Salad – Page 3 – Busy in Brooklyn

I’ve been trying to eat healthy lately – less snacking, more wholesome meals with lots of greens. It hasn’t been easy!

Maybe it’s because I get bored of salads. How many times can you eat lettuce with cucumbers and tomatoes, you know? I mean of course there are a million directions you can go in with salad, but who has the time? Most days I’m lucky if I get to scarf down anything while I’m running from here to there – so I come home famished and eat whatever I can find. I haven’t been making the best choices.

With my manuscript deadline just a few weeks away, I’ve been so stressed, barely sleeping and not taking care of myself. It all came to a head when I came down with the worst case of the flu the other week, that literally had me wanting to check into a hospital. I never knew the flu could be so bad, but I also knew that my body wasn’t doing the best job at getting better because I hadn’t been taking care of myself. It was a real wake up call for me to start taking my vitamins, getting more sleep, and eating better. I lost 10 lbs. over those two grueling weeks, but I gained a fresh start. It was like a clean slate for me, a chance to start over and live with intention.

I may not have done a Whole30, but I definitely felt a mind shift and I’ve been going with the flow. Working more salad into my meals, moving more and drinking more water. I feel so much better and as crazy as it is – I’m so thankful that I had such a bad case of the flu, because it put me in a better place.

Now lets talk about this salad. Salads like these make me want to eat all the greens! I love the balance of smoky, salty, chewy, tart, and sweet! And the balsamic fig dressing is such a winner, you’ll want to start stocking your fridge with it all the time.

A salad that actually makes you want to eat salad – so much yes!!!

Smoky Kale & Farro Salad

5 cups roughly chopped kale
1 1/2 cups cooked farro
1 green apple, halved, thinly sliced on a mandolin
handful of raisins or chopped dates
handful of pistachios
a few slices of smoked duck or turkey
balsamic fig dressing (recipe follows)

Method:

Place the kale in a large bowl. Add half of the dressing and using gloves, massage the dressing into the leaves. Add the remaining ingredients and drizzle with additional dressing.

Balsamic Fig Dressing

1/2 cup grapeseed or light olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup fig jam
2 tsp spicy brown mustard
2 tsp grated shallot
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk until thick and emulsified.

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Greek Salad with Feta Croutons

On November 29, 2017July 24, 2018

by chanie

in Appetizer, Chanukah, Recipes, Salad

8 Comments

Well hello there everyone! It seems like forever since I’ve actually blogged a new recipe here on BIB! I’ve been in full on cookbook mode these passed few weeks and I couldn’t be more excited about how things are moving along! I was so nervous about how I’d be able to juggle the cookbook, social media posting, messages and blogging but somehow it’s been working. Blogging has definitely taken a back seat, and for the first time in six years of blogging, I’ve starting skipping a week or two here and there. There was a time I thought everything would come crashing down if I didn’t post every. single. week. but lo and behold, the blog is still here and everyone is alive and well.

The truth is, it was hard getting back into it but I couldn’t let Chanukah go by without a few special recipes. I mean, it really is my favorite holiday and as many of you now, it’s both my birthday and Anniversary as well! Chanukah is my favorite time to fry up something crazy, make something Greek and go all out in the dairy department, and I’ve combined all three in this awesome salad!

Most of you have eaten Greek salad about a million times in your life, but you’ve probably never tried tried frying the feta into croutons. Yes! I said FRYING THE FETA INTO CROUTONS! How awesome, right?? At first I wasn’t even sure if it would work but a Chanukah miracle happened (early) and the feta fried up beautifully! It was also my first time using Trader Joes cholov yisroel feta which apparently has been a hidden treasure for the past several years, and OMG is it decadent. It’s crazy salty (which I kinda love), but oh so smooth and it also slices so, so nicely without crumbling. The breadcrumbs really help cut through all that saltiness, and with a forkful of veggies, it’s the perfect little bite.

