Kale, Cranberry & Quinoa Salad

In my efforts to eat healthier and explore healthier food options, I came across this recipe. I had heard of quinoa (say keen-wa) before, I'd even bought some that had been sitting in my pantry for quite a while, but I had never cooked it or eaten it anywhere. A little research revealed that this grain contains more protein than any other grain. One website indicates that there are varieties of quinoa that are more than 20 percent protein, making this grain a boon for vegetarians.

And kale. Touted as one of the world's "super foods", kale has risk-lowering benefits for at least five different types of cancers, including cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate⁽¹⁾. It comprehensively supports the body's detoxification system. Kale's extremely high vitamin-K content ("one cup of kale provides far more micrograms of vitamin K than any of our 135 World's Healthiest foods"⁽¹⁾) makes it a champion in anti-inflammatory properties.

Whoa.

But does this all taste good??

In a word, Yes.

I love this dish so much, I've made it at least once a week for the last several weeks. In addition to my dinner, the leftovers heat up beautifully, becoming my lunch for the next couple of days. The toasted pine nuts add a bit of crunch, the dried cranberries give it a touch of sweetness, the sauteed shallots give it a tiny bit of caramelization that I just adore. Don't forget the salt... it definitely needs it. And definitely don't forget to thoroughly rinse the quinoa or your dish will have an awfully bitter aftertaste. You can smell the saponins on the quinoa. You'll know you've rinsed the grain enough - you won't smell the bitter coating at all any longer.

Thanks to Beyond the Plate for this wonderful recipe. I am deeply grateful!

Kale, Cranberry and Quinoa Salad

2 cups water
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 ounces/ 56 grams pine nuts
1/2 pound/ 260 grams kale
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium shallot (about 2 ounces/50 grams) peeled and thinly sliced
3 ounces/ 85 grams dried cranberries
1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon salt

Combine quinoa and water in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until all the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Stir the mixture about 10 minutes into cooking to prevent the quinoa from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Set aside.

Toast the pine nuts in a small, dry saute pan over low heat. Watch them carefully so they don't burn. Remove from the heat and reserve.

Remove the stems of the kale, then stack the leaves and thinly slice. Finely chop the stems as well.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over moderate heat. Add the shallots and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the kale and the cranberries, stir, then leave to cook, covered, for about 5 minutes.

Add the pine nuts, chili flakes (if using) and salt, stir and leave to cook again, covered, for another 5 minutes. If the kale starts to stick to the pan, add some water, a tablespoon at a time. (I use a non-stick skillet which eliminates any concern of, um, stickage...)You want just enough moisture to create steam in the skillet, but not too much to give you a sauce.

Toss the kale mixture and quinoa in a medium bowl and serve immediately, or at room temperature. (My personal preference is to serve this warm!)

Shrimp & Snap Pea Salad with Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette

There is so much to like in this salad.  Quickly cooked tender shrimp, blanched-and-still-crunchy snap peas, juicy cubes of mango, and the Asian flavored dressing with soy, ginger, lime, and a slight pop of heat.  It's seriously good but oh so simple.  It makes for the consummate meal as the weather starts warming up.  The perfect bite contains mango, shrimp, a snap pea, a few bits of chopped roasted cashew, all dressed with that beautiful vinaigrette.  The mere memory of it makes me smile!

Shrimp & Snap Pea Salad with Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette

Serves 4 as a main course

1-1/2 pounds large shrimp (about 32-36 per pound)
2 cups snap peas (about 1/2 pound, trimmed)
3 green onions, trimmed and minced

Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon honey (my "tweak")
3 - 5 dashes hot sauce

Garnishes
1/2 cup diced mango
1/2 cup chopped roasted cashews
lime wedges

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shrimp and cook 3 - 4 minutes, until they turn pink. Drain, run under cold water, peel and devein.

Meanwhile, bring another pot of salted water to a boil, drop in snap peas and boil, uncovered, 2 - 3 minutes, until just tender and still bright green. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking.

To make vinaigrette: Whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lime juice, ginger, honey, and hot sauce in a small bowl until well-combined.

Put shrimp, snap peas, and green onions in a large bowl, add vinaigrette, and toss well. Divide the mixture among 4 plates and garnish each serving with the diced mango, chopped nuts, and lime wedges.


Source: The Beach House Cookbook, copyright 2005

Crispy Prosciutto

Prosciutto di Parma. The sound of it makes me drool. It's such a lovely Italian delicacy. That sweet and salty flavor enhances whatever it's added to. It's wonderful in dishes like Saltimbocca or Chicken Sorentino. It stars in appetizers when wrapped around wedges of cantaloupe or thin Italian breadsticks. But I've never had it crisped up to add to salads. I had seen that on cooking shows but hadn't tried it myself. Until now. Baking it in the oven not only crisped the prosciutto, but it also slightly concentrated its flavor. Easily broken into delicate shards, it took my salad to a whole new level. It was wonderful. Salads will never be the same!

Crisped Prosciutto

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Place slices of Prosciutto di Parma on baking sheet. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Break into shards.

Super easy. Super delicious!

