Broccolini Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving—welcome to December! This weekend kicks off a super busy month for me, with my girlfriends are visiting Saturday night for an early holiday get-together. I am trying out a few new recipes, so there will be plenty of ideas to follow in the coming weeks, as well as holiday menus.

I wanted to start with this simple broccolini salad, which upon first glace may look unassuming. But look closer and you will see hot pink! That is the amazing color of the cranberry vinaigrette. I am thinking it would make a terrific holiday hostess gift. Perhaps in a pretty bottle, with recipe ideas attached? I know will be enjoying it many times in the winter months to come. For salad variations, I may leave out the gnocchi for a lighter fare or switch up the cheese (feta, would be nice). However, I find the almond flavor and crunch to be essential, so won’t be touching that!

Broccolini Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
serves 4 as a side dish

dressing
1/2 c fresh cranberries
2 T red wine vinegar
1/4 c olive oil
2 T water
1 T Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper

salad
1bunch broccolini, long stems trimmed
2 c cooked gnocchi
1 c thinly sliced fresh spinach
1/2 c crumbled ricotta salata
1 c toasted, sliced almonds

In a blender, combine all dressing ingredients. Puree until smooth, and set aside.

Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add broccolini, and cook 3-4 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Shake well, to remove all water, and transfer to a bowl. Add gnocchi, spinach, ricotta salata and almonds. Toss to combine and divide among serving plates. Top with cranberry vinaigrette and salt and pepper, to taste.

Mexican Tortilla Salad

I feel like I’ve gone a bit off track in the past few months with my eating habits. Usually, I eat quite healthy during the week and stay away from sugars and flours. However, I have gone through more sugar and flour in the past few months than I have in the past few years. Ugh. In part it is due to the change of seasons and my craving for comfort food, and in part it is due to my wanting to add variety to the recipes posted here and work on my kitchen skills. But, I can confidently say that I am no longer afraid of dough! So let’s just consider it is success.

I do feel the need to veer myself back on track, especially as the holidays approach and I will confronted with amazingly delicious, but probably not so healthy foods at every turn. I believe in indulgence. But I also believe in balance. Twice a week, I liked to prepare a healthy, but hearty, salad. This tortilla salad is the kind of meal that leaves you full and satisfied. But in a good kind of way. I can see it coming into heavy rotation in the coming months.

Mexican Tortilla Salad
serves 4

salad
8 c red lettuce
15.5-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 c frozen corn kernels, thawed to room temperature
1 red bell pepper, sliced thin
1/4 small red onion, finely chopped
1 avocado, peeled, pit removed and sliced
2 tortillas, cut into thin slices and toasted (or tortilla chips)
1/4 c fresh cilantro leaves
prepared salsa, to taste

dressing
3 T extra virgin olive oil
3 T red wine vinegar
juice of 1 lime
1 T honey or agave nectar
1/2 t Dijon mustard
1 t salt
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds discarded, minced

Arrange lettuce, divided among four serving plates. Top each plate with black beans, corn, red pepper, onion, avocado, tortillas, cilantro and salsa. In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients. Whisk until well combined. Drizzle dressing over plated salad, to taste. Serve immediately.

Fall Panzanella with Pomegranate Dressing

I have decided it is imperative that I have a panzanella for every season. Traditionally a tomato and bread salad, I am not patient enough to wait for summer to roll around each year. How many dishes do you know that are versatile enough for both a quick dinner and impressing guests? Good thing I like messing with tradition.

Spring brought this one with leeks and asparagus, summer I kept it (somewhat) traditional with tomatoes, and I am currently plotting away for winter. But this month, I urge you to try a fall version, celebrating the harvest with an amazing crunch. I will do my best to curtail this love affair and not turn this into a panzanella blog.

But I can’t make any promises.

Fall Panzanella
serves 4

salad
1/2 loaf wheat ciabatta bread, cut into 1" cubes
3 T olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
2 apples, cored and cut into cubes
3 celery sticks, chopped
2 T fresh herbs (I used sage & rosemary)
1/2 c pomegranate seeds

dressing
1/4 c pomegranate juice
1/4 c olive oil
1/2 t salt
2 t honey
1 t apple cider vinegar

Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet, in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, to taste. Broil 3-5 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer to a large serving bowl. Add apple cubes, celery, herbs and pomegranate seeds.