It’s funny because I was never really much of a feta person, probably because I never had really good feta, so Greek salad wasn’t really on my list of faves. It might also have to do with the fact that I’m not a fan of goat or sheep milk products, and most feta is made with sheep milk. I’m so crazy sensitive to the taste, that I can tell if my butcher used the meat grinder to grind lamb before he grinds the beef, because I can taste even the slightest hint of it. And it’s so, so sheepy. I mean, I’m no picky eater but I just. can’t. swallow it.

What’s crazy is, I decided to give the Trader Joe’s sheep’s milk feta a try because so many people told me it was the best feta they ever ate (it’s imported from Israel after all), and even though it had the absolute, most slightest hint of sheep, I was able to tolerate – and even enjoy – it.

So, if you can find Trader Joes best kept secret, go grab a package for this awesome recipe, or use your favorite brand. This post is not sponsored by TJ’s, although how amazing would that be, right?

Greek Salad with Feta Croutons

2 heads romaine lettuce
1 pint grape tomates, cut in half
1 English cucumber, sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced into half rings
1 cup black olives, sliced
lemons, for serving

Spread all the ingredients out on a platter and top with feta croutons. Drizzle with lemon dressing.

Lemon Dressing:
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (use light if you don’t like the flavor)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp oregano
1 tbsp honey
salt and pepper to taste

Add all the ingredients to a container and shake vigorously before serving.

Feta Croutons

1 package feta cheese, cut into cubes
1 cup panko crumbs
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp lemon zest
salt and pepper, to taste
1/3 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup canola oil, for frying

Prepare three bowls for dredging. Place the flour in one bowl and season with salt and pepper. Place the eggs in a second bowl and season with salt and pepper. In a third bowl, combine the panko crumbs, basil, lemon zest, salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a saucepan (I prefer to use a small saucepan so I can use less oil, a wider pan will require more oil to make it deep enough for frying). Dip the feta cubes in flour, then egg, and then panko crumbs. Fry in oil until golden brown and drain on paper towels. You may make the croutons a few hours in advance and warm in the oven to crisp up before serving (if necessary).

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Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, 5 Ways

On January 5, 2017January 19, 2017

by chanie

in Dinner, Meat & Poultry, Recipes, Salad, Soup

4 Comments

I have been waiting to post this recipe for months! I kept trying different variations, cooking temps and times until I found the easiest and most delicious version. I love this dinner because of how simple it is (duh) and because there is just so much you can do with it. I think the chicken fajita bowls are my favorite (because I’m obsessed with food in bowls right now), but the nachos are pretty addictive too.

A lot of thought went into this recipe, including what type of chicken to use. I’m not a fan of skinless roasted chicken breast because it’s just. so. dry. Chicken thighs, on the other hand, are pretty impossible to mess up. Even if you overcook them a little, their fat content keeps them super moist. I also decided to keep these whole for roasting, because cutting them into strips would dry them out. Like I said, lots of thought people, lots of thought.

I’ve also tested this recipe with store bought fajita seasoning (which has added cornstarch, soybeans and wheat) and my homemade version won by a landslide. I love that this recipe is “clean” so if you choose to trash it up with homemade tortilla chips, no one is judging you :)

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

1 medium spanish onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 red pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 yellpw pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 green pepper, sliced into strips
1/2 orange pepper, sliced into strips
6 dark meat chicken cutlets (deboned chicken thighs)
2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp fajita seasoning (recipe follows)
salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

On a greased sheet pan, mix the peppers and onions with 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp fajita spice, salt and pepper. Spread out over the tray. Place the chicken over the peppers and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tbsp fajita spice, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Mix the peppers and place them over the chicken. Return to the oven and broil on high for 5-8 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until peppers and onions are caramelized and crisped around the edges.

For a simple dinner, serve over rice or check out the other 5 ways below!

Homemade Fajita Spice

2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 tsp kosher salt

Mix to combine and store in an airtight container. Makes 5 tablespoons.

Chicken Fajita Salad

1 head Rommaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
1 avocado, diced
3 pieces fajita chicken, cut into strips
sheet pan peppers and onions
tortilla strips (store bought or homemade, recipe follows)

Method:

Spread the lettuce out on a large platter. Top with tomatoes, black beans, avocado, peppers and onions, chicken and tortilla strips. Drizzle with salsa dressing. Alternatively, serve in individual bowls.

