This was a recipe I saw somewhere? and I made a few changes to.  It is fabulous, so thank you to who ever came up with the original recipe, it provided some wonderful inspiration!  I believe the original had cranberries in it, I also added a few extra ingredients to ours.   I am also going […]

Well now.  This might be my all time new favorite salad...one I will make again and again. Perfect for hot summer days, and it also makes a great picnic salad or pot luck salad.   The flavors really came through, and as it is rice based, any vegetables you want to use, the key is to […]

These marinated vegetables are sweet, juicy with just the right amount of tang. It is really versatile - any number of veggies could be added - cauliflower, carrots, cucumber to name a few. This did not make a large amount, so if serving to 4 or more people double or triple the recipe. It is […]

This is a lovely side dish to any main, and easy to put together.  I saw somewhere? if you only use half the dressing to mix in, then add the remainder before serving, it is much better with gluten free pasta - it makes a big difference to the flavor and overall creaminess of the […]

We recently had this fabulous marinated bean salad, I brought to a family gathering - I should have doubled the recipe - it is our new favourite and comes together so easily. I made the dressing the day before, then put the salad together to marinate an hour or two before eating. 2 1/2 cups […]

  This is a lovely side dish to have with any main dish or lunch, especially in summer.  While not a big fan of sweet coleslaw, there is a bit of sugar in this recipe, but it is not overpowering at all, and by all means add more if that is to your taste.  The […]

  Curry potato salad offers up a nice change to regular potato salad and goes well with most other main dishes.  These past few years we have been fortunate to buy organic potatoes from a local farm - such a difference in flavor and texture.  If you are able to get organic potatoes this salad […]

I saw an article in our local newspaper showcasing Coronation Salad.  Having never heard of this recipe I discovered there are many versions of Coronation Salad, a salad that has layers of flavors, and a salad that is versatile in how you want to present it.  This is my version, which really is 2 salads […]

  This lovely salad dressing is easy to prepare for any fresh garden salad, macaroni salad, and of course Greek salad as well.  The amounts here will give you enough salad dressing for a couple of days, but if feeding a crowd definitely double the recipe. 5 Tblsp. Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 Tblsp. […]

Oh. My. Goodness.  I have never had a Cobb Salad before....and upon dreaming about this recipe with the flavors awakening me in the morning, I just knew I had to give it a go.  Our tummy's were very happy. Cobb salad is such a lovely dish which makes a healthy lunch or dinner any day […]

    This was an easy tasty salad - a perfect side dish to any summer meal.  This recipe was great for 2 for a couple of days, but can easily be doubled.  Might be the simplest salad there is!  Fresh green beans are a must for this recipe, and any good quality store bought […]

Yes - an all Vegan Potato Salad that was surprisingly delicious!  We had tried this at a local deli and I thought I would give it a try at home, never believing potato salad could taste this good with Vegan mayonnaise.  Simple to make and with a creamy texture just like the potato salad with […]

  This was a quick and easy marinated beet salad - cooking was the only lengthy process.  Rather than steaming up beets for a side dish,  I thought I would make this simple marinade and turn it into a salad.  This is also delicious on top of a garden salad. In this dish I used […]

  We have been in a heat wave...very unusual for our area.  We ended up the first day BBQ'ing chicken and hence the above salad to accompany it.  To nite we will thankfully be having cold leftovers.  So, this all dressed potato salad is yummy served warm or cold. 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. new […]

This was such a simple delicious salad, I wanted to share...it is definitely a salad I will be making again and again.  As a matter of fact, I just requested more yellow beets in my next weekly organic veggie delivery.  We have never had yellow beets before, and being the some what purest that I […]

Recently, we had a very delicious, fresh coleslaw at one our local restaurants.  They used fennel which I did not have on hand, however it would be a lovely addition to this coleslaw.  A great summer salad to serve alongside any main dish. 1/2 a small - medium sized green cabbage 3 medium sized carrots […]

As I type this, (8:00 am in the morning)  the temperature out side is 30 degrees Celsius/about 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It will only get hotter by 4:00 pm.  In my neck of the woods that is hot, and it is not due to let up any time soon! On a positive note, we have had […]

Garlic scapes are such a delicious addition to foods whether in stir frys, pesto, or salads they are bound to be tasty!  They do have a short window however, so luckily this year I was  able to get 5- 6 lbs most of which was turned into Garlic Scape Pesto - recipe can be found […]

Hi all!  I have not disappeared from the face of the earth....just been super busy with work....which I love!  I still hope from time to time to offer new recipes (have a couple up my sleeve) so will keep posting when time and inspiration allows.  We have had an amazing summer weather wise.  It is […]

