Plates and Palates, my favorite local cafe in Bountiful, UT was the inspiration for Mango Chicken Pasta Salad with Tarragon Lime Dressing. This pasta salad is a combination of flavors from two of my top picks at Plates and Palates: the Mango Avocado Chicken with Basil Dressing and the Lemon Bowtie with Tarragon Dressing. It’s like two… Read More
Salad: Pasta, Potato & Grain Salads
Classic Shrimp Pasta Salad
Summer, pasta, shrimp, it doesn’t get much better than this! ABK’s Classic Shrimp Pasta Salad is a throwback to summer meals from my childhood and is a recipe every cook should have in their summer rotation. There’s something about those little salad shrimp that just shout SUMMER! to me. I have vivid… Read More
Caprese Pasta and Artichoke Salad
A few weeks ago, I made lunch for one of my favorite non-profit organizations, Rising Star Outreach. Rising Star helps those afflicted with leprosy in India through education, micro grants and medical care. We served three salads: Basil Couscous Salad, Chicken, Apple and Smoked Gouda Salad and this incredibly simple and flavor packed Caprese Pasta… Read More
BLT Pasta Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Is there a better combo than BLT? Such a simple idea combining salty, crunchy, smooth and creamy in a sandwich. The colors, the flavors, and the textures are what make this sandwich a favorite for so many. This recipe combines all of those amazing flavors into a simple and colorful salad! If you take time… Read More
Sour Cream and Bacon Potato Salad
Are you looking for a new potato salad to serve at your Memorial Day barbecue? I have a favorite tried-and-true potato salad that I love, but thought it would be fun to put a new twist on our family favorite. Most Memorial celebrations include a barbecue. What barbecue is complete without a good potato salad?… Read More
Orzo Salad with Fresh Lemon and Chive Dressing
I love Orzo pasta salads. There are so many combination possibilities with Orzo. In my latest Orzo creation, I chose veggies that I love and paired them with a fresh lemon and chive dressing to feature the flavors of Spring. I’ll be making this for our family Easter dinner next Sunday. Total time to make… Read More
Spinach, Chicken and Bowtie Pasta Salad for 100
Salad for 100, anyone? Last summer, I made Spinach, Chicken and Bowtie Pasta Salad for 100 three times, in two months, for groups of 100 or more. Spinach, Chicken and Bowtie Pasta Salad is one of my all-time favorite pasta salad recipes. Here’s why: It sits well at a gathering (no mayo in the dressing)…. Read More
Broccoli, Grape and Pasta Salad
You know that salad that shows up at every potluck? The one with broccoli, sunflower seeds, bacon and a coleslaw dressing? I like it, but it’s a little heavy on green for some of my fam (code for the boys). Broccoli, Grape and Pasta Salad is a twist on that old favorite. I opted out… Read More
Lobster and Shells
If you want to splurge on Mom for Mother’s Day, try this salad, Lobster and Shells, from Ina Garten, aka the Barefoot Contessa. Ina says it’s important to use small shells in this salad so the corn kernels can get stuck inside of the shells. These things are important. Yes, they are. If you are… Read More
Quinoa Salad
Have you tried Quinoa? It’s a whole grain (or seed to be more precise). High in protein, also gluten and cholesterol free (check outthis link for all you ever wanted to know about quinoa, but were afraid to ask). I made this Quinoa Salad to go along with some grilled salmon and fruit last week… Read More
Caesar Pasta Salad
Caesar Pasta Salad is my new favorite super simple go-to salad. It came about when I was making a salad for a missionary farewell a few months ago. Farewell food is kind of like funeral food. It has to be able to stand up to sitting on a table for a while without wilting or… Read More
Orzo, Shrimp and Summer Vegetable Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette
For some unknown reason, I feel the need to have an orzo salad with our Easter meal. Why orzo? Why at Easter?We don’t really need to answer these questions. Information that actually might be useful: Orzo is a small rice shaped pasta. It comes in different sizes, some look more flat and… Read More
Sweet Potato Salad with Spiced Brown Sugar Vinaigrette