Creamy Salsa Dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup salsa

Mix the mayo and salsa until creamy and serve over salad.

Homemade Tortilla Strips

1 pkg corn tortillas
oil, for frying

Cut the tortillas into thin strips and fry in hot oil until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Chicken Fajita Bowls

2 cups long grain rice, cooked according to package directions
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 avocados, thinly sliced
6 pieces fajita chicken, cut into strips
sheet pan peppers and onions
6 eggs, prepared sunny side up
sriracha and scallions, for garnish

Method:

Divide the rice into 6 serving bowls. Add black beans, avocado, chicken, onions and peppers. Top with a fried egg and garnish with scallions and sriracha.

Chicken Fajita Tacos

1 package soft corn tortillas
fajita chicken, cut into strips
sheet pan peppers and onions
shredded iceberg lettuce
avocado crema (recipe follows)
salsa
lime wedges

Method:

Warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat, until pliable. Fill each tortilla with chicken, peppers, onion and lettuce. Drizzle with avocado crema and garnish with salsa and lime wedges.

Avocado Crema

1 large avocado
1/2 cup mayonnaise or nondairy sour cream
juice of 1 lime
1 clove garlic
kosher salt, to taste

Puree the ingredients in a food processor or blender, adding water, if needed, to reach desired consistency.

Fajita Nachos

1 pkg soft corn tortillas
oil for frying
sheet pan peppers and onions
fajita chicken, cut into strips
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 container nondairy sour cream
2 avocados
juice of 1/2 lemon
kosher salt

Method:

Cut the corn tortillas into wedges. Heat oil in a skillet and fry the tortillas until golden. Drain on paper towels.

Mash the avocados and add lemon and salt, to taste. Set aside.

Spread the chips out on a platter and top with onions and peppers, chicken, diced tomatoes and black beans. Drizzle sour cream over the nachos and top with a scoop of avocado.

EASY OPTION: Use store-bought tortilla chips

Chicken Fajita Soup

sheet tray peppers and onions
2 tsp fajita seasoning (recipe posted above)
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 32 oz. carton chicken or vegetable stock
salt and pepper, to taste
jalapeño, avocado, red onion, cilantro, nondairy sour cream, and tortilla strips, for topping

Method:

Place the onions and peppers in a medium sized pot and cook over medium heat until warmed through. Add the fajita seasoning and tomato paste and stir until the spices are fragrant and the tomato paste starts to caramelize. Add diced tomatoes, stock, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Slice the chicken into strips and add to the soup. Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings.

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Our Table Cookbook Review & Giveaway

On November 3, 2016November 3, 2016

by chanie

in Appetizer, Cakes, Dairy, Dessert, Muffins, Recipes, Salad

106 Comments

I’ve been following Renee Muller for years, and when word got out that she was coming out with a cookbook, I knew it would be something special. You see, Renee doesn’t see food like the rest of us. To her, a table is a canvas, and each dish is another way to paint a beautiful picture. Renee is a food stylist par excellence and her magazines spreads are jaw dropping. I knew the photography would be out of this world, but I was in for even more. In Our Table, Renee invites us to experience the joy of eating memorable meals together, something she cherishes from her upbringing in Lugano, Switzerland. Her recipes are homey, family friendly and diverse. She’s got a little something for everyone – part healthy, part indulgent, some easy and some more complicated. The Chapters span the basics from appetizers and soups/salads to fish/dairy, meat/chicken, snack/sides, breads/cakes/cookies and desserts.

Beautiful photography and a range of mouthwatering recipes wasn’t enough for Renee. So she created a guide with never-before-seen video tutorials of some of her most popular recipes. From “how to stuff cabbage” to “how to cut caramels”, “how to make gnocchi” to “how to braid challah”, these videos are not just visually stunning, they are informative too. (You can watch them here!) You’ll also find a Pesach guide in the book to help you easily adjust many of the recipes and make them holiday approved.

