Individual warm peach pie pots recipe

individual warm peach pie pot | pamela salzman

I guess this is favorites week.  In my last post, I went on and on about my obsession with summer tomatoes and today I am sharing my new favorite dessert which uses my favorite fruit bar none, peaches.  Smiley face.  Peaches make me happy and this season has not disappointed so far.  We have had the best peaches this summer and although I may not have eaten one every single day like I have tomatoes, it has been close.

peaches!

I could make a meal out of a big peach.  Ok, not really.  But everything else I eat afterwards just pales in comparison.  I really love yellow peaches, which I find have a more intense, although more acidic flavor.  The white ones are delicious, of course, and slightly more sweet but just not quite as flavorful.  But trust me, I’ll eat either any day.  I always buy organic peaches since conventionally grown ones are on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of the most highly contaminated produce.  I think it’s because the pesticides are able to permeate peaches’ thin skin thereby making it difficult to remove toxins by washing.  Pesticides make me nervous.

chopped and measured peaches

I have so many regular peach recipes, some that I’ve taught in my classes like peach pie, grilled vanilla peaches and this fabulous individual warm peach pie in a jar number I am writing about today.  This month I will teach an arugula salad with farro and peaches that is my new favorite.  Did you see that crazy delicious breakfast I posted on Facebook a month ago? Why aren’t we friends on Facebook?  You’re missing out.  I post something interesting there every single day!  I digress.  I used some leftovers from this recipe and put it on top of Bob’s Red Mill warm, creamy buckwheat porridge.  People, I was like “shut the front door.”  Best.  Breakfast.  Ever.
get those pecans nice and buttery and salty

I have a dozen other peach recipes that I’m not posting here so let’s not even torture you with those.  Let’s talk about these individual peach pie in a jar thingies that are the quickest, tastiest healthful dessert you can’t believe you haven’t ever made until now.  I was inspired by a recipe I saw over at Roost, which is one of the prettiest blogs that mine will never look like.  Sigh.  Caitlin used apples, which I tried and thought turned out delish, but this peach version is crazy delish.

pulse a few times in the food processor until crumbly but not like meal

Too many of you have expressed intimidation about making a pie from scratch and I get it.  Although for me, sometimes I just don’t have the time to prepare and bake a pie, especially if I’m entertaining and I am making a bunch of other things.  Or maybe I have a craving for peach pie and I don’t want to tempt myself with an entire pie in the kitchen.  I am weak, after all.

saute the peaches just until warm

This is your answer.  You make these amazing buttered, salted pecans which you then crumble up and put on the bottom of a cute glass jar, preferably with a wide opening at the top.  Then you sauté some chopped peaches with a little honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and the tiniest amount of almond extract possible because like I’ve said before, almond extract makes peach and apricot desserts more peachy and apricot-y.  But it has to be the teeniest amount otherwise, whoa.  And then just when the peaches are warm, you spoon them on top of the pecans. I am totally serious.  But see how not-at-all-bad-for-you this is??  See why I can eat this in the morning and at night?  See why I was giving out small portions at my classes so there would be more for me?  Weak, I tell you.

see how pretty the jars look?

warm individual peach pie pots | pamela salzman

 

 
 
 

 
 
View this post on Instagram

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

A post shared by Pamela Salzman (@pamelasalzman)

 

Individual Warm Peach Pie Pots

Pamela, inspired by Roost
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 6 -7, depending on the size of your glasses or jars. I've used half-pint and pint jars. You don't have to use jars or glasses, but it looks so pretty that way.

