Food on Friday ~ Healthy Salads
success is the sum of small efforts ~ repeated every single day
To be fit and healthy in body, mind, and spirit, you must set good habits to live by day after day. Don’t fall for the weird diets nor the food fads, just make an effort to eat well and stay active ~ every single day for the rest of your life.
It might be tempting to believe the falsehoods that tell you that if you but buy this product you can lose 5 lbs in a week, or if you follow that diet you can drop two sizes in a month, but those goals are usually doomed to fail.
To be who you truly want to be includes eating a healthy, balanced diet. I hope that these recipes may help you to do just that.
This is interesting from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest, Greek watermelon feta salad with basil vinaigrette.
Greek Watermelon Feta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
From Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower we have another cool salad dish, this is a garlic shrimp avocado salad. Avocado is another of those great superfoods.
Garlic Shrimp Avocado Salad
Amanda at Chez le Rêve Français has an interesting carrot and celeriac remoulade, which in my ignorance I would have called a salad. The remoulade part is actually an easy sauce. You can make this dish in just about 15 minutes, and it would make a great lunch, maybe with some chicken or tuna.
Carrot and Celeriac Remoulade
This best easy Italian green salad comes from Tiffany at Creme de la Crumb. One could also add some chicken, or mozzarella, or chickpeas to this dish to make it more of an entree.
Best Easy Italian Green Salad
This Tartiflette is an utterly fabulous French dish from Petra at Food Eat Love. I believe that the picture speaks for itself.
Tartiflette
Our recipe collection this week is from Cookie + kate who have 45 vegetarian recipes that pack well for lunch. Or you should really check out their total library of pack for lunch recipes. I think that is awesome! I have chosen to feature their roasted cauliflower and farro salad with feta and avocado.
Roasted Cauliflower and Farro Salad with Feta and Avocado
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Food on Friday ~ Spicy
food for the body is not enough ~ there should also be food for the soul
Everyone’s definition of what constitutes spicy food is different. Some people think a dash of black pepper is sufficient, whereas others like the red hot chili peppers, (and that’s a very overrated band).
Personally I prefer a little subtlety in my spice palette.
First up this week we have a dish with good old-fashioned mustard from Diane’s Kitchen. I think you should be able to make this Honey Mustard Chicken in about a half-hour, maybe serve it with a baked potato.
Honey Mustard Chicken
Next we have a vegan recipe from Cookie + kate, and this Spicy Black Bean Soup with a Cuban twist should be in your bowl in about 45 minutes. Obviously this would be great to take to work the following day, and Kate says it freezes well in Mason jars ~ hmmmm, I’d never freeze a glass jar.
Spicy Black Bean Soup
Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats has this brilliant recipe for Ginger Scallion Noodle Bowls ~ ginger is the Queen of Spices, it’s good for just about whatever ails you, as well as providing a great pick-me-up.
Ginger Scallion Noodle Bowls
Half Baked Harvest is a site for some really pretty dishes, and this 30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl is no exception. I really like the look of this recipe and it’s on my list to try in the very near future ~ I like 30 minute recipes.
30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl
Next to last for this week, from Amanda at Chez le Rêve Français, there’s this Chilli and Ginger Glazed Salmon ~ what’s not to like about this dish?
Chilli and Ginger Glazed Salmon
This week’s collection is from Olive Magazine, with their 25 Best Ever Hot and Spicy Recipes. I’ve chosen to feature this Sri Lankan Veggie Curry partly because it’s vegetarian, but mostly because I love Sri Lankan food ~ it’s far, far better than Thai.
Sri Lankan Veggie Curry
~
jack collier
jackcollier@talktalk.net
Chinese 5 Spice Beef and Ginger Stir Fry
from Vacation Food
Food on Friday ~ Mother’s Day
All that I am I owe to my mother…….
This Sunday is Mother’s Day in the USA, so I guess today’s recipes have a slightly ‘Mothering Sunday feel’ about them ~ maybe.
Mother’s Day in America goes back to the 19th Century, and it’s always had a commercial angle to it ~ the early Mother’s Days n the USA were backed by Wannemaker’s Retail stores. And here I thought Mother’s Day was the invention of Hallmark.
Bur remember, these recipes and recipe collections aren’t just for Mother’s Day, they’re great for any day of the year.
I can cook, but for some reason I can’t bake, (I blame my single-guy oven). But it might be nice to bake a cake for Mother’s Day, and Averie Sunshine has this recipe for the best pineapple upside down cake. OK, it may take you an hour and a half to make, but doesn’t it look worth it!
