Chicken Paillard with Arugula Salad

I have had a request to post more easy ideas for dinner. So here's one - and it might be THE easiest. Essentially, its a twist on a traditional entree salad, with chicken at the base piled high with a fresh, lemony arugula salad.

The term "paillard" refers to meat that has been pounded thin and cooked on the grill. I'm sure there is a proper french methodology to "paillard-ing," but I haven't yet learned - so this is the quick and simple way (ie; pounding chicken with a heavy coffee mug) but it works! 

Chicken paillard is a great weeknight dinner,  but would also make a fun dinner-party dish for a crowd. If you were thinking of serving a salad with grilled chicken on top, try this flip-flopped version instead for a little something unexpected.


Enjoy!

Carb-loading (and a simple, satisfying Mediterranean Pasta Salad)

My dear friend Kennedy ran the ING New York City Marathon last week (in under 4 hours, might I add. I mean, she RAN it. Go girl) and, as many runners do before a big race, she embarked on a diet high in carbs and low in, well, everything else.
They call it "carb-loading"; I call that "Heaven."

What could be better than a week of pasta and potatoes, bread and bananas?!?! Though not participating in the marathon myself (one day, one day) I decided to help Kennedy's cause by whipping up a healthy, veggie-loaded pasta salad for her to snack on while getting race-ready. This salad is quick and easy, and lightly dressed with lemon juice and olive oil to add flavor without a lot of fat. Enjoy!

Summer Peach "Caprese" Salad with Balsamic Reduction

I know, I know - its a little early for peaches. But I just couldn't help myself. Maybe its a southern thing. This traditionally Italian salad gets a little sweeter swapping tomatoes for peaches, and it will be even better if you are patient (unlike some of us) and wait a month or so to make it when peaches are in their prime. I made this on a small scale, but it would be gorgeous layered on a large platter for a big summer dinner party. Enjoy!

LPQ Quinoa Salad

I have gotten into the (really bad) habit of ordering this (really good) organic quinoa salad from the Le Pain Quotidien restaurant near my office a few times a week. Its fabulous and filling - the perfect lunch. But it also sets me back $13.00 every time. I decided one monday afternoon, after a particularly large (read: expensive) weekend that it was time for me to figure out how to create this Le Pain Quotidien concoction myself.
And I did.
And it was embarrassingly easy and gloriously cheap.
Its best served cold on a bed of greens. Enjoy!

Spring Spinach Salad with Pesto

According to my calendar, Spring has sprung! However, a quick glance outside my window proves otherwise - rainy and cold in the middle of May :( After the winter we've had, you would think we New Yorkers might catch a break - we certainly deserve one (I'm looking at you, Jet Stream) Despite the chilly temps, I decided it was time to bust out the spring-iest recipe I could find. Enter this delicious Spinach salad: Chock full of fresh green veggies and dressed with pesto. It may not feel like Spring outside, but your mouth will most certainly be fooled.

Cous Cous Salad with Zucchini and Roasted Almonds

It happens nearly every Sunday: Whether I have been away for the weekend or home all along, my refrigerator is invariably empty, save for a few stray yogurts and a sad tub of hummus. When 4:00 rolls around, I am bored, starving and about two minutes from ordering greasy take-out that I know I will regret later. But THIS Sunday, I arrived home to an empty fridge AND a mailbox full - with the new May issue of Food + Wine!

Ah ha! Instant inspiration. I found this easy cous-cous salad recipe in the opening pages and couldn't resist. Super fresh, full of veggies and its good hot or cold, so you can enjoy it for lunch for days to come.

Chicken Salad - Hold The Mayo!

I am not a mayonnaise person, but I love a good homemade chicken salad. So I was thrilled to learn that I could use greek yogurt as a perfectly acceptable substitute for mayo in my traditional chicken salad recipe (side note: greek yogurt is also a great sub for sour cream, heavy cream, butter - you name it. This stuff is genius!) It binds the salad without all of the added fat. Combine it with a little dijon mustard for added kick, and this yogurt gives Hellmann's a run for its money.

Cabbage Slaw

This might be the easiest recipe that I know, and yet it seems to be the one that people ask me for the most. It's quick, it's healthy, and its the perfect picnic/potluck/party dish. It pairs as perfectly with burgers on the grill as it does with roast pork or seared tuna. What's more, the recipe is flexible so you have complete creative license to make this salad all your own: Throw in avocado if you feel so inclined, sub pepitas or slivered almonds for cashews, etc.