Ingredients
  

  • Butter Pecan Crust:
  • 3 cups raw pecans
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons unsalted butter or unrefined coconut oil
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt this is not a misprint
  • Peach Pie Filling:
  • 8 cups chopped peaches peeled or unpeeled, about 12 small-medium peaches
  • 2 Tablespoons butter ghee or unrefined coconut oil
  • 2 Tablespoons honey just eyeball it since it’s such a pain to measure
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • pinch of ground nutmeg
  • ¼ cup almond flour if necessary to thicken juices

Instructions
 

  • Have ready 6 clean ½ pint or pint jars.
  • To make the crust, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line a small sheet pan with parchment paper. Melt the butter in a small (1-2 quart) saucepan, turn off the heat and add the pecans. Toss to coat.
  • Pour the buttered pecans onto the sheet pan and sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon salt. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Watch closely so they don’t burn! Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  • Place the cooled pecans into a food processor and pulse a couple times to form a coarse crumbly mixture. Place a couple tablespoons of “crust” into the bottom of each jar and set aside.
  • To make the filling, in a large bowl, toss the peaches with the honey, extract, and spices. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the peach mixture to the skillet and toss gently to heat through, 2-4 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and if the mixture is very liquidy, add the almond flour to the peaches and stir to combine.
  • Place several spoonfuls of the peach pie mixture on top of the pecan crust and top with crème fraiche, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or whipped coconut cream. Also delicious for breakfast on warm porridge or with yogurt. Serve immediately!

Notes

If you are nut-free, you can still make the peaches alone or serve them over crumbled cookies, like graham crackers or gingersnaps.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 

How to make slow roasted tomatoes

slow roasted tomatoes | pamela salzman

Someone leaked to Mr. Picky that in one of my recent posts I was guessing that he wouldn’t be showering regularly at camp.  It wasn’t a judgment on my part, just an observation from past history.  However, it seems as though Mr. Picky interpreted that as a challenge.  What you might not know about Mr. Picky is that he is competitive to a fault.  He also loves statistics and keeps track of everything, especially when he’s first in something.  But believe me, his “firsts” are not what you might expect.  “Hey, Mom.  Did you know I was the first one down for breakfast 8 days in a row?”  Or not firsts.  “Mom, guess what?  Guess what, Mom?  I was the second youngest at camp.  By 20 days.”  So I wasn’t entirely shocked when Mr. Picky said to me the other day that he’s on a showering streak.  Huh?  “Mom, guess what?  I have showered 37 days in a row!  For real.  I’m not even joking.”  I need to blog more about him not eating cooked vegetables. slow roasting tomatoes

Well, Mr. Picky had to come from somewhere.  Guess what, friends?  I’ve eaten a tomato in some way, shape or form every day for the last 24 days and I’m not even joking.  Whereas I fear Mr. Picky is on a quest to find his way into some imaginary record book for showering, my daily tomato indulgence is for pure pleasure.  Furthermore, I know my streak will come to a sad end in a few months when tomato season is over. raw tomatoes prepped for roasting

I have a total obsession with summer tomatoes.  I always have.  When I was little, I would take a salt shaker into my father’s garden and have a tomato party.  First, I would pluck a nice ripe tomato off the vine.  For the first bite, I always had to shake a tiny bit of salt in my mouth and then take a bite of tomato.  Salt doesn’t stick to a whole tomato.  After that bite, I would shake the salt on the cut part of the tomato and eat away.  My mother told me a few times I even ate several green (underripe) tomatoes and made myself a bit sick to my stomach.

slow roasted tomatoes | pamela salzman

But I am only interested in local, summer tomatoes.  Nothing else compares and I wouldn’t even waste your time on tomatoes before June or after October, and even that is pushing it.  So right now, I’m in my glory and I am snatching up different varieties every week.   So happy!  And tomatoes are amazing for you – I just posted something on my facebook page yesterday about all their health benefits.

grilled veggie and hummus sandwich with slow roasted tomatoes

Something I just started making the last few years are slow roasted tomatoes in the oven.  Damn!  Have you ever tried these?  I’m not talking about sundried tomatoes, which for some reason I don’t like.  Slow roasted tomatoes are super-sweet and moist.  You can cook them as long or as little as you like, but I prefer to bake them until their texture is like moist, dried apricots.   So darn good and soooooooo easy!  It’s barely cooking, people.  And you can use them in a million ways.  Delicious on an antipasto platter, with crusty bread, eggs/frittatas, sandwiches, salads, in pasta, etc.  How could I forget straight-off-the-pan?  Such deliciousness if you have patience to slow cook them.  I figure since I waited all winter and spring for tomatoes, what’s a few hours?