In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Add to salad, tossing to combine. Season to taste, and serve immediately.

Fattoush Salad with Za'atar Pitas

Once a year I make it a point to catch the ferry to the Vineyard for the day. Martha’s Vineyard, that is.

The island where President Obama and his family were vacationing the same day I was there. But, for some reason I did not see him. He was not hanging around the ferry dock at Oak Bluffs, on the bus to Edgartown, or enjoying a margarita on the top deck at Nancy’s.

I know, I couldn’t believe it either. But I can be certain that he enjoyed every blissful minute on the idyllic island. It’s impossible not to. The second you step off the ferry you are transported to vacation-mode, with no worries. It’s like being in Jamaica. Except with khakis. And Range Rovers.

But I don’t go for the shopping. I don’t go for the beach. I don’t go for the margaritas. Well maybe, the margaritas... But, really, I go for the beauty. With the sun shining, Edgartown is incredibly inspiring and one of my favorite places to photograph. This year I had the hidden agenda of trying out my new lens for an upcoming trip. I spent the day in full tourist mode snapping photos left and right, high and low. This embarrassed my father, who has been coming to the island for 60 years. But if I racked up 350 photos of the Vineyard in one day, well, he’s in for a real treat when the family heads to Alaska next month.

And really, it’s too bad I didn’t see the President, because darnit, I had my camera ready.

Nancy’s is always our last and favorite stop of the day. My mother likes it because her name is Nancy, the guys love ogling the boats in the harbor and I enjoy working on my tan. In staying with tradition, I always order the Fattoush salad. It’s delicious.

And it compliments my margarita very nicely.

Fattoush salad with Za'atar Pitas
serves 4

dressing
2 garlic cloves, minced
juice of 2 lemons
2 T tahini
1/8 c olive oil

salad
2 pita bread rounds, cut into wedges
3 T olive oil
salt, to taste
2 T za'atar
4 c packed mixed greens
3 T chopped fresh mint
2 T chopped fresh parsley (or cilantro)
1/2 small cucumber, roughly chopped
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 small red onion, chopped
14-oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/c c crumbled feta cheese

In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients. Set aside.

Place pita wedges on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and Za’atar. Broil 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crunchy. In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, mint, parsley, cucumber, tomatoes and red onion. Top with pita wedges, chickpeas and feta cheese. Just before serving, toss with dressing.

Watermelon, Tomato & Feta Salad

I first tasted the combination of watermelon, tomato and feta three years ago, and it opened my eyes to the world of unusual food combination. It’s a pairing your taste buds remember come fall, that fill your dreams during the cold winter and will make your mouth water when the first summer tomatoes arrive on the vine. But you must be patient. If you can wait for the height of the season, you will be rewarded generously.

In the past few years, watermelon-tomato salads have made the rounds. You will find recipes with mint, some with cucumber, and a few with the added crunch of almonds or pine nuts. I have tried different combinations, but this is my favorite. Each juicy, sweet, salty bite just screams SUMMER. And I don’t think there is anything better than that.

Watermelon, Tomato & Feta Salad
serves 4

4 c cubed seedless watermelon
20 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 c arugula
3 T chopped fresh basil
1 t salt
4 T olive oil
1 T red wine vinegar
1/2 t pepper
1 c crumbled feta cheese

In a large bowl, combine watermelon, tomatoes, arugula and basil. Sprinkle with salt, and toss. Add olive oil, vinegar and pepper, and toss until well combined. Top with feta cheese.

Note: This salad should be assembled just before serving.

Tomato Panzanella

I personally have a love affair with panzanella. In spring, I enjoyed this version, all the while dreaming about tomato season and a summer variety. It’s here! It’s here! If you come to my house for dinner in July or August, chances are a tomato panzanella will be on the menu. Partly because it is my favorite summer dish, and partly because it pleases everyone. A vegetarian feeding a crowd of meat eaters isn’t always an easy challenge. Instead of putting the focus on meat vs vegi, I choose to focus on healthy, seasonal food that will leave everyone satisfied and not wondering where the meat is. The idea is about good food, and that’s that.