I’ve already tried Renee’s seared tuna cubes over the holidays to rave reviews, but I’m looking forward to trying the broccoli winter salad below, the gnocchi di casa, sugo della nonna (her grandmother’s Italian marinara sauce), Belgian birthday waffles, lattice minute roast, meat manicotti, honey walnut brittle, irresistible toffee, buttery chocolate scones, deconstructed lemon meringue pie (what an awesome idea!) and more!

Of course I can’t do a cookbook review without giving one lucky winner a chance to own this beauty, so…

To enter to a win a copy of Our Table by Renee Muller,

Comment on this post and share your most memorable meal or dish.
For an extra entry, follow Busy In Brooklyn via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Just be sure to leave a note in the comment letting me know where you follow.

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents (for international entries, prize can only be shipped in the U.S.). Winner will be chosen at random at 10:00 AM EST on Monday, November 14th, 2016.

Broccoli Winter Salad with Creamy Onion Dressing
from Our Table by Renee Muller
Reproduced with permission from the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications

1 (14-ounce) bag fresh broccoli, larger florets cut into bite-size pieces
1 (4-ounce) bag baby spinach leaves OR any other lettuce
1 large grapefruit, supremed (see Note)
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 avocado, cubed
¼ cup roasted, salted cashews

For the dressing
½ cup oil
½ small onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons honey
¼ cup vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard
½ teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine broccoli, spinach, grapefruit, pomegranate seeds, avocado, and cashews.
Prepare the dressing: Place all dressing ingredients into a jar. Blend with an immersion blender until creamy. Drizzle over salad right before serving.

NOTE: A supremed citrus fruit is one that supplies the flesh of the fruit only, no membranes, no pith, only perfect segments that will add a touch of elegance to your salad. It requires a little practice, but once you get the hang of it you will find yourself doing it quite often. Start by trimming off the stem end of the fruit, including about 1/4-inch of flesh, using a small sharp knife. Repeat with other end. Arrange fruit to sit flat on a work surface. Following the contour of the fruit, slice away the peel and white pith from top to bottom. You want to make sure the flesh is visible and you are left with no white pith. Working over a bowl or sink, hold the fruit in one hand. With your other hand, cut alongside one membrane and then alongside the adjacent membrane, releasing the supreme. Carefully transfer segments to a bowl. Repeat until all supremes are removed. Now you will be able to taste the fruit only, with no bitterness whatsoever. I find that even my pickiest eater will enjoy an otherwise daunting grapefruit, if served this way. Try it.

Kaas Potjes (cheese pockets)
from Our Table by Renee Muller
Reproduced with permission from the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications

For the Dough
14 ounces (3½ sticks) butter OR margarine, softened
4 eggs, at room temperature
2 egg yolks, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
6 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

For the filling
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese (not whipped), softened
5 Tablespoons (⅔ stick) butter, softened
⅔ cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons cornstarch
confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, on medium speed, combine softened butter, eggs, and yolks; beat until butter is broken down a bit, about 2 minutes. Add sugar; continue to mix. Slowly add flour and baking powder. Mix until a nice, soft dough forms. (Dough might seem sticky, but that’s OK, once it’s chilled it will be more manageable.) Divide the dough into 3 parts. Place each part into a separate resealable plastic bag; refrigerate, preferably for a few hours or overnight.

Prepare the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine all filling ingredients until creamy. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare standard or mini muffin pans.

Using a box grater, grate one piece of well-chilled dough onto a plate. If the dough hasn’t chilled enough, place it into the freezer for a bit. Refrigerate grated dough until ready to use.
Remove remaining dough from the fridge. Working with one piece at a time, roll out dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut rounds with a 3½-inch round cookie cutter or glass. Place rounds into a muffin tin, pushing down and pressing sides to cover all sides. Fill each with a heaping tablespoon of filling.