This is not a recipe.  Well, that is not quite true.  There are actually 4 different recipes in this meal - based on leftovers.  Normally I would not do a post like this but I just had to.  First, my dtr. would go out of her mind with this meal....(she actually makes all of these […]

One of my favorite things about summer is all of the fresh produce available.  I have a few rice salad recipes on my blog now - they are so versatile!  With this wild rice salad you could use any fresh vegetables and herbs you like.  This salad makes a great pot luck dish - just […]

This was one scrumptious and nutritious salad.  The Quinoa added a nice texture and flavor to regular Greek salad.  Plus it was more filling.  For people that can eat cous cous, that would be tasty as well. I do not ever put peppers into my Greek salad - I prefer celery, but they would certainly […]

This might be my new favorite salad....so good!  We have a deli downtown that makes a very good Thai Broccoli Salad, which I will often have for lunch when I am at work.  One day, I decided to ask them for the recipe...thinking they probably would not give it to me, however, it never hurts […]

Having leftover cooked chicken in the fridge can be a godsend on busy days.  This salad makes such an easy delicious lunch, or dinner for that matter.  With fresh spring greens, ripe avocados and fresh lime juice - a perfect match of ingredients. 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken - cut into cubes 1 large avocado […]

Ever since I made my Marinated Vegetable Salad - it seems to be the only kind of salad I want.  With so much fresh produce still available - it's the perfect end of the summer salad.  They are so colorful and fresh tasting too. This salad was made in the morning and refrigerated.  I tossed […]

What a busy summer it has been, and early fall is proving to be not much different.  Phew...I have had a number of posts to share, and somehow life has intervened. Remember the post I did about the lovely lady whom I bought the garlic from? Then she gifted me with the most beautiful dried […]

This past week has been very busy for me at work.  Usually I will pack a lunch with me, which I did this particular day.  I ended up working an extra 3 hours this day which I had not anticipated, so I stopped by a deli to buy a vegetable salad.  Dang....it was awful.  Big […]

Mercy...this was heaven on a plate.  Seriously, seriously supreme deliciousness happening here. Recently, I met a lovely woman who mentioned she was getting ready to harvest her garlic, and would I like to buy some?  Oh yes indeed!  Just check this out: In my world this is a thing of true beauty.  Then this kind […]

Here is yet another fresh salad.  During the spring and summer - we have salads of every kind almost every day.  The Sugar Snap Peas will not be around much longer so we have been eating them in every salad we make. Every once in a while I have a huge craving for shellfish.  As […]

Oh how I live for summer!  This is such a simple, beautiful, and tasty salad to have during the summer.  Using yellow and red tomatoes gives this salad such vibrant color. The key to this salad is to marinate for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator, then remove from the fridge to come to […]

We are in love with this new Garlic Scape Pesto Recipe.  I can't wait to get back to the Farmer's Market to get more of these delicious garlic scapes.  It is a short window, so I am hoping there will still be some available.  First we had the Marinated Chicken dinner with this Pesto served […]

This is one of those salads that is great for a pot luck, or served for lunch or dinner or as a side dish.  A hearty vegetarian dish that is fresh and delicious too.  Originally I was going to make a vegetarian lettuce wrap, but ended up putting it all together - so good.  I […]

This recipe came about as a result of having leftovers.  I can't bear to throw away food.  There were two egg yolks in the fridge, leftover Chimichurri Sauce, a lowly quarter of a cabbage - all needing to be used up.  I always said I would never make homemade Mayonnaise or Aioli, because I always […]

Wow.  I think I might just live on this salad for the rest of my life.  Hearty, flavorful, with lots of healthy goodness included. I met someone recently, who abhors avocado, cilantro, and especially, feta cheese.  Three of some of my favorite ingredients.  To not like avocado?  The other two, I can see - it […]

This made a nice change to everyday tuna salad.  Originally, I was going to make classic tuna melts for lunch, but then decided to forgo the bread and jazz up a salad instead.  Although, it would also taste great made into a tuna melt too! Lettuce leaves a small can of tuna drained - 184 […]

This recipe was inspired from Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals.  I did a couple of things different from his recipe - and mine took quite a bit longer to make - but roasting beets is so worth it!  This made enough for two - so just increase amounts if you have more mouths to feed. […]

This side dish was delectable...if you love Greek Salad this is for you.  I have never done a post on Greek Salad before, firstly, because I don't make the traditional Greek Salad, and secondly, it is too simple to post.    This past week, we have been using up the last of the garden tomatoes, and […]

Phew...it has been a few crazy, busy days...in fact, it has been a "whirlwind couple of days".  Sometimes you just have to go with the flow, and having an easy chicken salad worked for me this night.  I had previously made the dressing, and roasted the beets which made this dinner quick to put together. […]