A panzanella is an excellent go-to meal for any time of the year. It is a snap to whip up and flexible for throwing in what you have on hand. Try adding in or substituting other summer favorites such as arugula, roasted tomatoes, corn or green beans. Just keep it simple and remember the basics: homemade croutons, a simple vinaigrette, seasonal vegis and herbs.

Tomato Panzanella
serves 4

croutons
3 c Italian bread, cut or torn into 1” pieces
olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

salad
4 large tomatoes, cut into wedges
14-oz can artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped*
1 c pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
1/2 c coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
3 T coarsely chopped fresh mint

dressing
1/3 c olive oil
1/4 c white wine vinegar
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

Place the bread on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 2-4 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from oven, and transfer to a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, artichokes, olives and basil. Toss to combine.

In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients. Stir well, and drizzle over the salad. Toss, and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Dish can be prepared ahead of time, with croutons added just before serving).

*substitution: 15.5-oz can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed

Asian Crunch Salad

I would like to introduce you to my favorite green salad. It is perfection in every bite. The crisp vegis. The juicy oranges. The flavorful herbs. And of course, the crunch. If you find yourself with a huge head of cabbage this year, skip the coleslaw and make this instead. You can thank me later.

Asian Crunch Salad
inspired by Gourmet . serves 4

1/2 lb snow peas
4 c cabbage, cut into long, thin strips
4 c romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1 c mandarian orange segments
1/8 c soy sauce
1/8 c fresh lemon juice (apx 1 lemon)
1/2 T white vinegar
1/2 T Asian sesame oil
1/8 c vegetable oil
1 T sugar (or agave nectar)
1 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
4 scallions, chopped
1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 c sliced almonds, toasted (or chow mein noodles)
2 T sesame seeds, toasted

Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil. Add snow peas and cook until just tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Drain well. Place in a large bowl and add cabbage, lettuce, oranges, scallions and cilantro.

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, vinegar, sesame oil, vegetable oil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Add to salad and toss well. To serve, sprinkle with sesame seeds and almonds or chow mein noodles.

Dill-Cucumber Salad

This week, I received a huge amount of dill from the farm. When I was brainstorming for recipe ideas, my mind flashed back to a cucumber salad Tommy’s grandmother (hi grandma!) made a few years back. I dug through my piles of recipes and came across the card I had diligently written out at the time. The original recipe called for soup cream, which I swapped with low fat yogurt with excellent results. It is light, full of flavor and a perfect accompaniment to sandwiches or these burgers.

Dill-Cucumber Salad
serves 4

1/2 c low-fat plain yogurt
3 T cider vinegar
2 T chopped dill
2 t salt
1 t sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 medium cucumbers, sliced thin (seedless, if available)
1 small onion, sliced thin, then roughly chopped

In a bowl, combine yogurt, vinegar, dill, salt, sugar and garlic. Mix well. Add cucumbers and onion, stirring to coat. Let sit 15 minutes before serving, for flavors to meld.

Roasted Beet Salad with Olive Croutons & Ricotta Salata

The sun came out for FOUR WHOLE DAYS here in Massachusetts and I spent the time at my family’s beach house taking in as much as possible. The fourth of July is always one of my favorite times of year at the cape and this year was no exception, as a full house of family and friends joined us for the celebration of America, and my dad’s 60th birthday. The weekend consisted of boat rides, sun tanning, cookouts, cocktails, fireworks and A LOT of laughs. I forgot about emails and couldn’t remember which day it was. And it didn’t really matter. And that was nice. Really, really nice.

And just when I thought the weather had turned over a new leaf for July, we returned home to a hail storm, and people canoeing down our street because a river overflowed. Seriously. However, flood or no flood I HAD to pick up my CSA share. Among this week's bounty, I was greeted with a large bunch of red beets. But I assure you, the beets alone were worth the adventure.

Roasted Beet Salad with Olive Croutons & Ricotta Salata
adapted from Gourmet . serves 4

Salad
4-6 large beets, stems trimmed to 3/4"
6 c packed endive (or baby arugula)
1/4 lb ricotta salata, sliced thin or crumbled

Croutons
2 T kalamata olive paste
1 T olive oil
1 loaf french bread, sliced lengthwise

Vinaigrette
1/3 c finely chopped red onion
1 1/2 T whole-grain mustard
1 1/2 T white wine vinegar
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 1/2 t soy sauce
1/4 t salt
3 T olive oil

Preheat oven to 425F. Wrap beets tightly in foil and roast 1 hour. Carefully unwrap, and when cool, rub off skins with a paper towel and discard. Slice beets.

