Warm Carrot Ribbon Salad with Raisins

  • Using vegetable peeler, slice carrots into ribbons. Heat olive oil in skillet set over medium heat; sauté carrots, salt and pepper for about 3 minutes or until tender-crisp. Add orange juice.
  • Sauté for 3 or 4 minutes or until carrots are tender; stir in parsley and raisins. Cook for about 1 minute or until raisins are warmed through. Transfer to serving dish; drizzle with Raspberry Balsamic Glaze and sprinkle with chives.

 

Tips:

  • Add chopped toasted pecans if desired.
  • For a sweet twist, add 1 tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar with orange juice.

Walnut-Orange Chicken Bites

  • In glass bowl, combine sherry, orange juice and rind, 2 tbsp olive oil, and pepper; toss with chicken. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Drain chicken on paper towels, discarding marinade. In skillet, heat remaining olive oil in skillet; sauté chicken for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Stir in walnuts.

Tip: For an attractive presentation, serve chicken on a bed of lettuce or watercress.

Warm Broccoli Salad

  • Heat olive oil in large sauté pan set over high heat; add broccoli, red pepper and salt. Cover and cook, tossing occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add water. Cover and cook, tossing occasionally, for 2 minutes or until broccoli and red pepper are lightly browned.
  • Transfer broccoli and red pepper to serving bowl. Add provolone, capers and vinegar; toss gently.

 

Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders

Warm White Bean and Leek Salad

  • Salad: In large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook leeks, thyme, salt and pepper, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Stir in cannellini beans and smoked paprika; cook for 2 minutes or until heated through.
  • Warm Garlic Dressing: Meanwhile, heat olive oil in small skillet set over medium heat; cook garlic for 2 to 3 minutes or until softened. Remove from heat; stir in vinegar, salt and pepper.
  • Arrange kale on serving platter; top with bean and leek mixture and drizzle warm dressing over top.

Watermelon and Bocconcini Salad with Mint Dressing

Mint Dressing

In small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, shallot, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and cayenne (if using) until blended.

Stir in mint.

Salad

On large serving platter, arrange watermelon, bocconcini, arugula and olives.

Drizzle with Mint Dressing.

Garnish fruit salad with pomegranate seeds and pine nuts.

Tuna and Capers Panzanella

  • Toast bread. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes; set aside. Reserve 2 tbsp dark green onion stems.
  • In large bowl, whisk together vinegar and salt; whisk in oil. Add tuna, tomato, remaining green onions, celery, capers, and bread. Toss and let stand for 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature, tossing occasionally. Sprinkle each serving with reserved green onions.

 

Tip: If mixture is too dry, drizzle with extra olive oil. If too bland, add up to 1 tbsp extra vinegar and capers.

 

Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders

Tomato-Cucumber Salad

In large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Add tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce and green onions. Just before serving, toss gently to coat with dressing.

Recipe Provided by Chef Sharon Sanders

Tuna Nicoise Salad

  • Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water for 10 to 15 minutes or until tender; drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside. Cook beans in boiling water for 3 minutes or until just tender; drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
  • Place eggs in small saucepan; pour in enough cold water to cover and slowly bring to boil. Simmer for 6 minutes; drain and rinse under cold water. Peel and cut into quarters. Place potatoes, beans, eggs, tomatoes, cucumber, tuna, capers and olives in large salad bowl.

Dressing: In small bowl, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard and sugar; whisk together with a fork. To serve, drizzle dressing over salad; toss to mix well.

Tuna Nicoise Salad with Dijon Dressing

Dijon Dressing: In small bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk in olive oil until well combined.

Salad: On serving platter, arrange tuna, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, eggs and olives in adjacent rows. Drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle with chives.

Tomato Parsley Salad

  • In large bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Add parsley and Parmesan; stir well.
  • Add tomatoes and toss gently until well coated.