Fruit, Nuts & Greens Dinner Salad

For two main-dish salads:

Ingredients:

• 1 bag salad greens, of choice
• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
• 1 mango, pitted, peeled and chopped
• 1 can mandarine oranges, drained
• about 1 cup dried cranberries
• about 1 cup roasted walnuts
• 2 seasoned (your choice) and cooked chicken breasts, cooled
• salad dressing (your choice, I used an asian ginger and sesame)

Method:

1. Divide the bag of greens among two dinner plates.
2. Top greens with avocado, mango, oranges, cranberries, walnuts and chicken. 
3. Add dressing and serve!

“What is more refreshing than salads when your appetite seems to have deserted you, or even after a capacious dinner - the nice, fresh, green, and crisp salad, full of life and health, which seems to invigorate the palate and dispose the masticating powers to a much larger duration.”

Alexis Soyer 19th century French chef.

Curried Rice, Baked Curry Chicken & Bell Pepper Apple Salad

This Curried Rice and Bell Pepper Salad were inspired by a couple recipes I found in the Penzey's spice catalog. If you haven't heard of or tried Penzey's spices, I encourage you to do so! It's high quality, the prices are extremely competitive, and the selection is great. I do a large order about twice a year. They add new spices and mixes on a regular basis, and tend to throw a free spice in with each order. It's always nice to get the new catalog and read through all the recipes, and they also have a magazine. Here's a couple recipes adapted from the catalogs along with a Baked Chicken I threw together to go along...

Curried Rice:

• 2 - 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 cup frozen peas (recipe called for 1 carrot, diced)
• 1/2 teaspoon black mustard seed
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 teaspoons biryani masala (recipe called for Penzey's Maharajah Curry Powder, I didn't have this so I did the biryani along with a pinch of saffron)
• pinch of saffron
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder (recipe called for whole cumin)
• 1/4 teaspoon kala jeera
• 1 cup basmati rice, rinsed and soaked
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• 1 3/4 cup chicken or vegetable stock

Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in large skillet. Add the onion and cook 3 - 4 minutes. Add the mustard seeds and cook until they begin to pop. When seeds begin to pop, add the brown sugar and spices. Cook for a couple minutes, stirring constantly. Add the rice and cook for about a minute. Add the nuts and stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until liquid is absorbed. If the rice doesn't seem cooked near this point, add a bit more water to finish. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.

Baked Curry Chicken:

• 2 - 3 whole chicken breasts
• 1 small onion, chunked
• 1 tomato, chunked
• 1/2 cup cream or half & half
• 1 inch chunk fresh ginger, cut into smaller pieces
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 teaspoons coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon clove powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• salt, to taste
• 1 teaspoon garam masala

Preheat oven to 400ºF and place chicken in a baking dish with a lid. In a food processor, grind together the remaining ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, covered, until chicken is cooked through.

Bell Pepper Apple Salad:

• 1 bell pepper (any color) sliced into think strips (recipe called for 2 carrots grated)
• 1 tart apple, peeled and grated (recipe called for 1/2 cucumber grated)
• 1/2 onion, minced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• salt to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon chaat masala (recipe called for 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper)
• cilantro to garnish

Toss together all the ingredients except cilantro and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with cilantro.

It's been said that we create our own happiness... that it is simply a decision we make or a state of mind... But there are those of us who are unable to find that state of mind regardless of what decision we've made. We search for that perfect balance, and until that balance is found, "living" is nearly impossible.

I've found that, regardless of my circumstances, there is always going to be something missing. My inability to focus on the moment because I cannot let go of what is missing is crushing. It's a trade-off ... One need leads to another creating a seemingly endless void. I do not see a solution and feel I must make peace with this part of me.

"Finding happiness is like finding yourself. You don't find happiness, you make happiness. You choose happiness. Self-actualization is a process of discovering who you are, who you want to be and paving the way to happiness by doing what brings YOU the most meaning and contentment to your life over the long run." - David Leonhardt

Showing My Salads...

... for Dil Se's Show Me Your Salad event!

