Seasonal Summer Platter with Potato Salad

Seasonal Summer Platter with Potato Salad

Summer is the time for salads! Fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits are at their peak and are readily available at produce stands and at the markets. This time of year I like to try to come up with different combinations of vegetables & fruits. Salads are so light and refreshing on a warm summer day so they make the perfect meal (or side dish to barbecue) When I think of summer, these are some of my favorites....tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, corn, red potatoes, radishes, blueberries, nectarines and fresh herbs. I associate this particular…
Brioche French Toast With Summer Fruits & Lemon Ricotta

Brioche French Toast With Summer Fruits & Lemon Ricotta

French toast is one of those things I always forget to make, but it is really so delicious and easy!  I tend to choose waffles, or pancakes for a special breakfast, but my husband loves French toast because his mother used to make it for him, so I decided to give it a try again. I added fresh fruit and lemon ricotta as a topping to mine. They both add nutritional value and color to the meal. Fresh fruit is a healthy choice and the eggs & ricotta are both a good source…
Chilled Crab, Asparagus & Avocado Salad

Chilled Crab, Asparagus & Avocado Salad

There is nothing more appealing to me on a hot summer day than a chilled salad for lunch or dinner.  Crab always adds that special touch to a salad, and since it is July 4th weekend I decided to make something special! I had some beautiful little cherry tomatoes still warm on the vine, and sweet peppers and lots of fresh herbs in the garden. So I decided to create a very light summery salad with those, plus asparagus, corn, shallots, avocado and lump crabmeat, all on a bed of arugula. This is…
Lettuce Wraps with Couscous, Veggies & White Beans

Lettuce Wraps with Couscous, Veggies & White Beans

Lettuce wraps are a fun way to eat salad - disguised as a "lettuce boat" it may encourage children to eat more salad! (and maybe it will work for my husband too..) Lettuce wraps are simply leaves of romaine lettuce filled with a grain & vegetable mixture. They are simple to make and you can really mix any vegetables in with the grain. I used couscous, but quinoa, rice or cracked wheat would work equally well. For protein I added white beans, but you could add pieces of protein such as chicken, tofu…
Cold Noodle Salad Bowls

Cold Noodle Salad Bowls

I like to eat lighter and fresher in the summer, so cold food is so appealing to me on a hot day.  I recently came across a spread in: Bon Appetit Magazine (o6/17) Healthyish about Cold Noodle Salads and how to make them, so I decided to give it a try. They are very simple to put together and you can use your imagination as to how you want to assemble yours. The important thing is you need to have on hand certain ingredients to give them that Asian flair. Here is a list of…