Place french bread on a baking sheet on spread with olive paste. Cut into 1" cubes and drizzle with olive oil. Broil 2-4 minutes until golden brown.

In a small bowl add onion, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, soy sauce, and salt. While whisking, add oil in a slow stream.

To assemble, top endive with beets, croutons and ricotta salata. Drizzle with vinaigrette and season to taste with salt and pepper.

From-Your-Garden Lentil Salad

It is officially summer (regardless of the crazy temperatures). So, if you haven’t already enjoyed a summer bash or two, they will no doubt be coming your way. Over the next few weeks I want to share with you a few of my favorite summer salads. They are perfect for the impromptu neighborhood gathering, a July 4th BBQ at the beach or a quick weeknight dinner with the fam. Each salad features a variety of ingredients, including fresh vegis (which can easily be substituted for what you have on hand), a grain or bean, cheese, nuts and an effortless dressing. They are everything summer should be about—fun, color, simplicity and enjoying the outdoors. Feel free to make them ahead of time which will let the flavors meld and save you stress. Just add any nut/cheese or delicate vegis (like greens, which may wilt) right before serving. First up, is a lentil salad ideal for radish season. The colors on this one just scream P-A-R-T-Y!

From-Your-Garden Lentil Salad
adapted from Bon Appétit . serves 4

1 c lentils (I used black)
2 c cherry tomatoes, halved
1 small red onion, chopped
1 small bunch radishes, sliced very thin
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 c fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1/3 c pitted kalamata olives, chopped
3 T capers
1/2 c olive oil
3 T fresh lemon juice
1 c feta cheese, crumbled

In pot of boiling salted water, cook lentils until just tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well and place in large serving bowl. Mix in tomatoes, onion, radishes, pepper, cilantro, olives and capers. In a small bowl, pour olive oil. Whisk in lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add dressing to the lentil salad, tossing to coat. Before serving, mix in feta, tossing lightly.

Pear, Avocado & Spinach Salad

Every night my husband asks me what we are having for dinner and I same something strange like Brie Quesadillas with Mango, Walnuts & Scallions or Lemon Risotto with Fiddlehead Ferns. He rolls his eyes and walks away wondering why we can't just have hamburgers like normal people? Then I have to remind him I am not normal and Subway is just down the street if he prefers. Except each night when we finish dinner, he says “wow that was really good”, completely surprised. Of course this salad is no exception. The ingredients are an interesting pairing, but a delicious one that I will be revisiting again and again. The salad is substantial and works well for a simple dinner with a slice of crusty bread drizzled with olive oil. But depending on who you are serving it to, you may want to make it a side, with say, hamburgers.

Pear, Avocado & Spinach Salad
adapted from Bon Appétit . serves 4

1/3 c olive oil
1/4 c seasoned rice vinegar
juice of one lime
1 T minced fresh cilantro
2 large garlic cloves, minced
pinch of cayenne pepper
6-oz baby spinach, tough stems removed
1 Anjou pear, peeled & sliced
1/2 small red onion, minced
1 avocado, peeled, pitted & cubed
1/2 c crumbled gorgonzola cheese
salt and pepper, to taste

Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix spinach, pear, and onion in large serving bowl. Add dressing and toss. Add avocado and gorgonzola, and lightly toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Orange-Ginger Dressing

I like to plan at least one day a week as an “easy night”. Even if the week looks slow and I actually have everything under control, there is bound to be a day I’m exhausted and just need a quick healthy dinner. Since I’m not really one for frozen foods, I like to refer to my simple file and plan ahead for something that can be ready super quick. This usually saves me from ordering a large pizza and shoving piece after piece in my mouth as the guilt seeps in. Usually. This week I picked up sushi and a bag of edamame at Trader Joe's all the while thinking about the seaweed salad I used to eat almost daily in college from Mr. Sushi. I thought a sweet ginger dressing would taste well with most bitter greens, so I grabbed arugula for the salad. The dressing comes together in seconds and is so fresh over greens with sprinkled sesame seeds.