The Best Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Most mothers like to use up leftovers, so here’s a Korean based recipe from Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower to use up leftover rice; mushroom kimchi fried rice. This great dish should take you only about 30 minutes to make.
Mushroom Kimchi Fried Rice
Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest has a very special, very easy, and mess free recipe for parchment baked lemon salmon and potatoes with dill yogurt, that would be great for a busy mother, or a busy anyone if it comes right down to it. This great looking dish will be ready in just 30 minutes.
Parchment Baked Lemon Salmon and Potatoes with Dill Yogurt
From Elise Bauer at Simply Recipes we have 10 best recipes for Mother’s Day brunch. From this collection I especially like the look of this smoked salmon potato leek torta. Fabulous!
Smoked Salmon Potato Leek Torta
Chungah Rhee at Damn Delicious has 10 quick and easy baked chicken recipes for us ~ whatever you’re doing this Mother’s Day, you don’t want to be spending all of it in the kitchen. From this collection I particularly like the look of this oven fried chicken with honey mustard glaze.
Oven Fried Chicken with Honey Mustard Glaze
And now, celebrating whole foods, Cookie + kate have a bumper collection of 25 cheerful Mother’s Day recipes (plus last minute gifts), Nifty! There are so many fabulous dishes in this collection, but I especially like the spinach pasta with roasted broccoli & bell pepper. This is vegetarian, and very easily vegan and gluten free. Cool!
Spinach Pasta with Roasted Broccoli & Bell Pepper
And finally for this week’s food on Friday, and with Mother’s Day coming up, let’s look at this collection of cocktails made from ‘Mother’s Ruin’ ~ gin. (If you don’t call gin mother’s ruin in your country ~ well maybe it’s a very English expression). So from Olive Magazine we have the best gin cocktail recipes. I have a friend who doesn’t necessarily like gin, but she may like this very pretty gentian white lady cocktail ~ the pansies look so cool.
Gentian White Lady Cocktail
~
jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
this picture is specially chosen by my teddy bear, Marmaduke, for his mommy this Mother’s Day
Food on Friday ~ Booze
Alcohol gives you infinite patience for stupidity.
Some of you may be giving up alcohol for lent, or to lose weight, or to control your cholesterol ~ in which case here are some cool drinks you may well be missing out on.
Or, some of you may be determined to have a good time now that we are really in the deep dark depths of winter ~ in which case here are some cool drinks to help you get the party going.
Whatever, please drink responsibly. Don’t end up feeling as though you need to give up booze for good and all.
First this week, and bearing in mind that we have just had Valentine’s Day, San Diego girl Averie Sunshine offers us this very aloholic kiss on the lips cocktail. Who could possibly say no?
Kiss On The Lips Cocktail
Continuing the St. Valentine’s Day theme, Tieghan Gerard from Half Baked Harvest offers us this delicious looking rose and ginger paloma. Nice if you like tequila and roses ~ who doesn’t?
Rose and Ginger Paloma
I’m not certain I’d ever have tried this cocktail from Jessica Merchant at How Sweet Eats, but having seen some of the things The Girl Riding Shotgun drinks I’m pretty certain that spicy blood orange beergaritas will find a few takers, at least in Orange County anyhow. Highly alcoholic.
Spicy Blood Orange Beergaritas
Another blood orange cocktail, this time from Andrea at Cooking With A Wallflower; blood orange vodka soda ~ or you could substitute tequila for the vodka, if you don’t like vodka. This is just so easy, but please squeeze the fresh orange juice for yourself.
Blood Orange Vodka Soda
One of the things about booze is that it plays havoc with your cholesterol levels and the triglycerides in your blood. This recipe for Mumbai mules from the Bojon Gourmet could help a little, as it contains cumin, which is good for you.
Image courtesy of Alanna Taylor Tobin | The Bojon Gourmet
Mumbai Mules
On a really cold winter’s day there’s not much better to come home to than a hot toddy. Cookie + kate have a very easy recipe for a classic hot toddy ~ and you can make this as strong as you like. Also, try making a hot toddy with dark rum for a completely different and interesting flavour. My favourite was always Woods 100 Old Navy Rum.
Classic Hot Toddy
I like recipe collections, and I hope that you do too. From the chi-chi Town and Country Magazine we have a collection of 21 winter cocktails to help you survive the cold. From their collection I’ve chosen to feature a Porto Santo, which rivals a Long Island Iced Tea for a total booze-fest. You could always get your guy to take you to the Island of Madeira to try your first Porto Santo cocktail.
