Category Archives: SALAD RECIPES

ROMAINE AND RED ONION SALAD WITH CREAMY PARMESAN-PEPPERCORN DRESSING

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I love salad, and for quite some time now I have been envisioning a creamy salad dressing with Parmesan cheese and peppercorns having the starring roles. So recently when I needed a simple salad to go with an Italian food themed dinner I was planning, I figured there was no time like the present to work up a recipe for the dressing I had been imagining.

I knew the dressing had to include vinegar and olive oil. But the creaminess I was seeking could only be achieved if I included mayonnaise. My problem then was – how not to taste the mayonnaise. (Don’t get me wrong, I love mayonnaise. But I really didn’t want mayonnaise to be the predominant flavor.) So I started with the vinegar and olive oil, and added mayonnaise a tablespoon at a time until I achieved the consistency and flavor I wanted.

So what I came up with is a dressing that tastes a lot like Caesar dressing, but not quite. It has an intense Parmesan and peppercorn flavor that works perfectly with simple romaine. Add a small amount of thinly sliced red onion, and you have a very simple salad to prepare, but one that packs a lot of flavor. And luckily, the dressing works great with just about any greens or veggies you might have on hand.

So do yourself a favor. Build some of this dressing and use it on any of your favorite combinations of greens and chopped vegetables. Or if you are feeling completely uninspired some evening, try this recipe as written. (Some nights just lend themselves better to letting someone else supply the creativity while zombie like, you follow the recipe instructions as given.) Believe me, I get it. I have had more of those times than I care to admit. Just get the dinner on the table, and be done with the whole thing! And yes, before you ask, I still have evenings like that every once in awhile. Now granted, not as many as when I was a working mommy, but there are still times when cooking dinner and cleaning the bathrooms are equally abhorrent! Those are the times I set myself on cruise control and rely on muscle memory to find my way around the kitchen. Actually in retrospect, some of my best meals have been executed by the automaton that lies within! Perhaps I should give this side of me free rein more often. I’m sure Mr. C. would appreciate dining more often on food he has previously enjoyed rather than always being subjected to yet another new recipe I am trying to perfect. I’ll think about it. Let you know what I decide. But for now, I will continue bombarding you with my new and other peoples’ fabulous recipes until I can no longer stand the sight of my BlueStar range. Sorry honey.

  • ¼ c. white wine vinegar
  • ¼ c. mayonnaise
  • 2 small garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • lots of coarse ground black pepper
  • 6 T. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2/3 c. finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • chopped romaine
  • very thinly sliced red onion

Whisk together the vinegar, mayonnaise, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil until mixture emulsifies. Gently stir in the Parmesan. Adjust seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to use. Bring to room temperature before mixing with romaine and red onion. Serve immediately.

Note: This is a potent dressing, so error on the stingy side when dressing the greens. You can always add more dressing as needed.

 

KALE SALAD WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES, PUMPKIN SEEDS, AND POPPY SEED DRESSING

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(Yes, that’s me getting all the food, including this salad, set out for our 34 guests last Sunday. For more information about vocal jazz home concerts, visit us at jazzvox.com)

So as many of you will suspect after reading the list of ingredients for this salad recipe, this is a knock off on the kale salad kit you can buy at Costco or in the produce section of most large grocery stores. At home I hardly ever use salad kits, but when we are traveling in our enormous 15.7 foot (interior space) trailer, we buy salad kits because it just makes sense to do so. (My trailer refrigerator is actually good sized, but there is still only so much room.) So while trailering, salad kits are a real boon towards keeping us closer to our normal practice of eating salads as often as possible. And believe me, when we travel we need all the help we can get, nutrition wise that is. We tend to allow ourselves more guilty pleasure foods when we are far away from home and our bathroom scale. (Jalapeño Cheetos is just one example of the type of food we allow ourselves too often when we are on vacation.) Ahhhh, the memories! But back to reality and this post…

With every dinner, whether I am at home or cooking in my trailer, I try to serve at least one item with some crunch to it. (And no, Cheetos don’t count, even if you are on vacation!) So for the pre-concert JazzVox meal this past Sunday, I served this very crunchy and healthy salad to our guests. Everyone seemed to enjoy the flavors and several people requested the recipe. So dear friends, here is my take on a salad that just smacks of trying to do the right thing for your body. Easy to prepare – yes; healthy – yes; can be prepared ahead of time – yes. All the right requirements! Plus, the 4 components of this salad (the veggies, dressing, cranberries, and seeds) can be stored for more than one meal. Just keep the cut veggies separate from the salad dressing, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds. Then just before serving, combine whatever amount of greens, dressing, cranberries, and seeds you need, and save the rest for another meal. Easy peasy!

