Salad Beast

On average, I eat a salad every single day.  It’s my go-to lunch to pack up to take to lunch.  People thing salads are boring and boy, do I disagree!  But then again, I’ll throw anything on top of lettuce (or even without lettuce) and call it a salad.  A typical salad for me includes beans, feta or goat cheese, avocado or nuts and a light dressing.  Sometimes I’ll add fruit, like strawberries.  And sometimes I’ll add in hummus instead of beans.  Like I said, if it’s in the fridge, it can go on a salad.

Last week I add a salad of sorts not only for lunch every day but for dinner twice.  I’m a salad beast.  The bigger the salad the better.

On Tuesday night, I made the salad beast of my dreams.  A bed of lettuce was topped with candied pecans (Trader Joe’s makes some of the best ever!), dried cranberries (or you could use raisins) and feta (goat would be awesome, too!).

I always forget how much I loved dried fruit and pecans on a salad.  A combo that needs to be on a regular rotation!

And then on Wednesday night, I made Pistachio Cinnamon Chicken Salad.  I totally didn’t mean to feed my Momma two cold dinners in February but it’s just how things work out (I promised her a hot meal tonight! – yep, she’s back!). When I first came across this recipe I just knew it would be made in my kitchen.  I love pistachios and well, cinnamon is an underused spice, in my opinion.  So many people think cinnamon is just for sweet things – but I think it can be super savory, too.  The only change I made to the recipe was omitting the basil – I just didn’t want to waste buying an entire plant for 4 leaves when I knew it didn’t fit into the meal plan the rest of the week.

I used a rotisserie chicken from Harris Teeter’s deli to make the chicken salad.  I served a small salad with the most scrumptious strawberries on the side and some Nut Thins to scoop up the chicken salad.  This plate screams warm weather.  Bring.it.on.  So light and refreshing!

I am a salad beast.  No salad is too big for me.

Make 2013 awesome.

I have a dinner idea for you but it’s not really a recipe.  It was just delicious and took great pictures.  Basically, it’s a photogenic salad I want to share.

So what’s in the mix:  I started with a base of mixed greens (I think it was a spring green mix) and topped that with some yellow peppers and halved grape tomatoes.  On top, diced avocado plus a healthy sprinkling of salt.  For my protein, mahi that I had frozen from this summer.  I simply sprinkled the fish with salt and pepper and seared on the stovetop until it was perfectly cooked (not dry!).  For the dressing, I mixed up EVOO, lime juice, salt, pepper and cilantro.  Amazingly fresh!  And for some crunch, I broiled corn tortillas quarters that had been sprayed with EVOO and sprinkled with smoked paprika. Now that’s a salad!

I haven’t really talked about New Year’s Resolutions on the blog this year (8 days in!).  I’ve mentioned before that I’m weary of resolutions but I do like goals.  However, I am going to accomplish something in 2013 that I’ve been wanting to do for years (no, not getting married – though that is happening).  I’m getting my cycle certification!  I am thrilled and nervous and excited all at the same time.  I really hope to get on the rotation as an instructor at my gym ASAP!

Besides getting my cycling certification, I don’t really have any major “resolutions.”  I plan on continuing to practice moderation when it comes to food, I plan on continuing to hit the gym at least 5 days a week and I will continue cooking until the day I die.

This year, Big Guy and I came up with a list.  It’s not a list of resolutions but it’s a list of  how we’re going to make 2013 awesome.  The list is totally realistic and it’s something I’m really looking forward to completing.

So, how are we going to make 2013 awesome?

• Complete a DIY project together.  Together is the key word.  Usually we’ll take home projects separately (hey, I know my strengths) but we’re going to hopefully transform an old armoire into a bar.  I promise to share the results!
• Try 6 new restaurants in NC.  Why?  I love dining at new places.  I love dining with Big Guy.  Seriously – it’s like a hobby of mine.  I could try a new place every weekend if given the chance.  I already have a list of candidates…can’t wait to share what my taste buds enjoy!
• Host a “gathering” at our house.  This one may or may not include Big Guy.  I’ve been wanting to host a cookie swap around Christmas for years.  This may be the year!
• Take a cooking class.  Last year we took a tapas cooking class at Rose Hill Plantation and had a BLAST!  So we want to take another class.  I’m thinking sushi would be a lot of fun and something I’m intimidated about making at home!

and…I’ve added another one, I don’t think Big Guy would mind…

• Experiment in the kitchen!  Obviously we love to cook/grill.  I’m hoping to convince Big Guy to smoke salmon for me on Smokey or try smoking cheese.  I’d also love to cook cornish hen.  

So there you have it!  2013 is going to be awesome!

How are you going to make 2013 awesome?

BBBs

Black bean burgers (BBBs) for the win!  I am no in way saying that black beans can take the place of good ole fashioned burgers.  What I am saying is that this is a great weeknight dinner that will please everyone.  Even Big Guy thought the BBBs were on point.  The recipe is pretty easy but you do need to allow some time for the BBBs to set up in the freezer (about 2 hours).

