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Fast & Easy Dinner: Warm Winter Salad

partysugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:45:25 -0800

Jam-packed with crisp vegetables and poached chicken, this salad is a healthy, filling meal in itself. The dressing calls for sherry vinegar, but if you don't have it in your pantry simply use white wine vinegar.

To toast the walnuts, cook in a small skillet over medium-low heat until they are fragrant and lightly browned.

Check out the recipe and

Rustic Italian Salad Makes an Impressive Lunch

YumSugar — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:00:25 -0800

During the holidays, it seems I just go from one rich, multi-course family meal to another, so the day after Thanksgiving, I wanted a light but satisfying lunch that would impress even the harshest of family critics.

This salad was just the thing. The pears, grapes and dried cherries added a natural sweetness to the salad that contrasted well with the aged balsamic vinegar and pecorino cheese. The pine nuts added a buttery flavor, and the prosciutto a crispy texture. To make this for your family — mine went nuts over it! —

10 Unexpected Thanksgiving Leftovers

YumSugar — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Thanksgiving leftovers can sometimes be too much of a good thing. Tons of turkey meat and side dishes can be great, but not if they mean eating uninspired leftovers with monotonous flavors. Thankfully, there's loads you can do with leftovers beyond pot pie, sandwiches, and chili. Here are ten of our favorite new ideas.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Herbed Lamb Steak Salads

partysugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:45:07 -0800

The classic steak salad gets a Greek makeover in this quick recipe. Lamb is seared on a grill pan before being tossed with mixed greens, radishes, and feta cheese.

A simple dressing combines yogurt with fresh chopped mint. When paired with a hummus and pita chip starter, this salad is perfect for weeknight entertaining. Check out the recipe and

Reader Recipe: Chicken Salad in Celery Ribs

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:00:08 -0800

Whenever I find myself in need of creative inspiration, I simply look to the Kitchen Goddess group. This week, I came across a killer app — mini celery boats stuffed with chicken salad and peas. I'm thinking these would make a great appetizer to bring to my next book club, since they're bite sized and not too messy. Apparently, I'm spot on: Jenious says they're such a big hit at gatherings that she always doubles the recipe. To make these for your next get-together,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Butternut Squash Panzanella

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:45:45 -0800

Bread salad is a popular Summer dish, but that doesn't mean it can't be modified for Fall. Instead of the classic tomatoes and basil, this recipe calls for a more seasonal butternut squash and sage. To cut down kitchen prep, bake the butternut squash and the bread ahead of time. To get this comfort recipe,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicago Dog Salad

YumSugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

It can be easy to associate salads with repetition and zero flavor, but these mixed greens have a completely refreshing point of view. Here, Rachael Ray takes what's thought to be junky ballpark food and turns it into something entirely unexpected. Juicy tomatoes, succulent hot dogs, tart relish, tangy mustard, and pungent onions make for a satiating, hearty salad. For Chicago-style authenticity, opt for Vienna Beef all-beef hot dogs. To get the recipe,

Taste Autumn With a Colorful Salad

YumSugar — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:00:39 -0800

I know I just said that I don't eat the seeds of pomegranates, but after the vast majority of you said "Why bother?" I proceeded to give it another try. Guess what? It's not so bad — it lends a textural crunch and grittiness that needs some getting used to, but I'm starting to like it.

I decided to embrace the seeds by tossing together a simple and straightforward Fall fruit salad. The result was a brilliantly-colored melange of persimmons, pomegranates, onions, and spinach with an equally bright flavor profile. To get excited for the season,

Fast & Easy Dinner: Beef With Onions and Watercress

partysugar — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:45:36 -0800

Peppery watercress and seared beef chunks make for an out-of-the-ordinary midweek meal. To save time, quickly marinate the meat while you prepare the rest of the salad. This delicious dinner salad calls for thinly sliced red onion, but you could incorporate other ingredients like mushrooms or bell pepper. Just remember the steak marinade is a mixture of soy sauce and fish sauce, so select vegetables that match the flavors of Asia. To look at the recipe,

Monday's Leftovers: Salad With Feta, Chickpeas, and Pita

YumSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:45:38 -0800

In this filling dinner salad, not only do the chicken and leftover chickpeas pack a double dose of protein, but the feta and chopped dill pickles add a much-needed flavor kick.

If you're vegetarian, simply exclude the chicken for an equally delicious meal. To make this salad for dinner,