Orange-Ginger Dressing
serves 4

3/4 c vegetable or peanut oil
1/4 c rice vinegar
2 medium garlic cloves
1 T minced fresh ginger
1 T sesame oil
3 t juice from an orange
2 t soy sauce
1/2 t red pepper flakes

In blender or food processor, combine all ingredients. Blend until very smooth. Drizzle over your favorite bitter greens or use as a marinade for tofu or chicken.

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Pineapple and Red Pepper Salad with Black-Eyed Peas

Happy, Happy Earth Day! Sitting down this morning, I was reminded of a story that made me laugh out loud at my 12-year-old self. To celebrate Earth Day 1991 (could’ve been ’92, it’s all a bit fuzzy), my friend Michelle and I crafted for hours, making “Save A Tree, Save a Life”, “The Earth Loves You, Love it Back” and “Earth Day is Everyday” signs. We then proceeded to walk up to the main street and nail them on every tree we could find. We walked home beaming, thinking of how we would educate millions of drivers today with our beautiful signs. But upon arriving home, my mom had a different idea, “Let me get this straight, for EARTH DAY you wasted 100s of sheets of paper and then NAILED them to TREES where a swift wind will blow them into the street leaving trash?” Huh. Pretty sure we skipped Earth Day next year (she made us go back and take all the signs down by the way).

These days I don’t think of Earth Day so much as a "day" but as something I contribute to all year round (see, “Earth Day IS Everyday”!). One of the main reason I eat vegetarian and seasonal is environmental. Eating seasonal doesn’t mean I am only going to be eating asparagus during the month of April. Although you may think that is my intention here, here and here. What it means is that I pay attention to what produce is new and what is on sale at the market. New England has a short growing season, so our “seasonal” products might be strawberries from Florida in March. To me that is seasonal and much more local that the strawberries that come from Timbuktu in December. Seriously, I have no idea where they come from in December, but at $6.99/pint it’s got to be FAR.

Currently aplenty at the market, besides asparagus that is, are pineapples. And this salad seems like a great way to celebrate Earth Day with its colorful fruits and vegis. But, I would love to hear how you help the Earth—we can all benefit from new ideas, large or small. Please share.

Pineapple and Red Pepper Salad with Black-Eyed Peas
adapted from Bon Appétit . serves 6

4 c black-eyed peas, rinsed well and soaked overnight
4 c fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and diced (1 large pineapple)
2 roasted red peppers, chopped (or 1 12-oz jar)
1 c celery, chopped
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/3 c fresh cilantro, chopped
3 jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped
1/4 c Dijon mustard
2 T cider vinegar
1/2 c olive oil
2 t salt
black pepper

In a large pot, place black-eyed peas and fill with water 3" over the peas. Bring to a boil and cook on high 25-30 minutes, until softened.

In large serving bowl, combine cooked peas, pineapple, roasted red peppers, celery, red onion, cilantro and jalapeños. In a small bowl, whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, olive oil and salt. Add to salad and toss to coat. Season to taste with black pepper.

Spring Panzanella

I love, love, love a simple summer panzanella with fresh cherry tomatoes. I wanted to find a way to enjoy this deliciousness all year round. The seasons freshest vegis and herbs work so well with this simple vinaigrette, toasted bread cubes and hearty beans, that I think I may have found a new love.

Spring Panzanella
serves 4

1/2 loaf day-old French bread, cut into 1” cubes
4 T olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
1 small bunch asparagus, tough ends trimmed
1 medium leek, sliced thin
1/2 small red onion, chopped
1 15.5-oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 c wild arugula (or other spring greens)
1 T fresh mint leaves, chopped
2-3 T fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 c olive oil
1/4 c white wine vinegar

Arrange bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle with 4 T olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Broil 2 minutes, turn, and broil an additional minute, until golden brown. Let cool.

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil and add asparagus. Boil one minute, drain and run under cold water to stop cooking. Chop into 1” pieces and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add bread cubes, leek, red onion, beans, arugula, mint, basil and garlic. Toss with olive oil and white wine vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper.