Recipes

Confessions of a Newbie Blogger

Lightened Up Macaroni Salad

Mediterranean Salad challenge day three: Lightened Up Macaroni Salad.

 

An experienced blogger said that I should try to post a recipe each day. I thought I’d try it for a week to see how it goes. Here’s what I should have been told – Lock up your refrigerator and pantry the night before the post.

I’ve had to switch my daily routine to accommodate my new and gratifying hobby called food blogging. Instead of editing my 500-page manuscript in the wee hours of the morning, I’m taking photos for the post to better capture the natural light. Now, I spend evenings going over my endless pages of fictional writing.

I don’t know about you, but I tend to snack if I’m sitting down after nine. Last night I was fact-checking my rendition of the Sahara Desert, and I got the urge to eat something salty. I had pistachios in the pantry for Friday’s blog. That’s when I ended up eating all of them.

Back to manuscript edits. The story first takes place in Luxor, Egypt. I thought about all the mouth-watering watermelons that they sell on the street. There was a cute little seedless one that just happened to be in my refrigerator. I had cut half of the watermelon in perfect circles to make a Watermelon Caprese Salad. Another late night craving and you guessed it; I ate the whole thing. After one delightful snack, I had eaten my way through the star ingredients of the next two blog posts.

This morning I woke up and realized I was in big trouble. I remembered there was a 5-minute mayonnaise that I wanted to try. It uses the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans in replacement of eggs. Instantly, I knew what I would make.

So lesson learned. However, I did whip up one satisfying and cholesterol free macaroni salad. Continue reading “Confessions of a Newbie Blogger”

Recipes

French-Inspired Salad

French SaladA perfect salad to bring to an outdoor party

It’s that time of year again for engagement parties, bridal showers, and DIY weddings. Niçoise salad is one of my favorite go-to summer meals for outdoor entertaining. It’s packed with satisfying veggies and a fresh Dijon dressing. The ingredients are affordable and seasonal. Most importantly, you can make it the night before.

Traditionally the salad has eggs and tuna – usually not a good idea to serve buffet style in the heat. To my surprise, I found a vegetarian version when I worked in Belgium. I ate this salad for lunch every chance I got. They even served it with edible flowers.* Continue reading “French-Inspired Salad”

Recipes

Greek Pasta Salad

Easy Greek Pasta Salad

Is it Summer yet?

Perhaps it’s the rainy weather here, but I’m ready for summer to begin. It’s the time of the year when watermelon constitutes as a meal, evenings are spent shucking corn on the porch, and sprinkles top every ice cream imaginable. I even ran to the store today to get fresh berries. I’m thinking of trying to make gluten-free/dairy-free strawberry cheesecake. Any tested and liked recipes out there?

To count down the final days of spring, I’m sharing a few of my Mediterranean-inspired salads. First up on the list is one of my favorites: Continue reading “Greek Pasta Salad”

Recipes

Traditional Gazpacho

Gazpacho

Need a make-ahead appetizer for a large party or wedding?

Gazpacho is not only a crowd pleaser but a simple appetizer that can transform your event into an elegant affair. Double, triple, or quadruple the recipe – and you’re set! Let the soup chill in the refrigerator while you take a deserved break. I’m pretty sure that Spain invented gazpacho and siesta to go hand in hand. Continue reading “Traditional Gazpacho”