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Come Party With Me: Fall Lunch - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:00:20 -0700

Since both Summer and my birthday are officially over, I've been a little down. There's nothing that makes me feel more excited and happy than a party on the horizon, so to celebrate the arrival of Autumn, I'm planning a simple lunch. The meal will honor the season and its most prominent ingredients. I'll start by putting together a small spread of olives, crackers, and charcuterie. When guests arrive, they can savor olives or nibble on crackers. To begin the sit-down meal, I'll serve a spicy green salad with Manchego cheese, pears, and pumpkin seeds. For the main course, a Fall lunch requires something comforting and classic, like a butternut squash and sage lasagna. If you are interested in the recipes to this menu, read more.

Spicy Green Salad With Manchego and Pears
From Gourmet

Ingredients

1/3 cup green (hulled) pumpkin seeds (pepitas; not toasted)
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon mild honey
1 teaspoon grainy mustard
4 cups packed spicy salad greens, such as radish greens, watercress, and/or arugula, tough stems discarded
4 cups packed frisée (French curly endive), torn into bite-size pieces
1 (1/2-pound) piece Manchego cheese, rind removed and cheese shaved into 32 thin slices (preferably with a cheese plane)
8 small red or yellow Bartlett pears (preferably with stems)

Directions

Cook seeds in 1 tablespoon oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until puffed and beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels and reserve oil. Season seeds with salt and pepper.
Whisk together vinegar, honey, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Add remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and reserved oil from skillet in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
Divide greens and cheese among salad plates. Cut off 2 opposite sides of each pear (reserve for another use), leaving a 1/2-inch-thick lengthwise center slice with stem and core. Arrange a pear slice on each plate and drizzle dressing over salads. Sprinkle with seeds.

Serves 8.
Make ahead: Pumpkin seeds can be toasted 2 days ahead and kept separately from oil, covered, at room temperature. Greens can be washed and dried 1 day ahead and chilled, wrapped in paper towels, in a sealed bag.

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Butternut Squash and Sage Lasagna
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 large egg yolks
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (2 cups)
Freshly grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
Fresh Lasagna Noodles, (you will need only 1/2 of the batch), cut into 4-by-13-inch strips and cooked, or store-bought dried noodles, cooked
4 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/4 cups)

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash, oil, and 1 teaspoon salt on a baking sheet. Season with pepper. Bake until light gold and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool.
Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Combine ricotta, cream, yolks, mozzarella, and a pinch of nutmeg in a medium bowl. Season with salt.
Melt butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. As soon as it starts to sizzle, add sage, and cook until light gold and slightly crisp at edges, 3 to 4 minutes.
Place squash in a medium bowl, and mash 1/2 of it with the back of a wooden spoon, leaving the other 1/2 in whole pieces. Gently stir in sage-butter mixture and stock. Season with salt and pepper.
Spread 3/4 cup of ricotta mixture in a 9-cup baking dish. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1/2 of the butternut squash mixture over noodles. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1 cup of ricotta mixture over noodles. Repeat layering once more (noodles, squash, noodles, ricotta). Sprinkle Parmesan over ricotta mixture.
Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until cheese is golden and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Serves 8.

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Come Party With Me: Passover - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:00:23 -0700

After the ceremonious reading of the Haggadah, invite your loved ones to join you for a hearty Seder dinner that is both traditional and modern. Start things off with a reinterpretation of the classic gefilte fish: pan-fried matzo-crusted trout. Serve with a crisp green salad. Next move on to rich bowls of piping hot matzo ball soup. Instead of offering the expected brisket, select another tough cut of meat - beef short ribs - and slow-cook in Kosher red wine. A tzimmes, a time-honored Passover stew made from sweet potatoes and dried fruit, is delicious on the side.

For these festive recipes, read more.

Matzo Meal-Crusted Trout
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 large egg
1/4 cup water
Kosher salt
1 cup matzo meal
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Eight 6-ounce rainbow trout fillets with skin, rinsed and patted dry
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
Oregano Oil, recipe below

Directions

In a bowl, beat the egg and water with a pinch of salt. In a shallow baking dish, toss the matzo meal with the pepper, garlic powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt.
Dip the trout fillets in the beaten egg, then dredge in the matzo meal mixture; transfer to a baking sheet.
Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in each of 2 large nonstick skillets. Add 4 fillets, skin side up, to each skillet and cook over moderately high heat until browned at the edges, 5 minutes. Turn and cook until the skin is crisp and the fish is just opaque throughout, about 3 minutes.
Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with salt. Serve with the Oregano Oil.

