Escarole and Butter Lettuce Salad

This was such a hit and so easy. We served it before our holiday dinner this year and I’ve made it twice since.  Also, from Bon Appetit. It was so pretty and festive!

Citrus dressing

1/4 white wine vinegar

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon finely grated lime peel

1 teaspoon finely grated orange peel

1/2 cup of olive oil

salad

1 large head of escarole cut

1 head of butter lettuce cut

1 Granny Smith apple thinly sliced

1 cup fresh pomegranate seeds (about half a pomegranate)

2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and chopped

citrus dressing

• Combine vinegar and next 6 ingredients in small bowl.
• Gradually whisk in oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

salad

• Mix all ingredients in very large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat.

Super Salad

Music: Try it On – Interpol

We made a super salad for dinner on Monday.  I had to share because, generally, I hate greens.  We’ve been really busy lately and its been more difficult to cook the elaborate meals we have in the past.  But, I swear, I’ve been craving this salad ever since we made it!

What you’ll need:

smoked salmon

toasted nori

yellow tomatoes

red tomatoes

red onions

avocado

cucumbers

arugula

oil and vinegar

salt and pepper

We just cut up the pieces and threw them into a beautiful bowl and dressed it with our best olive oil and vinegar.  Pretty simple and I can’t wait to make it again.

Watercress Salad with Goat Cheese Bites, Roasted Peppers and Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Music: Welcome Home – Radical Face

I used to work in the West Village and would constantly go to Il Tre Merli…particularly for this salad.  I’m not much into salad and really like how Europeans eat it after dinner so I can, most often, skip over it entirely.  This one is so refreshing and not at all salady (considering it contains fried goat cheese balls).  I made a really nice maple syrup balsamic vinaigrette to put on top.

Sunday Night Dinner (on Saturday!) – Happy Christmastide Party

Music: The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping

On Saturday, James and I threw our (now) annual Christmas party.  We made a traditional Italian dinner of Manicotti and Meatballs.  Does anyone remember Saturday night? It snowed…a lot. And there were a gaggle of Manhattanites that braved the G train to come to our Brooklyn winter wonderland.

It was also our friend Brian’s birthday.  For this occasion I thought I would make him a croquembouche (he has an affinity for French pastry – I guess, who doesn’t?).  I’d been wanting to do this for some time…we had one at our wedding that was scrumdiddlyumptious.  I’ll post a picture but the recipe will come on Thursday.

So we opened our tiny table and put two leaves in to fit 10.  It basically took over our whole apartment but we sat down to a formal dinner complete with Christmas crackers, crowns and some inappropriate conversations and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We even sang a carol or four (after a couple Kir’s each) in three-part harmony…I love having talented friends (aka, nerds). We finished the night with a Hall and Oats sitting dance party.  Those two are REAL hit-makers! (direct quote from Melissa).