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Arugula Salad with Strawberries, Heirloom Tomatoes and Pine Nuts
Edible flowers make this salad as beautiful as it is delicious, though they are a finishing touch that can be skipped when not available. Fortunately, we are so early in the growing season that you can plant seeds now and pick flowers from the garden rather soon. In the meantime, farmers markets and shops often sell edible pansies, violas, and other varieties, and these tips will help make sure you’re enjoying them safely. With or without colorful petals, the recipe below yields a light and fresh salad tossed with a tasty vinaigrette that’s perfect for enjoying under sunny skies. The peppery flavor of arugula pairs well with sweet strawberries and…
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Autumn Harvest Salad with Cheddar, Grapes, Pear, and Maple Crunch Topping
Autumn arrives with an abundance of cool-weather greens and a new crop of fruit, both of which are made better with the toasty edge this maple crunch topping lends to a seasonal salad. The ingredients are fit for a cheese plate, so opt for the best aged cheddar you can find. Bosc pears add their bronze color and characteristic juiciness to the mix, and a dressing with reduced apple cider contributes more classic fall fruit goodness. When making the maple crunch topping, feel free to use your preferred nuts and/or seeds or make use of what you already have on hand in the pantry. A combination of pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds,…
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Tomato Season: Gardening Tips and Summer Farro Salad Recipe
Lately the salad that keeps making its way to my table has a base of toasty farro topped with ripe heirloom tomatoes, juicy plums, and grilled corn plus handfuls of fresh herbs. The dish encapsulates everything I love about summer – sweetness, char, and that unmistakable flavor of the season’s tomatoes. Of the vegetables I grow, tomatoes are the ones I cherish most and check on throughout the day. Whether you enjoy the ritual of growing and tending to tomatoes or love picking them from the market, this advice will help you make the most of tomato season in full swing. The tips are designed for cooks and gardeners alike, intermingled in…
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Apple Cider Vinaigrette
With concentrated apple flavor, this dressing is one of my household staples. Whether I serve greens with a crunchy nut and seed topping or a grain salad with roasted vegetables, it enhances the ingredients while offering a delicious flavor all its own. Unlike an apple cider vinaigrette recipe made with mainly oil and vinegar, this version includes a cider reduction for the most satisfying apple goodness. Homemade dressings make any salad tastier and come together so quickly they are worth the extra step. In the farro version pictured below, apple cider is a natural pairing as it enhances the sweetness of pear and butternut squash while balancing the bitterness of…
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Summer Pasta Salad
On summer days, I look forward to checking the tomato vines, watching jalapeño flowers transform into peppers, and grilling as much zucchini as possible. I hold onto the season as I make overflowing salads and enjoy the abundance that only late summer holds. Often I combine what is ready to be picked into my ultimate cold pasta salad, which can be served for dinner as easily as lunch. Sweet corn from the farmers’ market and other gathered vegetables make this dish a true celebration of everything that is summer. In my creative salads cooking classes, we explore recipes and methods using garden fresh ingredients. Each forkful of this summer pasta salad…
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