Serves 8.

Oregano Oil

3 oregano sprigs, lightly crushed
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

In a glass measuring cup, combine the oregano and olive oil. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 and up to 2 days. The oil can be refrigerated for up to 1 week. Discard the sprigs before using.

Makes 2/3 cup.

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Simple Spring Green Salad
From Gourmet

Ingredients

7 to 8 ounces Boston lettuce (2 heads), torn into bite-size pieces
1/2 pound Bibb lettuce (2 heads), large leaves torn into bite-size pieces
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions
Combine lettuces in a large bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

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Matzo Ball Soup
From Williams-Sonoma

Ingredients

4 eggs
5 Tbs. melted chicken fat or vegetable oil
8 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 cup matzo meal
1 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
3 Tbs. chopped fresh dill
2 Tbs. minced shallots
1 carrot, peeled and finely grated
1 cup peeled and finely diced carrots

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, 4 Tbs. of the chicken fat and 1/2 cup of the stock and whisk until well blended. Stir in the matzo meal, the 1 tsp. salt, the pepper, dill, shallots and grated carrot. Refrigerate for about 1 hour.
In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring the remaining 8 cups stock to a simmer. Season with salt.
Meanwhile, with wet hands, gently form the matzo meal mixture into 6 balls, each about 2 inches in diameter. Do not make them too compact.
Slip the matzo balls into the simmering stock. When they rise to the surface, reduce the heat so the stock is barely simmering. Cover and cook for about 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a sauté pan over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 Tbs. chicken fat. Add the diced carrots and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes; do not allow them to brown. Set aside.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to a bowl. Strain the stock into a clean pot and return the matzo balls to the soup. Ladle the soup and 1 matzo ball into each of 6 warmed bowls. Garnish with the sautéed carrots.

Serves 6.

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Braised Short Ribs
From Wolfgang Puck

Ingredients

1 bottle kosher for Passover Cabernet Sauvignon
2 tablespoons kosher for Passover vegetable oil
6 short ribs, trimmed
Salt
1 teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed
Matzoh meal, for dredging
10 cloves garlic, peeled
8 large shallots, peeled, trimmed, rinsed, split, and dried
2 medium carrots, peeled, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch lengths
2 stalks celery, peeled, trimmed, and cut into 1-inch lengths
1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, coarsely chopped
6 sprigs Italian parsley
2 sprigs thyme
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 quarts unsalted beef stock or chicken stock
Freshly ground white pepper

Directions

Pour the wine into a large saucepan set over medium heat. When the wine is heated, carefully set it aflame. Let the flames die out, then increase the heat so that the wine boils; allow it to boil until it cooks down by 1/2. Remove from the heat.
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large casserole, large enough to hold 6 ribs, over medium-high heat. Season the ribs all over with salt and the crushed pepper. Dust the ribs with about 2 tablespoons of matzoh meal and then when the oil is hot, slip the ribs into the pot and sear for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until well browned.
Transfer the browned ribs to a plate. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pot; lower the heat to medium, and toss in the vegetables and herbs. Brown the vegetables lightly, 5 to 7 minutes, then stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to blend.
Add the reduced wine, browned ribs, and stock to the pot. Bring to a boil; cover the pot tightly, and slide it into the oven to braise for about 2 1/2 hours, or until the ribs are tender enough to be easily pierced with a fork. Every 30 minutes or so, lift the lid and skim and discard whatever fat may have bubbled up to the surface.
Carefully transfer the meat to a heated serving platter with a lip and keep warm.
Boil the pan liquid until it thickens and reduces to approximately 1 quart. Season with salt and pepper and pass through a fine-mesh strainer; discard the solids.
Pour the sauce over the meat. Serve with vegetables of your choice.

Serves 6.

