You may have thought it was named after the emperor, but Chef Caesar Cardini invented the Caesar Salad on a busy 4th of July weekend in 1924 when he was running low on ingredients at his restaurant in Tijuana. The salad was so popular it became a regular menu item.
I offer this salad with a terrific eggless Caesar Dressing. We’ll throw some browned Chick’n strips (or optional sliced chicken) on the salads to add extra interest.
Japanese Noodles with Broccoli, Thursday, February 29, 2024
Yummy steamed broccoli is featured in this Japanese Udon noodle bowl tonight. A tasty broth with touches of brown-rice miso and wasabi surrounds the noodles and vegetables. The bowl is finished with a sliced, hard-boiled egg, green onions, chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro and a splash of lime juice.
Gingered Halibut with Seared Fennel and Onions: Wednesday, February 28,2024
Here’s a delicious version of baked halibut with a unique yogurt/ginger and caramelized shallot sauce. it’s surrounded by crispy sliced potatoes and seared fennel and red onions.
Frozen halibut may be the only halibut you can find at this time of year. If you can’t find halibut, haddock stands in as a worthy substitute.
Chard with Winter Pear, Pecans and Dried Cherries: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Wonderful chard with winter pear and dried tart cherries is on tonights menu.
Be sure to wash greens well before using. Use fresh winter pears like D’Anjou or Comice. It’s OK if the pears are firm. You’re poaching them. You may use canned pears if you cannot find fresh. Just slice them and arrange them over the greens (no need to poach them).
Sunset Apple Loaf, Monday, February 26, 2024
Remember the satisfaction of a meatloaf dinner? Here’s a refreshing twist on the meatloaf theme using tart Granny Smith apples with one of my favorite meatless ground products, Beyond Meat. The flavor profile is enhanced with a touch of cinnamon.
The loaf is served with a mild curry cream sauce and a tasty corn, peppers and edamame succotash. The plate is finished with caramelized potato halves topped with yogurt/scallion sauce. I call this meal “Sunset” Apple Loaf because the sun is still setting before dinner.
Potato Leek Soup, Sunday, February 25, 2024
A lovely rich potato/leek soup will carry you through this cold winter evening. The soup is made with creamy golden potatoes combined with chopped leeks. It’s seasoned with fresh dill and smoky tempeh, while getting an extra ping from plain yogurt swirled into each bowl.
The preparation time of 2-1/2 hours allow time to let the soup rest before dining.