First, mash up your black beans (1 can).  In your food processor, chop red bell pepper, onion (recipe called for green onion, I used regular ole onion) and garlic (I used 4 cloves).  I did not have any cilantro – but I chose not to sweat the small stuff, folks.  Once that’s chopped, add in 1/2 cup oats.  Then add in the egg and the spices (cumin – I used a heaping tablespoon and a pinch of salt) plus a few shakes of hot sauce.  Add that mixture to the black beans.

Patty ‘em up! It’s a little messy, so spray some Pam on your hands.  Then place in the freezer for about 2 hours.

Heat up your grill pan to medium heat.  And cook the patties – 7 minutes per side worked for me.

BBBs

Big Guy ate his burger-style.  I threw mine on a salad with some diced avocado.

BBB salad

So easy!  So delicious!  And a great freezer meal – just pop the burgers (uncooked) into a plastic container once frozen and then heat up when you need a quick and easy dinner.

Doctor it up.

I don’t buy a lot of pre-packaged dinners.  It’s just not my thing.  I’d rather get in the kitchen and make a mess with fresh ingredients.  But I am guilty of buying new items I run across in Trader Joes.  What can I say, I have a weakness for the Joe.

One of my most recent purchases was the Butternut Squash Soup.  I’m head over heels in love with the Roasted Red Pepper Tomato soup so I had to give the butternut a chance.  I ate it one night when I had to have dinner on my own and I wasn’t a fan, to be honest.

I also hate wasting food.  So I doctored up the boxed soup and called it dinner.

 

On top of the creamy soup, crisped bacon, Greek yogurt and green onions.  It became a totally different soup with the addition of these three ingredients.

On the side, another “must try” – gluten-free graham crackers.  Cinnamon goodness, I tell you.

 

But let’s be honest, bacon makes anything better.

Greens I want and a Single-Girl Dinner Big Guy ate.

Yea, this is a random post.  Really random.  But hey, gotta keep life interesting.

By greens, I mean plants/trees.  Yes.  I want (and I’m actually interested in) a plant and a tree.  Last week I had the pleasure of attending a workshop for work that took place at the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill.  I’ve been to the gardens before for meetings but I had never taken the time to slow down and take a look at all the gorgeousness that I was surrounded with.  On Friday of last week I actually took a walking tour of the grounds and got to see so many beautiful plants and trees.  Two of them stood out to me and now I’m begging Big Guy to plant these lovely greens.

Pitcher Plant

This plant is so cool.  And yes, I just referred to a plant as being “cool.”  The pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant.  Basically, it eats bugs.  And I hate bugs.  Well, I hate when they bug me.  No pun intended.  (yes it was.)  They’re best grown in containers and they love sun.  Perfect for my back deck.

I’m also semi-obsessed with the Big Leaf Magnolias.  Magnolias are totally a Southern thing.  And well, I love all things Southern so this is my perfect tree.

 

Big Leaf Magnolia

Now to the “Single-Girl” dinner that Big Guy ate.

On Sunday we ate at McAlister’s before we headed home from Pirate country (Greenville).  And it was there that I started thinking about baked potatoes (theirs are ginormous and delicious).  I really needed a salad in my body so I skipped the tator and went for the greens.  But I knew that potatoes would be on the menu.  Seeing as it was a week night, I kept it healthy.  I left out bacon and I used chickpeas instead of chicken (hello, Meatless Monday).  But it was still fantastic!  And the best part, Big Guy loved it.  ”Single-girl” dinner win.

 

Hands down the best potato skin ever.  I washed the sweet potatoes, stabbed them with a fork a few times so they didn’t explode and placed them in a baking dish.  Gave them a good rub with olive oil and salt and baked at 350 degrees for about an hour (they were big ones).

Once baked, they got a spoonful of caramelized red onion (ugh, I could eat a bowl of just those onions!), a spoonful of chickpeas that had been tossed in BBQ sauce, and some white cheddar on top.  Big Guy put blue cheese on his.

Incredible.  So filling and hearty and comforting.

I love potatoes.

Green Pins

Here’s a look at some “green” pins I’ve seen this week….And don’t worry – I’ll be back Monday for a new-to-us St. Patty’s Day meal.

1. A wacky, yet enticing, combo of green.  Green avocado and green edamame.

2.  This is a must read!  (There’s green on the cover!)

3.  I want this.  I need this!  An herb (green!) mill.

4.  Champagne + Lemon sorbet + Mint

5.  This minty-green dress is to die for.

6.  A green cake stand for hand soap in the kitchen.

7.  Kiwi pops!

How are you going to make your Saturday “green” for St. Patty’s Day, mate?

Heirloom Mators

Can we just talk for a minute about how gaw-geous these tomatoes are?  I mean, seriously!

And sunlight!  Purple, red, yellow…so many colors.  And oh-so-sweet.  I could have eaten that whole container right there on the spot.  But I had other plans for the sweet-as-honey mators.  A quinoa salad!