For Broccoli Salad...
Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 2 tbs. sugar
• 2 - 4 tbs. cider vinegar (according to taste)
• 1 pound broccoli flowerets
• 1/3 - 2/3 cups raisins (optional)
• 6 - 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled
• 2 - 4 tbs. chopped red onion

Method:

In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Add remaining ingredients and chill. Store covered.

For Lime Chicken Salad w/ Avocado & Spinach...

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• salt to taste
• 4 ounce chicken breasts, sliced thin
• 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 1/2 a cucumber, peeled and sliced thin
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, leaves only

Method:

In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and cayenne pepper. Pour half of this over the chicken, marinating chicken for one hour. When ready, shallow fry the chicken till done, cooling completely. When ready to serve, combine the vegetables and chicken along with the remaining lime mixture. Serve Immediately.

For Cold Chicken Salad...

Ingredients:

• about 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 5 cups water with chicken bouillon
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 onion, chopped fine
• 1 rib celery, halved and sliced
• 3/4 cup red seedless grapes, halved
• 1 cup walnuts, broken up
• about 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 tbs. lemon juice

Method:

Simmer chicken in bouillon water until done and easily pulls apart with a fork (save that water for stock!!!) Cool chicken and pull part into smaller pieces. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients, stir and chill. Serve on bread or buns.

For chicken stock:
Throw a rib of celery with leaves in the reserved water along with a carrot and onion, cut up...simmer and reduce. Strain and refrigerate, or freeze, for later.

~ "It takes four men to dress a salad: A wise man for the salt, a madman for the pepper, a miser for the vinegar, and a spendthrift for the oil" - Anonymous ~

~ "The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is outgrossing my films - Paul Newman" ~

Burgers & Salad

This recipe is modified from feast from the Mideast 250 Sun-Drenched Dishes from the Lands of the Bible. I got this book from the library, but liked it so much, I bought it from Amazon... I think I will end up trying every recipe. The only major change I made is to add Thyme, and I made a different sauce than the recipe suggested.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound ground beef, chuck or sirloin
  
• 2 - 4 pita breads or sesame rolls
• 1 onion, sliced thin (optional)
• pickle slices (optional)
• sauce of choice

Method:

Prepare grill, pan, or broiler. Combine meat with cumin, turmeric, thyme, salt and pepper, and garlic. Shape into four patties, about 1 inch thick. If using rolls, toast them lightly.

Grill, fry or broil until juices run clear. This will take approximately 6 minutes on each side. To check, make a small cut in the center of burger to see the color.

If using pita, heat briefly on grill or oven for a few seconds on each side, making sure bread stays soft.

Transfer burgers to pita or buns and serve with toppings of choice, like onions, pickles and sauce.

For the "garlic sauce":

I have tried to make authentic garlic sauce and haven't been successful, so this was my adaptation. I took about 1/2 cup mayonnaise, added a couple tablespoons olive oil and about 5 cloves minced garlic and let this sit in the regrigerator to blend flavors. This worked well, and gave the flavor I wanted, though the texture was a little different.

Suma from Suma's Cuisine tagged me ... Thanks, Suma ;)

**The rules are: Respond and rework – answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, and add one more question of your own. Then tag eight or ten other people.

1. What is your current obsession?

Worrying about the future.


2. What are you wearing today?

Jean skirt & T-shirt.


3. What’s for dinner?

Frozen Pizza.


4. What’s the last thing you bought?

Soap.


5. What are you listening to right now?

Harry Potter/ Prisoner of Azkaban


6. What do you think about the person who tagged you?

Very nice, great blog, and so sweet for thinking of me and tagging :)


7. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world ,where would you like it to be?

I don't care, but close to people I care about.


8. What are your must-have pieces for summer?

Sandals, jean skirts, t-shirts and sunglasses.


9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?

California.


10. Which language do you want to learn?

Spanish, as I could get a job just for being able to speak it.