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I also learned about another way to use this lovely combination of fresh veggies from our good friend Jim. They can be stir fried for a fabulous warm side dish. Just sauté the veggies in a small amount of good olive oil just until they are crisp tender. Then give them a nice sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, and finish with a small drizzle of balsamic vinegar. Or in place of the balsamic vinegar, pour on a small amount of an Asian salad dressing and Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce. Stir until all the veggies are evenly coated. Serve both of these variations hot out of the pan. Thanks Jim for these wonderful suggestions.

So next time you need a wonderful crunchy veggie salad, or a delightful and healthy veggie side dish, give these recipes a try. I guarantee you will enjoy every nutritious bite.

  • 2 c. chopped curly kale, massaged (see instructions and information below)
  • 2 c. thinly sliced red cabbage
  • 2 c. thinly sliced napa cabbage
  • 1 c. chopped broccoli
  • 4-5 Brussels sprouts, cut in half and then thinly sliced
  • 1 medium carrot, cut into matchsticks
  • 4 green onions, finely minced
  • ½ c. dried cranberries
  • ½ c. pumpkin seeds

Combine the kale, cabbages, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrot, and green onions in a bowl. Add enough salad dressing to just moisten the veggies. (Remember, you can always add more dressing if needed, but it’s darn hard to fix a salad that has been over dressed.) Just before serving, stir in the cranberries and pumpkin seeds.

Salad Dressing:

  • 3 T. apple cider vinegar
  • 2 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 2 T. honey
  • 1 T. poppy seeds
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt, or more to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ c. extra virgin olive oil

Whisk all the ingredients together and store in the refrigerator overnight. Bring to room temperature and whisk thoroughly before using in moderation on this or any of your favorite green salads or cole slaws.

Massaged Kale:

Remove the fibrous ribs, wash, dry, and chop the kale into small pieces. Rub the kale pieces together with your fingers for about 2 minutes or until the leaves turn a darker color as the tough cellulose structure breaks down. Massaging kale actually eliminates the bitter taste making it a perfect green for almost any salad.

CHICKEN OR SALMON CAESAR SALAD

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Caesar salad is a classic for one very good reason. It is flat out delicious. And when you make it at home using fresh ingredients, it is especially delightful. And I know Caesar salad appears on just about every menu in America. So why (you ask yourself) should anyone bother making it at home, when it can so easily be ordered in a restaurant. Well my dear friends, the answer to that question is easy; because you can make it even better and healthier at home.

When you build your own Caesar salad you control the amount of salt in the dressing, the ratio of dressing to romaine, how much Parmesan to add, and the amount, if any, of croutons you want to use. Of course you won’t be ingesting any of the preservatives and unpronounceable ingredients from the bottled dressing and purchased croutons a restaurant uses, but I’m betting that’s not going to worry you too much!

Now for some people who want to just eat a big old salad for lunch or dinner, but would like to add some protein, the addition of chicken or salmon is the perfect solution. Most of the time when Caesar salad is offered in a restaurant, the chicken is grilled or the salmon is blackened. Both of these preparations are wonderful. But instead of the more traditional way of cooking the chicken or salmon, I like to bake it. I find that the meat is routinely moist when I bake it in a hot oven. Then just before serving, I slice or dice (the chicken) or place the whole salmon fillet right on top of the mixed salad. Serve with a lemon wedge or two, and as they say in jolly old England – Bob’s your uncle!

BTW: I provided my two favorite recipes for Caesar salad dressing below. Both are truly wonderful. I simply prepare one or the other depending on the ingredients I have on hand and whichever dressing appeals to my capricious taste buds at the time. However you dress this salad, you are in for a taste treat.

Also, every part of this salad can be prepared ahead of time. The lettuce can be cleaned and kept in the refrigerator a couple days before it is needed. The dressing can be prepared up to 4 days ahead. Grate the Parmesan at your leisure and just pull it out of the refrigerator when needed. The croutons can be made a week ahead as long as they are completely cool when you place them in an airtight container. And even the chicken or salmon can be prepared ahead of time. Just make sure it is room temperature before it is served.

