- The recipe calls for flank steak but we decided to try it with chicken as well to have as an alternative.  Here is what you are going to need: 1 Flank Steak Spinach or mixed greens 1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced 1 Orange Bell Pepper, sliced 1/2 Cup Sliced Red Cabbage 2 Avocados, sliced 1 Carrot, sliced thin 1 Cucumber, peeled and sliced 1 Jalapeno, sliced Sesame Seeds 1/2 Cup Cilantro, chopped 1/2 Cup Peanuts, chopped 2 Tablespoons Green Onions, sliced 1 Avocado, sliced First step once  you’ve gathered your ingredients – Prepare the Thai Peanut Sauce by combining the ingredients. 1 Cup Peanut Butter 2 Tablespoons Sriracha 1/4 Cup Fresh Lime Juice 1/4 Cup … Continue reading

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