11. What’s your favourite quote?

"I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control and at times hard to handle, but if you can't handle me at my worst... then you don't deserve me at my best."
-Marilyn Monroe-


12. Who do you want to meet right now?

Sri (Soybean)


13. What is your favourite colour?

Burned Orange


14. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?

My jean skirts & t-shirts.


15. What is your dream job?

Writer/ Author


16. What’s your favourite magazine?

Right now, Science Illustrated.


17. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?

I'd take my daughter to lunch tomorrow, then to the mall and buy her something... Then maybe something for myself.


18. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?

I don't care about fashion, probably wearing clothes too tight and small.


19. Who are your style icons?

I don't have any, style and fashion aren't really important to me.


20. Describe your personal style.?

Comfortable, clean, good-fitting and appropriate for the situation.


21. What are you going to do after this?

Take a shower, and go to the library.


22. What are your favourite movies?

The King & I, Gone with the Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, What Dreams May Come, The Gladiator, Shawshank Redemption, John Q, Puff the Magic Dragon, Water, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Seven Pounds.


24. What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can't live without?

Foundation, eye-liner & blush.


23. What inspires you?

Intelligence.


24. What is your current favorite song?

Runaway - Love and Theft.


25. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?

Get frustrated and stay in the house.


26. Coffee or tea?

Coffee in the mornings, tea in the evenings.


27. What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?

Lay around, cry, try to figure out how to fix everything in my life, then get more depressed.


28. What is the meaning of your name?

It's Greek for a sea nymph.


29. Which other blogs you love visiting?

All food blogs


30. Favorite Dessert/Sweet?

Right now, I'm craving some Tira Misu.


31. Favourite Ornaments.

Earrings & Nose Ring.


32. Most important thing your parents taught you?

Work Ethics.

I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this... :)

Steak at my mom's...

I think I've mentioned before how I never buy and prepare a steak on my own, but if I happen to be at my mom's and she decides to make a steak, then I'm all for it!

Last week my mom made some steak for dinner and I decided to take pictures and post them, just in honor of the kick-ass food I grew up on... and that I never make for myself.

My mom always served fresh salad's along with dinners... This is one of her standards of tomatoes, cucumbers and onions with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. She lets it sit awhile in the fridge, and there's no need for any dressing!

Sia's Baghare Baingan

I was really excited to find some baby eggplants at the farmer's market last saturday, as I have been wanting to try this recipe. I decided to use Sia's version, as the pictures were mouthwatering and have had my attention for awhile. Somehow, I can never get my own pictures to look as appetizing, but you get the idea :) So head over to Sia's for this great recipe, which turned out to be fairly simple, too!

I also bought some blueberries at the market because I have been wanting to make a fruit salad for awhile. I still had to go to the supermarket to get a few of my other favorite fruits, and I found these tiny grapes... I don't remember what they are called. They were so sweet and looked great in the salad. My salad included pineapple, strawberries, grapes, cherries, blueberries, kiwi and watermelon, and I would cut a banana into it everyday.

~ "Well-behaved women seldom make history... If you want to make a difference in the world, you can't worry too much about what other people think - Thatcher Ulrich~

~ "A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform" - Diane Mariechild ~

~ "Women are the real architects of society" - Harriet Beecher Stowe ~

~ "A woman is like a teabag. It's only when she's in hot water that you realize how strong she is" - Nancy Reagan ~

~ " A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't" - Rhonda Hansome ~

~ "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission" - Eleanor Roosevelt ~

Potato, Sweet Potato, and Pea Salad

This is a recipe I adapted from Neelam Batra's 1,000 Indian Recipes. It's fairly simple, and tastes great! It's a little sour/tangy which I really like. It tasted even better the next day, cold from the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tablespoons tamarind paste (the book called for 3 -4 tablespoons, but I reduced)
• 1 teaspoon chaat masala
• 1 pound white potatoes ( I used russet)
• 1/2 pound sweet potatoes
• 2 to 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• salt, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup chopped spring onions

Method:

1. Cover the potatoes with salted water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and cook until tender. Drain and let cool, then peel. Cut each white potato into large squares, about 2 inch size. Cut each sweet potato into thick rounds.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat and cook the potatoes (both varieties) until golden brown on all sides. Transfer to a plate.