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Tzimmes
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

9 medium carrots, (about 1 pound), peeled
4 sweet potatoes, (about 2 pounds)
1 cup bite-size pitted prunes, (about 6 ounces)
1 cup dried apricots, (about 5 ounces)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 1/2 teaspoons orange zest, (from one orange)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut carrots into 2-inch pieces.
Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, and lower heat to medium; add sweet potatoes in their skins, and cook for 20 minutes, adding the carrots after 10 minutes. Drain in a colander, and set aside until cool enough to handle.
Peel sweet potatoes, and cut into 1-inch chunks. Place in a large bowl along with carrots and remaining ingredients. Mix well, and transfer to a 2-quart baking dish.
Cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes, basting with pan juices after 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve immediately.

Serves 10.

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A Valentine's Menu That Won't Break the Scale

partysugar — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:00:53 -0800

Recently I received a personal message from a reader asking for advice on what to cook her boyfriend for Valentine's Day. They've been working out together and eating healthy, so she was looking for a menu that wouldn't ruin their diet. Here, I've come up with a decadent dinner menu that won't pack on pounds. To start, serve an appetizer of the freshest raw oysters (if you dislike oysters, opt for shrimp cocktail) with a glass of sparkling wine. For the main course, pair a huge green salad alongside classic cheese fondue. Select dippers that are diet-friendly like crudités, wheat bread croutons, and lean proteins. Instead of indulging in a calorie-packed dessert, splurge on a high-quality bar of dark chocolate and enjoy with a bottle of port.

What menu would you advise for a health-conscious couple? To check out these recipes, read more.

Raw Oysters
From Martha Stewart

1 tablespoon pink peppercorns
1 tablespoon green peppercorns
1 tablespoon fennel seed, lightly toasted
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup champagne vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 dozen fresh oysters

In a small bowl, combine peppercorns, fennel seed, vinegars, and salt.
Shuck oysters just before serving; arrange on bed of crushed ice.
Drizzle with mignonette, or serve on the side. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

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Cheese Fondue
From Gourmet magazine

1 garlic clove, halved crosswise
1 1/2 cups dry white wine (preferably Swiss, such as Fendant)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons kirsch
1/2 lb Emmental cheese, coarsely grated (2 cups)
1/2 lb Gruyère , coarsely grated (2 cups)
cubes of French bread on fondue forks or long wooden skewers
Special equipment: a fondue pot

Rub inside of a 4-quart heavy pot with cut sides of garlic, then discard garlic. Add wine to pot and bring just to a simmer over moderate heat.
Stir together cornstarch and kirsch in a cup.
Gradually add cheese to pot and cook, stirring constantly in a zigzag pattern (not a circular motion) to prevent cheese from balling up, until cheese is just melted and creamy (do not let boil).
Stir cornstarch mixture again and stir into fondue. Bring fondue to a simmer and cook, stirring, until thickened, 5 to 8 minutes.
Transfer to fondue pot set over a flame and serve with bread for dipping.

Serves 6.

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Mixed Green Salad With Tarragon Vinaigrette
From Gourmet

Ingredients

4 teaspoons Sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon minced shallot
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh tarragon
1/2 lb frisée (French curly endive), torn into bite-size pieces
1 head Boston lettuce (1 lb), torn into bite-size pieces
1 bunch arugula (1/2 lb), coarse stems discarded
1 bunch watercress (1/2 lb), coarse stems discarded

Directions

Whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon.
Toss greens with dressing in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Serves 8.

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Source

Come Party With Me: Girls Winter Weekend - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:00:26 -0800

This weekend I've invited my seven very best friends to join me at my vacation house in the Sierra Nevada mountains. We'll watch movies, go wine tasting in Murphys, and indulge in nonstop good eats. Naturally I'm planning the menu. Two of my gal pals are pesceterians (they don't eat meat, but will consume seafood), so the food will be vegetarian-friendly. After the long car ride to the cabin, the girls will be hungry for a hearty, soothing meal. An Italian-style vegetable soup served with olive cheese bread is filling and scrumptious. The following morning we'll eat store-bought bagels and cream cheese before we hit up the local wineries for lunch. Saturday night will be "make your own pizza" night.

Each girl can grab a ball of Trader Joe's pizza dough and choose from a variety of toppings - crumbled sausage, prosciutto, caramelized onions, pesto, kalamata olives, mushrooms, roasted red peppers - to make an individual pie. A simple green salad with Dijon vinaigrette finishes up the menu.

