Main: Provencal Chicken Salad with Roasted Peppers and Artichokes
Raising the Salad Bar by Catherine Walthers
Dessert: Fresh Fruit Shortcakes
Women’s Weekly Light and Luscious Summertime Cookbook
“The evidence is overwhelming at this point. You eat more plants, you eat less other stuff, you live longer.” – Mark Bittman
Hi everyone,
So I have a confession……I have a love/hate relationship with salads. I always feel great during and after I have eaten them but when I am looking at a menu I am drawn to the things with sauces and somewhat more fattening delicacies, however, Raising the Salad Bar is a book filled with wonderful and exciting salad recipes. The best thing is that they are fairly simple and can be put together in no time at all. I selected this beautiful provencal chicken salad mostly because of the colours (okay guilty, I look at the pictures to decide if I am going to cook something).
It goes a long way and can be easily doubled if necessary. The evenings have been very muggy so the best place to be is outside eating either with a salad or having a BBQ. The recipe requires the “bell peppers” or capsicums to be skinned and cut into strips. I find the best way to skin them is to pop them under the griller until black and bubbly and then put them in a plastic bag and allow to cool. The skin peels right off super easily. Feel free to add to this salad. A little shaved parmesan or fresh mozzarella could be added. Mango and avocado go very well with it as do some tiny tomatoes. Serve with some crusty peasant-style bread. To turn this into a vegetarian feast, omit the chicken and add some grilled vegetables and halloumi. This received 8/10
AND dessert finds me right back with the Women’s Weekly and a very very old recipe. The shortcake part of this is a lot like shortbread. Be careful with the pastry because it is very soft even after having been in the fridge. The shortcakes can be done ahead, cream whipped and fruit chopped so there is your dessert ready for assembly. It calls for Grand Marnier which does go just great with fruit but you could also use Contreau. It is light and fresh and very very addictive – something you can eat without feeling too guilty. This is a must try. Was it a winner? Oh yea, especially with the MAV who came back for seconds. 9/10
This simple, light and easy menu is a must try for these warm summer nights.
Until next week,
From my table to yours with love!
