Tag: Salads

A Comforting Dish The Whole Family Will Love

After last week, I realized how important family was. A beloved member of my godmother’s family suddenly passed away. She was an incredible teacher full of hugs, wisdom, and kindness. Being around my godmother’s family reminded me of what enduring love is.

As a writer, you often shut the world out to focus on your craft. I know too many incredible writers that do just that. I guess that’s why I developed this blog. After all, what’s the fun in cooking a meal if you can’t share it with a loved one, friend, or neighbor?

I went home after the service and made a large serving of my favorite pasta salad knowing I’d share it with my neighbor and her daughter. You can eat it warm or cold, add other veggies that you prefer such as zucchini or bell peppers, and its mild enough for even little ones to love (just leave out the onions and garlic). Choose the pasta you like gluten free or plain. And you can make it dairy-free now that we have feta and Parmesan options through brands like Violife. You just have to try different brands available to you until you find the ones you love.

Remember to be kind to yourself, especially when grieving the loss of someone you admire and love. Listen to calming music and make a dish that you can share with someone so you don’t feel alone. I hope this recipe inspires you to eat healthy both mind, body, and soul.
Continue reading “Greek Plant Based Pasta Salad” →

I found blood oranges at the market today. It’s the first time I tried them, and I realized they’d taste wonderful in a colorful citrus salad. The combination of citrus and fresh greens made such a simple and pretty springtime salad. It’s so easy to make; you could double the recipe and serve it at a party. Continue reading “Citrus Salad” →

A party pleasing salad

I love bringing this dish to family get-togethers. Trust me, the creamy dressing combined with roasted chickpeas, homemade parmesan “cheese,” and crispy romaine hearts is a crowd pleaser. It’s dairy free, gluten free, and packed with good-for-you ingredients. Sometimes I make two batches, so we can have it at home the next day. Continue reading “Greek Caesar Salad” →

A taste of summer in every bite

In anticipation of the first day of summer, I’d like to share my family’s go-to appetizer. I think it was my grandmother that first served Caprese Salad on mini bamboo skewers. My mom coined the phrase “Salad Bites,” and I’ve been making my Greek version ever since.

When I lived in Athens, I loved walking around our neighborhood Laiki market. There I’d find bright green watermelons, basil, olive oil, and fig preserves to make a fresh and delicious snack. Today, I added soft almond cheese to the salad. To my surprise, it tasted like feta. I think I officially found my favorite summer appetizer. Continue reading “Greek Caprese Salad” →

Inspired by Summer Days in France

Okay, I’d like to think that with this recipe I can redeem myself from yesterday’s unplanned post. I recently found almond brie crafted by Kite Hill. It only cost a few dollars more than regular brie. To a girl that has intolerance to dairy, this brie is worth its weight in gold. Almond brie has a mozzarella-like texture to it and is low in fat. Because of this, it works better in a salad than melted in a Panini or baked.

I love that the French add wild strawberries to everything imaginable. In the Limousin region, they have an entire festival dedicated to the sweetest of berries. Naturally, I thought, why not pair strawberries with brie? Trust me; it’s a simple salad with a hint of luxury. Continue reading “Strawberry Brie Salad” →

A 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” →

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” →