When dealing with food allergies (and there are so many out there), from simple everyday grains: wheat, corn, oats, barley, breads, rice, pastas, cereals, and trace 'pseudo-grains'... to nuts, dairy, soy, brown sugars, and lectins!, black pepper included, —keeping things basic is best (wise) and still beautifully delicious. Here are three simple (and flavourful) salads we've been enjoying all winter, along with a fun homemade salad dressing to 'elevate' each and every bite, and then some. Above is my classic 'Back to the Workweek Monday Salad' (a chopped romaine lettuce bed topped with a light olive oil dressing - recipe after the jump -, leftover grilled chicken (or beef, fish, pork chops as the weekend goes), with a sprinkle of Thompson seedless raisins (or golden Sultanas)...
'More ♫ journey-ful notes from this week...
Most weeks our lettuce leaves were greener and more bountiful than we recalled from last winter and we happily indulged (fingers-crossed) for all good things, and no recalls after the fact... So far, so good. Time will also tell...
Boiled Eggs and Avocado Salad; aka My Spring Anticipation Salad with little squares of a loved and bright orange Cheddar.
Later afternoon Tuna and Chopped Celery Salad. The richness of the mayo in this tuna salad (solid white wild Albacore tuna, in water) with a squeeze of lime and ground red cayenne pepper also holds up well as a salad dressing; no extras needed.
And my tasty winter (any season really) salad dressing: To a 1 cup glass jar add a 1/2 cup pure light olive, 1/3 cup rice vinegar (check ingredients), 1/4 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper, a generous squeeze of fresh lime, pinch of fine iodized sea salt, and 1 - 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (to suit your preferred taste). Whisk with a fork to blend all. Attach the glass jar's lid and shake vigorously for a few seconds. Store counter top at room temperature, and use within 3 days.
Being able to shake things up flavour-wise with healthy and safe food choices created the dietary comfort needed for another calm winter season with all that continues to surround us. Stay safe! everyone, and enjoy the weekend and March Break. 💕
