Peach, Pistachio & Sweet Corn Salad

Summertime and the living is easy!  So lunch should be as well.  Helloooooo simple salad!

Roasted Beet, Kale & Quinoa Salad w/ Goat Cheese & Almonds

I have an affinity for neglected vegetables.  Celery root, jicama, dragon tongue beans...whatever it may be, please pass them my way and I'll see to it that they are eaten.  My newest favorite: beets.  Pickled or roasted, greens or bulbs, I cannot get enough of this fantastic little root.  And once I accidentally discovered they keep for practically ever in the refrigerator, we've been having bi-weekly roastings to tide us over on the weekdays.  And this salad is my current go-to dish for these delicious red beauties.

Grilled Pepper & Corn Salad

Ahh, the joys of corn on the cob.  Juicy yellow kernels of sweet perfection bursting in your mouth as you munch.  The ears are so good, it totally makes up for the butter facial and slightly singed fingertips from trying to put the corn holders into the ends waaaaay before its cool enough to handle.  Grilled corn is divine, the epitome of summer eats.  But sometimes, it's nice to nix the cob and keep your dignity at the dinner table.  That's when a grilled corn salad like this one comes in super handy.

Grilled Brussels Sprouts & Strawberry Salad

I am a huge fan of a hearty, healthy lunch of fresh fruits and veggies.  On a lazy Saturday, it's the perfect recovery meal after a decadent breakfast of sugary carbs, evening out the playing field before dinner rolls around.  During the week, it receives envious stares from co-workers as they attempt to microwave life into their frozen entrees.  This is one of those dishes that fill you up (not out) and leave you feeling completely satisfied.  Easy to make for a quick bite or pack in a picnic basket, Grilled Bussels Sprouts and Strawberries is a winner of a combo.

Grilled Vegetable Tzatziki Salad

Nothing says SUMMER quite like dinner from the grill.  After all that cold weather, it's nice to give your burners, oven and broiler a little break and get back to those glorious grill lines.  In our home, the hubs is King of the grill, capital K intended.  I may assist in the protein preparation, but I depend on his magical internal BBQ-clock to cook it to perfection.   While he reigns as King of the meat, I rule as Queen of the veggies.  From artichoke to zucchini, I grill them all.  Who says that your barbecue side has to be a fresh salad or coleslaw?  Grill while the grilling is good.  This recipe is one that I make over and over again....(and again, and again.)  Incredibly easy and tasty, this one is sure to wow the flip flops off your friends at a cookout.  

Blackened Salmon Salad with Roasted Red Peppers & Wasabi Edamame

On an idyllic Indian summer day, the last place you want to spend your time is indoors.  So when I walked out of work this afternoon into the beautiful 75 degree bliss of a gorgeous October evening, I knew just what to do.  Rollerblade.  So seventh grade, but so fun.  Our new favorite post-work activity is to strap up, grab the pups and blade around the neighborhood.  It's the least we can do for our little dog after a day in the crate.  Plus, these gorgeous evenings aren't going to be around much longer....

So when days like this come around, I like to pull a kitchen quickie out of the recipe repertoire.  And one of my absolute, hands down, all-time favorites is this fabulous blackened salmon salad.  Five ingredients, one pre-made spice mix and some lemon juice is all it takes.  This recipe is so fast, you can take an extra lap or two around the neighborhood.

Radicchio Salad with Manchego Vinaigrette

This recipe is a blatant attempt to replicate one I had at Toro Bravo in Portland, Oregon.  This fabulous tapas restaurant is the funnest dining experience I can ever remember.  (Yes, funnest...there is simply no better word.)  A troupe of reunited college ladies flounced into this restaurant and began to order small dishes right and left to share.  None of us knew what to expect with this one, but we were all blown away.  I mean, manchego cheese vinaigrette?!  Holy cow.  Never have I had a cheese vinaigrette before.  Gorgeous to look at and even better to eat, I knew I would have to recreate this at home for the hubs.

Roasted Fennel & Cherry Salad

In tribute to the Olympics, the athleticism, the drive and the passion of the games, we have had a series of sporting events in our little lives.  I believe there is no better way to support our team competing in London than some friendly competition back home.  So far, we're doing quite well, having earned a silver medal in the Wood-Fire Pizza Competition and two golds in Best Use of Pizza Leftovers and Best Wine.  Unfortunately, the we let the US down in our events this evening, not even medaling in the fiercely competitive Backyard Badminton.  In our defense, I strongly believe that the United States team needs to reconsider their Olympic selections based on the competition this evening.

Needless to say, after dragging our weary bodies home from the backyard in shame, a quick and cool dinner was in order.  Not only that, but we needed something to inspire our shattered souls and rally for my next event, Sand Volleyball.  Hence, this evening's salad was born.

Grilled Stone Fruit & Tilapia Salad

Have you ever grilled fruit?  If not, try it immediately.  They do this wonderful, saucy thing that can only be described as heavenly.  Think of the way a fresh blueberry bursts in a blueberry pancake...the way it explodes with intensified flavor and warm juicy goodness.  This effect carries over to peaches and cherries as well, which fall into the category of stone fruit (meaning they have pits).  

One of my favorite ways to serve grilled fruit is on a salad.  No need for dressing here, folks!  All that warm fruit juice translates into the healthiest, yummiest salad dressing you could ever hope for.  Step aside ranch, blue cheese and even vinaigrettes.  Just serve me up this tender, warm, juicy fruity topping and you will have a very, very happy lady.

Ladies that Lunch - Blueberry Pistachio Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

While the hubs is away, the ladies will play!  My friend Jay has come into town for the holiday, providing some much needed girly time.  Shenanigans are pretty much guaranteed to occur.  And now I have a new palate to taste some of my favorite recipes on!

Every lady loves a light salad for summer lunch.  And with the temperatures in the 90's with no end in sight, cool lunches with cold cuts, crackers and cheese is simply divine.  And this is currently one of my favorite salads.  Everyone has had the traditional strawberry almond or walnut cranberry salad.  And why not?!  Fruit and nuts add wonderful texture and flavor.  Here, I simply bring to you one of my favorite variations on the traditional fruit and nut salad.

Pulled Pork Tostada with Jalapeno Lime Cabbage

Lately I've been delightfully distracted by Deb at Smitten Kitchen.  Not only does she work in a teensy weensy apartment kitchen, but she likes to jazz up homestyle favorites and works with ingredients common to your local market.  This woman and I are on the same page when it comes to food, and I relish in reading her little corner of the blososphere.  This post is an ode to her conc and the inspiration a like-minded lady can provide from a tiny amount of counter space.