Tuesday, December 5, 2017

6 Ways to Upgrade Your Caesar Salad

There is no salad more ubiquitous than the caesar, a go-to classic found on menus everywhere from diners to golf clubs to the pricey steakhouse you’ve been dying to try. But if you’re a bit bored with the traditional version, you’re in luck. There are tons of potential ways to tweak or upgrade your greens while still keeping the creamy, tangy taste of your favorite salad. Read ahead for some easy upgrades.

Put It on Pizza

Pizza has long been the final destination for some weird toppings, but trust us, this one is a winner. The garlicky salad dressing replaces tomato sauce on top of dough, and then greens are thrown on after baking for a veggie-heavy take on your typical slice.

Wrap It Up

If you’re looking for something heartier than a salad, putting your caesar into a wrap can make for a more satisfying meal. A wrap is also a great answer to a better brown bag lunch. You’ll be glad that you don’t have to eat yet another boring sandwich during your lunch break.

Grill Your Produce

If you just want to tweak the classic recipe, you can grill your romaine briefly for a smoky flavor. Adding charred tomatoes into your bowl can also also provide a departure from the norm.

Swap Out Your Greens

This move may be slightly controversial, but if you have an experimental streak, why not swap out romaine lettuce for something else green? Recipes abound for kale caesar salads, which is a great alternative (so long as you massage your kale to soften it and cut down on the bitterness). You can also reach for brussels sprouts or spinach as a base.

Rethink Your Croutons

Forget those stale box croutons you bought at the supermarket ages ago. Try your hand at making your own with your preferred spices and herbs and never look back. Searching for other options to add crunch to your meal? You can include nuts or roasted chickpeas instead of croutons.

Add in Some Avocado

For those hunting for a more waistline friendly version of this meal, you can substitute an avocado-based dressing for the original. You won’t lose any of the creaminess with the paleo versions, trust us!

Want to give one of these upgrades a whirl? Here are some more unique recipes.

Skinny Lemon Garlic Shrimp Caesar Salad

Cafe Delites

Your caesar salad doesn’t need to be topped with a sad, dry chicken breast. This version features citrusy shrimp and hard boiled eggs for enough protein to keep you full for hours. Get the recipe.

Plant Protein Kale Caesar Salad Tacos

The FitFork

Tacos and caesar salad? It might sound like an odd food combination, but you’ll change your tune after trying this twist, which also counts quinoa, chickpeas, and avocados as additions, all in a crunchy shell. Get the recipe.

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Brussels sprouts make for a unique base for this lemony caesar salad. After shredding them and topping them with dressing, you won’t have to force anyone to finish their vegetables. Get our Brussels Sprouts Caeasar Salad recipe.

Kale Caesar Salad

Gimme Some Oven

Your favorite trendy green and your favorite salad are pretty much a match made in heaven. Throw in some lime instead of lemon for a slightly offbeat flavor addition. Get the recipe.

BLT Caesar Salad

Lemon Tree Dwelling

If you’re a bacon fan, you’ve probably already been adding it to your salads for eons. Why not pair it with tomato for a take on the BLT? Bet you won’t even miss the bread. Get the recipe.

Mustard Greens Salad with Anchovy Dressing

This mustard greens salad is like the older, mature, and better-traveled cousin of the sad diner caesar salad. An anchovy-based dressing calls to mind similar flavors, but crisp pear and gruyere cheese give it a fancier flair. Get our Mustard Greens Salad with Anchovy Dressing recipe.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Pretty Providence

There’s no reason to keep your salad and main course separate when merging the two is this delicious. With easy-to-find, fresh ingredients, this is definitely a crowd-pleaser to bring along to a potluck or dinner party. Get the recipe.



from Food News – Chowhound http://ift.tt/2kpHoNQ
via IFTTT

14 Recipes to Make with AlmondMilk

Almond Breeze

What can you make with almondmilk? What CAN’T you make?!

Check out this round-up of recipes from Almond Breeze: Lemon Almond Bread, Creamy Garlic Pasta, Scalloped Potatoes, and more.

P.S. Try the Almond Cashew Blend from Almond Breeze to add extra creaminess to these recipes!

Continue reading "14 Recipes to Make with AlmondMilk" »



from Simply Recipes http://ift.tt/2zPA6G2
via IFTTT

Hello Kitty Wine Is the Most Adorable Way to Get Drunk This Holiday Season

How do you make wine better? Slap a giant pink bow and cat ears on the label. This is what Sanrio thinks. The company behind Hello Kitty finally brought their childlike feline creation to the attention of wannabe sophisticates earlier this year with the release of her own line of wine. Now there are new varieties available just in time for the holidays. It’s a perfect gift for those spending Christmas alone with their cat. Because there’s no better way to drown your sorrows than in adolescent nostalgia and kawaii kitsch.

Sanrio, in conjunction with the Italian-based Torti Winery, just unveiled a brand new Pinot Noir and a sparkling rosé with limited edition packaging. They join the three existing wines in the collection, which consist of another  sparkling rosé, a Pinot Nero Vinified in White, and an updated “Sweet Pink” variety. All of the wines were produced in the Lombardy region of Italy, and not some surreal Japanese wonderland, contrary to popular belief.

