Pomegranate & Pecan Summer Salad

this is an easy and delicious salad for summertime. 

YOU NEED:

mixed greens

pomegranate seeds

pecans or candied pecans [walnuts, almonds will do the trick too)

sharp cheese [goat cheese, brie, or feta is excellent)

a  light vinaigrette. 

1. toast pecans or nuts with some honey or balsamic to caramelise

2. seed pomegranate

3. prepare vinaigrette: try lemon, olive oil, balsamic, a bit of fresh herbs

4. toss lettuce with vinaigrette, top with candied nuts, cheese, pom seeds

Spicy Middle Eastern Shrimp

YOU NEED:

1 pound peeled, raw shrimp

1 teaspoon coriander, turmeric, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes for spice

2 cloves minced garlic

1 small onion, diced

juice of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon oil to fry

cilantro or mint as garnish

1. fry up onions and garlic, briefly, in oil

2. add in shrimp, fry until pink with veg

3. top with herbs

3. add in spices and herbs

Mint Goat Cheese & Garlic Sauce

A great sauce to pair with lamb or any middle-eastern/meditteranean food, or even indian!

YOU NEED

1 cup greek yogurt

3 cloves minced garlic

a handful fresh mint, chopped

1/4 cucumber, chopped

salt, pepper, cumin

Creamy Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes & Asparagus

 

YOU NEED:

1 cup boiled pasta

1 handful chopped sundried tomatoes. olives and bacon bits welcome

1 tbs butter

1/4 cup milk or sour cream

salt, pepper, garlic

a bunch cooked asparagus

1 shallot if needed

finely chopped parsley or basil

1. blanch asparagus for 5 mins

2, boil pasta

3. melt butter in a pan, add garllic, shallots, then asparagus.

4. add milk or cream, pasta, herbs. let simmer

5. serve with parmesan

Asparagus & Avocado Salad

This is a great and filling salad for any occasion

YOU NEED:

1 head asparagus, blanched or partly cooked

1 avocado, sliced

a handful sun dried tomatoes, sliced

some walnuts, pecans or almonds

olive oil. lime juice, minced garlic, salt and pepper for dressomg

Simple Italian Shrimp Spaghetti

Shrimp? Pasta? Easy.

1. boil pasta until ready

2. fry shrimp until pink.

3. fry up some onion and garlic, finely chopped and add some tomato sauce.

4. add in shrimp, season with salt and pepper

5. add pasta.

6. top with parmesan and fresh parsley

Leek, Bacon & Mushroom Quiche

Easy & Delicious quiche. You can omit bacon, it's just as good!

YOU NEED:

1 leek

1 onion

bacon or not

mushrooms

all chopped.

cheese: gruyere, swiss, or emmental, or mixed

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk

some nutmeg, salt, pepper

any other herbs you want... thyme, parsley, oregano...

1 pie crust

sautee bacon, add in leeks, onions, then mushrooms

blind bake crust according to directions, usually 10 mins

add filling.beaten eggs,  sprinkle with more cheese

bake for 30 mins or so.

Spinach, Arugula & Strawberry Salad with Parmesan and Walnuts

This little salad is easy and light and very summery!

YOU NEED:

spinach, arugula, or mesclun

ripe strawberries, sliced

crushed walnuts

some grated parmesan

olive oil

lemon juice

salt, pepper

that's it.

Sesame Ginger Salad with Grilled Fish

This is an awesome salad and makes a full meal. 

YOU NEED

1 filet white fish.... snapper, halibut, cod, catfish.

a bed of mixed lettuce

sauteed shiitake mushrooms

avocado slices

some green onion

DRESSING:

small piece of ginger, grated

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil and 1 veg oil

salt, pepper

Marinated Greek Salad

Very easy, but you have to eat it the next day!

YOU NEED:

1 cup boiled pasta

50 grams or so feta cheese

1 chopped bell pepper

1 chopped cucumber

a handful sliced kalamata olies

a bunch of cherry tomatoes

MARINADE:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

a bit of red wine or balsamic vinegar

oregano

4 cloves garlic

salt, pepper

assemble and eat the next day!

Blood Orange & Avocado Salad

YOU NEED:

salad:

a bed of lettuce... spinach, mesclun mix, whatever

1 blood orange, peeled and sliced

chunks of tofu or cheese

unsalted peanuts

1 avocado, sliced

dressing:

1 tbs olive oil 1 tbs sesame oil

2 tbs lime juice

salt, pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder to taste.

