Search Results for: blog cucumber and tomato salad

Snacking on Vegetables and Fruits

Recently I mentioned in a blog some of my mid-years goals. One of my goals was to eat three fruits and three vegetables a day. This has been going really well and has helped me to explore new foods. Previously, one of my favorite veggies to snack on was carrots. Whenever I would go to a party, I would load up my plate with carrots before I even look around at the other options. Starting with a healthy choice would make it less likely for me to eat a ton of sweet snacks later. Although I love carrots so much, … Continue reading →

Summer Crops, the CSA and Cooking Corn

It isn’t too late in some areas to join a CSA farm and get wonderfully fresh produce. This week, we receive a bounty of traditional summer crops that were so fresh, you could practically see the drops of dawn sunlight still lingering on them from being picked that morning. Here is what we got, and what we are planning on doing with it. Broccoli This week, our head of broccoli was a little on the small side, so I’m guessing that we are nearing the end of the line with this crop. Still, there should be enough again for my … Continue reading →

International Chicken Salads

I love the Cheesecake Factory’s Luau Salad (and not just because I was born and raised in Hawaii). The culinary creation is piled high with grilled chicken, mixed greens, cucumbers, red and yellow peppers, green beans, carrots, mouthwatering mango and crisp wontons. It’s topped with macadamia nuts and sesame seeds, and dressed with a to die for vinaigrette. The problem is, it’s not cheap. Sure, the portion size is generous, but I always get a tinge of guilt ordering it because it’s something that I could easily make at home (save for the wontons). I’m the type of person who … Continue reading →

Recipes for End of the Summer Tomatoes

You know your tomato plants did well this year when your neighbors are even sick of eating the fruits of your labor. If you are tired of packing up bags (and bags and bags) of your bountiful harvest only to have friends and family members decline your gift, then consider putting your tomatoes to good use in these simple, yet delicious recipes: FRESH TOMATO PIE Ingredients: 1 (9-inch) deep-dish pie crust, pre-baked 4 large tomatoes 1 cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons fresh basil 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 1 egg 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Directions: Make or buy … Continue reading →

Lite and Healthy Summer Recipes

Whether you are trying to maintain your bikini-ready bod for trips to the pool or you simply want to escape the heat of the kitchen when the temps are hovering near 100, the following healthy dishes really hit the spot on a sweltering hot summer day: MEDITERRANEAN PITA POCKET Ingredients: 2/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons mayonnaise Juice of 1 fresh lemon 3 tablespoons water 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano Salt and black pepper 4 cups spring mix lettuce or baby spinach 4 cups hearts of romaine lettuce, chopped 4 Roma tomatoes, halved and … Continue reading →

Simple Summer Sandwiches

With summer here and the temperatures on the rise, no one wants to be slaving away in a hot kitchen. The following sandwich recipes don’t require turning on the oven or firing up the stove. Rather, they allow you to serve your family a hearty and healthy meal without breaking a sweat. GREEK TURKEY WRAP Ingredients: 1 (8-ounce) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup feta cheese 1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives 4 (8-inch) spinach flavored flour tortillas 1 pound sun dried tomato turkey, thinly sliced 1 cup baby spinach leaves 1/4 cup thinly sliced cucumber 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion … Continue reading →

Lite and Healthy Summer Recipes

If you are struggling to fit into last season’s swimsuit, then you might be interested in the following recipe line-up. These dishes prove that reducing calories and fat doesn’t mean sacrificing taste and texture: SPICY FISH TACOS Ingredients: 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt 1/4 cup Lite mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon lime zest 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro Few dashes of hot sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 pounds fresh white fish fillets (ahi, grouper, halibut, or tilapia) 2 sliced red, yellow peppers 10 small flour tortillas 4 cups … Continue reading →

Simple Spring and Summer Salads

Late spring is such a fickle time weather-wise. One day it’s sunny, in the 70s, and you can just taste summer. Then—BAM! The next day, it’s cold, windy, and rainy, and you wonder why you put away your winter coat. The following salad recipes are ideal for late spring/early summer. They feature seasonal ingredients and are hearty enough to fill you up, even when Mother Nature can’t seem to deliver two warm days in a row. MEDITERRANEAN SALAD Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon dried … Continue reading →

Quick and Easy Weeknight Recipes

With Halloween just a few days away you might be looking for dinner recipes that are quick and easy to prepare. If you are like me, then you also want a recipe that contains more nutrients than a bag of Skittles, so your little ghosts and goblins have the energy they need to canvas the neighborhood. Growing up my parents wouldn’t allow us to begin trick-or-treating until we ate a nutritious dinner. Of course, getting squirmy, excited kids to chow down on a plate full of chicken and broccoli was never an easy task. These days parents have a bigger … Continue reading →

Say So Long to Summer with Spicy Cashew Strawberry Salad and Orange Spinach Salad

Summer is fading away… say it ain’t so. Soon it will be back to school, back to wool sweaters and back to scraping ice off my windshield. But, rather than dwell on the inevitable I’ve been trying to spend as much time outside as possible, including dining alfresco. Next week our entire playgroup will be having an end of the summer luncheon in the park. And with the Labor Day holiday fast approaching most of you likely have outdoor plans as well. If you are looking for a quick and easy potluck dish to pass at your next outdoor gathering … Continue reading →