2018 RECIPE TWENTY EIGHT: Sunday August 26 - pomegranate and tomato salad

BACK STORY:
I saw this on NYT and made plans to make it because it calls for za'tar spice, which I bought in Jordan and haven't had a chance to use yet!

NOTES:
I bought the pomegranate seeds specially for this recipe, but I think it would still be good in the winter when tomatoes aren't ripe but pomegranates are fresh for the taking. I made this for Sierra and Andy, but forgot to bring the za'atar so I missed that flavor. It was quick and easy to cook and the recipe was very fresh tasting. Be lighter on the red onion as it overwhelms the other flavors. I think you could add more light flavored veggies - cucumber, more bell peppers - to make this heartier.

STARS: 
4 out of 5. Easy and quick to make and the ingredients aren't too complicated. And then I can use my za'atar!

RECIPE:
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018121-tomato-and-pomegranate-salad

INGREDIENTS

• 2 pints mixed small or cherry tomatoes, of varying colors
• 2 teaspoons za’atar
• 3 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
•  Seeds from 1 pomegranate
• ½ yellow bell pepper, seeds removed and very thinly sliced
• ½ small red onion, peeled and very thinly sliced
• ⅓ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
• ⅓ cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, torn into pieces
• 1 ½ teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
•  Flaky sea salt
• 3 ½ ounces manouri or feta cheese, broken into small chunks

PREPARATION

1. Halve or quarter the tomatoes so that they are all roughly the same size, and place them in a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix the za’atar with 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil, and set aside.
3. To the bowl with tomatoes, add the pomegranate seeds, sliced pepper and onion, the herbs, lemon juice, the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Gently mix the salad, then transfer it to a large shallow bowl or serving platter, and dot it with the cheese. Drizzle the za’atar mixture over the salad and serve.

2018 RECIPE TWENTY SEVEN: Saturday August 25 - herb and radish salad

BACK STORY:
This was in the New York Times cooking again and I made it...again. It was absolutely delicious and familiar, and I realized I made it as Recipe Fifteen last July. Still good though, and since I didn't remember it until after I am still writing it down.

NOTES:
This recipe calls for lots of ingredients but most of them I have on hand at any given time (in the summer at least). I replaced walnuts with pecans as that's what I have right now, and roasted them on the stovetop instead of in the oven. I accidentally burned them but the crispy smoky flavor added more to the salad I thought. I used mini cucumbers instead of Persian and still used 3 minis along with about 10 radishes. I didn't have any tarragon but bought the other herbs.

STARS: 
4 out of 5. As delicious as last time - I only rate it 4 stars instead of 5 because of the many herb ingredients that I don't usually have on hand. If I had an herb garden I'd make this every day in the summer!

RECIPE:
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018648-herb-and-radish-salad-with-feta-and-walnuts

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup walnuts
• 2 bunches small radishes, trimmed (about 15 radishes)
• 3 Persian cucumbers, ends trimmed
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
•  Salt and ground black pepper
• 3 ounces sheep’s milk feta cheese, crumbled (preferably French feta)
• ½ cup chives cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 bunch)
• 1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves and tender stems (about 1 bunch)
• 1 cup loosely packed dill fronds, stems removed (about 1 large bunch)
• ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves (about 1 small bunch)
• 2 sprigs tarragon, leaves stripped

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  Nutritional Information

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool, then chop roughly. Place in a sieve and shake away loose skin and crumbs. Set chopped nuts aside.
2. Use a sharp knife or mandoline to slice the radishes and cucumbers into thin coins roughly 1/8-inch thick. Place in a medium bowl. Add walnuts.
3. In a small glass or jar, whisk together lemon juice and olive oil to make the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Just before serving, season radishes, cucumbers and walnuts with a pinch of salt and dress lightly with 3 to 4 tablespoons of vinaigrette. Toss well to combine. Add crumbled cheese and toss gently to combine without breaking the cheese down too much. Arrange in a loose mound in a shallow serving bowl (or on a platter).
5. Place herbs in the mixing bowl, season with a pinch of salt, and dress very lightly with about 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Toss to combine, then pile the herb salad atop the radishes and cucumbers. Serve immediately.

