MAY I Have a Main-Dish Salad?
Salads have come a long way! Forget a salad with iceberg lettuce, tomato, and maybe tossed with a few croutons. Take a look at these innovative main-dish salads that will tantalize the taste buds while being hearty enough to satisfy. With all that the month of May has to offer - Mother's Day, Graduation, - why not keep cooking to a minimum by serving an entrée salad for a one-dish main course meal. Featuring chicken, pork, and shrimp, I have three incredible quick salads for your family or can easily stretch for a crowd, providing a simply delicious meal-time solution.
This past February I had the pleasure of planning the menu for the Go Red Heart Association Women's luncheon benefiting the American Heart Association. Greek Salad with Oregano Marinated Chicken was featured at the luncheon, and I forgot how good it is! This amazing Greek-style chef salad with tasty marinated chicken strips really packs a punch of satisfying flavor. The greener the lettuce you use, the more nutrition. Toss in some baby spinach, or purchase a bag of mixed greens for ease.
The Caribbean Pork Salad with Mango Black Bean Salsa is such a colorful dish bursting with fresh flavors and definitely hits the spot. The simple preparation of pork tenderloin, seasoned with this Caribbean rub and topped with the exotic Mango Black Bean Salsa over mixed greens produces a gorgeous presentation with flavors to match. If mangos aren't in season, they may be found in jars or cans in the grocery.
All you need is six ingredients for this easy, make-ahead Shrimp Poppy Seed Pasta Salad. Using fun spiral tri-colored rotini and delectably sweet poppy seed dressing, this salad is sure to please even the pickiest palate. The toasted pine nuts give the salad a toasty crunch, and toasting the pine nuts makes a little go a long way in flavor. Watch them carefully; as they burn quickly...which I have been guilty of many times. Feeling adventurous? Try making your own trim and terrific poppy seed dressing by whisking together ¼ cup orange juice, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoons canola oil, 1 teaspoon poppy seeds, ¼ teaspoon dry mustard, and salt. Either way, these ingredients work together for a fantastic recipe.
The key to these flavorful entree salads is the ease of a one-dish meal while keeping fun and health in mind. Add a personal touch by tossing in your favorite fresh ingredients. Sprinkle on blueberries and sliced strawberries, or for a tropical flair try mango and papaya. Roasted vegetables are also a delicious way to add healthy flavor to your salad. Gone are the days of a plain, ho-hum side salad - these dishes are sure to make your salad sing!
What's Going On:
5/5: Baton Rouge WAFB noon show - local Mother's Day promotions
5/9: Baton Rouge Barnes & Noble Citiplace book signing - featuring KIDS COOKING for Mommies
Look for KIDS COOKING for Mommies on Baton Rouge Parents Magazine website at http://www.brparents.com/
5/19: Eating Well Made Easy at St. James Place, Baton Rouge, LA - limited seating
Holly's Gone Mobile: Sign up for Mobile Rush-Hour Recipes for your Blackberry and iphone
Don't forget to pick up a trim&TERRIFIC cookbook or KIDS COOKING for Mommies for Mother's Day!
Holly