slow roasted tomatoes | pamela salzman

 

 

 
 
 

 
 
View this post on Instagram

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

A post shared by Pamela Salzman (@pamelasalzman)

Slow Roasted Tomatoes

Pamela
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 12 plum tomatoes* halved lengthwise
  • 2 cloves garlic thinly slices
  • a few sprigs of fresh thyme
  • unrefined olive oil for drizzling
  • sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 275 F degrees. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper or use a 13 x 9 baking dish. If you want to make more tomatoes, use a large baking sheet.
  • Arrange the tomato halves, cut side up, in one layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Place a sliver of garlic on top of each tomato and scatter the thyme sprigs over. Drizzle a little oil over the tomatoes and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Bake until desired texture is reached. I like to go 3 hours. More time will result in drier tomatoes. Less time will result in juicier tomatoes. Ovens also vary, so check tomatoes periodically.
  • Store in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to a week. Covered in oil, the tomatoes will last a few weeks. You can also freeze them right on the sheet pan and when the tomatoes are frozen, transfer them to a covered container to freeze (ideally a freezer bag that is as small as will fit the tomatoes.)

Notes

*You can also use halved cherry or grape tomatoes and cook for less time.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 

Mediterranean turkey and zucchini burgers recipe

mediterranean turkey and zucchini burgers | pamela salzman

I’m a happy mama since I picked up Mr. Picky from sleepaway camp on Saturday.  13 days is just too long for me to be apart from that guy.  I have been enjoying all the stories, hanging on every word as if he traveled around the world.  Bless his heart, Mr. Picky “snuck” some food from camp to bring to my husband and me.  Thankfully, it was from breakfast the morning he left and not from last week.  From his backpack he pulled out a paper cup with a few pieces of melon for me and a cup with mini cinnamon buns mixed with tater tots for my husband.  What does that tell you?

grated zucchini

While Mr. Picky can’t stop talking about his counselors, his bunk mates and all the competitions in which he participated, I had to find out about the food.  What was your favorite dinner?  Did you eat any vegetables?  What did you drink?  Blah, blah, blah.  I’m so predictable, but I have no self control.  I have to give the camp props that soda is not served.  I don’t know if I could handle that.

that's everything!

So what I have gathered is that Mr. Picky didn’t eat any protein at breakfast ever since, go figure, the camp doesn’t serve Organic Pastures Raw Organic Milk, and Mr. Picky still doesn’t eat eggs or cheese.  And it also sounds like the only vegetable he ate was cucumber.  So we have some catching up to do!  One thing that my son loves is any type of burger, even veggie burgers.  I made these turkey burgers the week before he left and he loved them so they’re going on the dinner menu again this week.  It’s another winner recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi’s “Jerusalem” cookbook.

12 patties

yogurt-sumac sauce

If you’re bored with plain burgers, these are so different and delicious.  And a great way to make a (small) dent in your zucchini crop.  They are moist, herby and they’ve got a great kick to them.  If spicy isn’t your thing, you may want to cut back to a pinch of cayenne.  Although if you make the sumac sauce, which is delicious, it really cuts the heat from the burgers.  But I’m not really doing dairy these days and Mr. Picky didn’t want any sauce, so I only made half the recipe for the sauce and I thought it was the perfect amount.  I also didn’t use traditional buns when I made these.  Bread will just detract from the tastiness of these burgers!  Instead we ate them on lettuce leaves with some chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, right up my alley.  Of course if you want a more traditional burger, you can probably get 6 “standard” size patties and pile them onto buns with all your favorite fixings.  Delish!

mediterranean turkey and zucchini burgers | pamela salzman

 

 

 
 
 

 
 
