Tag: vinaigrette

A New Year, a New Grill and a New Panzanella Salad

When one reaches a certain age, the excitement over Christmas presents diminishes somewhat. It truly becomes a situation of it being better to give than to receive. That’s where we are. We lavished (as much as two people on fixed incomes can) gifts on our children and grandchildren, and enjoyed the glow of their happiness.

We have wonderful children who are raising wonderful children of their own. They were both thoughtful and generous in the gifts that they gave us. One son gave us a dinner at a small cafe in the city because he knows that we love going into Chicago and discovering out-of-the-way places to eat. The other son knew that one of the things we’ve missed most with our smaller home is grilling out. If you’ve been following my adventures over the last year or so, you know that grilling is our cooking method of choice much of the time. So imagine our delight at receiving a small grill from him for Christmas.DIGITAL CAMERA

While this grill is small, it gives us a platform to resume our favored cooking method. It meets the guidelines for the complex we live in and has ample space to grill enough food to feed two people very well. We’ve used this more than a few times since we’ve received it. Steaks and turkey tenderloin have turned out well, even though my husband, Jeff is virtually cooking in the dark. (note to self…buy a lantern or some kind of outdoor light source).

DIGITAL CAMERAOur latest team effort was some wonderful pork steak. I created aDIGITAL CAMERA smoky rub and Jeff worked his magic on the grill. In what turned out to be a genius touch, I topped each steak with Apple Cinnamon Goat Cheese. It added another dimension to the pork steak and complimented the smokey rich meat beautifully. This is most likely a seasonal item at Trader Joe’s that will be gone by the time I get back there, but there’s always next year.

As we get a better feel for what the grill is capable of, we’ll expand our grilling repertoire to include side dishes. For now, the oven has been a marvelous platform for healthy sides. A recent salad that tweaked the summer favorite, Panzanella is the perfect case in point. We’ve been having a serious love affair with roasted brussels sprouts. We often roast them to golden goodness with bacon, but a new year and a return to healthier choices caused me to choose red onions and colored bell peppers instead. DIGITAL CAMERAThey didn’t miss the bacon, and honestly, neither did we. Panzanella is after all, bread salad, so bread had to join the fun. I opted for some sour dough that had seen fresher days.DIGITAL CAMERA Cubed and lightly coated with olive oil spray it was helped along by a quick toast in the oven, to get ready to absorb the bounty to come. DIGITAL CAMERAA simple vinaigrette with white balsamic and lemon juice was a perfect partner.DIGITAL CAMERA Some mini heirloom tomatoes were tossed in to give it a touch of the traditional panzanella.DIGITAL CAMERA The result was a side that perfectly complimented the grilled pork.DIGITAL CAMERAThis turned out so well that I plan to create other panzanella salads this winter. There are lots of veggies and many varieties of bread out there that would undoubtedly love to get together in a salad bowl. 

Roasted Brussels Sprout Panzanella
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Panzanella salad in the winter? Absolutely! Roast your favorite veggies and toss them with your favorite bread and dressing. Who needs summer?
Servings
4
Servings
4
Roasted Brussels Sprout Panzanella
Print Recipe
Panzanella salad in the winter? Absolutely! Roast your favorite veggies and toss them with your favorite bread and dressing. Who needs summer?
Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Dressing
Salad
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or shake in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Set aside
  2. Place the bread cubes in a baking pan. Spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray and toss to coat evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes until the cubes are dry, crisp and just barely browned. Place in a large serving bowl.
  3. Combine the Brussels sprouts, red onion, and bell pepper in a large roasting pan. Add the tablespoon of olive oil and the salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
  4. Roast at 350 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes. The veggies should be tender and lightly browned. Pour the vegetables and any liquid over the bread cubes and toss to combine.
  5. Pour the dressing over the mixture in the serving bowl and toss to coat.
  6. Add the tomato halves and toss once more. Allow to sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Toss again and serve at room temperature.
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Try this basic recipe and come up with your own bread salad. One can’t live by bread alone, but it does make life more delicious.

 

 

The Salad Days of Summer

When I was growing up, summer signaled the change from basic iceberg lettuce salads to something a little more interesting. Whether it was green bean salad flavored with mint or tomatoes in a garlicky vinaigrette, my mother’s summer salads were a welcome treat. In my newly healthier approach to cooking, salads are a big part of most meals and I seem to be discovering different combinations almost daily.DIGITAL CAMERA

Now that Summer is almost officially here, and I’m committed to healthier meals, salads aren’t just another pretty side dish. They are taking center stage and I have to say, I rather like it. Many of these salads are a  generous serving of lean protein accompanied by various vegetables and a light dressing. DIGITAL CAMERAWhile these creations are delicious, sometimes they are a little too light. Something is missing. Carbohydrates! I do love my carbohydrates and I embrace them in my healthier lifestyle.