These babies were popped into a hot oven (400 degrees, to be exact) and roasted for about 30 minutes, “shaking” the pan once during the roasting process.  While the mators were getting their char on, I cooked up some quinoa with a bay leaf, cumin, paprika and salt.  I just love quinoa – their little curly “tail” is just so cute.

If you clicked on the link above, you’ll come to realize I didn’t follow the recipe exactly once I got to this point.  Instead of walnuts and olives, I added honey goat cheese crumbled on top.  Sweet ‘n savory!  Just how I like it.

The tomatoes were bursting (literally) with sweet flavor.  Nature’s candy, right?  And the spices that were added to the quinoa before cooking were so complex.  Quinoa is nutty on it’s own and it’s not that I have anything against walnuts, I was just in a goat cheese mood.  I opted out of the olives, because well, I didn’t have any.  And I have my days where olives are appealing and some days, not.so.much.  But goat cheese.  Goat cheese is always appealing!

Light yet satisfying!  I need more quinoa (and goat cheese) in my life.  A sweet, salty, nutty, creamy dinner…good thing there were leftovers!

 

Bagel, salad and sandwich combo.

Need a dinner “recipe” that takes 8 minutes from start to finish?  Do you like Caesar salad?  Do you like carbs?  Do you like bagel sandwiches?  If you answered, “yes” – this post is for you.

Caesar Salad Bagel.    This recipe is so simple.  It really isn’t a recipe at all.  You’ll need bagels (an everything bagel for Big Guy, gluten-free for this girl), romaine lettuce, reduced-fat Caesar dressing, red onion and Parmesan cheese.

Simple toast your bagel (you can totally skip this step if you’re not into toasted bagels), slather on some dressing, top with cracked black pepper, romaine lettuce leaves and a sprinkle of Parm.  Sandwich it up and take a big bite!

A bagel that tastes like a salad.  Brilliant.

I heart salads.

There was no romantic dinner for two on Valentine’s Day in my house.  In fact, I ate breakfast, lunch, (snack,) and dinner alone.  Just me and my thoughts.  Scary.  But I did take the time to prepare a pretty “baller” (yes, it’s a word – just go with it) salad for myself.  I even pulled out the grill pan.  (shut.the.front.door.)  Usually when it’s dinner by myself I throw together whatever random (still healthy) stuff I can get my hands on and call it dinner.  Just ask Big Guy – he gets pictures and/or descriptions of all my delicious concoctions.

But not lately.  When I saw this Copycat Panera Asian Sesame Chicken Salad I knew I had to have it.  And soon.  I wanted to make it for Big Guy but I couldn’t wait.  I heart salads.

The sesame-flavored marinade is on point.  Soy sauce, agave nectar (or honey or brown sugar), sesame oil, ginger and garlic.  I let that get comfortable with a chicken breast for about 15 minutes and then I fired up (okay, just heated up) my grill pan.  If I did this again (which I probably will) I’d let the chicken hang out with the marinade a weeee bit longer.

While the chicken was getting close with the marinade, I whipped up some dressing. Rice vinegar, a tad bit of sugar for sweetness (simply bring the vinegar to a boil, add in the sugar, turn off the heat and let it dissolve).  Once the vinegar and sugar have cooled, I added in some garlic EVOO, sesame oil, sesame seeds and a sprinkle of salt.

Grill the chicken until it’s no longer pink and let it rest for about 5 minutes.  While it’s resting, assemble your salad.

Mixed greens with spinach, mushrooms, bell pepper and green onions (cilantro would be extra beautiful on this salad – confession, I would have picked some cilantro {yes it’s still growing} but I had already turned on the alarm {lazy lazy lazy}).  Mandarin oranges would have added a citrus punch to the mix but I didn’t have any.  I also added a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds, fresh cracked pepper and almond slices for a little crunch factor.

Top all that with the sliced grilled chicken and drizzle on the tangy-sweet-sesame dressing.  Yowza!  This was an amazing salad.

Like I said, I heart salads.  I promise you’ll heart this one, too.

I’m going nuts.

1.  The past month has been crazy.  Between Big Guy traveling, me getting a new job, and trying to be social on the weekends I’m going nuts.

2.  I try not to complain, but let’s be honest, I’m tired of eating dinner alone.

3.  Eating alone = strange eats.  Sweet tator topped with sharp cheddar and an egg.  Don’t knock it though.  It was incredible enough to have twice.

4.  I miss my family and I want to be in Charlotte when Watermelon Seed decides to come into the world (verrrrrry sooooon!!!!!!!!!).

5.  But I can’t guarantee that’ll happen and it breaks my heart.

6.  Hopefully Watermelon Seed will stay busy those first few days and he (or she!) won’t hold a grudge.

7.  Can you believe OJ Simpson’s trial was 16 years ago?

8.  That was random.  But it makes me feel old.

9.  I still think he is guilty.

10. I promise that the blog will be more interesting/entertaining in the next few days.  Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful busy.