Porto Santo
~
jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
I hope that you,
and all the great drinks’ mixers
featured this week
had a lovely St. Valentine’s Day.
Food on Monday ~ Vegetarian and Vegan
Vegetarian and vegan dishes are supposed to be good for us.
Once, long ago, I lived a vegetarian lifestyle. I got to like vegetarian and vegan dishes. I got to like fruit and vegetables that I’d never heard of, let alone eaten before. That lifestyle ended when the vegetarian girl I was trying to impress dumped me.
These days I will prepare and eat vegetarian and vegan dishes, but I do not live a vegetarian or vegan life any more ~ I like steak far too much for that.
However, all of these dishes are either vegetarian or vegan, and they all look very cool and delicious. So why not eschew meat every once in a while?
Firstly this week, from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest we have this vegetarian skillet lasagna. Now this recipe does use cheese, however you could substitute the mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan with a vegan cheese. There is a cool video attached to Tieghan’s post.
Simple Vegetarian Skillet Lasagna
From San Diego girl Averie Sunshine at Averie Cooks we have this very cool roasted curried cauliflower and chickpea salad. This is a vegetarian dish or vegan if you don’t use the Greek yogurt in the dressing. This dish should be ready in 45 minutes, and it would make a great lunch or light dinner ~ especially if you make enough to take a portion to work the following day
Roasted Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad
Another spicy dish, this time from Tiffany at Creme de la Crumb; kung pao noodles. As it goes one could eat this noodle dish by itself, or as a side dish, or one could add another ingredient say carrots julienne to make a great vegetarian dinner. (or for those of us who aren’t totally vegetarian or vegan, we could add shrimp / chicken / beef…)
Kung Pao Noodles
Another vegetarian noodle dish, this time from Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower; shiitake mushroom garlic parmesan noodles. This delicious dish will only take you 20 minutes to prepare, and if you want to make it vegan you can swap vegan cheese for the parmesan.
Shiitake Mushroom Garlic Parmesan Noodles
I am not a fan of tofu, but if you want to be vegetarian or vegan I can almost guarantee that you will have to eat this soya bean curd. At least the lovely Amanda at Chez le Rêve Français has a nice recipe to make the tofu taste good. Her sesame garlic tofu looks pretty appetising. For tofu that is.
Sesame Garlic Tofu
I love recipe collections, and this is a great post from Cookie + kate who always have vegetarian recipes on their blog. So from 17 healthy vegetarian soup recipes, I’d like to feature something that isn’t a soup; homemade vegetarian chili, which is vegan and gluten-free if you follow the recipe quite strictly.
Homemade Vegetarian Chili
Another recipe collection, this time from Good Housekeeping, 37 hearty vegetarian recipes for the whole family. From this list I’m featuring creamy vegan linguine with wild mushrooms ~ the secret ingredient in this recipe, to make it creamy, is nutritional yeast. You should be able to make this dish in less than 25 minutes.
Creamy Vegan Linguine with Wild Mushrooms
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
A very big thank you to all the great cooks featured this week.
Food on Friday ~ Winter Soups
The most beautiful foods for this cold winter season.
We have just had the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. When winter comes howling in like a wolf perhaps only a hot, nourishing bowl of soup will do.
These days we don’t have to rely on ‘seasonal’ vegetables, our stores hold a wide range throughout the year, so these recipes include things that my mom couldn’t have made in winter when I was are kid.
So everyone, here are some totally smashing recipes for winter soups.
I know that in Southern California you can still get squash at the store. So perhaps my friend in Orange County will like this recipe for butternut squash soup with toasted seeds and crispy sage leaves from Yvette’s Gourmet Kitchen. I’m pretty certain this dish is vegan.
Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Seeds & Crispy Sage Leaves
This is a real ‘stick to your ribs’ recipe from Heather Christo; roasted sweet potato and butternut squash soup with cilantro sauce. Just the job for this freezing cold weather. You could make this as a vegetarian dish if you used vegetable stock rather than chicken stock. Just how colourful is this!?
Roasted Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup with Cilantro Sauce.
Another sweet potato soup. This time Cookie + kate have a sweet potato, kale, and chickpea soup. Kate says this is a hearty and delicious one-pot meal, and I like one-pot recipes. As far as I can tell this recipe is vegan and gluten-free, and will only take you 45 minutes to make.
Sweet Potato, Kale and Chickpea Soup.