While you may think the juxtaposition of a children’s character on an adult beverage is odd, well, Sanrio’s desire to cute-ify every product on the planet has a long history of lapsing into inappropriate territory. In the past, Hello Kitty has shown up on firearms (an item that’s illegal in her native Japan), and on products designed solely for intimate bedroom pleasure (Google that one at your own risk).

That makes this whole wine thing seem tame in comparison. Besides, Kitty White (that’s her proper name, by the way) is 43 years old. That’s double the legal drinking age limit, so she can sip all the rosé she wants. Plus after that whole existential debate over her identity—is she a cat or just the personification of a cat?– she deserves a drink. And a lifetime of therapy.



from Food News – Chowhound http://ift.tt/2AWqMUJ
via IFTTT

Christmas Crack: The Easiest and Most Addictive Holiday Gift

crack (Saltines, toffee, and chocolate)

Want some crack? I mean, crackle? People who have had it love it and it takes less than an hour to make. I mean, really, who can say no to salt, chocolate, toffee, and seasonal garnishes? Not I, say the wise.

Christmas Crack is the gift that the Martha-Stewart-of-my-college-clique used to give us wrapped in foil and red ribbon. It was a gift that we swore to share with housemates, but we actually just locked it in our rooms to selfishly snack on it for 24-48 hours. There literally is no way to prevent yourself from eating as much of it as you can.

So, just what is it? Christmas Crack is a sweet toffee sandwiched in between crackers (hence, Crackle), and chocolate. It is basically a life hack method of making a salty sweet treat. Fancier and similar treats exist like Bark, Brittle, Brickle, etc, but Crackle is easier because you don’t have to make everything from scratch.

Here is what you need:

  1. Crackers (preferably salty and square)
  2. Toffee (made from equal parts sugar and butter)
  3. Chocolate
  4. Seasonal toppings: nuts, dried fruit, mint, and more chocolate

What on earth could be simpler to make? I was so shocked when I looked up the ingredients, I didn’t believe that the recipe was correct. To put it to the test, I tried a recipe that I found with one hour to spare.

To make it easier to dish out the Crackle, I used parchment paper to keep the toffee from sticking. Apparently, you could also grease the dish and/or just cook it in a non-stick pan, but I didn’t want to take any chances. Then, I lined the pan with crackers and started work on the toffee.

Caramelizing the sugar was actually very easy. I don’t have a baking thermometer, so I just heated the sugar and butter on low in a non-stick frying pan and whisked the sugar and butter until it started to boil and caramelize. This only took three minutes. Then I removed it from the heat and poured it over the crackers. The mixture was very runny, so it spread evenly. From there, I melted the chocolate for a couple minutes then spooned this out because the chocolate in the recipe didn’t yield as much as I had hoped. (I would definitely recommend two cups of chocolate instead of one and half). Finally, I put the entire thing in the oven for nine minutes. Then, I took it out to cool and added my choice of topping, toasted cashews, and put the entire thing in the fridge to speed up the cooling process. This didn’t work as well, so I ended up moving it to the freezer while I went to take a shower. Twenty minutes later, I cut the pieces and voila: Crackle!

Walking into the room with a baking dish full of crack was a weird but fabulous feeling. Crack looks much more involved than it actually is, so everyone was very impressed and the pan only lasted 15 minutes. Crazy, I know, but the name exists for a reason.

Here are some recipes to get you started:

Christmas Crack

Christmas crack

Gonna Want Seconds

This is a basic recipe that covers everything you need to make the traditional version with saltine crackers. The salt in the crackers help to bring more flavor in the chocolate and toffee. Get the recipe.

Graham Cracker Crack

graham cracker crack (dessert made from crackers, toffee, and chocolate)

Averie Cooks

Nothing says childhood memories like graham crackers. I get happy just thinking about them. So, why not try them with Crackle? This recipe will be sweeter than the original. Get the recipe.

Gluten Free Christmas Crack

gluten free Christmas crack

This Vivacious Life

Who says gluten eaters get to have all the fun? This gluten-free recipe is the equalizer that the people need to get their crack on. Get the recipe.



from Food News – Chowhound http://ift.tt/2zQYKG6
via IFTTT

Potato Herb Tart

Potato Herb Tart

During the holiday season, you need a few recipes that you can pull out of your proverbial back pocket – recipes that are both easy and dazzling. This potato tart fits both requirements.

There are just four main ingredients: frozen puff pastry, potatoes, olive oil, and herbs. Can’t beat that.

Continue reading "Potato Herb Tart" »



from Simply Recipes http://ift.tt/2iTV9Ed
via IFTTT

Wild Harvest Expands List Of ‘Free-From’ Ingredients

All Wild Harvest food products are now free from more than 140 undesirable ingredients, including synthetic ingredients, as well as artificial colors and flavors.

from Subscribe to Preparedfoods.com's RSS Feed http://ift.tt/2iVOA43
via IFTTT

Farm Rich Meatballs for the Holidays

While developing the new sauce flavors, Farm Rich took to social media to poll fans about their favorite ways to enjoy meatballs for everyday meals and special occasions.

from Subscribe to Preparedfoods.com's RSS Feed http://ift.tt/2intSpC
via IFTTT