Search Results for: blog spicy summer salads

Simple Salads to Spice Up Your Summer Picnic

Say goodbye to big Tupperware containers filled with green salads that sit untouched at summer picnics and hello to these hearty versions that pack a punch with bold flavors and unique textures: SPICY SOUTHWESTERN PASTA SALAD WITH CHICKEN Ingredients: 1/2 cup fresh lime juice 1/2 cup cilantro 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 garlic clove Dash hot sauce 2/3 cups canola oil 2 boneless chicken breasts, grilled and diced 1 cup red pepper, chopped 1/4 cups red onion, diced 1/2 cup celery, diced 1/2 cup black olives, sliced 2 green onions, chopped 2 fresh jalapenos, chopped and seeded … Continue reading →

Making a Magnificent Meal from Summer’s Harvest

It’s prime picking season for some of summer’s most bountiful crops. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches, cherries, tomatoes and summer squash are at their peak and ready to be showcased in your next meal. The good news is that you don’t have to have a green thumb to make a magnificent meal from summer’s harvest. Rather, visit local farmer’s market or shop at a grocer with a quality produce section, and then use the season’s best selections in these fabulous recipes: FRESH PEACH AND RASPBERRY CRISP Ingredients for Filling: 6 fresh peaches, stones removed and sliced 1 cup fresh raspberries 1/2 cup … 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 →

Simple Summer Soups

Soups during the dog days of summer? It doesn’t seem practical, right? On the contrary, chilled soups are a delicious way to cool off during the sweltering summer months. In addition, with all of the fresh produce being offered at local farmer’s markets and in your own backyard, the following recipes should come in very handy: SUMMER MINESTRONE Ingredients: 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon dried basil 4 large garlic cloves, minced 1 medium sized zucchini, diced 1 medium yellow summer squash, … 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 →

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 →

Spicy Summer Salads

Who hasn’t been inspired by the steely determination and incredible athleticism displayed by the participants of the Summer Olympic Games in China? My family has been so wrapped up in the Olympics telecast that I have been making sure dinner and the dishes are done before the first second of primetime coverage begins each night. The broadcast of the games has also influenced our dinner menu. I’ve been trying to make dishes that are not too involved, yet contain the required nutritional allotment for a growing family. The following recipes are easy to prepare and would be welcome additions to … Continue reading →

Cool as a Cucumber Vegetable Juice and a Super Summer Salad

Fresh fruits often get top billing during the hot summer months, but let’s not forget the power of vegetables. When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years back our entire family got a crash course in Nutrition 101. Her doctors recommended that she revamp her diet and add more vegetables. The following recipe for Vegetable Juice was given to her by a dietician, who told her that if she drank one glass each morning it would be the equivalent of eating two huge dinner salads. So, if you are looking for an efficient and effective ways to … Continue reading →