For a healthy, colourful, and easy to make soup, you could try this creamy roasted red pepper tomato soup from Dana, the Minimalist Baker. This 30 minute recipe is vegan, (it uses coconut milk), full of antioxidants, and looks delicious. If you check out this recipe there are also links to a half-dozen more soup recipes from Dana.
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup
I absolutely love the look of this french onion and potato soup from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest. And, you have just got to do the cheesy bread topping. What a great lunch, or maybe you could have it as a starter, (without the cheesy bread topping).
French Onion and Potato Soup
If you want a filling soup that really is a meal all by itself then you couldn’t do much better than this creamy tortellini soup from In Dianes Kitchen. Seems that this is version #2 of this soup ~ maybe you should check out version #1 too. Diane also has a recipe for a delicious creamy potato soup, and a really rich loaded potato soup.
Creamy Tortellini Soup
This week’s collection is from delicious magazine. Their winter soup recipes include this fabulous looking and great sounding smoked bacon, leek, and butter bean chowder from Debbie Major. I have to try this recipe.
Smoked Bacon, Leek, and Butter Bean Chowder
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Marmaduke and I
Wish You A Merry Christmas
Sponsored by: http://www.amazon.com/shops/salinevalleyenterprises
Food on Friday ~ Brussels Sprouts
Many people don’t understand the humble Brussels sprout.
With the holiday season coming up fast it’s already time to start thinking about the food we traditionally serve at our family get-togethers. One of the vegetables that’s an absolute must here in England over the holidays is the humble Brussels sprout ~ do not ask me why, because left to my own devices I probably wouldn’t eat the little brassica ever again. (The farty facts are true. But so is the fact that sprouts are really very good for you.)
One interesting factoid about the humble sprout, anybody who knows anything knows that sprouts are better after they’ve been ‘frosted’. Ideally you don’t pick Brussels until after the first few hard frosts of the year ~ ergo, don’t waste your money buying fresh Brussels sprouts, frozen are far better just as good.
However, this holiday season I will be cooking a side dish of Brussels sprouts, so let’s find some interesting recipes to choose from.
First up this week is this from Heather Christo, Brussels sprouts with bacon, red onion, and avocado. This is an easy 30 minute dish, and like all Heather’s recipes it’s allergen free. You could turn this into a vegan dish if you missed out the bacon and chicken stock, but that would maybe be missing the point?
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Red Onion and Avocado
Another Brussels sprouts recipe with bacon; this recipe for pan roasted brussels sprouts with bacon, dates, and halloumi is from Tieghan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest. Halloumi that’s a strong cheese.
Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Dates, and Halloumi
This is very different from Chung ah at Damn Delcious, and something I would never have thought of on my own, brussels sprouts gratin. This looks like a very rich dish, with milk, cream, and cheese ~ and we also have bacon, garlic, and shallots.
Brussels Sprouts Gratin
I’m pretty certain this is a vegan dish from Cookie + kate, but anyhow kung pao brussels sprouts are certainly different and interesting. If this doesn’t grab you as a vegan Brussels sprouts dish Cookie + kate also have roasted brussles sprouts and crispy baked tofu with honey-sesame glaze. (Is honey strictly vegan?)
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Something a little simpler from San Diego girl Averie Sunshine at Averie Cooks; balsamic roasted brussels sprouts ~ and I am going to try this 35 minute recipe this weekend.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
This is a recipe that should appeal to my friend in Orange County, from California girl Elise Bauer at Simply Recipes we have golden beets and brussels sprouts. This vegan dish should take you about an hour to make.
And, finally for this week, for those who like recipe collections we have 25 brussels sprouts recipes from Martha Stewart. Included is this simple 30 minute recipe for sauteed brussels sprouts. This may well be the side dish I make over the holidays.
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net.
click to buy your sprouts already prepared
Marmaduke does not like sprouts
Sponsored by: http://www.amazon.com/shops/salinevalleyenterprises
Food on Friday ~ Fall Recipes
Fall, the year’s last and loveliest smile.
Except here in England we call it autumn, and in parts of America it’s more like high summer than fall. In Orange County, Southern California, the temperature hit 100 degrees this week and the U.S. National Weather Service has an on-going Excessive Heat Warning for that part of the world.
Meanwhile, where I live in the North of England it’s about 55 degrees and distinctly autumnal, dull, grey and wet, so hot comfort food is a good idea for me.