View this post on Instagram

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

A post shared by Pamela Salzman (@pamelasalzman)

Mediterranean turkey and zucchini burgers recipe

Pamela, adapted from "Jerusalem" by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tammy
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 4 -6 (Makes about 18 1½ ounce burgers or 12 2½ ounce burgers)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground turkey I like dark meat
  • 1 large zucchini coarsely grated (scant 2 cups)
  • 3 scallions white and green parts, thinly sliced
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped mint
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic grated or minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper perfect for us, but the original recipe called for ½ teaspoon; you can use even less if you don’t want them spicy
  • unrefined olive oil coconut oil or ghee for searing
  • <br>
  • For the Sour Cream & Sumac Sauce:
  • Scant 1/3 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • Scant ¼ cup sour cream or use all Greek yogurt
  • ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • ½ Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ small clove garlic grated or minced
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons unrefined cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons sumac
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • a few grinds of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Make the sour cream and sumac sauce by placing all the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir well and set aside or chill until needed.
  • In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the patties except the olive oil. Mix gently with your hands and then shape into about 18 burgers, each weighing about 1 ½ ounces or 12 burgers, each weighing about 2 ½ ounces.
  • Pour enough oil into a large frying pan to form a layer about 1/16 inch thick on the pan bottom. Heat over medium heat until hot, then sear the patties in batches on both sides. Cook each batch for about 5-7 minutes on each side, adding oil as needed, until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature, with the sauce spooned over or on the side.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 

Green monster popsicles recipe

green monster popsicles | pamela salzman

I am so excited to pick up Mr. Picky today!  He has been gone for 13 whole days and I sure do miss him and all his pickiness.  I can tell from the photos the camp posts online everyday that he is having such a fun time.  And just like I predicted in a previous post, I notice that most of the clothes we packed have not touched his body.  No problem.  Less laundry for me!  On the other hand, I have already sent two packages to Daughter #1 who forgot to bring her favorite white jeans, her “cool Bohemian gold sandals,” and an umbrella.  Why do kids from Southern California never remember that it rains in every other part of the country, even in the summer?

pineapple

Mr. Picky will surely come home and tell me about all the “awesome” food he had at camp.  He has no pickiness when it comes to “kid cuisine” — hamburgers, sugar cereal, pizza, French fries.  Is a detox appropriate for a 9-year-old?  I agree, probably not.  As long as he doesn’t complain when I serve lots of green veggies tonight and tomorrow.  Woohoo!  My poor daughter is having the opposite experience at the college she is attending this summer.  The food is “so gross” and she is trying to make do with the salad bar and fruit and nut bars that she orders from Amazon.  The funny thing is that the food at her school is practically identical to what Mr. Picky is eating.  See what can happen to a picky child in few years!

add spinach and kale

I just finished making these awesome green popsicles for Mr. Picky’s return.  I figure they’re a great way to ease him back into “Pamela cuisine.”  I can look the other way if the kids eat non-organic ice cream or pizza every once in a while, but there are a few things that I just can’t feed my kids.  Artificial food coloring is a total no.  I will tell you when I am giving you my opinion about something controversial, but there is no data out there to suggest that artificial dyes have no effect on the body. I was so inspired when Lisa from 100 Days of Real Food blog petitioned Kraft to stop using artificial colors in the macaroni and cheese they sell in the US.  Can you believe Kraft doesn’t use these chemicals in the food they export to Europe?  But I guess enough people in this country don’t seem to worry about the horrible effects of these chemicals on our bodies.  Popsicles are a big source of nasty artificial colors and flavors and they are beyond easy to make at home.  I remember as a kid freezing orange juice into paper Dixie cups and sticking a wooden stick in them.  They were great!  Who needs Red 40 and Yellow 6?  Blech!

