Italian Meatball Salad

Italian Meatball Salad

We all wished for warmer weather and our wish has come true! So, with warmer weather, and our garden doing very well, it was time to make salad! Italian Meatball Salad!

Italian Meatballs Salad

Our lettuce and spinach has done very well this year. Especially the baby spinach, which is the base for this salad. You can use whatever kind of lettuce you like, but due to our over abundance, I chose baby spinach.

Italian Meatball Salad 1

 The weather this week has been warm and sticky. I really didn’t want to heat up the kitchen or even cook for that matter. But, we had to eat, so I trudged on. I had some leftover meatballs from another meal in the freezer so, out they came…….but what to have with them? Since they were Italian spinach meatballs……spinach theme……Italian theme? Tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. But what for a dressing? I wanted to keep with the Italianese, and meatballs need marinara….hmmm. I made a basic vinaigrette and added some jarred marinara sauce. A little parmesan cheese and the result………….FANTASTIC!  Tim and I both thought it was the perfect dressing for the Italian Meatball Salad……like spaghetti and meatballs……with no spaghetti…..

Italian Meatball Salad 2

Now, above all it was easy. Used left overs, I didn’t need to use any thing but the microwave (I heated the meatballs just a bit). It was inexpensive (using my own produce), and best of all it was totally yummy!! So, now that the heat of summer has arrived try this Italian Meatballs Salad for a cool summer meal!

Italian Meatball Salad Collage

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Italian Meatballs Salad

Italian Meatball Salad

  • Author: Marty Bpyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 precooked meatballs
  • 6 cups baby spinach
  • 4 slices fresh mozzarella cheese, cut in half
  • 4 small tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil, chopped for garnish
  • Ground Italian Seasoning to taste- I use the McCormick grinders
  • Marinara Vinaigrette

Instructions

  1. Place spinach on serving platter. Arrange mozzarella,tomatoes, and meatballs on spinach. I used meatballs I had left over from another recipe, but you can buy frozen prepared meatballs.Heat to take the chill off. Grind (or sprinkle if you are not using a grinder) the Italian seasoning over the top of the entire salad. Garnish with parmesan cheese and basil. Serve with Marinara Vinaigrette.

Keywords: spinach. meatballs, fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, basil

 

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Italian Meatballs Salad

Italian Marinara Vinaigrette

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce
  • 1/2 cup chopped basil
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a blender,small food processor, or a Bullet Blender combine Marinara, basil, parmesan cheese, vinegars, mustard and garlic. Pulse with 1/2 cup of olive oil until blended. Add remaining olive oil and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve at room temperature. Refrigerate to store.

Keywords: marinara sauce, basil, parmesan cheese, no cook

Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza

Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza

Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza

As our asparagus patch winds down for it’s first productive year, I wanted to make something different with our last cutting.

How about Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza? I ran across a recipe that was written in…..you guessed it French (if you are new to our blog I am a huge French/France fan). Now translations sometimes do not go as you plan. Some words do not translate into the same products or instructions…….well lets just say, if I ever had to cook in France I may not do so well…….

That being said, I decided that perhaps my best approach was to make my own recipe and forget the translation. If you would like to see the original recipe take a look at the  La popotte de Manue website. It is all written in French but is a very pretty website.

So, on to my version, I liked the idea of the asparagus and goat cheese, and adding bacon…….well, its bacon…… you can add bacon to anything and have a winner!

We always have onions on pizza, and red onions have the color and taste that are just right for this pizza. I wasn’t sure about the cream and egg mixture as the “sauce” but it lent a creaminess when mixed with all the other ingredients.

You can make your own dough or buy a ready made dough. Do use dough and not a pre made crust, as you need to make a rim so the egg mixture stays on the pizza, and isn’t a giant mess in the bottom of your oven.

So, for our final cut of asparagus, we give the Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza a big thumbs up and we think you will too!!!!

Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza Collage

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Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza

Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Pizza
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 fresh pizza dough
  • 2 cups asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1/2 small red onion, sliced thinly
  • 3 oz goat cheese, crumbled
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 oz heavy cream
  • Salt and pepper
  • Basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400*
  2. Cook bacon until crisp, cool, crumble and set aside.
  3. Slice red onion and set aside.
  4. Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces and set aside.
  5. Prepare the pizza dough. You can make your own dough or use a purchased dough. Roll dough into a 12 inch round and place on pizza stone or cookie sheet.
  6. Whisk together the cream and eggs, salt and pepper.
  7. Place the asparagus,bacon, red onion and goat cheese on the dough. Pour the egg cream mixture over the top.
  8. Bake at 400* until crust is browned and the topping is starting to turn golden, about 15-20 minutes. Garnish with basil.
  9. Slice and enjoy!

Keywords: pizza, asparagus, goat cheese, bacon, onion, bake

 

Penne Salmon Pasta

Penne Salmon Pasta

Penne Salmon Pasta

Every once in a while you have a recipe that you fall back on time, and time again……..such is Penne Salmon Pasta.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had recipes that I thought I would never see again………….I cannot thank my friend and co-worker……..or should I say miracle worker, Jeanne enough. She rescued my lost recipes from their Word Perfect prison. So, Tim and I were able to enjoy this yummy pasta dish………….and now I get to share it with all of you.

This dish has so many parts that are good for you. In addition to being super easy to prepare, it is also loaded with taste.

It has an Asian flare……….garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, rice wine vinegar, and a touch of Sriracha for spice. The salmon gives you all those good Omega’s. Spinach is high in fiber with tons of vitamins and antioxidants. Add in the shiitake mushrooms for more fiber, B vitamins, and minerals. Toss in enriched whole grain pasta, and a touch of green onion for garnish…………..it’s a healthy bowl full of bliss.

Penne Salmon Pasta 2

So, the next time you are craving a healthy pasta dish, give the Penne Salmon Pasta a try, your taste buds and your body will thank you!

Penne Salmon Pasta Collage

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Penne Salmon Pasta

Penne Salmon Pasta

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Pasta
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz. penne
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Sriracha
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1tablespoon coconut oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 5 cups spinach, stemmed
  • 3 green onions, separated into white & green parts each finely chopped
  • 1tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
  • 1 lb. salmon fillets cut in 1 by 1/4 in. strips
  • 6oz. shiitake mushrooms

Instructions

  1. Cook penne according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Combine broth, oyster sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, Sriracha, and cornstarch in a small bowl.
  3. Heat oil in a large nonstick wok over high heat.
  4. Add garlic, white part of green onion, & ginger; sauté 15 seconds. Add salmon and mushrooms; cook stirring often 4-5 minutes or until salmon is cooked. Stir in cornstarch mixture along with spinach. Heat to boiling. Stir in penne heat 1 min. transfer to serving bowl. Garnish with green onion( green part)

Notes

Note; soy sauce may be substituted for oyster

Keywords: salmon, pasta, spinach, mushrooms