“You don’t win friends with salad,” says Homer Simpson. I disagree! I adore salad and actually have lots of friends who love it, too. Heck, I’ve even started new friendships over salad! Fresh salad is awesome – tender greens, crisp veggies, something crunchy like toasted nuts or bacon, maybe grilled salmon or chicken or some…
Salad
Buddha Bowl with Quinoa, Beets & Chickpeas
If you’re like me, you’ve noticed tons of “Buddha bowl” pictures on social media. You know, those beautiful photographs of colorful food artfully arranged in wide-mouthed bowls, so gorgeous in fact that they make you want to reach in for a bite? Well, today I decided to make my own, but here’s a little back…
Have a Picnic!
(Note: this is an updated version of the original blog post I wrote July 20, 2017. Because it’s prime picnic season, I thought it was worth another look!) In July, 2017, I wrote an article for Edible Sarasota titled Florida Picnic which included my own creations for summer dishes like chicken sandwiches with mango-mayo, lime-infused berry…
A Big GREEN Salad
Sunday, April 22 is Earth Day. It’s also my wedding anniversary! Yup, it was 13 years ago that I married a wonderful guy in a lovely beach ceremony, surrounded by dear friends and family. When we set our date, we weren’t thinking about Earth Day, but we’ve been glad to share our special day with…
Roasted Strawberry-Basil Dressing
It’s Florida strawberry season, a time to enjoy berries from local growers! I was anxious to make something, and my first thought was a dish I haven’t done on the blog yet, like shortcake or pie — both delicious, but I’m trying to eat fewer sweets, as I’m sure many of you are. Which leads…
Grilled Peaches, Ricotta, Honey & Thyme
Florida’s (short) peach season has come and gone, and I never did get my hands on any local beauties — it seems markets were either sold out or they just didn’t arrive in the volume expected. Alas, I’ll just have to wait until next year. . . But I did get my hands on some…
Kale Salad with Sweet Chili Dressing
All Hail Kale! Yes, it’s time for another kale salad, and this one celebrates the hearty crop of kale in my garden. Hubby and I are pleased with our ability to grow kale and, for first-time Florida gardeners, it’s one of our big successes. Look how beautiful it is: Unlike some near-misses and shear disasters…
Kale and Cashew Salad with Miso Dressing
My recent trip to Napa Valley was not only an inspiring culinary adventure, it was simply a beautiful experience overall. Napa has been on my and my husband’s list of places to visit for some time, and we’re so happy that our friends’ wedding was the catalyst to get us there! Travel offers many benefits,…
Lychee, Mango, Avocado & Shrimp Salad
This article (and recipe) titled Seasonal Summer Treats in Florida was originally published at Visit Sarasota. Please follow them on their website or through social media: VisitSarasotaCounty Instagram, VisitSarasota Facebook, VisitSarasota Twitter. Summertime in Florida offers an abundance of fruits and vegetables, and visiting farmer’s markets is a culinary treat, with all the colors, shapes and smells…
Cucumber, Blueberry, Mint & Feta Salad
Warm weather just begs for a cool, refreshing salad, doesn’t it? This one couldn’t be easier, and it’s quite tasty. The combo of crunchy cucumber, sweet/juicy blueberries and refreshing mint alongside salty Feta is a winner. It’s a dish that can quickly be pulled together when you’re heading out the door for a boat ride…
Turmeric, Ginger, Carrot & Napa Slaw
Last Sunday I found myself standing in front of the refrigerator taking stock of what I had and trying to figure out what to make for dinner. I finally realized I had been standing there for quite some time after getting a flashback of doing the same thing as a kid and hearing “We don’t…
Quinoa, Date & Tangerine Salad
In our house, we LOVE quinoa (pronounced keen-wa). My husband especially loves to find a batch in the fridge because it offers a healthy, protein-packed snack before he heads to the gym. As for me, I love the fact that it’s so easy to prepare, it’s delicious, and you can pull a salad together quickly…