bananas too

blend until smooth

These green popsicles are totally delicious.  I would say they have a hint of pineapple, but otherwise I can’t label them any particular flavor.  Pineapple and banana work well because they’re naturally very sweet and their colors don’t counteract with the green from the kale and spinach.  If you start blending blueberries or strawberries with greens, I can’t say the popsicle color will be quite as nice.  But any smoothie that tastes good to you will taste just as good frozen into a popsicle mold, especially when it’s a million degrees out.  Speaking of molds, there are many good options out there that don’t contain BPA, another toxic chemical I advise you to avoid.  For these images, I used this BPA-free popsicle mold.  But I also have this stainless steel one which I love because you can very easily just run one popsicle under water to loosen it.

green monster popsicles | pamela salzman

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend and that you find a way to stay hydrated and cool.  These popsicles will surely help!

green monster popsicles | pamela salzman

Green Monster Popsicles

Pamela, adapted from Delicious Living Magazine
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 6 popsicles

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup spinach
  • ¼ cup kale leaves chopped (tough stems removed)
  • 1 ½ bananas
  • ½ of a whole pineapple peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2/3-3/4 cup water

Instructions
 

  • Combine spinach, kale, bananas, and pineapple in a blender and puree.
  • Add water and puree a second time.
  • Pour into popsicle molds or small cups, add Popsicle sticks, and freeze for at least 2-3 hours.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Blueberry sauce recipe (refined sugar-free)

fresh blueberry sauce | pamela salzman

I know what you’re thinking.   “We waited five whole days for a new recipe and it’s blueberry sauce?  That’s the best she could come up with?”  You know what, friends?  I have been busy!  Daughter #1 is still far, far away playing college student and Mr. Picky is at sleep away camp for two weeks.  I sure do miss those brats.  But Daughter #2 is an only child right now and is acting like it.  She wants all of our attention, especially since it was her birthday the other day.  She wore a tiara for three straight days.  If you’re new here and you’re envisioning a toddler, Daughter #2 is 15.  Just to paint an accurate picture.

fresh blueberries!

Besides doting on my newly crowned princess, I have been taking advantage of a little more freedom and I am trying to tackle my list of ambitious projects and must-dos.  Why does it seems as though two weeks is plenty of time to reorganize the garage, Mr. Picky’s room and the pantry AND watch the entire season of “The Americans” AND test new recipes AND exercise, get a manicure and visit a museum?  Well, I am 10 days into those two weeks and I think I moved a box of finger paints from one corner of the garage to another and took Mr. Picky’s room apart, but haven’t put it back together.  No so productive.  The hubby and I did go to the Hammer Museum in Westwood Saturday afternoon before meeting our friends for dinner who also have kids away at sleepaway camp.  Lovely.  We also obsessively watched the entire season of “The Americans” in three nights.  “It’s only 11:45.  One more episode!”  So testing new recipes has sort of fallen by the wayside, sorry! dissolve arrowroot in lemon juice

But before you think this blueberry sauce is something you can live without, I will tell you to think again!  We have been eating this on everything, it’s so amazing.  My husband keeps asking me, “Is there anymore of that blueberry sauce left?”  “Where did you hide the blueberry sauce?”  Maybe you’re hiding it, dude.  In your stomach!  I’m so not funny.  The point is, we have found so many ways to enjoy this, albeit not such original ways — swirled into yogurt with or without granola, on pancakes, on top of hot oatmeal or porridge, over vanilla ice cream.  And it takes a whole 1 minute of prep, about 5 minutes to cook and makes everything seem extra-special.  See, I had time for something.