“Good Carbs” are an important part of a healthy diet because of their nutrients and fiber rich whole grains. So now, many of my salads have the added benefit of whole grains. DIGITAL CAMERAFarro, quinoa, and brown rice have all found their way into my salads. I’ve seemingly turned my back on pasta. As an Italian, how can that be?  While not intentional, I’ve been so enchanted with the ever-expanding selection of grains and the never-ending quest for more fiber, that pasta has been sitting on the pantry shelf feeling neglected.

DIGITAL CAMERAI started to change that the other day when I invited whole wheat pasta to be part of my DIGITAL CAMERAmain dish salad. Instead of it being the principal ingredient, it was a supporting player and going out on the proverbial limb, I invited lettuce to be a supporting player as well. This salad boasts Romaine Hearts and Whole Wheat Farfalle pasta (that packs an impressive 6 grams of fiber per serving).

The colorful array of ingredients included artichoke hearts, red onions and multicolored tomatoes and peppers. Grilled chicken and garbanzo beans provided the protein and Sicilian olives gave it a little extra punch.DIGITAL CAMERASo, I combined the veggies and the cooked pasta in a large bowl.DIGITAL CAMERAThe dressing was a simple vinaigrette that included some fresh herbs and just a bit of anchovy paste. DIGITAL CAMERAThe lettuce waited on the sidelines until the moment of plating so that it could provide the necessary crunch. A dusting of Romano cheese finished things off.DIGITAL CAMERA

Italian Salad with Pasta and Chicken
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Pasta salad meets lettuce salad in an easy one dish meal. This serves two very generously. Use the cut whole wheat pasta of your choice. The same goes for the herbs you use in the dressing.
Servings
2
Servings
2
Italian Salad with Pasta and Chicken
Print Recipe
Pasta salad meets lettuce salad in an easy one dish meal. This serves two very generously. Use the cut whole wheat pasta of your choice. The same goes for the herbs you use in the dressing.
Servings
2
Servings
2
Ingredients
Dressing
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain and rinse and put in a large bowl.
  2. Slice the onion lengthwise into narrow strips and add them to the pasta in the bowl.
  3. Slice the peppers into thin strips abut the same size as the onions and add them to the bowl.
  4. Cut the tomatoes into halves or quarters depending on the size of the tomatoes and add them to the bowl.
  5. Add the garbanzo beans, drained artichoke hearts, chicken, and olives to the bowl and toss to combine everything.
  6. Dressing: Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously to blend everything. Pour over the salad ingredients and toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
  7. When you are ready to serve, add the torn lettuce leaves and toss once more. Divide between two plates and sprinkle with the Romano cheese.
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Summer stretches ahead for the next few months. There’s plenty of time to create more interesting salads. If you haven’t tried a healthy salad supper, give it a try. If you have, let me know what you’ve created.   Love, Mama D

 

For the Love of Spring Greens and Salad Greens

DIGITAL CAMERAHave you noticed that there is a lot of green outside? I am DIGITAL CAMERApositively giddy that I can look out my window and see green. My bushes have enough green to be a privacy fence. The clematis and hop vines are climbing steadily every day. Even my chives plant has decided to turn green again. DIGITAL CAMERAI love the greens of Spring, and after the winter we have had here in the Midwest they are more than welcome.

Spring is a time to embrace the coming bounty of produce which we will begin to see sometime in June (I hope). In the meantime, I’m enjoying salads. Yes, they fit nicely into Mama D’s new healthier lifestyle but they are also delicious, quick to fix, and the perfect meal for one or two.

The base of any good salad is greens. When I was growing up, iceberg was the year round staple. Summer meant garden lettuce and the occasional dandelion salad. Now there is DIGITAL CAMERAsuch a plethora of choices at the store that the mind boggles atDIGITAL CAMERA the variety. I have my favorites as I’m sure everyone does and I have to admit mine are rather simple. Spring/Baby Green Mix is tied with Romaine Hearts for my “go to” choices. I do, however love Baby Kale and Arugula and how could I leave out Baby Spinach. The veggie bins in the refrigerator are always bursting at the seams with greens.

