Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

Just a quick little post for a quick little salad……. Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato
Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

It’s Saturday and after my favorite thing in the world……almost……..buying groceries, I needed little lunch. I bought some beautiful tomatoes, even though they aren’t in season….yet! Of course if the weather doesn’t start to cooperate, we will not have tomatoes, it’s freezing!

I am un-deterred and I made myself a spring-ish salad for lunch. So simple really……I have stuffed tomatoes frequently in the summer, egg salad, tuna, salad, chicken salad…….. so why not with a salad???

Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

I used baby spinach that I shredded and stuffed inside the tomato. At first I was thinking, just a tossed salad inside of a tomato, then Caprese crossed my mind.

Caprese salad, meaning “Salad of Capri” is a simple Italian salad, made of sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and green basil, seasoned with salt, and olive oil. It’s made to resemble the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green.

Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

I love, love, love the combination of fresh mozzarella, tomato, and basil. So, the spinach was in the tomato, and I topped it with cubes of fresh mozzarella….pretty!

For the basil, I made it into a dressing, a pesto dressing. Basil, walnuts, parmesan cheese, white balsamic vinegar, and olive oil with a touch of water to make it easy to pour.

Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

For my money, the pesto dressing made this dish. Basil is extremely aromatic, with the initial scent of pepper, anise, and mint. The taste is sweet, but savory. Perfect for Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato.

This salad is a great light lunch and would be a side side salad for any grilled meat……steak sounds good!

Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

It’s so quick and easy you can make it in a flash for those unexpected guests, or if you just need a quick lunch……like I did today!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Caprese Spinach Stuffed Tomato

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 2 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • Pesto Dressing
  • 1/2 c. fresh basil leaves
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 
Salad
  • 
1/2 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • 2 large vine ripened tomatoes
  • 1 cup baby spinach leaves, shredded
  • Additional fresh basil, sliced for garnish if desired

Instructions

  1. For pesto dressing, in a food processor combine basil, garlic, walnuts and Parmesan cheese. Cover and pulse until combined. Add vinegar, water and oil. Cover and process until thoroughly combined.
  2. Wash and dry the tomatoes. Slice each tomato into 6 wedges, leaving the bottoms of the tomato intact. Spread open the wedges of the tomatoes slightly and evenly divide the spinach and mozzarella between the tomatoes. Drizzle each tomato with the dressing and finish with fresh cracked pepper and salt if desired.

 

Hawaiian Tacos

Cinco de Mayo was Thursday ………. Hawaiian Tacos ………was our celebration!

Hawaiian Tacos

Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States.

Hawaiian Tacos

History lesson complete………. I like to try different taco flavors and fillings. I must admit my first attempt at these tacos was not quite what I had my mind and heart set on. Plus, the pictures were …..well, horrible, not through any fault of the photographer.

I tried a Pinterest  trick/hack that was half a success. The trick its self worked well. Its the one where you place tortilla shells over the grates in the oven, bake them and when they are done they are a stand up taco shell. That part worked, what didn’t work was taking pictures using that shell. You couldn’t see the filling inside……booo!

Hawaiian Tacos

Originally I used skirt steak for the meat of the taco. While it was tasty, the meat was too tough. Onward plan B.

Place B was much simpler using ground beef. Also a more traditional taco filling. I browned the meat and added garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. Easy enough.

Hawaiian Tacos

I warmed the tortillas in a skillet, I used cast iron, but any small skillet will do. I find spraying the tortillas with cooking spray and using a small skillet to fry them is the easiest way. Plus you aren’t frying in oil.

I chose toppings in keeping with the ginger, garlic, soy sauce flavor of the ground beef. Pineapple, now I will say this about pineapple……when ever possible buy fresh and cut it yourself. The flavor is wonderful! And it was perfect for Hawaiian Tacos.

Hawaiian Tacos

Cotija cheese, red onion, cilantro, and Sriracha sauce rounded out the toppings. I love Cotija cheese for tacos. Named after the town of Cotija in Michoacán, Mexico, it’s a salty, crumbly, dry cow’s milk cheese and is like a cross between feta and Parmesan.

I didn’t realize until I made my Hawaiian Taocs that is was Cino de Mayo, so it was an impromptu celebration with a Hawaiian twist.

Hawaiian Tacos

Hawaiian Tacos are super easy to make and a great way to celebrate Cino de Mayo or Thursday???

Whatever day of the week Hawaiian Tacos are “Aloha nui loa”……translation……… very much love!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Hawaiian Tacos

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated garlic
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • corn tortillas
  • Cotija cheese, crumbled
  • Fresh pineapple, diced
  • Red onion, thinly sliced
  • Cilantro, rough chopped
  • Sriracha sauce

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet. Brown ground beef. Add garlic, ginger and soy sauce and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Warm corn tortillas sprayed with nonstick cooking spray in a small skillet over medium high heat. To serve place ground beef mixture in warmed tortilla. Top with cheese, diced pineapple, sliced red onion,cilantro and Sriracha.

 

5 Bean Basil Salad

Making a special meal for Mom on May 8th? 5 Bean Basil Salad is a perfect salad for brunch or lunch.
5 Bean Basil Salad

Healthy, beautiful, super easy to prepare, and can be made ahead. What’s not to love!!

5 Bean Basil Salad

I no longer am fortunate enough to have my Mother, but we always made a huge ordeal over Mothers Day. My Mom loved good food, and I was always happy to prepare it for her. But on Mothers Day, I always went the extra mile.

5 Bean Basil Salad

Not only did the meal need to be really good, but it had to be beautiful…….just like my Mom! Everything had to be artfully arranged, and only the best china, and flowers would do. After all it was the day we celebrated her.5 Bean Basil Salad

If your Mom deserves a special meal……and what Mom doesn’t? Add Five Bean Basil Salad to the menu. Green beans, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, and cannellini beans. The colors alone are enough to make your mouth water.

Add the red and yellow of cherry tomatoes, and the red and white of radishes…….art on a platter.

5 Bean Basil Salad

Top it all with what I must say was an excellent basil dressing and you have a salad made for a Queen….a.k.a. Mom!

5 Bean Basil Salad

The Five Bean Basil Salad is so extra easy to prepare that you will have plenty of time to spend with the lady of the day! So spoil you Mom this Mothers Day…..she deserves it!!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

5 Bean Basil Salad

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and blanched
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, plus more for garnish
  • 1 small shallot, quartered
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed & drained
  • 1 15-ounce can dark red kidney beans, rinsed & drained
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed & drained
  • 1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed & drained
  • 1 cup halved red & yellow cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced radishes

Instructions

  1. For dressing:
  2. Combine 1/2 cup basil, shallot, oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper in a blender and puree until smooth.
  3. Arrange the green beans and all other ingredients decoratively on a platter. Serve with the dressing. Garnish with the chopped basil.