• Charred Corn Salad

    Adapted from Caroline Chambers.

    Salad Ingredients:

    • 4 ears of corn, charred and chopped off cob (or 12 oz. frozen fire roasted corn prepared according to package)
    • Tajin, to taste
    • 1 – 2 red bell peppers, charred and chopped
    • Romaine lettuce
    • 1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
    • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
    • Cooked chicken, sliced, optional
    • Pepitas, to taste
    • 1/2 c. cotija cheese, crumbled

    Verde Dressing Ingredients:

    • 1/2 c. mayonnaise
    • 1/4 c. Red Clay verde hot sauce or verda salsa of choice, more or less to taste

    Directions:

    1. Corn: Char corn and chop off cob or prepare frozen fire roasted corn according to package. While still hot, sprinkle with Tajin, to taste. Set aside to cool.
    2. Red Pepper: Char, seed and chop. Set aside to cool.
    3. Verde Dressing: Combine mayonnaise and hot sauce, taste and adjust seasoning.
    4. Salad: In a large salad serving bowl, fill bowl with lettuce; add the cilantro, beans, cooled corn, cooled red pepper, chicken (if using), pepitas, and cotija. Toss salad and then add the dressing and toss to combine.

    Charred Corn Salad:

  • Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad

    Recipe adapted from Amy Hannon of Euna Mae’s.

    Ingredients:

    Dressing:

    • 1 1/2 c. strawberries, halved
    • 1/4 c. champagne or rose vinegar
    • 1/2 tsp. salt
    • 1 TBSP sugar
    • 1-2 TBSP honey, plus more if needed
    • 1/4 c. mayonnaise
    • 2/3 c. light olive oil
    • 1 TBSP poppy seeds

    Salad:

    • 6-8 c. mixed lettuce
    • 1 rotisserie chicken, breast meat pulled
    • 2 c. fresh strawberries, halved
    • 1/2 – 1 red onion, sliced
    • Honey roasted pecans, or any pecan
    • Crumbled feta

    Directions:

    1. Dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine combine strawberries, vinegar, salt, sugar, honey, and mayonnaise. Blend for a few seconds until smooth. Add the olive oil and poppy seeds and blend until the dressing comes together. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
    2. Salad: In a large serving bowl, or individual bowl/plates, add the lettuce and lightly toss with dressing, then add the chicken, strawberry halves, onion slices, pecans, and feta and drizzle with more dressing.

    Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken Salad:

  • Thai Chopped Chicken Salad

    Recipe adapted from Pinch of Yum.

    Ingredients:

    Salad:

    • 1 rotisserie chicken, breasts shredded (about 3 c.)
    • 4 c. Napa cabbage, shredded
    • 1–2 large carrots, julienned
    • 1 c. cucumbers, chopped
    • 2 mangoes, diced
    • 1 c. fresh cilantro, chopped
    • 3/4 c. fresh mint, chopped
    • 1/2 c. peanuts, chopped
    • 1/2 c. green or red onions, sliced
    • 3–4 jalapenos, sliced

    Peanut Dressing

    • 1/2 c. peanut butter
    • 1/3 c. soy sauce
    • 1/3 c. sesame oil
    • 1/4 c. rice wine vinegar
    • 1 lime, juiced
    • 2 TBSP sriracha
    • 2 TBSP sugar
    • 1 TBSP ginger paste
    • 1 garlic clove, peeled
    • 1/4-1/2 c. water to thin to desired consistency

    Directions:

    1. Salad: In a large serving bowl add all the salad ingredients.
    2. Dressing: Pulse peanut butter through garlic in the food processor or blender. Adjust consistency with water.
    3. Assembly: Add dressing to salad and toss to combine.

    Thai Chopped Chicken Salad:

  • Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles

    This dish is perfect for a quick weekday dinner.

    Recipe adapted from The Modern Proper.

    Ingredients:

    • 3 (3 oz.) packages instant ramen noodles, flavor packets discarded or 14 oz. fresh noodles
    • 1/4 c. soy sauce
    • 1/4 c. oyster sauce or hoisin sauce
    • 1 TBSP rice vinegar
    • 1 TBSP brown sugar, optional
    • 1 tsp chili sauce like sambal or sriracha
    • 1/4 c. water
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced about 2 tsp
    • 1 TBSP ginger paste
    • 2 TBSP toasted sesame oil
    • 1 small onion, large chop
    • 1 sweet red pepper, large chop
    • 6 oz. baby spinach
    • 1 TBSP chili crisp
    • 4-6 green onions, thinly sliced
    • 1 tsp sesame seeds
    • Top with fried egg, crispy tofu, or cooked chicken

    Directions:

    1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package; drain well.
    2. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce through ginger paste.
    3. In a large skillet, heat sesame over medium heat.
    4. Add the onion and peppers and sauté for 2-3 minutes; then add the spinach and sauté until spinach is wilted.
    5. Pour in the bowl of sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the chili crisp, and then add the noodles until heated through and evenly coated in sauce, about 3 minutes.
    6. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
    7. Top with fried egg, crispy tofu, or cooked chicken, and extra chili crisp, if desired.