First up this week is Joanne Schweitzer, from No Plate Like Home, who brings us this cheesy ham and turkey noodle casserole. This is a brilliant dish if you have leftover ham or leftover turkey, or both…. you know what? This is a brilliant dish whichever way you look at it.
Cheesy Ham and Turkey Noodle Casserole
If you are vegetarian, or perhaps vegan, then you will love the whole food recipes from Cookie + kate, (Cookie is the dog). This week we have a hearty vegetable paella, which you should be able to make in an hour, but as most of that time is just leaving the dish alone in the oven, you can get on with other things while your paella is cooking. (I’m pretty certain this is a vegan recipe.)
Vegetable Paella
Kitchen Gadget lover Diane, from Dianes Kitchen, has what I think is a fairly quick and delicious recipe for a chicken gnocchi soup, and if you think this doesn’t look like it’s a warming dish for a blustery fall evening, then there’s no pleasing some people… hahahahaha
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This is another great looking recipe for a really warming and hearty soup. From Elise Bauer at Simply Recipes we have this one-pot chicken and rice soup. (It should really be chicken, rice, and lots of vegetables.) I love one-pot dishes, and you should be able to make this fall recipe within the hour.
One-Pot Chicken and Rice Soup
One big thing about the fall, (autumn), is that it’s time to dig out your slow cooker / crockpot from the back of whatever cupboard it’s been in all summer long. Tieghan, at Half Baked Harvest, has a brilliant vegetarian / vegan slow cooker dish; slow cooker potato and cauliflower curry. This is perhaps a 5 hour cooking time dish, so you may want to have your slow cooker on while you are at work, (get a timer).
Slow Cooker Potato and Cauliflower Curry
In the autumn and winter I like roasted vegetables, (with whatever entree, or just with chopped bacon). I have included this recipe from Dana at Minimalist Baker, just because I was so damn intrigued. Dana says that these oil-free roasted vegetables totally work. I haven’t tried this recipe as yet, but I certainly will this weekend. Obviously this is another vegan dish.
Oil-Free Roasted Vegetables
For those of us who like recipe collections, Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower has her favorite fall inspired recipes 2017, including this delicious looking and sounding chicken pot pie with garlic cheddar biscuits. My mouth is watering.
Chicken Pot Pie with Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
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Sponsored by: http://www.amazon.com/shops/salinevalleyenterprises
10% discount on everything from this site if you quote code C7SYDV6B
jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
if you don’t have a crockpot
click on the image
Food on Friday ~ Strawberries
Summer, you just have to have strawberries and champagne.
We have just had the tennis circuit here for Wimbledon Fortnight. The glitterati and beautiful people who are lucky enough to get into the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club eat strawberries by the ton and drink champagne by the boat load.
I don’t much like watching sports, but I do like strawberries and cream ~ actually my favourite is strawberries with chocolate ice cream. Some new evidence says strawberries are good for you. Strawberries may prevent age-related mental decline.
We should really only ever buy organic strawberries, as this lovely summer fruit often contains the residue of 20 or more synthetic chemicals, (probably because strawberries are mostly made of water they take up every pesticide that gets anywhere near to the strawberry beds).
Anyway, here are some cool strawberry recipes for a warm summer. And, who knew that strawberries are an aphrodisiac? After all, the pomegranate and strawberries are the fruits of Aphrodite.
First this week we have Petra at Food Eat Love who has some different dishes with strawberries; strawberry bread and butter pudding with dulce de leche, and beef spring rolls with a strawberry and soy dip. Petra says this is a true 10 minute dish which makes a great snack or starter. Hey, you could take this to work with some salad for a midweek lunch.
Beef Spring Rolls with a Strawberry and Soy Dip
Here’s a fabulously beautiful dish from Heather Christo; saffron strawberry quinoa salad. Great for a summer barbecue because it holds it’s flavour well in the sunshine, vegan and gluten free, and for you Californians, you can now buy saffron at Trader Joes. This brilliant dish should take you about 40 minutes to prepare.
Saffron Strawberry Quinoa Salad
Dana, the Minimalist Baker has this strawberry arugula salad ~ and the sweet strawberries perfectly complement the peppery arugula and toasted pecans. Wonderful on a hot day with a glass of fizz. This is so easy and will take you about 30 minutes. I’m pretty certain it’s vegan and gluten free.
Strawberry Arugula Salad with Toasted Pecans
A really cool recipe from Teighan Gerard at Half Baked Harvest; lemon ricotta cheese stuffed french toast crepes with vanilla stewed strawberries. What a great desert, breakfast, or evening-time snack. OK, this is going to take you an hour to make, but what a great way to pass an hour. Not to mention you can prepare a lot of this in advance.
Lemon Ricotta Cheese Stuffed French Toast Crepes with Vanilla Stewed Strawberries
Now for something to go with just about anything, Cookie + kate have a good-looking strawberry salsa to tempt our palates. You can make this in 10 minutes and it’s definitely vegan and gluten free, (leaving aside any chips or crackers to have with it).
Strawberry Salsa
Lemon Ricotta Cheese Stuffed French Toast Crepes with Vanilla Stewed Strawberries
From San Diego girl Averie Sunshine, something I think you’ll like; strawberry layer cake with strawberry frosting. Averie cheats a little in that she starts with a 15 oz box of white cake mix, but after that this pretty easy recipe is all her own.
Strawberry Layer Cake with Strawberry Frosting
Jessica Merchant at How Sweet It Is has found this really fun and very adult recipe from Joy the Baker; strawberry raspberry rosé slushies. This is definitely a n’awlins recipe because not only does it have a bottle of dry rosé wine, it also contains a good splash of Campari. (You could go totally wild and add brandy too.)
Strawberry Raspberry Rosé Slushies
Finally for this week, from Absolut, makers of Swedish vodka, we have 75 drinks with strawberries including the famous strawberry kick.
Vodka and strawberries are a very dangerous mixture to give to your Lady Friend. You have been warned.
Personally, I liked champagne with strawberries, for preference Lanson Black Label or Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label. A good Prosecco is nice with strawberries too, and much cheaper than a good champagne. Sometimes it’s a damn shame I don’t drink anymore.
~
jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
click to buy Prosscco
Food on Friday ~ Salads
Early Summer Salad Days
The sky is bright blue, the breeze is warm, and the sea is as calm as it gets. Even here in England it’s warm enough to be thinking salads for lunch and dinner, rather than something hot, filling, and comforting.
For the busy independent lady there are a lot of upsides to making a salad for dinner; it’s a healthy option, salads are usually quick and easy, and you can have some for dinner and take some to work for lunch the following day(s). The major downside is that you may have to go to the store more often to stock up on really fresh ingredients ~ however, if you learn to shop fast and efficiently, (like a cool guy goes to the store), than that’s not such a big issue.
These dishes are mostly vegetarian, vegan, and maybe gluten-free.
Talking about sunshine; from Averie Cooks California girl Averie Sunshine has this pink and purple potato salad. This looks so ‘pretty’, and isn’t is so much nicer to have a visually attractive dish? A really good potato salad is such a versatile dish, and this one looks so much better than an average, run-of-the-mill potato salad.
Pink and Purple Potato Salad
Averie also has a pina colada fruit salad for us for dessert. Personally, if I was making this I’d eschew the idea on using n0n-alcoholic pina colada mix and splash in some booze.
Pina Colada Fruit Salad
Next, from Cookie and Kate, (Cookie is the dog), we have this quinoa broccoli slaw with honey-mustard dressing. This is vegetarian, but I have no idea if quinoa or almonds are gluten-free. I think this dish would be great alongside Averie Sunshine’s pink and purple potato salad.
Quinoa Broccoli Slaw with Honey-Mustard Dressing
I know you guys love recipe collections, and this week we have a collection from Cookie and Kate, 20 epic salad recipes ~ including this cool Thai mango salad with peanut dressing.
Thai Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
From English girl Petra at Food Eat Love we have this most excellent and truly amazing Tasmanian olive leaf tea jelly tricolore salad. This recipe isn’t vegan because we use mozzarella cheese, but I guess you could substitute that for a vegan cheese.
Tasmanian Olive Leaf Tea Jelly Tricolore Salad
Andrea at Cooking with a Wallflower has spring green tossed with beets, avocado, tomato, blood oranges to give us roasted beet salad with blood orange balsamic vinaigrette.
Roasted Beet Salad with Blood Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette
From Jessica Merchant at how sweet it is, we have this dead easy and very tasty marinated mozzarella melon salad. Remember, if you want to make a vegan dish there are plenty of vegan ‘cheeses’ to choose from.
Marinated Mozzarella melon Salad
Finally for this week, from Heather Christo, how about this gorgeous nectarine panzella salad. You can make this in less than a half-hour, it’s vegan and gluten free. What’s not to like.
Nectarine Panzella Salad
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Thank you to all the great cooks featured
in this week’s Food on Friday.
jack collier
jack collier7@talktalk.net