Sunday morning we'll have a leisurely brunch featuring a potato and leek frittata paired with oven-crisped bacon. For these recipes, which are perfect for enjoying with your friends and family on any Winter weekend, read more.

Italian Vegetable Soup
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

1 9-oz. package frozen cut green beans
1/2 of a 16-oz. package frozen cauliflower
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1/2 cup sliced celery (1 stalk)
1/4 cup regular barley
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1-1/2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable juice
1/4 cup purchased pesto (optional)
Finely shredded Parmesean cheese (optional)

Directions

In a 3 1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, place frozen green beans, cauliflower, undrained tomatoes, onion, celery, barley, garlic, and pepper.
In a medium bowl, combine vegetable broth and vegetable juice. Pour over vegetable mixture in cooker.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours. If desired, top each serving with pesto and Parmesan cheese.

Serves 6.

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Mixed Green Salad With Tarragon Vinaigrette
From Gourmet

Ingredients

Directions

Whisk together vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon.
Toss greens with dressing in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Serves 8.

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Yukon Gold Potato, Leek, and Fromage Blanc Frittata
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled (3/4 pound)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks, white and tender green parts only, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
10 large eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
4 ounces fromage blanc or crumbled feta cheese (1 cup)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°.
In a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Boil the potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly, then cut into 1/2-inch dice.
In a 10-inch nonstick ovenproof skillet, melt the butter. Add the leeks and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 4 minutes.
Add the potatoes and cook for 3 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and season with salt and pepper. Pour the eggs over the leeks and potatoes and cook for 5 minutes without stirring.
Dollop the fromage blanc or sprinkle the feta cheese over the leeks and potatoes.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the eggs are just set in the center, about 18 minutes. Slide the frittata onto a serving plate. Cut into wedges and serve.

Serves 8.

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Come Party With Me: Pumpkin Patch Picnic - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:15:23 -0700

Every October I look forward to picking out pumpkins. There's a great ranch near my parents house that has a pumpkin patch along with a picnic area and hay rides, so I'm grabbing a group of friends and hosting a picnic at the pumpkin patch! Since we'll be heading out this weekend, I invited everyone by phone.

The menu will be a hearty Fall-themed lunch. I'll start by setting up an assortment of cheeses and fruit. The elements to an autumn greens salad will be packed in separate containers. The greens, apples, and radishes in one, the cheddar frico in another, and the vinaigrette in third.

The salad can be assembled at the picnic table. Thermoses filled with a fragrant ginger, butternut squash soup are perfect for enjoying at the pumpkin patch. For these scrumptious recipes, read more.

Cheese Course
From Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

1 wedge (about 8 ounces) Parmigiano-Reggiano
1 wedge (about 8 ounces) Fontina or Taleggio
1 wedge (about 6 ounces) Gorgonzola
1 tablespoon honey
8 fresh figs, quartered
1 cluster seedless red grapes
1 cluster seedless green grapes
1 cup dates
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup whole shelled walnuts or pecans, toasted
1 loaf ciabatta, sliced

Directions

Arrange the cheeses together on 1 very large platter, or separately on small platters.
Drizzle the honey around the Gorgonzola cheese.
Arrange some of the fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and bread on the large cheese platter.
Arrange the rest of the fruit and nuts on another platter.
Serve, allowing guests to compose their own assortment of cheese, fruit, nuts, and bread on their plate.

Serves 12-18.

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Gingered Butternut Squash Soup With Spicy Pecan Cream
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

2 large butternut squash (5 1/2 pounds), halved lengthwise and seeded
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup pecans (2 ounces)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 small fennel bulb-halved, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice
One 1 1/2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
6 cups chicken stock
One 14-ounce can of unsweetened coconut milk
3/4 cup chilled heavy cream
1 teaspoon hazelnut oil
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Rub the cut sides of the squash with the olive oil and set them, cut side down, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake the squash for about 1 hour, or until very tender.
Remove from the oven and let stand until cool enough to handle. Spoon the squash flesh into a large bowl; discard the skins.
In a pie plate, toast the pecans for about 8 minutes, or until lightly browned and fragrant; let the nuts cool.
In a large pot, melt the butter. Add the onion, fennel and ginger and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the squash and the chicken stock, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Uncover the pot and continue cooking until the squash starts to fall apart, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the coconut milk.
Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse the pecans until they are finely chopped.
In a medium bowl, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Fold in the chopped pecans, hazelnut oil and cayenne pepper and season with salt.
Working in batches, puree the squash soup in a blender until smooth.
Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt. Ladle the soup into bowls, top with a dollop of the pecan cream and serve.