    Sesame Garlic Noodles:

  • Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Recipe adapted from Sammy Montogoms.

    Ingredients:

    • 3 TBSP olive oil
    • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper, roughly chopped
    • 1 onion, roughly chopped
    • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and whole
    • 2 TBSP tomato paste
    • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
    • 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
    • 3/4 tsp. oregano
    • 2 1/4 tsp. cumin
    • 3 tsp. smoked paprika
    • 2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
    • 7 1/2 c. chicken broth
    • 1 c. tomato sauce
    • 1 can of corn, drained and rinsed or 2 c. fresh or frozen, divided
    • 1/2 c. heavy cream
    • 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
    • 1 lime, juiced
    • Serve topped with cheese, green onion, cilantro, avocado, jalapenos, sour cream, and/or tortilla chips

    Directions:

    1. Begin by roughly chopping the carrots, red pepper, and onion.
    2. To a large pot, add the olive oil and set to medium heat. Add chopped carrots, red pepper, and onion and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring often.
    3. Reduce heat to low and add the whole garlic cloves. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes and then add the tomato paste. Cook until the tomato paste becomes a darker red color, about 3 minutes.
    4. Add the salt through tomato sauce and 1/2 of the corn. Bring to a light boil and let simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the veggies become soft.
    5. Once the veggies are soft, turn off the heat and use an immersion blender and blend the soup until smooth.
    6. Add the heavy cream, and taste to see if it needs any additional seasonings.
    7. Shred the chicken and then add the shredded chicken, the remaining corn, and fresh lime juice to the soup and stir one last time.
    8. Top soup with desired toppings.

    Creamy Tortilla Soup:

  • Summer Ramen Bowl

    Recipe adapted from the Defined Dish.

    Ingredients for 1:

    • 1 egg and/or breaded chicken cutlet
    • 1 brick of ramen, seasoning packet discarded
    • 1 TBSP Get Side Dish Creamy Sesame
    • 2 TBSP soy sauce
    • 1/2 – 1 TBSP chili crisp
    • Honey, to taste (about 2 tsp.)
    • Veggies (julienne cut cucumber, red bell pepper, and/or napa cabbage, wilted spinach etc.)
    • Everything but the bagel seasoning

    Directions:

    1. Soft Boiled Egg: Bring a small saucepan to a boil. When boiling, add the egg and cook for 6.5 minutes. Transfer egg to a bowl of ice water and set aside. Peel egg when cool to the touch.
    2. Ramen: In the saucepan used to cook the egg (or wilt the spinach), add the ramen noodles to boiling water and cook according to package. Drain the noodles and rinse under cold water until noodles are no longer hot.
    3. Sauce: In a bowl, whisk the Creamy Sesame, soy sauce, chili crisp, and honey until well combined.
    4. Assembly: Transfer noodles to a bowl and toss with the sauce until well coated. Top with veggies, egg and/or chicken, and sprinkle with everything but the bagel seasoning.

    Summer Ramen Bowl:

  • Summer Farro Salad

    Recipe adapted from Two Peas and Their Pod.

    Ingredients:

    Salad:

    • 2 c. cooked farro
    • 2 c. greens of your choice, spinach, kale, mixed greens, etc.
    • 2 large peaches, pitted and sliced or 1 1/2 c. strawberries and blackberries
    • 1 1/2 c. blueberries
    • 1 1/2 c. grape tomatoes, halved
    • 2 small ears sweet corn, kernels removed (about 1 1/2 c.)
    • 1/2 c. crumbled feta cheese
    • 3 TBSP chopped basil
    • Sliced grilled chicken, optional

    Dressing:

    • 1/3 c. olive oil
    • Juice of 1 lemon
    • 1 TBSP champagne vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 small shallot, minced
    • 1-2 tsp. honey, or to taste
    • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

    Directions:

    1. Salad: In a large bowl combine the farro, greens, peach slices and/or strawberries and blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, corn, feta, basil, and grilled chicken if using.
    2. Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, shallot, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk until well combined.
    3. Assemble: Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss until salad is well coated. Serve immediately.

    Summer Farro Salad:

  • Asian Chicken Salad

    Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious.