These past few days we have all been about salads, in this house.  We actually had a two day heat wave...mercy...even here on the West Coast!!  I never did find out what the temperature was.  When you see flowers wilt on the West Coast, and they have already been watered...it is hot! All the vegetables […]

After going to the farmer's market the other day, I could not wait to try these beautiful heirloom tomatoes.  This next picture makes me very happy: I love taking pictures of fresh organic produce - probably more enjoyable for me than taking a picture of anything else. First, came a simple tomato sandwich: Mercy!  I […]

With warmer weather finally touching our shores, these past two weeks we have been using the BBQ more frequently and eating all kinds of salads. This was such a simple tasty pasta salad.   What makes this dish is the fresh herbs and the light lime dressing.  Then with the added black beans for protein, a […]

Who knew tuna and curry would work?  All I knew, was that after a long day at work I was tired.  Bone tired.  And, craving curry.  Was I organized in the kitchen to make a curry dinner?  Absolutely not.  This curry craving was becoming an obsession as the day progressed.  I think I would have […]

I found this delicious sprouted organic bean mix at Costco the other day, and was pleasantly surprised. They are delicious - so versatile too.  These would be lovely in soups, or stews....I am thinking up new recipes as I write this!  It makes me really happy to see more and more organic, healthy foods available […]

The first time I made homemade Ranch dressing, it was good, but I still felt the need to tweek the recipe.  What a lovely dressing this turned out to be!  Most recipes call for buttermilk, I used Kefir milk and it turned out great. 1 Tblsp. finely diced shallot 1 finely minced garlic clove 2 […]

I think I love just about any kind of coleslaw recipe - creamy, vinaigrette, sweet, not sweet, spicy or not spicy.  And this recipe does not get any easier!   A simple everyday coleslaw recipe.  There are so many options you could use for the dressing.  This dressing was on the tart side, which we loved.  […]

Here is one more lunch salad we have had in doing the low carb, less grain meals.  So far, we have had A Refreshing Tuna Salad, A Delightful Salmon Salad, Chicken Curry Salad, Shrimp Asparagus Salad.  They were all yummy, and we have really been enjoying these lunches, which are all quick and easy to […]

Who knew a simple salmon salad could taste so good?  I was pleasantly surprised.  We are still having different kinds of salads ever since the Curry Chicken Salad Post.  So here is another grain free meal, fresh salad we have been eating in our endeavor to cut back on Carbs and Grains.  This salad would […]

A lovely recipe to share, and a story to tell: Recently, my Best Friend and I went out to lunch.  We had a day of wondering through Antique Stores, Second Hand Vintage Stores, and her fave, gem stores looking for stones so she could make jewelry.  It was a fun day, a day we do […]

This is the second of a few posts - some days ago I did a post about wanting to eat less carbs - less bread, pasta, rice throughout the day.  Well, the first day was a disaster.  I got called into work at the last moment, and quickly threw together a sandwich for lunch, plus […]

My DH created this page for me compiling the different salad dressing recipes I have made so far.  I originally had them listed under Sauces, Marinades and Salad Dressings.  The problem with that, as my dear daughter pointed out, is it brought up the salad name, not a specific salad dressing.  Much to her frustration, […]

There is much talk these days in the blogging world about diets.  Paleo, SCD, Primal, Macro-Biotic and the list goes on.  I see much I like about each and every one of these diets. Could I do one or the other? Probably not.  However, at this stage in life, or rather, ahem, age in life, […]

This was a refreshing salad to have after all of the sugary sweets over the holidays.  Pomegranates are a once a year treat for me.  We do love to eat local and fresh, but in the winter, it is hard not to have a few non-local indulgences.  Where would I be without fresh lemons, grapefruit, […]

We have had a lot of rain.  Living on the West Coast, we are essentially living in Rain Forrest Territory.  When I look out at my garden, at this time of year, all I can say is it looks drowned.  Well, the rain actually stopped briefly, so I headed out to the garden to see […]

Not a great picture, I was having trouble with the lighting and the camera flash.  However, my sprouted seeds did indeed Sprout!  I discovered there was a lot of conflicting information when it comes to sprouting seeds, so with this post, I will tell you what I did, in my fist attempt at sprouting, and […]

Watercress is a green sent from the Heavens.  It truly is.  In our neck of the woods, we do have somewhat similar weather to that of various parts of Britain.  We get rain.  Oh yes, we get rain. Watercress loves water, of course.  So why then is it so hard to come by the beloved […]

With all the rain we have recently had, yesterday we finally had a day of sunshine!  I was able to get out to the garden, pick the remaining tomatoes, basil, parsley, and chives.  We decided to fire up the grill and have these tasty BBQ dry rubbed Pork Steaks: The dry rub I used was […]

