I tend to think of salads as being boring. After all, aren’t they what you eat before a meal to feel better about the decadent meal that you’re about to have?
They’re typically a starter or side course when eating out that’s drenched in bulk ranch dressing. Or the thing that you eat to make you feel better about eating an enormous amount of gravy for Thanksgiving. Maybe one of those sides drenched in mayonnaise during a summer barbecue? That ones that are really just mayonnaise disguised as something edible!?
While ranch drenched calorie drain and I don’t even know if we can legitimately call ambrosia or potato salad an actual salad, I do in fact eat a lot of salads! I just don’t make what you would typically consider a side or appetizer dish.
Generally speaking, a salad is any cold dish that’s served with a dressing or dip.
Knowing me, this oftentimes means making something that’s large enough to be a meal in and of itself. It’s packed with enough protein to be filling and flavorful enough to be worth it.
This calabaza squash lentils recipe is a take on Ethiopian Misir Wat, more colloquially known as Ethipian-style red lentils. It’s a dish typically eaten amongst an array of family-style dishes and consumed with injera, an Ethiopian flatbread that is used to scoop up individual portions. […]
This wine poached salmon and saffron rice recipe all started with a saffron purchase! I was perusing through Costco in the spice section. Vaguely looking for coconut oil or one of those baking ingredients that’s best bought in bulk. When I came across saffron. Now, […]
I have never cooked with saffron before. It’s tricky to find. Difficult to cultivate. And expensive to boot! But, when I found a jar of seemingly authentic saffron sprigs, I pretty much knew that it was coming home with me! And then came the fun […]
I have been craving a more Japanese-style quinoa and tofu dish for ages. I used to make ginger quinoa with tamari and white rice vinegar all of time. It’s quick and easy to make and kind of fits in with this bowl fad that I’ve […]
I’m a big fan of heat. Almost all of my rice is doused in habaneros from my garden! I’ll always tell you that the peppers are optional. But they’re as necessary as the rice is for me… I made this recipe for other people, though, […]
Leftover burritos have become my new obsession this holiday season! I made these sweet potato lentils specifically for utilizing all of the food that I have leftover from Thanksgiving. It mimics the flavor profile of the holiday season and pairs perfectly with all of the […]
Sweet potatoes and pumpkin pair perfectly with the earthiness of French green lentils in this sweet and savory pumpkin lentils dish. This recipe is also incredibly easy to throw together. I pre-seasoned the squash with shallots, garlic, salt, and pepper. That meant that all this […]
Fall is in the air and squash is on the menu! From the beginning of fall season to first frost of winter, squash are in full harvest mode! And I try my best to take as much advantage of this as possible every year. This […]
Quinoa with sweet potatoes is one of my staples. The quinoa is light and fluffy, while having a nutty earthiness about it. The sweet potatoes are a little bit sweet and have a heartiness that pairs well quinoa. Add a little spiciness from the habaneros? […]
Cooking rice can be more difficult than it seems. It often turns out hard and undercooked or overcooked and mushy. And for years I just forwent the endeavor entirely. Often opting instead for quinoa or lentils, instead of rice. Just to avoid having to try […]
