My Favorite, Easy Vinaigrette

When my husband and I dropped our son off at college in Santa Cruz, California, we were blown away by the local ingredients (e.g. organic produce grown and served on campus) and loved how the student cafeterias featured other local products like salad dressings. We saw beautiful young adults from all over the globe sitting under trees reading books

Organic horticulture grown on campus at U.C.S.C. is served on campus to lucky U.C.S.C. students.

Organic horticulture grown on campus at U.C.S.C. is served on campus to lucky U.C.S.C. students.

and thought…..”How wonderful to be able to just read and learn every day while someone else cooks for you and you get to eat these types of wonderful ingredients!”. Youth may indeed be wasted on the young. 

 

But not all salad dressings are created equal. While there are many dressings in the marketplace that are healthy and free of GMOs, dangerous pesticides and other questionable ingredients, there are many that aren’t. Just pick up random bottles when you’re in the market and read the label. 

 

Not only are homemade salad dressings budget-friendly and quick and easy to make, but you can really taste the salad ingredients. In my opinion, the dressing should enhance the salad itself, not drown it’s flavor. 

 

The other trick that my friend Maura showed me is put VERY little dressing on the salad and be SURE to add Salt and Pepper directly onto the salad itself (not just the dressing). 

 

The trick to a great salad is very little dressing and Salt and Pepper on the greens.

The trick to a dressing a delicious salad is add very little dressing and add Salt and Pepper directly on the greens.

  • 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1/2-1 Teaspoon Dijon (or just a small squirt! I don’t usually measure frankly).
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

 

Mix with a fork. Add oil last. No need to add the oil slowly because the mustard will emulsify the dressing together. I also like to add sugar to this recipe when I top a salad that includes fruit.

easy dressing recipe healthy balsamic vinegar california restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

Roasted “Popcorn” Cauliflower

Our family is cutting down on ‘bad carbs’ so lately, I make South Beach Diet friendly recipes. This recipe is not only easy but amazingly delicious. It’s a great snack to have ready in the fridge to eat instead of chips. 

 

Roasted Popcorn Cauliflower

Roasted Popcorn Cauliflower

  • 1 Cauliflower
  • 3-4 Tablespoons Regular Olive Oil 
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Grated Parmesan, or if you’re a Vegan, Ground Cumin or Garam Masala spice.

 

Rinse and then cut Cauliflower into small pieces. 

 

Place on a large cookie sheet.

 

Drizzle oil over the cauliflower and mix it well with both hands.Add salt and pepper and mix it up again.

 

Roast in a 400 degree fahrenheit oven until nicely browned. It helps to mix it after about 10 minutes so all sides brown evenly.

 

While hot toss in the spice or cheese. Serve hot or cold.

easy, simple, recipe, low carb, south beach, phase 1, diet, vegetable, vegetarian, gluten free

Spicy Japanese Edamame

My daughter is obsessed with anything Japanese. She adores Anime Cartoons and lucky for her, she inherited her Great Uncles’ ( Tom and Charlie Byrne ) animation skills and wants to be an animator and game designer one day. Hence, I can convince her to eat anything Japanese (Sushi and even Sashimi).In the South Bay of Los Angeles where we live, we frequent Sushi restaurants in the area and most serve Edamame (whole soy beans) either just with coarse salt or in a spicy, simple broth that is such an easy recipe to recreate at home. It’s also a great after-school snack. Many soybean products now have GMOs but you can find non-GMO soybeans in markets like Whole Foods.

Spicy Edamame - One of my daughter's favorites. So easy to recreate at home!

Spicy Edamame – One of my daughter’s favorites. So easy to recreate at home!

  • 1 package Fresh or frozen Edamame (non-GMO brand Wildwood at Whole Foods).
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce (or Tamari which is gluten free).
  • 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
  • Pinch to 1 teaspoon Chili Flakes
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Salt (or fresh, chopped Garlic).

 

If frozen, rinse Edamame in cool water in a colander until defrosted.

 

Place Edamame in a tossing bowl, add the additional ingredients and toss.

 

Serve chilled or if you’d like, heat the ingredients in the microwave for 10 seconds, toss and serve a little warm.

 easy edamame restaurant style spicy recipe Japanese side dish kids snack

Thai Cashew and Coconut Snack

This is a classic snack served on the streets of Thailand. You can also put it on a salad for an International Flair. If you like spicy and sweet food, it is addicting.

 

  • 1 Tablespoon Peanut Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Honey
  • 2 Cups Cashews
  • 1 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
  • 1 Thai Red Chili or alternatively Pinch (or more if you want serious heat) Chili Flakes

 

Melt honey in the heated oil.  Add nuts and toss. Add coconut and chili flakes and toss. Serve in paper cups or cones.