The best part about panzanella is that it’s kind of a kitchen sink salad, and measurements are rough, lazy, and forgiving.

FoodThe PasticheSeptember 24, 2018salad, panzanella, bread, summer, olives, vegetarian, vegetables, healthy, light, make-ahead, dinner Comments

Lemony snap peas with garlic and French feta

At the end of the day, this is how I like to eat: subbing in different vehicles for devouring olive oil, lemon, garlic, herbs, and salt. And, cheese, of course.

FoodThe PasticheMay 14, 2018snap peas, salad, French, feta, lemon, garlic, simple, lunch, sides, summer, spring, vegetarian, healthy Comments

Caprese with pesto and burrata

If ya don't like Caprese salad, I can't trust ya.

FoodThe PasticheJuly 14, 2017caprese, salad, appetizers, party foods, party, summer, tomatoes, pesto, dinner Comments

Radish, snap pea, and cucumber salad with mint and yogurt

Let's talk about "deconstructed" things. Like, when you order the "Deconstructed Banana Cream Pie" and you get an abstract piece of Graham cracker with slices of brûléed bananas and dots of whipped cream artfully arranged around the plate. Nothing (irrationally) annoys me more than this—a deconstructed version of something that should never be eaten any other way than in its constructed form (in my humble, correct opinion).

FoodThe PasticheJune 16, 2017salad, dinner, sides, summer, yogurt, snap peas, radish, cucumber, pistachios, healthy, light Comments

Asian chopped salad

Do I know what makes a salad a chopped salad? Not really, no.

FoodThe PasticheMay 11, 2017salad, lunch, make-ahead, Asian, chicken, healthy, sesame Comments

Tricolor salad with fresh herbs and gorgonzola

Something I've really come to appreciate as I've gotten older and have had more exposure to good food is a delicious, simple salad.

FoodThe PasticheMarch 22, 2017salad, dinner, gorgonzola, tricolor salad, simple, healthy, light, herbs, sides Comments

Naan flatbread with hummus and Caesar drenched kale

These are a few of my favorite things.

Endive with marinated beets, gorgonzola, and pistachios

On the aforementioned topic of no-cook, room temperature appetizers, here's another one for you that is equally beautiful for holiday entertaining (I love the deep hue of the beets and the naturally ombre endive leaves, and of course the pretty green dill)...

FoodThe PasticheDecember 13, 2016appetizers, salad, make-ahead, easy, healthy, beets, gorgonzola, pistachiosComment

Asian raw green slaw

If you couldn't tell (Exhibit A, B, C, D, E), Jon and I are big fans of various versions of cold salads, slaws, salsas, and any mixture with great texture and flavor (oftentimes with an Asian flair)...

FoodThe PasticheAugust 16, 2016vegetables, salad, slaw, raw, Asian Comment

Cool sesame-ginger noodles with chili flakes

If you can't take the heat, get out the kitchen and make this cool sesame noodle salad. But actually you'll need to be in the kitchen but it won't be hot. How's that for a #neat intro into this recipe?...

FoodThe PasticheJuly 22, 2016sesame, noodles, Asian, salad, lunch, vegetarian, soy sauce, spicy Comments

4th of July bean salad

What I'm calling this salad is a little bit of a double entendre...

FoodThe PasticheJune 27, 2016beans, salad, appetizers, dip, make-ahead, easy, picnic, potluck Comments

Summer picnic steak salad

A picnic is one of those elusive, mysterious things that, like a unicorn, no one is really sure if it actually exists...

FoodThe PasticheJune 23, 2016steak, salad, dinner, lunch, picnic, summerComment

Bright citrus fennel and apple salad

Although I often associate fennel and apples with the colder months, this salad is so light and bright that it screams summer to me...

FoodThe PasticheJune 6, 2016salad, fennel, citrus, apples, arugula, healthy, light, lunch, sides, dinner, summer, fall Comments

Smoky aioli grilled potato salad

This is a recipe inspired by one by Bobby Flay, one of my favorite chefs. I've now made it countless times, and I've served it warm as for brunch, I've made it ahead of time for picnic style get-togethers, and I've also enjoyed leftovers for lunch over and over again. And while I love potato salad of almost any variety, this one is so dynamic that it's hard to beat...

FoodThe PasticheJune 1, 2016potatoes, potato salad, aioli, summer, spring, grilled, salad, sides, party foods, BBQ, potluck, brunch, breakfast Comments

Five easy salad dressings

Something I never, ever buy anymore is salad dressing. It is way too easy to make a million (better) varieties on the fly at home. All you need is a few pantry ingredients on hand, and little mason jars for optimal ease and convenience, and these dressings are simple to whip up ahead of time for weekday lunches or dinners.

FoodThe PasticheApril 5, 2016salad, all-purpose dressing, salad dressing, DIY, make-ahead, lunch Comments

Caprese wheat berries

For a minute there, I was convinced that winter was behind us and spring was here. And the way my brain works, it may as well be summer...

FoodThe PasticheApril 4, 2016salad, lunch, make-ahead, caprese, cherry tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, cheese, wheat berries, arugula, healthy, light, potluck, barbecue, summer, spring, sidesComment

Mexican corn salad

On Friday night, I threw a Mexican themed birthday party for Ellie. Although there are many more pictures to come in a later post, I thought I'd kick off the week with one of my favorite recipes from the night. It sort of doubles as a salad and a salsa—it's as good eaten with a spoon as it is on chips. But really what's not good on a chip doe?

FoodThe PasticheMarch 21, 2016sides, lunch, dinner, spring, summer, Mexican, street corn, sweet corn, corn, salad, make-ahead Comments

Loaded broccoli salad

I’ve been back at it with make-ahead lunches after a few weeks (months?) of buying lunch on the go most days...

FoodThe PasticheFebruary 22, 2016broccoli, salad, lunch, sides, spring, summer, sesame, make-ahead Comments

Quinoa with beets, fennel, goat cheese, and curry vinaigrette

Me and everyone else after Thanksgiving: diet starts tomorrow
Me and everyone else after the weekend following Thanskgiving: diet starts Monday
Me and everyone else Monday: diet starts January 2nd

The. struggle….

FoodThe PasticheNovember 30, 2015quinoa, beets, fennel, goat cheese, curry, salad, sides, make-ahead, fall, winter, lunch2015, salad2015Comment

Autumn panzanella salad

This is a salad I found in Saveur around this time last year, and I've kept it close to my heart ever since. It made me realize that you can get all the herbaceous and savoriness of fall flavors without making a big ol' casserole or roast chicken. I had never before thought to use thyme, rosemary, sautéed shallot, and crispy pancetta in a salad, combined with big hunks of toasted bread. And even though this salad might make its way onto a table alongside said glorious casserole or perfect roast chicken, it will seriously still hold its own—which is hard for any leafy green to do. Speaking of: baby arugula, I choose you all day / every day for my green of choice. Arugula is so packed with peppery flavor that it doesn't even taste like a form of lettuce. It takes dressing so well without losing its spice and crispness, and each piece is already in bite sized form, with such a pretty shape.

FoodThe PasticheNovember 9, 2015fall, salad, panzanella, arugula, sides, dinner2015, salad2015, sides2015 Comments

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