Can we chat for a second about some of the other blueberry sauce recipes out there?  I’m not pointing links or anything, but what’s up with the 1 cup of sugar for a pint of blueberries?  Fruit is already sweet, for goodness sake.  I don’t get it.  If you don’t want to taste blueberries, don’t make blueberry sauce!

thicken it up | pamela salzman

I absolutely love blueberries and I can argue that they are one of the most beneficial foods out there.  How excited are you right now?  Delicious and insanely good for you!  Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant profiles, as well as lots of fiber and Vitamin C, and they’re lower in fructose than most other fruits.  High antioxidant + low glycemic = beauty food.  Botox or blueberries?  You don’t have to answer that.  In all seriousness, blueberries contain compounds that support the health of the cardiovascular system, as well as eye health, cognitive function, and blood sugar stability.  Have I convinced you to give this a try?  Good.  Gotta run.  Hubby wants to watch the entire season of “House of Cards” and Mr. Picky is back on Saturday!

over ice cream | pamela salzman

over yogurt with granola | pamela salzman

fresh blueberry sauce on pancakes | pamela salzman

Blueberry Sauce

Pamela
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tablespoon arrowroot powder
  • 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 pint blueberries
  • 3 Tablespoons Grade A maple syrup Grade A is light in flavor than Grade B or cane sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons water

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, whisk the arrowroot in the lemon juice until dissolved. Set aside.
  • Place the blueberries, maple syrup and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 4 minutes.
  • Add the arrowroot and lemon juice mixture and stir to combine. Simmer for another 3-4 minutes until blueberries are very soft and sauce has thickened.
  • Serve warm over pancakes or ice cream or refrigerate up to 5 days for later use.  Sauce will thicken as it sits and cools.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Kale salad with creamy lemon dressing (dairy-free recipe)

Kale Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing | Pamela Salzman

One of my students was joking with me a few weeks ago about who does the PR for the Kale Board, because they’re doing a pretty good job!  Think about it, who was eating kale 10 years ago?  I wasn’t, but I now buy several bunches of kale every week and consume it in so many different ways from juices and salads to pastas and spaghetti squash.  Kale is hot is because it is not only versatile, but so incredibly nutrient-dense.  Superfoods like kale are getting a lot of attention because these days we need all the nutritional help we can get!

Stem the kale and slice super thin

But I’ll be the first to admit that kale can take some getting used to if the only leafy green in your life has been romaine lettuce.  Kale can have an assertive flavor similar to broccoli leaves, which makes sense since they’re related to each other.  When I add kale to my fresh juice in the morning, I need to balance it with mild-tasting vegetables like cucumber and celery and maybe even some green apple.  If you’ve never tried kale, I think a great place to start is with my Kale Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette.  It’s really my favorite salad in the whole world.  I taught it in a class about 3 or 4 years ago and I swear I think I have eaten it once a week for the last 5 years.  What I love about it is that the bitterness of the kale is balanced by the sweet, tart, citrusy dressing.  And I can add anything I want to the salad and it always tastes good.  Even Mr. Picky has come around to eating it.  Did you ever see the kale salad video I did for Elizabeth Street with Mr. Picky?  Check it out here!

ingredients for the dressing

creamy lemon dressing

This latest kale salad is completely different from the the other.  The dressing has much more punch and is similar to a lemony Caesar.  I still highly recommend massaging the dressing into the kale leaves as that softens the leaves so that you feel like you’re chewing lettuce and not cabbage.  The croutons here are completely optional, But if you do use them, you must tear the bread by hand and not cut them with a knife.  Big difference!  The croutons torn by hand have more open nooks and crannies to latch onto dressing and tomato juice.  Trust me.  Speaking of tomatoes, don’t skip them unless you’re allergic because the tomatoes add a very important sweet note to balance the kale and the pungent dressing.  I actually tried the salad without the tomatoes once and it just wasn’t as good.  You might try making a meal out of this by adding grilled chicken or shrimp.  Avocado slices would be delicious here, too.

tear the bread for croutons

There are so many ways to make this easier on yourself by planning ahead.  It’s the only way I get anything done around here!