Serves 12.

Make ahead: The soup can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Reheat gently, adding a little chicken stock to thin the soup.

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Autumn Greens With Apples, Radishes, and Cheddar Frico
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup pumpkin-seed oil
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 Granny Smith apples
6 radishes, scrubbed and trimmed
9 cups mixed greens (about 3/4 pound), washed and dried
Cheddar Frico
10 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

Make the cheddar frico: In a medium bowl, toss together cheese and flour.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle about 1 1/2 tablespoons cheese mixture into skillet to form a 4-inch round.
Cook until cheese is starting to melt and become firm, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Using a small offset spatula, turn; continue cooking until it is firm and slightly golden, 15 to 30 seconds more.
Immediately drape frico over a rolling pin, and let cool slightly to set the shape. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture. If skillet gets too hot and frico begin to color too quickly, remove from heat for several minutes before proceeding.
Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar and mustard; season with salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, slowly add pumpkin-seed oil and then olive oil in a steady stream until thick and emulsified.
Slice apples and radishes on the thinnest setting of a mandoline or with a sharp knife. Place in a serving bowl; add mixed greens, and toss to combine.
Drizzle vinaigrette over salad mixture, and toss well to coat evenly. Serve immediately with cheddar frico.

Serves 10-12.

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Wintery Side: Leafy Green Salad

partysugar — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 04:18:39 -0800

A large bowl filled with leafy green salad is a great way to brighten up a drab dining table. Celery and apple add crunch, while shaved parmesan gives a smooth and salty bite. The classic cider shallot vinaigrette is mild, making this salad good for a potluck or holiday dinner. It pairs with a variety of things from hearty lasagna to oysters to steak and potatoes. Get the versatile recipe now, read more

Winter Green Salad
From Bobby Flay

1 small head escarole, torn into bite-sized pieces
2 Belgian endive, leaves separated
2 celery stalks, cut on the diagonal into thin slices
1 Granny Smith apple, halved cored and thinly sliced
Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, for garnish
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 shallot, finely diced
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine greens, celery, apples, and cheese in a large bowl.
Whisk together both vinegars and the shallot. Slowly whisk in the oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Toss the salad ingredients with some of the vinaigrette.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: String Bean, Arugula, and Pasta Salad

partysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:50:16 -0700

Tonight go green with this substantial vegetarian pasta salad. It's not only full of green vegetables, but it conserves energy by only boiling one pot of water.

The recipe highlights the fresh flavor and crunchy snap of green beans. The peppery bite of arugula and the salty tang of parmesan cheese play supporting roles. A simple lemon vinaigrette combines everything together.

Serve this delightful pasta on its own, as a side dish, or pack for a picnic. Check out the uncomplicated recipe when you read more.

String Bean, Arugula, and Pasta Salad
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

4 ounces green beans, trimmed
4 ounces yellow wax beans, trimmed
Coarse salt
1 pound curved, dried pasta, such as conchiglie, orecchiette, or other medium curved shapes
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 ounce pine nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (1/4 cup)
1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese, 1/2 ounce finely grated (1/2 cup), 1 ounce shaved with a vegetable peeler (1/2 cup)
1 ounce (1 1/2 cups) baby arugula

Directions

Prepare an ice-water bath. Cook green and wax beans in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer beans to ice-water bath until cool, reserving water in pot. Drain beans, and cut into 2-inch-long pieces.
Add pasta to the reserved boiling water, and cook until al dente. Drain and spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Transfer chilled pasta to a large serving dish.
Whisk lemon zest and juice and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Season with pepper. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until emulsified. Drizzle over pasta, and toss until well coated.
Add beans, pine nuts, and grated Parmesan. Toss until evenly distributed.
Just before serving, fold in arugula, and top with shaved Parmesan.