  • romaine lettuce, cut, washed and spun dry (you really want to start with dry lettuce so that the dressing adheres to each leaf)
  • Caesar dressing (just enough to coat the leaves, but not so much that the salad appears and tastes “wet”)
  • grated Parmesan cheese (I have found that using less than you think you need is probably just about right. Too much Parmesan overpowers the other flavors and makes the salad too rich.)
  • croutons (as few or as many as you like)
  • sliced or cubed chicken or a small fillet of salmon
  • 1 lemon, cut in wedges

CAESAR DRESSING

  • 1 lg. garlic clove, finely minced
  • 6 anchovy fillets or 1-2 tsp. anchovy paste
  • 2 T. fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 3 T. sour cream
  • ¼ tsp. seasoned salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ c. extra virgin olive oil

Combine garlic and anchovy fillets or paste in a small bowl. Mush them together with a fork. Add remaining ingredients and whisk to blend thoroughly. Use immediately or refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before mixing salad.

CREAMY CAESAR SALAD DRESSING

  • 1 T. mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 small garlic clove, chopped
  • ½ tsp. anchovy paste, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 T. fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • scant ½ c. vegetable oil
  • ¼ c. grated Parmesan cheese

Place mayonnaise, mustard, chopped garlic, anchovy paste, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in the bowl of an electric food processor. Process until smooth and well blended. While the food processor is still on, very slowly pour in the vegetable oil. Blend until thick and creamy. Add Parmesan cheese and pulse 5 or 6 times.

GARLIC CROUTONS

Chop up some small bite sized pieces of a chewy, artisan baguette. Place in a frying pan with butter or olive oil (or a combination) and sauté until each crouton is dry and crunchy. (This takes about 45 minutes because you need to go low (heat) and slow.) Add more butter or oil as needed. When desired crunchiness is attained, sprinkle with granulated garlic. Allow to cool completely before placing in an airtight container.

SAVORY BAKED CHICKEN OR SALMON – based on an Ina Garten recipe

  • 2 T. extra virgin olive oil, plus more for basting
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 3 T. dry white wine
  • zest and juice of 1 regular sized lemon
  • pinch dried oregano
  • pinch dried thyme leaves
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts or 2 salmon fillets

Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the garlic, and cook for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add the white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme, ½ teaspoon salt, and just a small amount of black pepper. Pour into a 9×9-inch baking dish.

Pat the chicken breasts or salmon fillets dry and place them over the sauce. (If you are using a piece of salmon that has skin on one side, place the fish skin side up in the sauce.) Brush with a small amount of olive oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.

Bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts or fillets. Do not over-cook. (Remember, salmon cooks faster than chicken, so set your timer accordingly.) Remove the cooked meat from the oven and cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil; allow to rest for 8-10 minutes before slicing, dicing or serving whole over the prepared salad. (Remember to take the skin off the salmon before serving.) For the final touch, I like to drizzle a little bit of the baking sauce over the meat. Yum

 

 

 

 

 

KALE AND WILD RICE SALAD

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This is my adaptation of PCCs Emerald City Salad. PCCs recipe calls for half a bunch of kale and half a bunch of chard, half a red pepper and half a yellow pepper, and half a fennel bulb. I don’t like “half a somethings”. As much as possible I like to use the entire pepper, or bunch of green onions or whatever. And that’s because I unfortunately have this unforgivable tendency to forget about “half a somethings” and let them turn to “ish” in my veggie drawer. And I know. You would expect a savvy person like me to have my culinary life better organized. Forget that! I’m as capable as the next person when it comes to forgetting what lies at the bottom of my refrigerator. In fact, I may actually be better at it than any of you. (I know, not something to be proud of.) But enough about my shortcomings and more about this amazing salad.

Mr. C and I first enjoyed this salad at our friend Rachael’s home. She had purchased the salad from her local PCC. Now being the food snob that I am, I assumed that any purchased salad could never taste as good as one prepared at home. What I was forgetting was that the salad came from PCC. PCC knows how to do food right. Of course you pay through the nose for their deli items, but the few I have tasted have been first cabin. And I know they are made with fresh organic ingredients and contain no unhealthy additives.

