Chilled Orzo and Tomato Pasta Salad is a great way to keep cool on a hot day. This delicious side dish tastes even better after the flavors have melded, so make it a day or two in advance for your next picnic or family get-together. So I read while looking for new pasta salads to serve this summer. This recipe sounded intriguing – except for a couple of ingredients. The recipe calls for a couple of tablespoons of capers though I also remembered olives could be substituted for capers. Now somewhere I also remember reading that only the super intelligent like celery and olives. Well, I am half way there. (Does that make me a half wit??) I like celery. Olives, not so much. And capers, even less. Just not a fan of vinegary, salty, acidic, or such flavor bursts. But one of them ... [Read More]
salad
Cobb Salad with Ranch Dressing
Cobb salads are a favorite in our house! They usually make an appearance once a week like clockwork, especially in summer. Crisp Romaine lettuce topped with a variety of healthy protein and drizzled with your choice of creamy Ranch Dressing. Cobb Salad fits deliciously into both Keto and Low Carb ways of eating. They are so easy and quick to put together, too. Avocados all end up on Wheel's bowl -- it's a texture thing! -- but he doesn't mind because he loves them. Fresh limes in the Great Plains are usually reasonably priced only in season, but they are a nice alternative for dressing. Making your own Ranch dressing lets you control the ingredients for both health and flavor. Buttermilk gives the dressing its own little tang, but it is not something I regularly have on ... [Read More]
Mexican Layered Salad
Mexican Layered Salad is a southwestern twist on an old classic. Make it ahead of time and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight to give flavors time to develop and meld together. Add the tortilla chips and cheese just before serving. Mexican Layered Salad is a colorful addition to a pot luck, picnic or buffet dinner. Disappears quickly – you’ve been warned. Romaine lettuce is the usual base, but you can use any head lettuce of your choice. Google “sturdy lettuce” -- as in “can remain crispy and hold its shape while being shoveled out of the bowl to the plate and then in to the mouth” -- and romaine heads the list. It generally has more flavor and is a deeper color than other head lettuce. Leaf lettuce is “sturdy” lettuce’s more delicate and flavorful cousin. I did ... [Read More]
Easy Three Bean Salad
Easy Three Bean Salad is the new bean salad at our house. Everybody loves bean salad at Chez Charlene – all kinds. This is the new favorite version. The red wine vinegar makes a light dressing with no strong overpowering flavors so it goes with almost any main dish. It’s especially refreshing on a hot summer day. Ten servings makes this recipe ideal for a crowd – your contribution to a potluck or a salad for your own gathering. It also means more servings if you are cooking for just two or three, as I frequently do. The salad keeps well in the refrigerator – in fact, flavors mature and it becomes even better. How long can you keep it? Several days, but it never goes beyond one or two in our house because it disappears so quickly. It even gets eaten as a midafternoon ... [Read More]
Dilly Green Bean Salad
Dilly Green Bean Salad is a refreshing alternative to the usual three bean salad that’s a favorite at our house. The deep green color of the cooked frozen bean contrasted with bits of white onion and red pepper are festive, appealing to the eye and the tastebuds! I first had Dilly Bean Salad when a friend brought it to a summer outdoor brunch served on our deck. The red and green also make it perfect for a Christmas meal. However, it’s delicious and colorful any time of year! When my friend Sue K gave me the recipe,she told me to use “extra green canned beans” and said they were located in a small section with the other beans. I did not find them while we were preparing to move because shopping time was limited. After the move, I didn’t find them in our new stores because ... [Read More]
Cranberry Pineapple Salad
Cranberry Pineapple Salad is a kid friendly addition to holiday dinners. The addition of crushed pineapple and diced apples in raspberry gelatin take away the signature tartness of the cranberry. Easier for kids and people who aren’t into tart – like me – to eat. I have a tart reflex. One bite and my face just folds – no way to hide it. On the other hand this is not overly sweet either – but just right. Cranberries are also healthy. Cranberries are one of the top antioxidant-rich foods, containing more than other superfoods – including pears, grapes, apples and strawberries. Antioxidants help prevent or stop cell damage. For this reason, you can serve them any time of year – don’t wait for holidays! This salad is also versatile in the ways you can serve it. I like the minis ... [Read More]
