Well ladies and gents - here it is, the second quarter of life. I obviously plan on living to 100. So with that, let's talk lunch.
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Caesar dressing gets a bad rep, and now I know why.
This is the Caesar dressing that my family grew up making (well, my second mom, Jamie, introduced to us and we made at all of our joint family holidays!) but that I just hadn't had in a few years. Clouded by ready-made and restaurant Caesars, I completely forgot how light, fresh, and flavorful it can be, and why I stopped ordering them out so many years ago! This is such a nice change from the standard vinaigrette, special enough to entertain with, and is bringing back the Caesar Salad for me in a big way. Add the garlic-grilled Romaine, and it is simply perfect. (Key word - simple!) I suffer from extreme 'fear of missing out'. All the time. I just like being right in the middle of all of the action and knowing all of the details. Skip to hummus: how many more flavors will they come out with?! I needed to start replicating them immediately. It's so funny to me that one of the two things I loathed as a kid was cooked carrots, and now (in the winter months, anyways) I have them at least once a day. Normally I just do the whole olive oil, whatever herbs I have, and roast them thing, so this was a really refreshing and special change! Roasted carrots with citrus and thyme is a simple and delicious side dish that makes the best of the season. Also, carrots are the prettiest of what seems like five things at my farmers market right now... so I left with way too much of one thing. There are some really small and non-bucket list worthy things in life that I just do not think I will ever do. For example, finishing a tube of chap stick. I always lose it way before its time, or buy a new one because it looks gross, etc! This is one of the every day, healthy, and gourmet recipes that my mom sent us all off to college with. It is unbelievably delicious, so simple, and is only 4 ingredients - which is kind of what I deem as truly gourmet food. Not only is it easy, and brother-proof, I can't think of a way this recipe could be better if it were more complicated, or had more ingredients. When I say brother proof... I mean that my littlest brother, who called in a panic last summer at the grocery store - "MOM! WHAT does un-cooked chicken look like!? I can't find it ANYWHERE!" - can make this. Girls: this might be your shot for a boyfriend cooking dinner successfully night! Move over, breakfast for dinner! This is hands down my favorite recipe that I have made so far - and oh my gosh it is so good. So so good. The coconut milk is the perfect compliment to root and winter vegetables, and sage the perfect compliment to both! Butternut squash, especially when this fresh and in season, is smoother than any mashed potato I've ever had (and I come from people who take their mashed potato's pretty seriously), and the flavor is so much better. In this very moment, I am not missing the potato in any way shape or form. Superbowl Sunday was a different story - but I digress.
The recipe makes the perfect side dish for four. Lucky me gets to eat it all week! (sticking out tongue) This is such a delicious salad for winter. Especially this time of winter, when I'm getting a little tired of bakes and soups and chili's, and I am pretending it is spring. This weekend we are enjoying weather in the mid-fifties, so a bright fresh salad for lunch was exactly what I was looking for! One of the things that really panicked me about the Paleo diet was dips. Without dairy or legumes, it ruled out every dip I have ever had or made, except for salsa, which just isn't ideal for veggies. And who wants veggies or a salad without dip or dressing? I don't want to see the day. SO! I found this ... and it is pretty great. It is very similar to a Green Goddess dressing, which pairs best with a more flavorful vegetable as a dip (read: tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, carrots...), but is great on just about any type of salad, or to drizzle over cooked fish! |
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