Tag Archives: arugula

Sunshine Salad

Trying to find a little inspiration this morning. The last few or more like several times it has been beyond painful trying to upload my photos from my camera to my laptop. This morning was no different and really puts a bummer on getting in the mood to want to write or even deal with electronics at all.

Change of scenery has helped a little and I finally got the pictures to load; what a pain in the ass that was. My adorable husbands solution is to buy a new laptop, seriously how about seeing it if it is the $20 SD card first. I googled it; I don’t think it is – insert sad face here!

So I have a couple of recipes to share with you from this past week and I had totally planned on sharing the Tostadas my daughter made but decided to write about the salad my daughter picked out but I made.  I am sitting on the back deck; aka the drinking deck after my husband de-pollinated it for us WOW crazy pollen this year. There is a little breeze and the sun is starting to come around to the deck – hence the sunshine salad; no that is not why it is called that. The recipe mentioned that this was sunshine in a bowl.

I think you will like this salad, the peppery arugula is offset by the sweet potatoes and the creamy avocado, the tomato adds a pop of juicy tang followed by fried cheese. It all works really well together. You can have this as a meal or add some protein along the side.

The recipe we got from Yasmin Khan

Sunshine Salad

dclarkabal
not your average salad but worth the extra effort to make this one for the family and friends
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean

Ingredients
  

  • 3 medium sweet potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large handfuls of arugula
  • 18 cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 large Hass avocado peeled, stoned and sliced
  • small handful of mint leaves finely chopped / we omitted since we didn't have any
  • small handful of basil leaves finely chopped
  • 9 ounce holloumi cheese
  • vegetable oil
  • Kosher salt and black pepper

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest finely grated

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400'F
  • Peel the sweet potatoes and slice into wedges, similar to steak fries. Place them on a baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil. Some salt and pepper. Place in the oven and bake for 30-45 minutes, or until they are cooked but still firm.
  • Place all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and whisk - set aside.
  • Once the sweet potatoes are cooked, let them cool on the sheet before putting them in a large serving bowl along with the arugula, tomatoes, avocado, and herbs. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss well to combine.
  • Slice the Halloumi aka as squeaky cheese into 8 rectangular pieces. Heat some vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the halloumi for a couple of minutes on each side until they are golden brown and seared. Arrange them on top of the salad and serve immediately.
Keyword arugula, avocado, salad, sweet potatoes

Maple Roasted Carrot Salad

Happy Easter!!!  Have a wonderful day!

If I was better at this blogging thing I would have given you this recipe last week so you could make it today as part of you Easter dinner. I plan on making it later today for my fam that will be here for dinner. I first made this and blogged about this recipe back in 2016. I am looking forward to having it later today, I can taste it already!

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I also am planning on making a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or it might turn into carrot cupcakes; both sound appealing to me.  I’ll have to see how the day progresses.

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Right now the house is super quiet. all I can hear is my fingers tapping on the keyboard. Which is very unusual around here. At the very least the dog is wanting something; could be out, could be attention or mostly could be a treat; but even he is still sleeping.  In less than an hour all things are going to change. My son and his fiance and my in-laws will all be here for pancakes, sausage and home fries.

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We have had Easter morning pancakes long before my kids were even born. And yes even though the kids are adults I will be hiding eggs. Which is almost as much fun for me as it is for them to find them.  I do love that I can truly hide them. The only problem is me keeping track of where I put them.
 
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If you happen to not have the ingredients on hand and there isn’t an open store near by I hope you keep this recipe in the back of your mind as it is easy to bring together; yes there are a few steps but nothing you can’t handle. The flavors meld so nice together and  you’ll look like a rock star placing it on the table for all to share.

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The Marcona almonds used to be something you had to look for around here but not now. I can get them pretty much at all of the grocery stores around. Which is great and now I have them on hand ALL the time. They are awesome by the handful as well as in sweet or savory recipes.  You should check them out if you haven’t already.

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Maple-Roasted Carrot Salad
Preheat oven to 425’F

2 pounds carrots
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup pure maple syrup
⅔ cup dried cranberries
⅔ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (2 oranges)
3 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic (grated)
6 ounces baby arugula
6 ounces goat cheese
⅔ cup Marcona almonds (roasted/salted)
1½ teaspoon Kosher salt
½ teaspoon Freshly cracked black pepper

Prepare carrots to 1 inch wide and 2 inches long – because they are roasting at a high temperature you don’t want them too small.

Place in a medium bowl with the olive oil, 1 tsp salt and pepper toss together. Using 2 sheet pans (they need space you don’t want them to steam) Roast for 20 minutes, tossing once until the carrots are tender. Transfer all of the carrots to one sheet pan and add the maple syrup. Toss and roast for another 5-10 minutes just till the edges caramelize. Watch them. Once out set aside for 10 minutes.

Combine the cranberries and orange juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer then set aside for 10 minutes.

In a small bowl combine the vinegar, garlic, ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
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Place the arugula in a large dish, add the carrots, cranberries in their juice, goat cheese crumbled, almonds and the vinaigrette. Toss and serve at room temperature.

 

Recipe – Ina Garten the Chew episode

Steak and Arugula Salad

Another typical weekend here in New England – yesterday was sunny gorgeous and 80ish today it is rainy, dreary and 63 degrees. I definitely think; well actually I know that the weather inspires what I feel like making and eating. Last night light and simple, today I am thinking of making soup; crazy right?

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We planted our gardens last weekend, I cannot wait for things to start growing and producing, I am dying for some fresh from the garden tomatoes. The last few years we have planted sunburst and cherry tomatoes; they are super sweet and so flavorful they will continue to be on my growing list. They barely make it into the house before you have to pop a handful in your mouth; my mouth is watering as I write.

The last few years I kept a journal of what worked in the garden and what didn’t. I got a chuckle out of one of my notes “no zucchini – unacceptable” I have had terrible trouble with squash bugs. I still haven’t solved it but I am determined to win the war.

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Last night I wanted something quick, light but filling for dinner last night. One of my husband’s clients gave him a bag full of arugula & mixed greens from her garden; guess she planted a lot earlier than we did. I had a flank steak on hand; BTW it is a great thing to have a skirt or flank steak in the fridge or freezer. They cook up fast, take marinade well or keep it simple with salt and pepper plus they are always tasty a very versatile. The cryovac ones will last longer in the fridge so you cook it when you want it, not when it has to be cooked.

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I made a simple dressing for the greens grilled up the steak and voila instant dinner; light and delicious.

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Flank Steak seasoned on both sides with olive oil, kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Start the grill; while it is heating up make the dressing

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Simple dressing

½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed is best
½ tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

Fresh parmigiano reggiano for shaving

Grill the steak for about 3-4 minutes on each side

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While steak is resting for 5 minutes; dress the arugula and pour yourself a glass of wine of your choice.

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Slice the steak very thin against the grain and lay slices on top of the salad shave a few pieces of good quality parmigiano reggiano cheese and If possible serve alfresco

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