  • Wash your kale a few days in advance and prep the leaves.
  • Make the dressing the day before.
  • Make the croutons 2 days in advance.
  • Massage the dressing into the kale an hour in advance, if you want.
kale salad with creamy lemon dressing | pamela salzman

Are you new to kale or is it in the regular rotation?  What’s your favorite way to eat kale?

kale salad with creamy lemon dressing | pamela salzman

Shop the tools I used for this recipe by clicking on the images below:

Kale Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing

Pamela, adapted from Williams-Sonoma
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 4 -6

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups torn country-style bread 1/2 inch pieces
  • Olive oil as needed about 1 Tablespoon should do it
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • ½ cup Vegenaise I like soy-free or good quality mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 pound Tuscan kale stems removed, leaves cut into chiffonade (very thin)—you should have about 12 cups of cut kale
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes optional
  • Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for garnish optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Arrange bread on the prepared baking sheet and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake until the croutons are golden brown, about 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the Vegenaise, water, lemon zest and juice, garlic, anchovy paste, mustard, pepper to taste and a pinch of salt.  Put the kale in a large bowl and toss with enough dressing to coat.  If you massage the dressing into the kale, the leaves will soften a bit.
  • Top with the croutons and cherry tomatoes and garnish with cheese. Serve the remaining dressing alongside.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

What you should know about food labeling

This post is part of a series I am doing for Positively Positive.

If you are trying to adhere to a healthful diet and lifestyle, it is helpful to educate yourself about what foods will support your health better than others. Whereas it should be clear that choosing as many whole, unprocessed foods as possible is the best approach, most people still buy some packaged foods.

I am obsessive about reading labels on packages in order to help me make the best choice I can. But the FDA allows food manufacturers, even for organic products, to take so many liberties in wording and, furthermore, don’t insist that everything in your food be labeled as such that it could be argued that we consumers are being deceived.

Here are some guidelines to help you understand what much of this labeling really means.

 

“Natural” or “Pure”      The words sound wholesome and even healthful, but whether you are buying chicken or juice or vanilla extract, these words mean practically nothing since there is no official definition for what can be labeled “natural” or “pure.”  For example, “natural chicken” just means it is chicken and not play dough. It doesn’t guarantee anything healthful, organic, or good for you. Food labeled “natural” can contain processed white sugar, pesticides, heavy metal toxins, MSG, and lots of other non-natural ingredients. Also note that if you see “natural flavors” listed in the ingredients of a “natural” product, don’t think here’s anything natural about them. Natural flavors are created in a lab and are supposed to imitate flavors found in nature. Not exactly natural.

Baked Parmesan Chicken Caprese Recipe

baked parmesan chicken caprese | pamela salzman

I hope you all had a lovely Fourth of July and that you had a day off of work at the very least.  If there’s one thing I think many of us need more of it’s a little rest and relaxation.  We had a nice mellow day with friends and no work all day at all.  Nice.  In fact, I even watched a little tv while I was putzing around the house before going out.  Computer time has wiped out my tv time in the last few years, so watching tv is a real treat for me.  Although it’s funny that when I have time off from work (i.e. cooking), I choose to watch the Food Network or the Cooking Channel.  I have my favorites to be sure, but some of the really popular shows I just don’t get.

Can anyone explain the appeal of “Chopped?”  I’ll tell you one thing — it’s not “reality” tv.  What’s reality about being given a bunch of ingredients not normally found in a regular person’s pantry and being forced to have to make something tasty out of it given the resources of an unbelievably stocked pantry?  I have learned so much from watching Ina and Giada and Tyler, but there isn’t much I get out of seeing what three chefs can do with graham crackers and squid in 30 minutes.  Does that show talent?  What do you think?

Let me tell you what I think takes some skill — making dinner for my family on a typically insane weeknight.  You think the judges on Chopped are tough.  Ha!  They eat everything, even cheese, unlike Mr. Picky.    Try making dinner for Daughters #1 and 2 and Mr. Picky under a time constraint.  During the girls’ finals week earlier last month, I had a day that did not go as planned and I found myself in a dinner prep predicament.  We always eat dinner together every night around 6:30/6:45 and I thought this was one of those nights, but no.  Daughter #1 had a study group at 6:30 and Daughter #2 switched her music lesson without telling me and she would be coming home at 6:15.  I found all of this out at 4:30 and I had soccer carpool to do.  Oh sure, easy, right?