Sweet Potato Salad with Spiced Brown Sugar Vinaigrette Sunday was the first day of spring. I’m looking out my window right now, and it still looks like winter. We are scheduled to play a baseball game in a few hours, and the snow is beginning to fall, again. I guess we’ll be content with easing… Read More
Miss Leisa’s Potato Salad & Miss- part two
On the third day of our trip to Mississippi, Mary and I set out early for Natchez. Natchez is a home to the ” Pilgrimage” twice a year, spring and fall. Picture yourself sitting on the porch of beautiful Rosalie mansion. The weather is perfect. This home fits in GWTW times. You’re waiting for a… Read More
Teriyaki Spinach Pasta Salad
Spring always steers me in the direction of salad instead of soup. Found this recipe years ago in the cookbook “Favorites”. It’s another local cookbook, put together by the Ivory family. If you live in our neck of the woods, the Ivory Homes name is familiar. I talked to one of the authors right… Read More
Sheri’s Greek Pasta Salad
Yum yum. I love Sheri’s Greek Pasta Salad! Cook the pasta while chopping the veggies and mixing the dressing. Full of flavor and color. Takes about 1/2 hour tops-start to finish. I know you’re gonna love it too. Sheri’s Greek Pasta Salad print recipe salad: 1 lb. small- shell shaped pasta 1 cup diced celery… Read More
Orecchiette with Fresh Mozzarella, Pear Tomatoes and Garlic Chives
I took one look at this recipe for Orecchiette with Fresh Mozzarella, Pear Tomatoes and Garlic Chives and knew I had to make this salad. The only problem was – well two problems. One – no garden= no tomatoes. Especially no pear tomatoes. This is where great neighbors come in. A call to the Farr’s…. Read More
Garden Fresh Pasta Salad with Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette
Garden Fresh Pasta Salad with Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette: The other day one of my sweet neighbors called to see if we needed any zucchini. Yes! My Mom stir fried a few, then I used the rest for this Garden Fresh Pasta Salad with Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette. I wanted to try a new dressing, so I… Read More
Sweet Potato Salad with Orange Maple Dressing
There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love sweet potatoes, and those who don’t. In our house it’s about 50-50. I was raised on sweet potatoes. My mom was raised on sweet potatoes. Growing up, Mom cooked them all the time and served them with a little butter, hot out of… Read More
Southwest Orzo and Black Bean Salad
It’s tournament time! Three Utah teams have been invited to the BIG DANCE. Stock the fridge, make some yummy food and enjoy the games. How can you NOT love the NCAA tournament? Ok, well I didn’t always love it… back in the early 80’s “One Shining Moment” a video of tournament highlights and watching Jim… Read More
Asian Noodles and Slaw
Spring is in the air! Easter is just around the corner. April the 12th to be exact. So, I have been thinking about brunch dishes to celebrate this joyous time of year. One of our favorite salads to eat in the spring and summer is Asian Noodles and Slaw. Made this last night to go… Read More
Marinated Pasta Salad
Way back, when I had less cookbooks and more sense, I used one cookbook over and over. It was “A Pinch of Salt Lake”. It was my close friend when we moved from Salt Lake to Portland, Oregon (mid 80’s). Grant was in law school. Corrine ( two years old) and I spent a lot… Read More
Panzanella- Bread salad with tomatoes and mozzarella
I love Panzanella- Bread salad with tomatoes and mozzarella- made traditionally with day old crusty Italian bread, a dressing of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and anything else leftover. My favorite combo is bread and dressing, tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese. Kalamata olives would be a perfect ingredient, but last time I made it,… Read More
Aunt Di’s Almost German Potato Salad
Aunt Di’s Almost German Potato Salad is the best potato salad you’ll ever eat. Bold statement, right? But true. I’ve never eaten another potato salad that compares to this one! Grandma Franz is my Aunt Diana’s mother. I remember when my Uncle Mike, Aunt Di, their kids and the Grandparents Franz came to visit my… Read More