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

YOU NEED:

4.5 L    vegetable stock

1.5 kg  cauliflower, chopped

375 g   onion, chopped fine

300 g    butter

300 g   flour

1.5  L   milk, hot

750 ml 35%  cream, hot

Salt      to taste

White pepper, to taste

Method:

1.       Bring the stock to a boil in a heavy saucepot.

2.      Add cauliflower and onions.

3.      Simmer until the vegetables are tender.  Do not overcook.

4.      Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour to make a roux.  Cook the roux a few minutes, but do not let it colour.  Cool the roux slightly.

5.      Beat the roux into the soup.  Simmer until no starch taste remains.

6.      Blend the soup until smooth. 

7.      Heat together the milk and cream.  Add to the soup to bring it to a proper consistency. 

8.      Heat the soup again, but do not let it boil.

9.      Season to taste.

YUM CAULI.

Sweet Italian Shrimp

1. get shrimp, raw, peeled and deveined

2. make a marinade: 3 tbs brown sugar, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 tbs tomato paste, dried oregano, basil, thyme, 2 large cloves minced garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice.

3. coat shrimp, grill!

Avocado & Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese & Pine Nuts

whip this up for a fabulous salad.

YOU NEED:

1 avocado, sliced or chunked

1 or 2 tomatoes, sliced

crumbled goat cheese

pine nuts [can be toasted]

OPTIONAL:

olives

fresh basil

feta instead of goat cheese

DRESSING:

balsamic & olive oil (1:3 ratio) salt, pepper

Asparagus Pasta Salad

Make asparagus wonderful! Dress up your pasta salad. 

YOU NEED:

1 bunch asparagus, cooked, then chopped into parts

1 cup pasta

1 tomato, chunked

some breadcrumbs

lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs

EXCITING?

garlic, minced

goat cheese, feta, or parmesan

canned salmon or tuna

chicken

beef & soy sauce or sesame oil instead of olive oil, some ginger and cilantro for an asian twist

fresh chopped basil

pecans, peanuts, pine nuts, or walnuts

lamb & some cumin and parsley for a middle eastern take. you can also sub couscous or bulghur. 

Arugula, Pine Nut & Sweet Potato Salad

An easy and delicious salad.

YOU NEED:

1 sweet potato, peeled, sliced, and cooked [boiling is easiest]

A handful arugula

some pine nuts, toasted or not

olive oil

lemon juice

white wine vinegar

salt, pepper

OPTIONAL:

goat or feta cheese

grilled chicken breast, for a full meal

grilled tofu, keeping it vegan

garlic. is always optional.

sliced onion. 

ASSEMBLE!

Meditteranean Shrimp & Feta Mac and Cheese

A twist on mac and cheese!

YOU NEED

oven, preheated to 400 F

12 cooked peeled shrimp

1 cup pasta

1/2 cupfeta cheese

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cuplemon juice

1 cup greek yogurt

italian breadcrumbs

oregano

1. get a greased or lined baking dish, preheat oven

2. cook shrimp and pasta, seperately. shrimp can be bought precooked, or boiled.

3. toss shrimp and pasta with yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and half the feta cheese. 

4. put in baking dish, top with breadcrumbs and more feta, seasoning like oregano

5. bake for 30 mins or so until top is browned.

Fennel, Blood Orange & Goat Cheese Salad

Fennel can be gross, but also delicious if you pair it right. 

YOU NEED:

some lettuce

fennel, chopped into thin strips

1 blood orange, sliced

thinly slivered red or green onion

goat cheese

VINAIGRETTE: suggest red wine or balsamic vinaigrette. salt and pepper

Beligian Endive & Ham Gratin

Omit ham for vegetarian. still delicious.

YOU NEED:

a greased baking dish, or parchment paper

belgian endives, cut in half

ham

lots of CHEESE. gruyere, swiss, mozza, parmesan, but preferably a mix. 

lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil. 

1. line baking dish in parchment paper,

2, cut endives in half, toss with lemon juice, salt, pepper, olive oil.

3. wrap in ham.

4. put in baking dish, smother in cheese. 

5. bake for 30 mins until browned. 

6. good, seasoned with fresh parsley.

Tomato, Basil & Walnut Salad

I guess it's sort of a vegan caprese. Still delicious!

YOU NEED:

tomatoes, diced

a handful chopped walnuts

a handful fresh basil, chopped

salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic

OPTIONAL: onion, feta cheese, arugula or spinach, or mozzarella.