Busy Family Meal Planning

July 1st, 2008

Mediterranean potato salad

Don’t dismiss this recipe if you’re not a fan of potato salad! This is a whole meal salad with potatoes, not a “potato salad”. It is incredibly delicious, and you can serve it warm or cold, so it will carry you over into the summer if you’d like. You can also serve it as a […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 5 comments

June 18th, 2008

Arugula salad with pears and prosciutto

This salad is fantastic! It’s a little bit fussy, because you need to prepare some of the ingredients separately before assembling, rather than just throwing everything together as you chop. But it’s worth it. If you’re planning on having a meal of left overs, this is the type of accompaniment that will make your family […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 0 comments

June 13th, 2008

Artichoke hearts in wine and garlic

Such a simple marinade can make such a difference! Prepare these artichoke hearts ahead of time, maybe during your once a week food preparation time, and then you can just toss them onto a salad of mixed spring greens throughout the week!
Artichoke Hearts in Wine and Garlic
10 - 12 artichoke hearts (frozen, canned, or […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 2 comments

June 11th, 2008

Tangy snow peas and radish salad topper

Here’s another little vegetable mix that you can prepare ahead of time and then mix into your spring green salad as you wish. This has a nice Asian taste, thanks to the rice vinegar. I like to make this during my once a week food preparation time, along with some other salad toppers, and then […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 0 comments

June 10th, 2008

Ham and spring vegetable salad with shallot vinaigrette

This delightful spring salad is a hearty whole meal, and is made available by Bon Appetit. One of the reviewers suggested making the salad without the ham to serve when you’re having ham…brilliant!  This salad meal can be made up ahead of time.
Ham and Spring Vegetable Salad with Shallot Vinaigrette
1 1/2 pounds small […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 0 comments

June 3rd, 2008

Chicken panzanella

If you can remember to do it, cut 4 slices of pumpernickel bread into cubes, and leave them out overnight to go stale! If you forget, then just toast the bread and cut it into cubes. This is a very simple dish, but a really nice mix of flavors. Use fresh herbs […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 0 comments

June 3rd, 2008

Deb’s taco salad

This is a hearty whole-meal salad that just about everyone loves. My friend Deb makes this for our church fellowship dinners, and when she doesn’t show up, there is outrage all around! The recipe is for a large bowlful, and it uses an entire bottle of French dressing. Feel free to make substitutions or to […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 0 comments

May 23rd, 2008

Portable picnic side dishes from iVillage

iVillage is showcasing some lovely side dishes that would be perfect for any picnics you’ve got planned for this weekend or Monday, including this delectable-looking baby potato dish:

Visit iVillage for this recipe
Tags: easy recipes, family meals, healthy cooking, healthy eating, healthy recipes, meal planning, quick recipes, recipes, Thirty Minute MealsShare This

By Cyndi Lavin -- 0 comments

May 21st, 2008

Bountifuls salad dressing giveaway!

I have now had the opportunity to try several of Wish-Bone’s new Bountifuls salad dressings. There are four flavors: Tuscan Romano Basil, Hearty Italian, Berry Delight, and Simply Santa Fe. The Tuscan Romano Basil is my favorite. It’s tangy and robust, and you can really taste the Romano cheese and basil. […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 42 comments

May 9th, 2008

Spring greens with pesto vinaigrette

This side salad is tangy and delicious, and would be a good base for a whole-meal salad in the summer time. We had it last night as an accompaniment to my favorite trout with mushrooms and some leftover cheesy scalloped potatoes. The flavors worked great together!
Spring Greens with Pesto Vinaigrette
Spring mix or herb mix […]

By Cyndi Lavin -- 1 comment