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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

Italian Chopped Salad (and my trusted salad tips.)

February 5, 2017 by HappyGoStuckey 2 Comments

I love a big ole’ bowl of fresh greens but… I’m a bit of a salad snob when visiting restaurants. I rarely order a salad out unless I know it’s going to be good. Because, while some eateries really nail the salads, others offer you a bowl of massive chunks of white iceberg with pink tomatoes and gloopy dressing and charge you $12.00.
I just can’t.
Not when I know how easy it is to make really good salads. But because I didn’t always know– here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way to bring salads back into the spotlight.

  1. Branch out with your greens. Romaine is perfect for heartier entree salads, or ones with creamier dressings. Also, Butter Lettuce is really good. Spring Mix is delicious when it’s fresh, but Arugula (Roquette) is my top choice for lighter side salads, or as a bed for chicken salad or fresh fish. It’s slightly peppery and holds up well.
  2. Chop it. Try to keep a somewhat uniform size for all your ingredients. Exact isn’t necessary, but chopping the ingredients makes it easier to eat.
  3. Toss it. A couple of years ago, I began tossing salad with the dressing in a larger bowl and it makes a big difference. You use less dressing and you don’t throw salad everywhere trying to mix in your good stuff on your plate.
  4. Make the dressing. Ok, stay with me. I’m not going full on crazy here– homemade salad dressing takes less than 5 minutes and has a fraction of the sugar of just about every bottle on my pantry shelf. There are a few* I rely on in a pinch, but 99% of the time, I grab a mason jar and a few ingredients and go to town.

This Italian Chopped Salad was inspired by several different salads I’ve had along the way. It’s the perfect accompaniment to pizza because it is filling and helps me to stick to one piece! I hope you love it. (P.S. I often leave off the garbanzo beans if I’m serving it as a side salad.)

Print
Italian Chopped Salad
Author: Cynthia Stuckey
Recipe type: Easy
Prep time:  15 mins
Total time:  15 mins
 
Ingredients
  • Dressing: ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • ¼- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 TBSP Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp each of dried oregano, basil, and parsley
  • ¾ cup of Olive Oil
  • Salad: 2-3 Romaine hearts, chopped
  • Two green onions, chopped
  • ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
  • Grape tomatoes, chopped
  • Red pepper, diced
  • Part skim mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • ¼ lb. Pepperoni or Salami. (I usually just get a bit from the deli counter)
  • 1 cup of gently cooked and cooled garbanzo beans
  • 3 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan cheese
Method
  1. Dressing: Mix all ingredients except olive oil in a jar with a lid and shake.
  2. Add olive oil and shake vigorously.
  3. Season with additional Salt & Pepper if needed.
  4. Salad: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and then toss with ½ the dressing. The remaining dressing will keep refrigerated for several days.
3.5.3226

 

 

For Those of Us Trying Not to Make It Worse.
Finding Perspective in a South African Garden.

Comments

  1. 1

    lee says

    February 6, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    This sounds delicious! I am looking forward to trying it.

    Reply

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    March 1, 2017 at 11:50 am

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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happygostuckey

Instagram post 2191701631330368631_396980240 This year, the 🍋lemon tree🌿 gave fewer lemons than normal. I asked my Dad and he confirmed, just a slow year.

So we picked (still armfuls,) and I’ll love every one.
If you read #feastingandforaging (have I mentioned I wrote a book? Gosh, that is never not awkward.😅) If you read it, then you know how special this tree is to me.

Again this year, I’m reminded all over again that our sweetest gifts are sometimes cloaked in harder things. Often our ‘unexpected ugh’ makes way for what we truly need.

And I just want you to know that if this December is already more than you wanted or less than you hoped, if you’re sitting at the end of a very long year— take courage.
Take peace.
Take hope and as you pass around the gift of the Advent to those beside you, don’t forget to also take some for yourself.

Don’t forget to remember that the Hope of this season (and every other,) cannot be squelched by sickness, pain, or the general ugh of life in a broken world.

We have this Hope and it is one that won’t be diminished by anything that could land in our laps today.
#prepareHimroom
Instagram post 2191016735687527448_396980240 Sometimes I think I could live in New York but I’m low-key afraid I might eat bagels every day. 🥯🍎☕️ (TB to October when @friar_stuck and I took our Pio Bagels to @devocionusa and pretended we were regulars.) ✨What city would you love to live in if it didn’t mean leaving where you are?✨
Instagram post 2189510127085979732_396980240 Home sweet merry little home.🎄This December will be busier than most for our family, so I’m treasuring every single slow moment we are gifted. Starting today with homemade lattes and little white lights.✨ #merrymerrystuckeys
Instagram post 2187513959237917323_396980240 We can all agree the point of the charcuterie platter is to get as many family members into one room at once, right? The cheese is just a bonus. {yes, second charcuterie pic this week. Because holidays. And family. And the sweet full feeling that comes not from eating too much pie, but seeing almost all of your entire family in one day.} ❤️🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends. 
#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #f52byyou #allthecheese #gratefulforhome #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #merrymerrystuckeys #almondavenuecrew
Instagram post 2185903851697559572_396980240 🍁Maybe she’s born with it.
Maybe it’s Maple Leaves.🍁 I know that when the clock strikes midnight on Thursday, everyone switches to Christmas— but I’m probably going to be here with leaf spam for just a bit longer... 😏
Instagram post 2183058239117455684_396980240 ✨In a world where you can be anything, be the one who volunteers to bring charcuterie. ✨
🧀🥖🍇🌿
Bonus points if your flannel shirt- wearing husband can hold said charcuterie while you take a million photos of cheese in the golden hour.

#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #thanksgivingdinner #onthetable #f52byyou #foodie #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #chasethelight #bluehousekitchen #merrymerrystuckeys #gratefuldays #cheeseboard #gratefulforhome #iwentlookingforbeauty #ofsimplethings
Instagram post 2181659993774021605_396980240 You’re Kale-ing me, smalls.

Listen. Kale is that self-righteous leafy green that everyone feels like they should eat, meanwhile many of us are secretly not enjoying it and I just need to say— yes, but... have you massaged your kale?

No, don’t go. I promise this is not a joke. Kale is packed with vitamins, but it’s kind of bitter and grass-clipping-like. However. 3-5 minutes of prep work and it’s downright tasty. Here’s my three step process—

Remove the stems and rip your kale in large bite sized pieces.
Add it to a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. 
Massage it. Really. With your hands. For 3-4 minutes. The kale will darken in color and will release that bitter smell.

And... you’re done. Now build your kale salad with the total certainty that you won’t get tired of chewing before the end of your meal. 
Pictured: Kale Caesar Salad with Ten Minute Croutons from #feastingandforaging 🥖🌿
Instagram post 2179451951070532163_396980240 Another fall.
Here in this city we love.
Here in this BlueHouse where we’ve learned to mark our days in falling leaves & saturday morning pancakes.

I’m not sure where you are and how you feel about tomorrow, or next month even. But before the weekend wears the clothes of Monday preparation, here is your friendly reminder—

Even if the future is obscured by foggy uncertainty, the present can still be shimmering with lovely. 
#feastingandforaging #hopewriters #hopelenses #simplethingsmadebeautiful #savourtheseasonalshift #daysofsmallthings #ofsimplethings #beallthere #weareplacemakers 
#nothingisordinary #lifegivinghome #learntolovewhatmustbedone #chasinglight #everydayfaithfulness #gratefulforhome
Instagram post 2175841201919747949_396980240 There is nothing like a blustery, drizzly day to remind you of all the reasons why November is lovely in all its getting-dark-early glory. ✨
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