Have you ever gone to a Restaurant, paid the big bucks, only to be sooo disappointed knowing full well you could go home and make something way better?  Well that is what happened to me the other day.  Dang!  We seldom ever eat out.  It is a rarity - which makes it even more disappointing.  […]

Our first bowl of ripe tomatoes....this was a long time in coming.  Despite me bemoaning our poor summer here on the West Coast, I realize we were lucky to have grown anything at all.  This year certainly presented it's challenges. And, hoping this bowl of tomatoes will ripen nicely.  The rains are coming, so I […]

You know, I am discovering that rice and pasta dishes just do not photograph very well!  Oh well, I have discovered a new Tinkyada Pasta - mini Shells!  They are lovely for a pasta salad, better than other pasta shapes, because they are small.  I used what veggies and herbs were from the garden, as […]

Can a salad be sinful?  Well, I think this one was.  Holy Mama!  I had to force myself to save some for my Daughter who was on her way for dinner from a hard days work.  I could barely do it.  This salad will forever remain somewhere deep in my memory banks....even if that is […]

Wow, that recently picked red cabbage from the garden is humongous!  Lord have mercy, we will be eating red cabbage for months!   It was really sweet tasting  and such an easy simple recipe, but honestly, I am guessing the amounts.  I just cut the very top of the red cabbage off, and I think it […]

Here is another quick easy meal, great for 1 or 2, that is fast and simple.  The next two days for me are busy!  So, in thinking ahead....what could we eat that was quick, tasty, and serve as two meals?  Chicken Pesto Pasta.  You don't even need a recipe for this one! (just make extra […]

This is such a healthy and versatile salad.  You can use any vegetables you have on hand…really anything would work.  This would also be a lovely salad with Pasta or Quinoa too.  It is a wonderful side dish, or a great lunch. We have been eating salads every day with all the lovely fresh produce […]

With all of the fresh beautiful fruit available, and the gorgeous hot weather we are having right now...I knew it was time for a refreshing fruit salad.  Usually we try to eat as seasonally as possible.  But when I saw fresh pineapple and fresh watermelon, organic grapefruit....I could not resist. Any fruit will work, but […]

My garden is singing....we finally,at least as of July 6,2010, have heat, and sun, both at the same time!!  This summer has been so slow in coming....I hope all the veggies will catch up.  In this bowl is purple broccoli spears, a handful of fresh spinach, a handful of Flat Leaf Italian Parsley, and a […]

This was heaven....absolute heaven.  There were  5 of us for dinner this night, a 2 1/2 lb + Organic Pork Loin Roast...not one bite left. This was the first meal we had using the Rotisserie. We did find with our new Barbecue, that we had to baby-sit it quite a bit, to keep the temperature […]

Yeahh...we finally have sun, pray it lasts!  It is amazing how in one week, the gardens are taking off!  This is the entrance to our back garden, and in 2 days this lovely rhodo just exploded with color: We have been getting the most scrumptious organic baby carrots from our local market each week - […]

POTATO SALAD This is actually another Marinated Chicken post...why, when I just did one?  Because it's raining outside...are you confused yet?  Let me explain: I make the most basic of basic potato salads.  As I sit here, I am also pretending it is summer, because it is not, and it is raining!  Again! I have […]

We had dinner at a Restaurant the other night…this is what I ordered.  Oh wow, was it good.  They used a skirt steak….which I could not get in our grocery store, so I used Hormone Free Beef Strip Stir Fry.  My dressing was not exactly like theirs, but it came real close…sooo good. Vinaigrette: 1 […]

AND A LESSON LEARNED..... I love poppies of all kinds.  This rare beauty takes  2-3 years, usually 3, to bloom.  The "mother" plant grows, but lies dormant for that period of time, then you get 2 to 3 lovely flowers.  Interestingly, the "mother" plant then puts out a new shoot - a new plant at […]

A RECIPE INSPIRATION,.........and something more.... This recipe was inspired by Katie, of Thyme For Cooking….check out her lovely site for the original recipe and many of her other inspiring dishes!  The only things I changed was using Quinoa instead of Barley, a few splashes of Balsamic Vinegar, one minced garlic clove and not sure but,  […]

SHRIMP AND ASPARAGUS SALAD This was delicious!  There were no measurements – just eyeball the amounts. 3 lettuce leaves (I used romaine but any kind would work) 1 green onion, diced juice of ¼ lemon mayonnaise dill, pepper shrimp (cooked) 4-5 asparagus (lightly steamed until el-dente) Rinse the lettuce leaves and pat dry, laying on […]