Whatever the base of my salad is, what goes on top is where my creative juices start flowing. Everyone has their own philosophy as to the topping to greens ratio. I have two approaches and it depends on the role each salad will serve. If the salad is a supporting player, I’ll apply the toppings with a lighter hand like this Arugula Salad served as a base for the grilled beef. A little tomato, jicama, and mint was all that was needed.DIGITAL CAMERA

When that same beef made a return appearance in a salad later in the week, it was joined by lots of toppings that almost made the bed of arugula and romaine disappear. Olives, cucumbers, artichokes, cannellini beans and tomatoes were among the players that created a very hearty main dish.

DIGITAL CAMERAWhen it comes to dressing a salad, I’m becoming a less is more person. It started because I was trying to cut back on fat and calories, but I soon realized that the salad tasted better and more “salad like” with just a drizzle of dressing. I’ve been making “scratch dressings” lately, taking liberties with the oil to acid ratio. Acids, herbs and flavors make up more than half the volume. The extra virgin olive oil, usually 1/4 cup or less, adds the flavor and richness that’s expected, but the other ingredients are the real stars.

This is a basic vinaigrette recipe that is open to as much interpretation as you desire. With all the wonderful vinegars out there’s a flavor for every mood. From Red Wine to Fruit Balsamics, each type imparts a distinct flavor. Other great choices are Sherry or Champagne vinegar. Rice vinegar has a light taste that lends itself to cucumber and Asian salads.DIGITAL CAMERA

A Basic Vinaigrette on the Light Side
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A basic dressing recipe that uses less olive oil than traditional vinaigrette. Use lemon juice instead of vinegar or use a combination of both. Add, subtract and adjust the ingredients to make you own dressing of love.
A Basic Vinaigrette on the Light Side
Print Recipe
A basic dressing recipe that uses less olive oil than traditional vinaigrette. Use lemon juice instead of vinegar or use a combination of both. Add, subtract and adjust the ingredients to make you own dressing of love.
Ingredients
Servings: Cup
Instructions
  1. Combine all of the ingredients except salt and pepper in a jar with a tight fitting lid.
  2. Cover jar tightly and shake until ingredients are completely blended.
  3. Taste dressing. Add a little salt and pepper and shake well, again. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper as needed.
  4. Store in refrigerator for up to one week.
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I’ve taken to grilling extra chicken or pork on the weekend to use for quick weeknight supper salads. Then it’s whatever topping that comes to mind…like Taboulleh.

DIGITAL CAMERAA side dish staple in Middle Eastern cuisine, it adds body,texture and flavor to a salad. It tastes best made the day before so the flavors can really get to know each other. I’ve adapted this recipe to align with my tastes. Parsley and mint are key ingredients, but I like them in moderation. To get nice uniform finely chopped herbs, I use a processor. I used green onions in this recipe, but I like red onions as well. A lemon juice based dressing is absolutely necessary and I like mine with a big hit of garlic.

Tabbouleh Salad
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This recipe is very adaptable. From side dish to main dish to salad topper, it's a tasty addition to any meal.
Servings
6
Servings
6
Tabbouleh Salad
Print Recipe
This recipe is very adaptable. From side dish to main dish to salad topper, it's a tasty addition to any meal.
Servings
6
Servings
6
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Rinse the bulgur and allow it to drain. Heat the chicken broth to just boiling. Put the bulgur in a heat proof bowl. Add the broth and allow it to sit approximately 30 minutes.
  2. The bulgur should puff up some and be chewy, (but chewable.) If there is excess broth, drain it off, but it doesn't have to be bone dry. Leave the bulgur in the bowl.
  3. Place the parsley and mint leaves in the bowl of a processor. Pulse until finely chopped, but don't let it turn into a paste. Scrape the chopped herbs into the bulgur and toss to combine.
  4. Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions to the bulgur mixture and toss to combine. Set aside.
  5. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the olive oil, lemon, juice and garlic. Shake until completely blended. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste and shake again. Repeat adding salt and/or pepper if needed.
  6. Pour the dressing onto the bulgur mixture and toss once again to combine. Chill for 4 hours or overnight. Serve as a side dish or as part of a meal salad.
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So the salad was created. Romaine hearts held a generous portion of the Taboulleh. Some grilled chicken added lean protein. I threw some olives and feta cheese on top because that’s how I roll. I didn’t feel the need to add any dressing, but I’ll leave that up to you.

DIGITAL CAMERAI see many more salads in my future and my adventures with toppings and dressings will continue. Having more salad meals is a choice that I’m enjoying living with. I think I’ll be revisiting this topic again. Love, (And Happy Mother’s Day). Mama D