So before you prepare this salad, should you have any misgivings, go to your nearest PCC, after first hitting your local cash machine of course, and give this salad a try. Then having learned that the salad is absolutely delicious, give my version a try. I promise you won’t miss the chard, or the flavor of both a red and a yellow pepper, or the additional thin slices of fennel. Just don’t not make this salad. It is ever so healthy for you without making you feel like you have had to sacrifice flavor for the pleasurable feeling of virtuosity. I say that’s a win/win situation.

  • 1 c. uncooked wild rice
  • 3 c. salted water
  • ½ c. extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ c. fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 bunch kale, stems removed, cut into bite sized pieces and massaged (see massage instructions below)
  • 1 red or yellow bell pepper, diced (or half a red & half a yellow pepper)
  • 1 carrot, cut into match stick sized pieces
  • 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • ½ c. chopped Italian parsley

Bring water to a boil; add rice. Stir. Bring rice back to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer. Cook until the water is absorbed, 60 to 65 minutes; remove from heat and let cool. (Or do like I do –use your rice cooker!) While the rice cooks, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. When the rice is cool, toss it with the dressing. Just before serving, toss the massaged kale, red pepper, carrot, fennel, green onions, and parsley in with the dressed rice. Add salt if needed.

Salad can be made up to 4 days in advance.

Massaged Kale:

Using your fingers, rub the kale until it turns a darker green and when tasted, has lost all its bitterness.

 

 

 

 

GURKENSALAT (GERMAN CUCUMBER SALAD)

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I love cucumbers in just about any form. I love pickles (check out my recipe for Bread and Butter Pickles on this site), salads featuring cucumbers (as in Japanese Cucumber Salad – Sunomono and Cucumber and Red Onion Salad, also on this site) and now this amazing salad I worked up for our most recent JazzVox concert. And oh am I glad I decided to feature German food and wanted a crunchy and different side salad to go with my other German offerings. I’m also glad I rarely eat at the same time as our guests. Because, had I started on this salad, there would not have been anything left for others to enjoy!

This is simply my favorite kind of salad. It’s savory, creamy and crunchy all at the same time. And the best part – it needs to be prepared the day before.

Oh how I love food that has to be prepared ahead of time, especially when I have other dishes that need last minute attention and the meal has to be ready at a certain time. (And yes, I fully appreciate restaurant cooks who can get multiple entrées ready at the same time. How do they do that? I can barely manage to get one meal for 25-40 ready to serve at a given time. Maybe that’s why I never became a restaurant chef. Yah think?!)

What I did become however is a person who appreciates good food. (I actually appreciate good food a little too much if my bathroom scale can be believed.) So when I tasted this salad, I knew I had found the perfect balance of salt, sugar, and vinegar absolutely necessary for an authentic German style cucumber salad.

So give this recipe a try. You might want to have a beer close by while you eat this manna from heaven too. And should you happen to be one of those people who look good in lederhosen, you could probably get away without too much ridicule if you hand the person taunting you a bowl of this salad. It’s really hard to bait someone and gulp down food at the same time! Prost!

  • 2 English cucumbers, partially peeled and very thinly sliced
  • ½ onion (yellow, white, or red), thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • ½ c. sour cream
  • 1 tsp. white sugar
  • 2 T. white vinegar
  • 1 tsp. dried dill weed
  • freshly ground black pepper (just a small amount)
  • 2 tsp. finely chopped flat leaf parsley

Place cucumbers and onions in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let rest for 30 minutes. Squeeze excess moisture from veggies. Meanwhile whisk together the sour cream, sugar, vinegar, dill, pepper, and parsley. Add the cucumbers and onions and refrigerate for at least 8 hours; preferably over night.

CARAMELIZED ONION, GORGONZOLA CHEESE, AND WALNUT TART

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I have no idea why the combination of Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts is so delicious, but it is. And in this recipe, the thyme infused caramelized onions act as the perfect base for this dynamic duo. The creaminess of the cheese, the crunch of the walnuts, and of course the savory flavor of the onions absolutely sends your taste buds to their own special little happy place. (At least that’s what happens to my taste buds when I eat this tart.)

