Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
4 oz organic, crumbled blue cheese 6 TBSP plain yogurt (or buttermilk) 6 TBSP high-quality sour cream 1/4 cup high-quality mayo 4 tsps apple cider vinegar 1/2 tsp natural sugar of choice (or 1 drop liquid stevia) 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp pure salt freshly ground black pepper to taste (about 1/8 tsp if measuring) Mix all ingredients together and serve as a dip for fresh vegetables or drizzled over salad. _________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ This amount fills up a 12 oz wide mouth mason jar (you can mix the ingredients right in the...
Read MoreFeta, Fig & Toasted Pine Nut Salad
Mixed salad greens 2 – 4 TBSPs feta cheese 1 – 2 TBSPs pine nuts, toasted 4 dried figs, cut in half or quarters balsamic vinaigrette (or dressing of choice) Toast pine nuts in a dry skillet for a few minutes until aromatic & slightly browned. Toss everything together with dressing of choice and serve. Serves 1. _______________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ This is a really tasty combination that’s easy to put together. There are no real set amounts for something like this. Just toss in as much of everything as you’d like. ~...
Read MoreSimple Carrot & Feta Salad
6 medium carrots, grated 1 & 1/2 cups feta cheese (roughly 6 oz) 4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar 1/4 tsp salt (optional) Mix together and enjoy. Serves 4. ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ This salad is really good – and very simple to prepare. It’s great as a snack, light lunch, or side dish with dinner. ~ Of course, you can simply scale this down to make a single serving if you’d like. The measurements don’t have to be exact. Just shred a large carrot and add...
Read MoreChicken Salad
2 TBSP coconut oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb pastured chicken breast, cut into strips salt and pepper to taste 3 carrots, shredded 1/2 cup creamy dressing (preferably homemade) Heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes, until just beginning to color. Add chicken strips, sprinkle with salt & pepper, and saute until cooked through – approx 10 mins. Remove chicken from pan, place in a glass container with cover, and refrigerate until cool. Cut chicken into small pieces and combine with shredded carrot. Mix in dressing and enjoy. Serves...
Read MoreCreamy Ranch-Style Dressing
1/2 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk or sour cream 1/2 cup high quality mayo 1/8 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1/4 tsp onion powder 1 tsp sugar or 2 drops of liquid stevia (optional) 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce Mix until well combined. Yields approximately 1 cup. ___________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ Aside from tossing some into a salad, this dressing is great used as a dip for all the fresh carrots, cucumbers & peppers being harvested this time of year. ~ You can use any additional herbs you have on hand that sound...
Read MoreGreek Salad Pita
FILLING: about a quarter of a medium cucumber, diced 10 grape tomatoes (give or take), cut in half diced red onion to taste (roughly 2 TBSP) 10 black olives (give or take), pitted & cut in half 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese 2 TBSP lemon juice 1 & 1/2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 TBSP chopped fresh) DRESSING: 1/2 cup plain yogurt 1 TBSP chopped, fresh mint leaves a few dashes of pure salt freshly ground black pepper 2 whole grain or sprouted pitas Mix together filling ingredients and fill 2 pitas. Combine dressing ingredients and drizzle into each...
Read MoreArugula w/ Golden Vinaigrette
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 TBSP brown mustard 1 tsp ground turmeric pinch of pure salt freshly ground black pepper Whisk all ingredients together and toss with salad greens (pictured here with baby arugula). ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ A salad doesn’t have to be fancy and time-consuming to make. This is a great example of how a few handfuls of greens with the right dressing can be absolutely extraordinary. I am in love with this simple salad. ~ Turmeric (one of the primary spices that...
Read MoreBalsamic Mustard Vinaigrette
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (or to taste) 2 tsps high quality brown mustard 1 large garlic clove, crushed 1/2 tsp dried oregano 1/8 tsp pure salt a few grinds of black pepper Whisk together all ingredients (or combine in jar with tight-fitting lid and shake well). Store in the refrigerator. ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ Very easy/tasty dressing to whip together. Of course, the key to making a salad dressing (or anything for that matter) taste delicious, is using the highest quality...
Read MoreCranberry Pecan & Feta Salad
mixed salad greens dried cranberries pecans feta cheese (optional) Italian dressing Toss together and enjoy. ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ This salad is based on something I picked up at Whole Foods a while back while traveling. If I remember correctly, they used goat cheese which was really tasty. I happened to have feta in the fridge so that’s what I used & it was just as good (albeit a bit different). For those with various food restrictions, this recipe falls into the following categories: Dairy...
Read MoreSpicy Carrot Salad
Something colorful & fresh for the 1st day of spring 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil 2 tsps tamari/soy sauce 1 small garlic clove (crushed or minced) 2 tsps (give or take) minced, fresh ginger (optional) 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes dash or 2 of cayenne pepper 1 TBSP water 3 cups carrots, peeled into long ribbons In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, tamari, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes, cayenne & water. Add carrots & toss to coat. ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ We really enjoyed this spicy salad as a filling...
Read MoreLemon Basil Vinaigrette
6 TBSP extra virgin olive oil 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice 1/4 tsp pure salt handful fresh basil, chopped 1/4 tsp black pepper pinch of crushed red pepper Mix =) Store any extras in the fridge. ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ This is a great dressing if you’re avoiding vinegar (or even if you’re not!). ~ Swap out the basil for any herb (or combination of herbs) you’d like. ~ LEMON JUICE TIP – Sometimes I don’t have fresh lemons on hand when I need them. On the other hand, if I buy a bottle of lemon...
Read MoreTomato Salad
tomatoes, chopped red onion, thinly sliced a swirl or two of extra virgin olive oil a few splashes of balsamic (or red wine vinegar) freshly ground black pepper Optional add-ins: fresh basil, or herbs of choice cucumbers olives whole grain bread, sliced into chunks and toasted feta cheese or mozzarella ______________________________________________________________________________________ SIDE NOTES: ~ There are a lot of options for a tomato salad, but if you’ve got sweet, juicy tomatoes, in season – right off the vine, you don’t need much else! In fact, this type of salad...
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