Tag Archives: summer salad

Olive Honeydew Winter Summer Salad

Posted on by April 23, 2015

This Olive Honeydew Winter Summer Salad is one of those amazing recipes that is fitting in both of the odd extremes of winter and summer. While a summer melon makes it burst with the gorgeous flavor only possible in summer fruit, the fennel, olives, and orange which are all readily available winter ingredients make this a salad I still think to prepare deep in the Winter. And as it finally warms up around here enough to make me more than dream of crisp mineral-y white wine and balmy summer night air heavy with the smell of barbeque and citronella (doesn’t that sounds wonderful as you sweep off your patios and plant your annuals?) I find myself making this salad early this year. After all, it truly was a long winter and I’m ready even if the weather isn’t quite. So, I will have to eat it inside with a glass of pinot instead… what a tragedy. The salt and sweet and bitter flavors are so perfectly balanced in the way of many Mediterranean dishes. Prosciutto Melone comes to mind. And even the Caprese. There’s something about simple but complex salads that Mediterraneans just “get” better than anyone else and this … Continue reading →

Snappy Green Salad: beyond leafy greens

Posted on by January 26, 2015

My Snappy Green Salad: beyond leafy greens was perfect for our Summer Kick-Off, Chesapeake Bay Adventure. The old-fashioned fun of board and yard games made me nostalgic for all things Summer, and the Snappy Green Salad fit the theme perfectly by requiring a little bean snapping. Both bean snapping and corn husking are romantically nostalgic tasks from my childhood that take me to July in Wisconsin- long summer nights- watching the diamonds on the water, and helping mom make dinner. This time, I was in charge, and I got to hand off the corn-husking and bean snapping to my trusty sous-chefs. They were reclined in their Adirondack chairs and sipping Racer 5, so they didn’t mind a lick. Just like I never did as a child. And if no one was watching, I tended to eat the inevitably extra ear of corn raw, sweet as it was in the summertime. I noticed my sous-chefs keeping the tradition alive by enjoying raw green beans when they thought no one was the wiser. Aside from the nostalgic tasks associated with my Snappy Green Salad: beyond leafy greens I can vouch for its simple deliciousness. I love salads to have lots of stuff … Continue reading →

Steak Salad with Grilled Peaches and Blue Cheese

Posted on by October 29, 2014

Steak Salad with Grilled Peaches and Blue Cheese is perfect for a gorgeous Summer night when you don’t want to cook inside but you want to serve up something a little special. So head outside and heat up your grill. Even though I don’t have outdoor space, you should enjoy yours, and if like me, you’re stuck inside, this works well on a grill pan, too. My Steak Salad with Grilled Peaches and Blue Cheese highlights summer corn and peaches is hearty and satisfying. The cool lettuce helps keep is refreshing for a Summer night. This Steak Salad with Grilled Peaches and Blue Cheese also allows you to enjoy that big red you’ve been craving now that we’re firmly into white season, or you can experiment with a lightly chilled shiraz or pinot. Don’t worry too much if it starts out too cold. The Summer heat will warm it right up and make it perfect for my Steak Salad with Grilled Peaches and Blue Cheese. … Continue reading →

Ottolenghi Fave: Grilled Zucchini and Basil Salad

Posted on by November 16, 2015

One of the most inspirational cookbooks I’ve purchased in the past few years was Ottolenghi’s Plenty and one of my favorite recipes in the whole gorgeous book is An Ottolenghi Fave: Grilled Zucchini and Basil Salad. I love to make it deep in the Summer as an alternative to Caprese. Plenty is a vegetarian cookbook full of gorgeous vegetable centered dishes. I’ve enjoyed many of the recipes or used them as inspiration to create my own veggie-centric dishes. I have to say, the only downside is some of the recipes do seem particularly well-tested, but in terms of brilliant ideas, Plenty can’t be beat. And this particular recipe is perfect and ready to go, especially in the summer. The genius of this Ottolenghi Fave: Grilled Zucchini and Basil Salad is recognizing that basil is so delicious and abundant in July and August that there’s no reason to use it as an herb or an adornment. Skip the lettuce altogether and eat more basil in my Ottolenghi Fave: Grilled Zucchini and Basil Salad. It doesn’t hurt to add a special cheese like the pepper laced pecorino I have pictured above and lots of crunchy toasted hazelnuts. If you have the luxury … Continue reading →

Watermelon and Feta Salad

Posted on by November 15, 2015

It was finally HOT and humid in Philly today, which in my book means salad for dinner; if that salad is a Watermelon and Feta Salad, all the better. I love this salad. It’s gotten really popular in the last few years, but its trendiness doesn’t diminish its appeal to me. It’s o-so-simple and refreshing. This Watermelon and Feta Salad is a great way to stave off the heat and have and excuse to eat creamy French feta. Of course you can use any feta you like, but let me make my ex-cheese professional appeal for French feta. It’s less salty, and extra creamy. I love using different fetas for different dishes. Of the readily available fetas, the Bulgarian is the most strong with the saltiest brine. The Greek is what most people have most often in the US, it’s the middle of the road in terms of saltiness. But with a salad like this Watermelon and Feta Salad, where I want the herbs and the watermelon to really shine, I find that the French feta is really the way to go. And then I like to add my spicy jalapeño balsamic dressing to add just a touch of heat. The … Continue reading →