Place 1-2 tablespoons grated dough over each cheese pocket (be generous; this is what makes the pockets pretty), pressing down gently to attach them to the cheese filling.
Bake cheese pockets, 25-30 minutes, until golden. Let cool; dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Fall Farmer’s Market Salad

On September 21, 2016September 22, 2016

by chanie

in Appetizer, Brunch, Diet, Recipes, Salad

7 Comments

I can’t believe how time is flying and my little munchkin is already 2 months old. And you know what that means? It means that it’s back to life, back to reality. Time to wrap up these guest blog posts with a big finish from my pal Whitney Fisch from Jewhungry. Back when I actually had time to read blogs, Jewhungry was one that I actually READ. Whit has lots to say about food, parenting, and believe it or not, her husband is a real life marine biologist (I thought that only existed in a Seinfeld episode)! Whitney’s chocolate love muffins are a staple in my home, and if you make them, they will be in yours too. Welcome Whitney!

I am so honored to be on this beautiful website! I have been a fan of Chanie and her work for years! I’m doubly excited to be on here while she’s at home, loving on her new baby girl. Hurray!

The recipe I’ve got for ya’ll today is one of those that, once assembled and enjoyed, you think to yourself, “ahhhh, the secret is most definitely in the sauce!” I have been a fan of salads since I was a kid. Truly. My grandfather used to love to take my brother and I out for lunch when we would visit our grandparents in Louisville, KY. He would take us all over town and my go-to order as a spritely 7 year-old was salad. I’m not sure what calls to me in a salad. Maybe it’s the fact that the toppings can be endless. Maybe it’s the crisp freshness of the lettuce itself or the variations one can make on the same thing. I can’t really pinpoint what the one thing is that I truly love about salad other than the dressing. Good Lord, gimme all the dressing. I remember reading Michelle Bernstein’s cookbook, Cuisine a Latina, in which she unabashedly proclaims that she LOVES drenching her salads in dressing. That’s my kinda lady! And therefore, for you today, I have a simply beautiful Fall Farmer’s Market salad in which I actually did, in fact, get all the ingredients from the Hollywood Farmer’s Market. It’s a beautiful salad regardless of dressing but the pesto vinaigrette really takes it up a notch, if you ask me. I also like to use this dressing as a dip for french fries or polenta fries. That’s the great thing about salad dressing . . . it goes with everything!

Fall Farmer’s Market Salad

4 carrots, sliced in half, length-wise
1 small head of broccoli, cut into florets
4 cloves of roasted garlic, (directions for this below)
1 1/2 cup of mixed green lettuce
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
1/8 cup plus 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 tbsp kosher salt
1/2 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tbsp ground black pepper
pesto vinaigrette (recipe follows)

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place carrots and broccoli in a large bowl and toss with 1/8 cup olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place on roasting pan, making sure not to overlap, and roast for roughly 20 – 30 minutes. I like my veggies to be blackened so keep an eye on yours if you like yours a little less roasty and toasty.
Directions for Roasting Garlic Cloves:

To roast the garlic cloves, place garlic cloves on tin foil. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil. Wrap the tin foil tightly around the garlic and the oil so it does not drip out. Place on your veggie roasting pan and place in the over for 20 minutes or until the cloves feel soft when pressed.

To assemble the salad, artfully place your mixed greens on a large plate. Top with your roasted vegetables and garlic. Drizzles on dressing and top with pomegranate seeds. Enjoy!

Pesto Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup basil
1/4 cup curly kale, de-stemmed
1 garlic clove
(optional) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 walnuts or 3 tbsp pine nuts
1/8 cup honey
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil

Method:

Place all ingredients, up to the olive oil, into a blender. Turn blender on and gradually add the olive oil in an continuous stream until it is smooth and full incorporated into the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning to your preference. For best flavor, use immediately or store in the refrigerator in a tightly-closed container for up to 3 days.

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Busy in Brooklyn

Category: Salad

Smoky Kale & Farro Salad with Balsamic Fig Dressing

Greek Salad with Feta Croutons

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, 5 Ways

Our Table Cookbook Review & Giveaway

Fall Farmer’s Market Salad