Now I realize that many tarts that call for Gorgonzola cheese and caramelized onions also include pears. But frankly, when you bake fairly mild flavored fruits like pears with strong flavored ingredients like Gorgonzola cheese and caramelized onions, the poor babies simply get lost and all but forgotten. The only thing that tends to remain is a very thin, kind of grainy and not too flavorful layer in an otherwise perfect tart. (And no, I do not hate pears. In fact, I like them very much. But you must admit they can become kind of grainy when they are cooked.) If I am going to eat pears, Gorgonzola cheese, and walnuts together, I am going to put them in a salad. In my opinion, pears have a much better chance of being appreciated when they are eaten raw. In fact, I feel so strongly about this, that I have included a bonus recipe at the bottom of this post that includes pears, Gorgonzola cheese, and walnuts. It is my friend Linda’s recipe for Pear and Blue Cheese (or Gorgonzola) Salad.

I hope you enjoy both of these wonderful recipes.

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this blog are those of mine alone. No one else, not even Mr. C, has even a remote chance of having his or her viewpoint taken into consideration, much less expressed!

  • 1½ c. unbleached all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. plus ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • ¼ tsp. baking powder
  • 1/3 c. plus 2 T. extra virgin olive oil, divided
  • ¼ c. milk
  • 2 onions, diced
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp. minced fresh thyme or ½ tsp. dried thyme
  • 2-3 oz. soft and creamy Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (we love Black River Gorgonzola Cheese made in Wisconsin)
  • ¼ c. chopped walnuts or hazelnuts, lightly toasted

Whisk together the flour, the ½ teaspoon salt, sugar, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Whisk together the 1/3 cup olive oil and milk in another bowl, then pour over the dry ingredients. Stir with a fork until the dough is evenly moistened and no loose flour remains. Using your fingers, press the crust into a 7×11-inch glass baking dish, beginning with the bottom, then press a tiny bit up the sides of the pan. (Make sure there are no holes or cracks in the crust.) Bake for 12 minutes in a pre-heated 375 degree oven. Remove crust from oven and increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.

Please note: If you are making a tart recipe that does not call for baking the filling, bake for 20 minutes or until the crust is lightly golden and firm to the touch.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet and cook onions until caramelized, stirring frequently. (This step will take at least 30 minutes.) Season the onions with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, a small amount of pepper, and stir in the fresh thyme. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.

When ready to bake, spread the caramelized onions evenly over the crust. Add the crumbled gorgonzola, but not the walnuts. (You are going to add the walnuts after the tart has finished baking.)

Finish baking the tart in the pre-heated 425 degree oven for about 13-15 minutes or until the crust is a lovely light golden brown. Remove from the oven and scatter the walnut pieces over the top. Taking a table fork, gently press the walnut pieces into the cheese. (That way they won’t tend to fall off as quickly when people are devouring them!) Place pan on a rack to cool. When ready to serve, cut into desired sized pieces. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEAR AND GORGONZOLA SALAD

  • 3 T. raspberry vinegar
  • 3 T. honey
  • 1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 8 very thin slices red onion
  • 12 c. coarsely chopped red leaf lettuce
  • 1 or 2 bosc pears, sliced
  • ¼ to 1/3 c. chopped toasted walnuts
  • ¼ to 1/3 c. crumbled Gorgonzola, blue or Roquefort cheese

Whisk vinegar, honey, and olive oil together in a large salad bowl until well emulsified. Add red onion slices, separated into rings. Just before serving, gently toss the lettuce, pears, walnuts, and crumbled cheese together with the dressing and onions.

CELERY SALAD (CÉLERI SALADE)

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For years I have wanted to try a celery salad. I know I could have tried one moons ago, but sometimes you just need a little impetus to get you off your duff. And the inducement to try one now came from my need for a refreshing salad to serve with the French meal I am going to prepare for this Sunday’s JazzVox concert. My menu needed a tart or almost acidic tasting salad to counteract all the richness from the other dishes I had planned. (In case you haven’t noticed, French food can be a bit rich.) I also needed something crisp and crunchy.

I found exactly what I needed when I stumbled onto Ina Garten’s recipe for this delightful salad. I played with it just a wee bit, but the bones of her recipe are still there! Even my dear husband, who normally might be expected to turn up his nose at any dish with celery as the main ingredient, was charmed by this salad.

So give this delightful recipe a try. It’s easy to prepare, the main ingredient is dirt cheap, (who doesn’t like that) and it’s really, really good.