2018 RECIPE TWENTY SIX: Wednesday July 4 - popcorn with nutritional yeast

BACK STORY:
Ellen Reid recommended nutritional yeast on popcorn. So I tried it.

NOTES:
I had never tried this before, focusing usually on putting cheese on my popcorn. This does add a buttery, cheesy flavor, and tastes pretty good. I do use a small bit of butter to adhere the yeast to the popcorn, which I don't usually do when I eat it with cheese.

STARS: 
4 out of 5. Easy and I've got the yeast now. I won't make it every time but it is easy and good.

RECIPE:

https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/best-butter-free-popcorn-nooch-popcorn/

2018 RECIPE TWENTY FIVE: Monday July 9 - beet strawberry salad with balsamic honey mustard

BACK STORY:
I had some old beets and needed to cook them fast. This was the perfect salad to fit other ingredients in my refrigerator.

NOTES:
This is an incredibly easy salad if you have already cooked beets on hand. The beets and strawberries mingle nicely, and adding the greens and a sharp salty cheese rounds out all the flavors. It's delicious and easy to eat lots of it.

STARS: 
4 out of 5. Easy if you have the ingredients and very tasty.

RECIPE:
https://livesimply.me/2014/03/25/beet-strawberry-salad-with-balsamic-mustard-dressing-recipe/

2018 RECIPE TWENTY FOUR: Saturday June 23: grilled eggplant with caponata salad

BACK STORY:
When visiting Lindsay and Rich, they had 2 eggplants ripen in the garden and we were looking for a recipe to cook with them. I found this online from Smitten Kitchen.

NOTES:
The eggplants were small and long so we sliced them lengthwise but they still didn't cook very well, becoming chewy after cooking (and then cooling down as it took us a while to eat them). The preparation was fairly easy but the out come was poor.

STARS: 
2 out of 5. Not that great but with room for improvement.

RECIPE:
https://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/grilled-eggplant-with-caponata-salsa/

2018 RECIPE TWENTY THREE: Monday June 11 - cucumber and avocado salad

BACK STORY:
Anna recommended this, after seeing it on the Smitten Kitchen Instagram.


NOTES:
This is basically the best salad in the universe. I will eat it every day. Mini cucumbers are the best for the salad - I do a ratio of two mini cukes to one avocado. I used greek yogurt and a scooge of sriracha along with the lime for the dressing. I will literally eat it every day.


STARS: 
5 out of 5. I would give more stars if I had them.


RECIPE:

https://smittenkitchen.com/2015/04/obsessively-good-avocado-cucumber-salad/

Serves 2 as a main or 4 as a side

3/4 to 1 pound seedless cucumber, washed and chopped into chunks
2 thin or 1 regular scallions, thinly sliced
1 large avocado, pitted and diced
2 tablespoons mayonaise
Juice of half a lime, plus more to taste
Salt and hot sauce (we used Sriracha) to taste
Chopped cilantro or flat-leaf parsley to garnish

Combine cucumber, scallions and avocado in a bowl. Whisk together mayo, lime and seasonings, adjusting levels to taste. Drizzle salad with dressing and garnish with cilantro or parsley. Repeat again tomorrow.

2018 RECIPE TWENTY TWO: Sunday June 9 - cauliflower and israeli cous cous

BACK STORY:
I wanted to make this for Emily and Colby when I visited baby Madeline. It's a simpler version of my favorite israeli cous cous curry salad.


NOTES:
I didn't actually eat it. But they said it was good! I'll have to try again.


STARS: 
Unknown, as I didn't eat it. But it was easy to make.


RECIPE:

https://ohmyveggies.com/recipe-warm-cauliflower-israeli-couscous-salad/