Do the contestants on Chopped have two teenage girls yelling at each other about the last ugly photo one posted of the other on Instagram?  They do not.  And Mr. Picky is not bouncing a basketball in the kitchen while the chefs are trying to figure out what to make for dinner very quickly with the contents of a very basic pantry.  Bounce, bounce, bouncety-bounce!  Ok, think.  Do some prep now, then you have 15 minutes when you get back from soccer drop-off before driving to music.  “But the picture you posted of me was much worse than the one I posted of you!”  Bounce, bounce, bouncety-bounce!  I have chicken, tomatoes, white rice is fast, thank goodness I washed lettuce yesterday.   “Mommmmmmm, did you see what she’s getting away with?  So many people liked that picture already!”  “Really?  They liked it?  That’s good, right?”  “OMG, Mom!  No they didn’t like it!  Make her delete it!”  Bounce, bounce, bouncety-bounce!  I can bread the chicken now and bake later.  “I am NOT letting her drive me to school anymore.”  Whoa there, missy.  Now you’ve got my attention.  “Delete it this minute!”  Bounce, bounce, bouncety-bounce!  “STOP PLAYING BALL IN THE HO– USE, MR. PICKY!!!!”  Can you imagine doing this sober?  Why don’t I drink?  I need to rethink that.

I know this isn’t just my house, or maybe it is and I am deluding myself.  But I think a lot of home cooks have skills that you just can’t learn in culinary school or by watching some pros on tv.  I managed to pull something together that night that we ate at exactly 6:15 and we all liked it!  I would have likely gotten “chopped” on tv for something so unoriginal, but this is the kind of food we like to eat and it’s reasonably healthful.  One of the reasons this worked for me that night is because I was able to bake the chicken instead of sautéing/frying it.  I didn’t know if it would work, but I learned the technique of getting crispy breading by greasing up the chicken with some fat before dredging it from an old Gourmet magazine recipe.  That way, I didn’t have to babysit it on the stovetop, plus baking is more healthful than frying and MUCH less messy!  This would also be a great method to use when cooking for a crowd.

Speaking of cooking for a crowd, for the next episode of “Chopped,” I’d like to see a challenge where the chefs have to prepare a dinner party for 12 guests in Los Angeles.  “Oh, sorry, no gluten for me.”  “If you don’t mind, I don’t eat dairy.  Or meat.  Or eggs.”  “I’m easy.  I eat everything except nuts.  I am deathly allergic to all tree nuts.  Deathly!”  Now that’s something I would watch!

 

Baked Parmesan Chicken Caprese

Pamela
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 4 -5

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 ball fresh mozzarella cubed (about 4 ounces), optional
  • 2 -3 Tablespoons unrefined olive oil plus more for coating chicken and pan
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 large leaves of fresh basil chopped
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt divided
  • 2/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Pecorino-romano or Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brush a baking sheet generously with olive oil. You can line your baking sheet with parchment paper if you want and then brush the parchment with oil.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, mozzarella, 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, basil and ¼ teaspoon salt. Set aside.
  • In a shallow dish (such as a pie plate), combine the bread crumbs, cheese, and paprika. In another shallow dish, pour a few tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Slice the chicken crosswise in half so that you have two thin cutlets. Check out this post for a visual on what I'm referring to. You can remove the tenders if you wish and coat those separately. Sprinkle one side of the chicken pieces with ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. This is the total amount of salt and pepper for all the chicken.
  • Dip the seasoned chicken first into the olive oil and turn to coat. Then dip chicken into the breadcrumb mixture and press to coat both sides completely.
  • Place the breaded chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Turn chicken with a spatula, not tongs which might break the breading, and bake another 3-5 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
  • Remove garlic cloves from tomato mixture and discard. Spoon tomato mixture on top of chicken.

Notes

This serves our family perfectly with no leftovers, but we're not big meat-eaters.  If one chicken cutlet is not enough per person, then increase the chicken and breading ingredients.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!