  • ¼ c. extra virgin olive oil (FYI: My go-to olive oil is Trader Joe’s Premium 100% Greek Kalamata Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I use it for everything!)
  • 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
  • 2 T. + 1½ tsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 T. minced shallots
  • ½ tsp. celery seed
  • ¼ tsp. celery salt
  • ¼ tsp. anchovy paste
  • ¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2½ c. thinly sliced celery hearts, tender leaves included, thinly sliced on a slight angle (about 6 stalks)
  • 2 T. grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ c. toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
  • 1 T. rough chopped Italian parsley

At least an hour before you plan to serve this salad, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, shallots, celery seed, celery salt, anchovy paste, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper. Place the celery in a mixing bowl and toss it with the remaining 1½ teaspoons lemon juice and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Add enough dressing to moisten well. Cover and refrigerate for about an hour to allow the flavors to develop.

When ready to serve, taste the salad. (If it needs a wee bit more salt, add a light sprinkle of course salt with the pepper when you are plating the dish.) Arrange the celery mixture in a shallow dish or plate, sprinkle with Parmesan, the toasted walnuts, parsley, salt (if needed), and pepper. Serve immediately.

 

 

 

PROVENÇAL VEGETABLE SALAD WITH ANCHOIADE DRESSING

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Since re-reading “A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle, I am still happily researching food from the South of France. Having visited France twice already, I have firsthand experience of the many culinary delights that are intrinsic to French cuisine. (I do however need a lot more empirical study, so I think another visit in the near future is absolutely necessary!)

This recipe for a simple vegetable salad is just beyond belief delicious. The anchoïade dressing is so full of flavor, yet it doesn’t overpower the veggies. (And yes I know, it takes a lot to overpower radishes, fennel, red onion, and radicchio. But none the less, these veggies together with the dressing make for just a wonderful mouth experience.)

And don’t worry about the number of anchovies used in the dressing. Unless you truly have an aversion to the hairy little beasties, you are not going to find the flavor too intense. (And no, anchovies are not really hairy. They’re really more fuzzy than hairy!)

So do yourself a favor and make this salad next time you want to brighten up your dinner menu. The flavors are just exotic enough to be special, while at the same time, the ingredients are readily available at most grocery stores. And while you are eating this salad, imagine yourself in the South of France, dining al fresco under a late afternoon summer sun. And served along with the salad – local cheeses and sausages, a soft and creamy pâté, fresh baked bread, a variety of olives, young red wine, fresh fruit, and a pear tart for dessert. Now if that doesn’t sound like heaven, I don’t know what does!

  • 1 small tin or jar anchovies in olive oil or 8-10 anchovies, if you buy your anchovies in bulk
  • ¼ c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 small cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 T. red wine vinegar
  • 1 T. finely chopped walnuts
  • 3 T. walnut oil
  • 1 T. capers washed of brine
  • freshly ground black pepper – just a grind
  • pinch of kosher salt, if needed

In a small pan over low heat, melt the anchovies gently in the olive oil. Add the garlic and sauté for about a minute. Allow to cool. Transfer into the bowl of small food processor and add the vinegar, walnuts, walnut oil, capers, and black pepper. Whirl until smooth and emulsified. Add salt if needed.

Thank you Celia Harvey from Cuisine magazine for the bones of this wonderful dressing recipe.

  • 4 stalks celery with leaves (tender pale stalks only), very thinly sliced
  • 4 radishes, very thinly sliced
  • 1 small fennel bulb, peeled of tough outer layers, very thinly sliced
  • ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
  • 2 hearts of romaine, cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 small radicchio, thinly sliced, opt.
  • 1 T. coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley

Combine all the fresh veggies and toss with a goodly amount of the dressing. Serve immediately.

 

SHRIMP AND MACARONI SALAD

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This is another one of those retro recipes that absolutely starts my heart a fluttering. I don’t know whether it’s because it’s reminiscent of picnic food my mom and grandmother used to fix when I was a child, or if it’s just because the main ingredient is pasta. Whatever the reason, you mix cooked pasta with mayonnaise, and I’m all over it! Actually, when I stop to think about it, I’m pretty sure the reason I love macaroni salad so much does indeed stem from my childhood.

When I was a kid, macaroni salad always equated to picnics. And picnics always meant cold fried chicken, macaroni salad, homemade rolls, grandma’s dill pickles, watermelon, and chocolate cake.