3. Add the peas to the same skillet and cook until barely golden, 4 minutes.

4. Mix the potatoes (both varieties) into the peas. Add the tamarind paste, salt, cayenne and chaat masala and cook, turning a few times, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate and top with cilantro and spring onions. Serve.

~ Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering - Buckminster Fuller ~

Broccoli Salad & Yummy Award

Here is one of my favorite summer salads...

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 2 tbs. sugar
• 2 - 4 tbs. cider vinegar (according to taste)
• 1 pound broccoli flowerets
• 1/3 - 2/3 cups raisins (optional)
• 6 - 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled
• 2 - 4 tbs. chopped red onion
  

Method:

In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Add remaining ingredients and chill. Store covered.


Anjali over at THE BIG BITE was kind enough to pass this award along to me! I was thrilled to get another award!!! Thanks so much, Anjali!

"Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos"

Rules for the ‘Yummy Blog’ award Receiver: The person who receives the award should display the "Yummy Blog !" logo on their blog and also the meaning of the award which is "Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos". The receiver should also quote their favorite yummy-licious :) dessert(s) that they have ever prepared/eaten. Don’t restrict yourself to any dessert, chocolate bars also welcome.

My favorite yummy-licious desserts would have to be:

1) Pecan Pie
2) Tiramisu
3) Reece's Peanut Butter Cups
4) Applebee's Maple Butter Blondie
5) Gulab Jamun's
6) Soan Papdi

I would love to pass this award along to:

1) Mona at Zaiqa
2) Shriya at Spicy & Tasty
3) Viji at VCuisine
4) Zainab & Meedo at Arabic Bites

Thanks again, Anjali and hope everyone didn't get this award already :)

Lime Chicken Salad w/Avacado & Spinach

I got the idea for this salad from a free super-market recipe card. The original recipe did not call for spinach and it used basil instead of the cilantro I used here. I also didn't dice the vegetables like the original recipe called for. The salad turned out even better than I expected...even the kiddo ate it :)

Ingredients:

• 3 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 3 limes)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• salt to taste
  
• 4 ounce chicken breasts, sliced thin
• 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and sliced
  
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• 1/2 a cucumber, peeled and sliced thin
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, leaves only

Method:

In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and cayenne pepper. Pour half of this over the chicken, marinating chicken for one hour. When ready, shallow fry the chicken till done, cooling completely. When ready to serve, combine the vegetables and chicken along with the remaining lime mixture. Serve Immediately.

~ The most beautiful thing that we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed. This insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive form - this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong in the ranks of devoutly religious men. - Albert Einstein ~

Cold Chicken Salad

Here is one of my favorite summer dishes. Everything is adjustable, but this is my favorite way to make it.

Ingredients:

• about 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 5 cups water with chicken bouillon
  
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 onion, chopped fine
• 1 rib celery, halved and sliced
• 3/4 cup red seedless grapes, halved
• 1 cup walnuts, broken up
• about 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
• salt & pepper to taste
• 2 tbs. lemon juice

Method:
Simmer chicken in bouillon water until done and easily pulls apart with a fork (save that water for stock!!!) Cool chicken and pull part into smaller pieces. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients, stir and chill. Serve on bread or buns.

For chicken stock:
Throw a rib of celery with leaves in the reserved water along with a carrot and onion, cut up...simmer and reduce. Strain and refrigerate, or freeze, for later. ~ Don't talk unless you can improve the silence ~

Watergate Salad

My grandma use to make this a lot when I was a kid...today I am making it for a potluck...It's super easy and quick!

Ingredients:

• 24 oz. Coolwhip
• 40 oz. crushed pineapple in juice
• 1 cup chopped nuts (any variety, I saved some whole to garnish)
  
• 1 cup mini marshmallows
  

Method:

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl!!!!! Chill & Serve!

~The fellow who worries about what people think of him wouldn't worry so much if he only knew how seldom they do~