Serves 8.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

partysugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:30:55 -0700

One of our favorite places to search for wonderful recipes is MyRecipes.com - the site that houses all of the recipes from several great food magazines like Cooking Light, Sunset, and Southern Living. We love the website so much that we've become fabulous friends and they're graciously providing this month’s Fast & Easy dinner recipes!

To get things started, I've found this delicious and filling salad recipe. Here, the classic Cobb is jazzed up with a green goddess dressing packed with fresh herbs. It's a wonderfully scrumptious dinner -especially after yesterday's Mexican food overload - so get the recipe now and read more.

Cobb Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
From Cooking Light

Ingredients

Dressing:
1/2 cup plain fat-free yogurt
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons anchovy paste
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced
Salad:
8 cups torn romaine lettuce
1 cup trimmed watercress
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
2 tomatoes, each cut into 8 wedges (about 1 pound)
2 hard-cooked large eggs, each cut into 4 wedges
1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
1/4 cup (1 1/2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese

Get more recipes at MyRecipes.com

Directions

To prepare dressing, place first 11 ingredients in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Chill.
To prepare salad, combine lettuce and watercress in a large bowl.
Place 2 cups lettuce mixture on each of 4 plates.
Arrange 6 tablespoons chicken, 4 tomato wedges, 2 egg wedges, 2 tablespoons avocado, and 1 tablespoon cheese over each serving. Serve each salad with 1/4 cup dressing.

Serves 4.

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 273(39% from fat); FAT 11.8g (sat 3.6g,mono 4.3g,poly 2.5g); PROTEIN 25.7g; CHOLESTEROL 158mg; CALCIUM 196mg; SODIUM 637mg; FIBER 3.8g; IRON 3.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 16.3g

Like the recipe above? Try out some of these other ones:

- 7 Cool Salads Under 300 Calories
- Dinner Tonight Recipes in 45-Minutes or Less
- Eat Smart at CookingLight.com
- Get More Salad Recipes

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How To Store Salad Greens

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

The vegetables of summer are amazing, making it so easy to eat healthy.

I love to buy baby lettuce and freshly harvested mesclun from local farmer's markets and vegetable stands. They taste amazing, and they're so crisp, but if you don't eat them within a couple of days, they can turn soggy and slimy.

Here's a great little trick I learned from a farmer friend on storing precious fresh salad greens:

Place greens in a plastic bag, close the top of the bag lightly with your fist, blow into the bag and fill it with air (carbon dioxide). Then seal the bag by twisting the top a few times before closing it firmly with a twisty-tie. Place it in the fridge and your greens are good to go.

Pretty simple, huh? The bag might take up a little bit more room in your fridge, but the loss of space is totally worth it. Your greens will stay bright, crisp and flavorful, so you can enjoy healthy salads all week long.

Fit's Tips: This tip works for all leafy greens - basil, parsley, cilantro, oregano, spinach, kale, and arugula.

Monday's Leftovers: Grilled Steak Salad with Green Beans and Blue Cheese

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 08:01:31 -0700

Mondays always seem to be my craziest days, work pulls me in multiple directions and the day goes by faster than I realize. This is why I try to make extra food on Sundays. This time it was an extra bit of Grilled Beef Sirloin and I'm pretty excited to turn it into a cold steak salad with green beans and blue cheese. To join me in a simple Monday meal, read more

If you have leftover steak like I do, you can either re-heat it in the microwave, over the stove or enjoy it cold.

Grilled Steak Salad with Green Beans and Blue Cheese
From Bon Appétit June 2001
Image Source

1 pound slender green beans, trimmed
6 cups arugula (about 6 ounces)
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 1/4 cups pitted Kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives, halved
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 8- to 9-ounce New York steaks
1 cup crumbled blue cheese

Cook green beans in pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Transfer to bowl of ice water and cool. Drain.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Combine beans, arugula, tomatoes, and olives in large bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup oil and vinegar in small bowl.
Brush steaks with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Cut steaks crosswise into strips.
Toss salad with enough dressing to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide among 6 plates. Top with steak strips. Sprinkle cheese over.

Makes 6 servings.

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