Picnic days would start with all the food stuffed into a cooler and placed in the back of the station wagon along with blankets, a table cloth, and any other accoutrements that might be needed for a day at either the zoo or the beach. Then dad would gather my grandparents, 2 younger brothers, mom, and me in our two-tone green Ford station wagon and head out early in order to secure a good picnic spot at either Woodland Park Zoo or Juanita beach. (And yes that is a lot of people in one station wagon, but at least 2 of us kids were in the back along with all the supplies. Never would be able to get away with that today. Thank God!) Then away we would go. We almost always got a good spot, I invariably got sunburned, my brothers were always a pain in the – – -, and a wonderful time was had by all. And nary a morsel of food remained to be carted home.

So do I have a reason to love macaroni salad? I would have to answer most emphatically – yes! And if you too love macaroni salad, give this recipe a try. You could even start your own picnic memories with this simple and soul satisfying dish.

  • 1 pkg. (16-oz.) medium sized elbow macaroni
  • 2 c. mayonnaise or more as needed (I use Best Foods Light Mayonnaise)
  • 1 T. Dijon mustard
  • 1 T. fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. dried dill weed
  • ½ tsp. celery seed
  • 2 tsp. seasoned salt or more to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1½ lbs. cooked shrimp (26-30 per lb. count – no smaller) cut in half or thirds
  • 8-oz. frozen petite peas, thawed but not cooked
  • 2 c. finely chopped celery
  • 8 green onions, finely chopped (1 bunch)
  • 1 can black olives, sliced

Cook macaroni to al dente, drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside. Meanwhile whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, dill weed, celery seed, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.   In a large bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, shrimp, peas, celery, green onions, and black olives. Pour the dressing over salad and toss gently to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Before serving, adjust the seasoning. The salad may need a little more seasoned salt.

Cooked Shrimp

  • 1 T. unsalted butter
  • 1-1½ lbs. uncooked shrimp, shelled and de-veined
  • seasoned salt
  • freshly ground pepper

Melt the butter over medium heat in a fry pan. Add the shrimp and lightly season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, only until the flesh is totally pink and opaque, and you see no more grey bits. Remove from heat, cool, and cut into 2-3 pieces each.

GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD

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As I have stated before, salads can be rather ordinary if they are treated as just a side show rather than as one of the main features of a meal. I am trying to change how I think about salads, and hoping I can convince you too that salads need not be dinner’s boring but healthy red headed stepchild!

And if this salad doesn’t do the trick, we might as well all throw out our salad spinners and go back to iceberg lettuce wedges with Russian dressing. (Did we really eat that stuff?)

So in keeping with summer and delicious salads worthy of even the most discerning palate, I offer you my version of a salad I enjoyed a few weeks ago at Marion’s Bistro in La Conner, WA. The salad was just so amazing. The presentation was glorious and the taste magnificent. Is there really anything more I should say? Nope!! Just try this salad and see for yourself.

(And since I knew you were wondering – the beans I served with the salad are called Golden Gate beans. More to come later this week on this new to me delicious bean varietal I purchased at our local farmer’s market. And the meat – lamb chops.)

  • ¼ c. mayonnaise
  • ¼ c. coarsely chopped roasted red pepper
  • 2 tsp. chopped chives
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 romaine heart cut down the middle lengthwise complete with base (the base will keep the leaves together)
  • 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 strips thick meaty bacon, cut into small pieces and fried until crisp
  • 1 medium tomato, chopped
  • room temperature* crumbled creamy Gorgonzola or blue cheese (we love Black River Gorgonzola Cheese made in Wisconsin)
  • balsamic glaze (basically balsamic vinegar reduced to the thickness of syrup)

Whirl the mayonnaise and roasted red pepper together in a small food processor until smooth. Add the chives, salt, and pepper. Set aside. Paint the cut side of romaine halves with the olive oil. Grill just until lettuce starts to wilt and turn brown. Serve on a plate grilled side up with mayonnaise dressing, crumbled bacon, tomato pieces, cheese crumbles, and a healthy drizzle of balsamic glaze.

This recipe obviously makes enough for two. Need more? Sacrifice more hearts for the good of the cause!

*In my opinion, almost any type of cheese tastes best when served at room temperature. And some cheeses, like French Brie for example, are even better if they are served warm.