Salad Days of Summer

Lighter and fresher than any other time of year, there is a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from right now.  Our garden is overflowing with nature’s bounty!  For me, a typical summer lunch or dinner consists of marinated and grilled fish, chicken or beef atop a fresh garden salad.  Most of us try to eat healthier in the summer, and what better way than this?  I like to change it up a bit each time by adding various flavors and textures.  Not a salad person?  Neither was Mr. Meat & Potatoes.  It took awhile for him to buy in to the concept, but once he got hooked on what he previously called rabbit food, started requesting a ‘Marcia Salad’ at least twice a week!  When fall arrives though, you can bet that he will surely be craving pot roast and braised short ribs.

Gourmet salads are easy and all about being creative and pairing complimentary flavors.  It’s really that simple.  Start with grilled meat, chicken or fish and your choice of salad greens.  For example, use mixed baby greens, spinach or bibb lettuce with fish, and romaine, frisee or kale with chicken or beef.  Then it’s just a matter of being creative with the other ingredients and the dressing.  It’s also a great way to use up leftovers in the fridge- who knows? You just might come up with a winning combination.  Added bonus: it’s a healthy alternative to hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.  (Although, a hamburger salad sounds pretty good!)  You can easily transport these salads too- just keep all ingredients in separate containers for traveling and assemble when you arrive at your destination.

Enjoy a gourmet salad with a chilled bottle of wine outside on the deck on one of these warm nights before summer is over.  You’ll be amazed at what you can create and so glad that you did.  If you are at a loss as to where to begin, I have a few suggestions:

Salmon

Julienne carrots

Edamame

Cucumber

Bean sprouts

Packaged Wonton Strips

Sesame seeds

Sesame Ginger dressing

Chicken

Red and or green pepper

Fresh corn kernels

Red onion

Avocado

Black beans

Packaged Tortilla Strips

Salsa Ranch Dressing

Shrimp (optional)

Watermelon

Arugula

Goat Cheese

Blueberries

Pine nuts

Red wine vinegar dressing

Beef

Tomatoes

Roasted potatoes

Red onion

Cucumber

Blue Cheese

Croutons

Blue cheese vinaigrette

Pork

Sliced peaches – try grilling them!

Candied walnuts

Dried cherries

Goat cheese

Cornbread croutons

Peach Chipotle Dressing:  2 T peach preserves mixed with 1 T chipotle sauce and whisk in enough cider vinegar to reach desired consistency.  Season with salt and pepper

No Time to Cook? Let the Crock Pot Do it for You!

Having spent most of the month of July healing from oral surgery, I had the perfect excuse to slack off when it came to preparing meals.  Soups, smoothies and milkshakes became by best friends, and Jenna McCarthy, who not only provided me with reassurance that all would be fine in the end, but a very funny and entertaining book to read while I was recovering.  I could relate to everything she wrote about in If It Was Easy, They'd Call the Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon http://www.jennamccarthy.com/books.php (because it was all true) so much so, that I found myself laughing out loud.  (oh, and yeah, that would be me, in the vintage apron and heels ;) Thank you, Jenna, for the advice and the bedside company.  Now it's my turn to help you.
You're right, there is at least one woman out there who wakes up each day, eager to show her family how much she cares for them through a new and innovative display of culinary wizardry- Yes, it's ME! Think back to the time before kids, when you loved to cook for friends and spend hours scanning cookbooks for ideas (like I do) for inspiration- it was a fun an creative outlet for you, right??.... Well, I'm telling you it's time to ditch Taco Tuesday, my friend!

Big nod to Denise Egan, a colleague of mine, who told me about her 'go to' meal which is just the thing you need, with all you have going on between your family and busy life.  I guarantee that this crock pot chicken is the absolute best that you will ever taste! Of all the recipes I've posted in this blog, it's hands down the EASIEST!  

Rosemary Lemon Chicken

All you have to do is start with a whole chicken that has been washed and dried.  Rub the outside with olive oil, season with salt and pepper  and whatever herbs and spices you prefer (she uses Italian seasonings) and cook it in the crock pot on low all day.  When you come home in the evening, you will have moist and flavorful chicken that even makes its own gravy.  Yes, it really IS that simple.  I made it the other night with freshly chopped rosemary and lemon and served it with fresh roasted potatoes and string beans from the garden and it was FANTASTIC! Added benefit: use leftovers to make the Tarragon Chicken or Tai Chicken salad I wrote about in my June 2013 post.  Want to be a little more adventurous? Try these variations:

Balsamic Chicken

Balsamic Chicken
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. dried basil
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
2 t. dried, minced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
Chopped parsley

Drizzle seasoned chicken with 1/2 c. balsamic vinegar before cooking.
Kick it up by serving over couscous with crushed peanuts and green peas.

Tandori Chicken
1 t. ground coriander
1 t. ground cumin
1 t. tumeric
1 t. cayenne
1 T. garam masala
1 T. paprika
2 T. minced ginger
1 t. salt
4 cloves minced garlic
2 T. lemon juice

Kick it up by serving with herb roasted potatoes and sauteed Swiss chard with garlic and olive oil.