    Ingredients:

    Salad:

    • 1 head romaine, shredded (or can use all Napa cabbage)
    • 4 c. shredded Napa cabbage (or use all Napa cabbage)
    • 3 c. (rotisserie chicken) leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
    • 3/4 c. shredded carrots
    • 2 (15-oz.) cans mandarin oranges, drained
    • 1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
    • 1/2 c. roasted salted cashews
    • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
    • 2 c. crispy wonton strips, homemade or store-bought
    • 2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds, optional

    Dressing:

    • 1/4 c. rice vinegar
    • 3 TBSP orange marmalade
    • 2 1/2 TBSP canola oil
    • 2 1/2 TBSP toasted sesame oil
    • 1 TBSP reduced sodium soy sauce
    • 2 tsp. freshly grated ginger
    • 2 tsp. toasted sesame seeds
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

    Directions:

    1. Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, orange marmalade, canola oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and sesame seeds; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
    2. Salad: Place romaine lettuce in a large bowl; top with cabbage, chicken, shredded carrots, mandarin oranges, cilantro, cashews and green onions. Pour the sesame ginger dressing on top of the salad and gently toss to combine. Top with wonton strips and sesame seeds.

    Asian Chicken Salad:

  • Greek Chicken Salad

    Serves 6-8.

    Ingredients:

    Chicken:

    • 2 lbs. of chicken tenders
    • Generous amount of olive oil (1/4 c. or more)
    • 2 tsp. smoked paprika
    • 2 tsp. garlic powder
    • 2 tsp. onion powder
    • 2 tsp. dried parsley
    • Salt and pepper
    • Lemon juice, optional

    Dilly Potatoes:

    • 24 oz. Yukon gold baby potatoes, quartered
    • Generous amount of olive oil
    • Generous amount of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried dill, salt and pepper

    Tomatoes and Cucumbers:

    • 2 c. grape tomatoes, halved
    • 2 c. cucumbers, diced
    • 1/2 red onion, diced
    • 1 bunch parsley, chopped
    • 1/4 c. olive oil
    • 1/4 c. red wine vinegar
    • Salt and pepper, to taste

    Salad:

    • Romaine lettuce, chopped
    • Dried oregano
    • Garlic Expressions dressing
    • Chicken
    • Dilly Potatoes
    • Tomatoes and cucumbers
    • Feta
    • Hummus, optional
    • Tzatziki, optional

    Directions:

    1. Chicken: Add olive oil through salt and pepper to a Ziploc bag and mix to combine; then add the chicken tenders and toss to coat the chicken. Let marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. When ready, grill or bake chicken, and then chop into bite sized pieces. Optional: add squeeze of lemon juice over hot chicken.
    2. Dilly Potatoes: Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and toss the potatoes with the olive oil and seasoning. Bake for 25 minutes, then flip the potatoes and bake for another 15 minutes, or until potatoes reach preferred doneness.
    3. Tomatoes and Cucumbers: In a bowl add all ingredients and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
    4. Salad Assembly: In a large serving bowl add chopped romaine lettuce, sprinkle with dried oregano, and then toss with desired amount of Garlic Expressions dressing. Then top with chopped chicken, dilly potatoes, and tomatoes and cucumbers and toss to combine. Sprinkle with feta and serve with a dollop of hummus and tzatziki.

    Greek Salad:

  • Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

    Sub a can or two of white beans for the chicken if you want a vegetarian soup.

    Recipe adapted from Salt and Lavender.

    Amounts in parentheses are for hearty 4-6 portions. Leftovers are delicious despite the orzo absorbing the broth and becoming like a stew.

    Ingredients:

    • 2 sticks celery, chopped finely
    • 2 medium carrots, chopped finely
    • 1/2 (1) medium onion, chopped
    • 1 TBSP butter
    • 1 TBSP olive oil
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 2 TBSP (2 1/2 TBSP) flour
    • 6 c. (8 c.) chicken broth
    • 1/2 tsp. (3/4 tsp.) Italian seasoning
    • 1.5 lbs. uncooked chicken breasts, or cooked chicken, or 1-2 cans of white beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1 c. (1 1/4-1 1/2 c.) uncooked orzo
    • 1 TBSP (1/2 – 1 lemon) lemon juice and zest, or to taste
    • 1 TBSP chopped parsley 
    • Salt & pepper, to taste

    Directions:

    1. Sauté the celery, carrots, and onions in a large soup pot with the butter and oil over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes.
    2. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then add the flour and cook for another minute or so.
    3. Pour in chicken broth and stir until the flour has dissolved, then add the Italian seasoning and chicken (if using). Bring the soup to a boil.
    4. Cover the soup (lid slightly ajar), and reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
    5. Stir in the orzo and cook for another 10 minutes or until the orzo is cooked through. I keep the lid off and stir it fairly often because it tends to stick to the bottom of the pot.
    6. Take the chicken out of the pot and cut it up (if using pre cooked chicken or beans, add now), then add it back in.
    7. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and season the soup with salt & pepper as needed. 

    Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup: