Simple Food. Good Ideas. Great Fun.
Inspired by a salad served at a regional chain Italian restaurant, I made a chickpea and beet salad. My version of this simple salad has the chickpeas two ways, cooked (canned) and roasted. The roasted chickpeas provide a slightly nutty and crunchy element to the salad without nuts or gluten. The salad is very easy […]
Although Apple Salad with Vanilla Dressing could be considered a side dish, I think of it as dessert. It is a great no-bake option that can easily serve a crowd. Plus, it is rich in flavor and fiber. As written, the dressing recipe has a very strong vanilla flavor. If you aren’t a fan of […]
This recipe of my parents-in-law is always popular at gatherings including potlucks, holiday events, and game night parties. It is a great “go-to” dish because it fits in with the food selection no matter the season. Plus, it makes a lot with relatively little effort and no actual cooking. My in-laws usually serve it on […]
Inspired by lobster rolls, I decided to make a shrimp version. It did not take me long to decide not to try and make my own New England-style hot dog buns to put the shrimp mixture in, so my shrimp roll quickly became a shrimp salad. Although a traditional lobster roll has only mayonnaise, I […]
Linguine salad was one of my mom’s summertime favorites. I’m not sure exactly when she started making it or where she acquired the recipe. I do know she loved to make it to use some of the many vegetables my parents grew in their garden. She also loved having family and friends to the farm […]
Initially, kohlrabi was one of the vegetables that my husband and I grew in our garden many years ago out of curiosity. We had little knowledge of it except that it had an interesting shape, was related to the cabbage family, and grew best in the spring and fall (like cabbage). However, it did not […]
Lighting up your grill may not be the first thing that you think of while your buying fresh fruit, but it is something to consider. This is especially true if you chose fruit that may not be quite as ripe or as sweet as you would like. Ripe fresh pineapple is delicious, but one of […]
I went to the grocery store to look for inspiration. I needed an idea for a simple finger food that would be a good sandwich substitute in a semi-formal setting. The first thing that got my attention was a large package of vibrant red on-the-vine tomatoes. They were smaller, but not too small. As I […]
A super simple, flexible side dish that is perfect for spring, summer, and salad bars is pea salad. Although there are many, many variations, I like to start with the basic salad bar standard. From the basic recipe, I can add ingredients to fit the meal and the occasion. Other ingredients that go well in […]
It seems I have been making chicken salad quite frequently lately. Not only does everyone like it, but it is simple to make from store-bought rotisserie chicken, leftover herb roasted chicken or other recipes, or quickly cooked chicken in the pressure cooker. Additionally, I now included healthier ingredients like ground flax, sliced almonds, and sometimes […]
