Floating Leaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
floatingleaf) wrote2009-09-27 08:37 pm
floatingleaf) wrote2009-09-27 08:37 pm
Entry tags:
food post, yay :)
I made that delicious chicken salad again this weekend. You know, my own variation of a recipe that I basically 'stole' from a restaurant. I'll call it Mediterranean Chicken Salad, for lack of a better name. Originally it was just a side salad, but I added sauteed chicken breast slices (seasoned with garlic powder & oregano) to make it a full, balanced meal. Other ingredients include mixed salad greens, thinly sliced red onion & pears, chopped walnuts, crumbled feta cheese, black olives, garlic-flavored croutons and a handful of dried cranberries. For the dressing, I just used olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. It's absolutely YUMMY. Probably on my 'top ten' list.:)
Which makes me realize I could actually compile the 'top ten' list here, for my own reference as well as for the benefit of anyone interested in trying some of these recipes out. They come mostly from various cookbooks - though I do introduce my own modifications every now and then. Anyway, without further ado, here goes:
1) Chicken, Date and Apricot Tagine. You know, the heavenly Moroccan dish I gushed about a few months ago. Seasoned with fresh lemon (rind included) and all the typical Moroccan spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon & turmeric). I swear I could eat that every day, all year round.:)
2) Seafood salad (originally lobster, but imitation crabmeat will do if you're on a low budget) with pink grapefruit, avocados, cherry tomatoes and a citrus vinaigrette. Deliciously light and refreshing. Perfect for the summer.
3) Turkey & Hominy Chili from my WeightWatchers cookbook. Well, I usually tend to replace the hominy with red kidney beans, and the chilis with red & green bell peppers... but anyway. This dish is juicy, crunchy (lots of onion, both white AND red... mmmmm), aromatic and very filling (even though I use reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese, lol). Ideal for the cold season.
4) Swordfish Steaks with Tomatoes & Olives. I haven't made that one in a long time, because swordfish steaks cost an arm and a leg... but I miss it like hell, and I'm going to try to use cod fillets instead.:) Anyway... the fish is just stewed in a mixture of diced tomato, onion, celery, green olives & capers. Very salty. Pure protein and fiber. Yum.:)
5) Pears, Onions, Blue Cheese & Walnuts. The quickest way to heaven, lol. Just the ingredients mentioned above, plus some olive oil & balsamic vinegar. And some pita/flatbread etc., if you like. Though I prefer rice noodles myself, because I'm weird like that.;)
6) Moroccan Vegetable Stew. Eggplant, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, prunes and chickpeas (though I usually skip the squash, which I find rather tasteless, and replace the chickpeas with some other kind of beans, since I'm not too crazy about them either). Plus lots of freshly crushed garlic & ginger - not to mention the rest of the obligatory Moroccan seasoning (see point 1). The ultimate vegetarian feast - sweet and satisfying. Perfect dish for the fall.
7) Mediterranean Chicken Salad (see above).
8) Nouveau Nicoise salad (canned tuna, red potatoes, green beans, hard-boiled eggs, black olives and a dressing made with diced red onion, Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar). Very substantial for a salad, and suitable for every season.
9) Greek Salad with added shrimp (to make it a full meal instead of just a side). Simplicity is the key to perfection here, I tell you.;)
10) Chicken & Barley Stew (though I often skip the barley). Again, very simple: chicken thighs, new potatoes, carrots, leeks & zuchini. And some fresh parsley. Ideal comfort food for cold, nasty weather (speaking of which... I just looked out of the window and yes, it appears I'll be making it soon :P).
Gosh, writing all that out made me terribly hungry.:D Time for supper.:)
Btw, full recipes are available upon request. No point in going into all the details unless I know someone is really interested.:P
ETA: I forgot all about the Curried Chicken Salad, with red grapes, diced apple, canned pineapple, dried cranberries and sliced almonds, in a dressing made of low-fat mayo, curry powder, lemon juice & honey. I LOVE fruity dishes. They are the best. Dinner and desert in one.:D
Which makes me realize I could actually compile the 'top ten' list here, for my own reference as well as for the benefit of anyone interested in trying some of these recipes out. They come mostly from various cookbooks - though I do introduce my own modifications every now and then. Anyway, without further ado, here goes:
1) Chicken, Date and Apricot Tagine. You know, the heavenly Moroccan dish I gushed about a few months ago. Seasoned with fresh lemon (rind included) and all the typical Moroccan spices (cumin, coriander, cinnamon & turmeric). I swear I could eat that every day, all year round.:)
2) Seafood salad (originally lobster, but imitation crabmeat will do if you're on a low budget) with pink grapefruit, avocados, cherry tomatoes and a citrus vinaigrette. Deliciously light and refreshing. Perfect for the summer.
3) Turkey & Hominy Chili from my WeightWatchers cookbook. Well, I usually tend to replace the hominy with red kidney beans, and the chilis with red & green bell peppers... but anyway. This dish is juicy, crunchy (lots of onion, both white AND red... mmmmm), aromatic and very filling (even though I use reduced-fat shredded Mexican cheese, lol). Ideal for the cold season.
4) Swordfish Steaks with Tomatoes & Olives. I haven't made that one in a long time, because swordfish steaks cost an arm and a leg... but I miss it like hell, and I'm going to try to use cod fillets instead.:) Anyway... the fish is just stewed in a mixture of diced tomato, onion, celery, green olives & capers. Very salty. Pure protein and fiber. Yum.:)
5) Pears, Onions, Blue Cheese & Walnuts. The quickest way to heaven, lol. Just the ingredients mentioned above, plus some olive oil & balsamic vinegar. And some pita/flatbread etc., if you like. Though I prefer rice noodles myself, because I'm weird like that.;)
6) Moroccan Vegetable Stew. Eggplant, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, prunes and chickpeas (though I usually skip the squash, which I find rather tasteless, and replace the chickpeas with some other kind of beans, since I'm not too crazy about them either). Plus lots of freshly crushed garlic & ginger - not to mention the rest of the obligatory Moroccan seasoning (see point 1). The ultimate vegetarian feast - sweet and satisfying. Perfect dish for the fall.
7) Mediterranean Chicken Salad (see above).
8) Nouveau Nicoise salad (canned tuna, red potatoes, green beans, hard-boiled eggs, black olives and a dressing made with diced red onion, Dijon mustard and red wine vinegar). Very substantial for a salad, and suitable for every season.
9) Greek Salad with added shrimp (to make it a full meal instead of just a side). Simplicity is the key to perfection here, I tell you.;)
10) Chicken & Barley Stew (though I often skip the barley). Again, very simple: chicken thighs, new potatoes, carrots, leeks & zuchini. And some fresh parsley. Ideal comfort food for cold, nasty weather (speaking of which... I just looked out of the window and yes, it appears I'll be making it soon :P).
Gosh, writing all that out made me terribly hungry.:D Time for supper.:)
Btw, full recipes are available upon request. No point in going into all the details unless I know someone is really interested.:P
ETA: I forgot all about the Curried Chicken Salad, with red grapes, diced apple, canned pineapple, dried cranberries and sliced almonds, in a dressing made of low-fat mayo, curry powder, lemon juice & honey. I LOVE fruity dishes. They are the best. Dinner and desert in one.:D