Grilled Tuna Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing

I've been having some rather 'hearty' meals of late. I was ready for some lighter fare, a salad or some seafood. I found a salad recipe calling for grilled tuna. Perfect. I adore grilled tuna. And the accompanying Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing sounded interesting. It was. And delicious. Easy and quick to make. Love that!

By the way, the dressing recipe calls for sour cream. I really thought it was unnecessary and toned down the flavor of the tomatoes too much. If you try the recipe as written, let me know what you think -


Grilled Tuna Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
Gourmet| July 1991
Yield: Serves 4

For the dressing
1 large garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice plus additional to taste
1/4 cup finely chopped drained sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 cup packed fresh coriander

10 cups loosely packed mesclun (mixed baby greens, available at specialty produce markets)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved lengthwise
1 cup cooked fresh corn (cut from about 2 ears)
two 1-inch-thick tuna steaks (about 1-1/2 pounds) olive oil for brushing the tuna nasturtium blossoms for garnish if desired

Make the dressing: In a blender blend together the garlic, the vinegar, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, the sun-dried tomatoes, the plum tomatoes, and 1/4 cup water until the mixture is smooth and with the motor running add the oil in a stream. Add the sour cream, the coriander, the additional lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste and blend the dressing until it is combined well. (The dressing may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Let the dressing return to room temperature.)

In a large bowl toss the mesclun with the tomatoes and the corn and divide the mixture among 4 plates. Brush the tuna on both sides with the oil, season it with salt and pepper, and grill it on an oiled rack set about 4 inches over glowing coals for 4 to 5 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or until is cooked to the desired degree. Let the tuna stand for 3 minutes and cut it against the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Divide the tuna slices among the salads and pour about 1/4 cup of the dressing over each serving. Serve any remaining dressing separately and garnish the salads with nasturtium blossoms, if using.

Blue Cheese Dressing

I tried Ina Garten's recipe for Blue Cheese Dressing, making a few subtle changes. Really delicious and really easy. Throw everything in the food processor, blitz, and a gorgeous, tasty salad dressing is ready in seconds.

Blue Cheese Dressing

6 ounces good Roquefort cheese, chopped, divided
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup half 'n' half
2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place the 4 ounces cheese, mayonnaise, half 'n' half, vinegar, tarragon, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until smooth. Stir in the remaining 2 ounces of cheese.

Source: Adapted from Barefoot Contessa, copyright 2004

Shrimp & Avocado Salad

Today was Round 2 of my viscosupplementation injections in both knees. I spent the afternoon on Aleve, with my feet up, and ice packs on my knees. They're still achy (and sore at the injection sites), so I wanted something good but easy to make for dinner. One of my favorite salads comes from Ann at Thibeault's Table, ironic because Ann is not much on salads!! But this salad is a winner in anyone's book. Pretty salad greens, layered with shrimp and avocado, topped with a mayonnaise dressing. Delicious. Thank you, Ann!!

Chilled Shrimp Appetizer

24 large prawns/shrimp
2 avocados, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped chives
6 leaves of Boston or butter lettuce

Dressing
1 cup of mayonnaise (homemade or Hellman’s)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 small fresh red chili, finely chopped (Ann's note: "Sometimes I use just hot red pepper flakes and sometimes I roast a fresh red pepper, finely chop and add to the dressing along with the hot red pepper flakes")
1 clove of minced garlic

Peel and devein shrimp, leaving on tail shell. Cook. Cool and refrigerate.

Make Dressing by mixing all of the ingredients together.

To serve, place one leaf of lettuce on each plate. Place the shrimp on plate and place one slice of avocado between each shrimp. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle with chopped chives.

My notes: I put a little salt over the garlic and make a paste of it before adding to the dressing. I usually use the red pepper flakes. I also add a pinch of saffron, mix well, and let the dressing sit for at least an hour before using.

Shrimp & Snap Pea Salad with Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette

As the weather starts to warm up, I'm starting to look for recipes more suitable for those evenings when the last thing on my mind is anything that will "stick to my ribs" or "warm me through and through." One of my favorites is this main course salad containing some of my favorite flavors. The shrimp, the fruit, the lightness of the vinaigrette... it speaks of warm evenings and fireflies. Well, maybe it's a little early in the season for that, but I'm always in the mood for this dish!

Shrimp & Snap Pea Salad with Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette
Serves 4 as a main course

1-1/2 pounds large shrimp (about 32-36 per pound)
2 cups snap peas (about 1/2 pound, trimmed)
3 green onions, trimmed and minced

Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons champagne or white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
3 - 5 dashes hot sauce

Garnishes
1/2 cup diced mango
1/2 cup chopped peanuts or cashews
lime wedges

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shrimp and cook 3 - 4 minutes, until they turn pink. Drain, run under cold water, peel and devein.

Meanwhile, bring another pot of salted water to a boil, drop in snap peas and boil, uncovered, 2 - 3 minutes, until just tender and still bright green. Drain and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking.

To make vinaigrette: Whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, lime juice, ginger, and hot sauce in a small bowl until well-combined.

Put shrimp, snap peas, and green onions in a large bowl, add vinaigrette, and toss well. Divide the mixture among 4 plates and garnish each serving with the diced mango, chopped nuts, and lime wedges.


Source: The Beach House Cookbook, copyright 2005