Category Archives: Salad

Orzo Salad

I am always on the search for healthy lunch recipes because I am always on the move. On Tuesday’s, I don’t have a minute to spare so I plan ahead and prepare my meals in advance. I made up my own fresh and effortless springtime salad that can be made in advance. After you prepare your ingredients, you can put into containers, refrigerate, and then grab “lunch on the go” for hectic days like mine. It’s the easiest way to fuel up during your lunch break and ensure healthy consumption. To guarantee the quality of each bite is fresh and yummy, I usually add a few dried cranberries, almonds, & quinoa right before I’m ready to eat. To avoid unsightly discoloration, the avocados should be added at the last minute too. If you are feeling sweet…..you can also add some fresh fruit for a pop of color and a light taste of sweetness. If you need to add a little protein, you can add a few pieces of chicken. Finally, you can drizzle a little balsamic vinaigrette over the top to bind it all together. You will absolutely love this refreshingly, scrumptious salad. Bon Appetite….Enjoy!

Ingredients

Orzo
Dried Cranberries
Almonds
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
Strawberries
Grapefruit
Avocado

Instructions

  1. Bring a medium saucepan full of water to a boil.
  2. In a large bowl add cooked orzo pasta. Drain and then let cool
  3. Add in dried cranberries and almonds
  4. Dress with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar (No measurements, use your tastebuds!)
  5. Move to the refrigerator for at least 5 hours for flavors to combine. Serve cold.
  6. Add grapefruit, avocado, and strawberries to serve.

Orzo Salad

I have been wanting to make an orzo salad for quite some time now. I was looking for recipes and decided that instead of following some one else’s recipes I was going to try and come up with my own. I wanted to use ingredients that I already had so I didn’t have to go to the store! Which is another reason I didn’t feel like following a recipe. To my surprise my concoction actually turned out delicious, it’s a great lunch time meal or even a salad before dinner!

Kailani's Kitchen: Orzo Salad

Ingredients

Salad:
-Boneless skinless chicken breast
-Orzo Pasta
-Asparagus
-Tomato
-Cayenne pepper
-Garlic Salt
-Lemon
-Blue cheese

Instructions

  1. Roast tomato in oven for 15-20 mins
  2. Season the chicken breast with garlic salt, pepper and a little bit of cayenne pepper
  3. Boil water, cook Orzo for 8-10 mins
  4. Cut 1 cup of asparagus, cook with olive oil for 3-5 mins.
  5. Shred Chicken
  6. Mix: Orzo, Chicken, Asparagus, Tomato top with lemon juice
  7. Dressing found here
  8. Top with blue cheese - serve cold or hot

 

Garbanzo Bean Salad

At home my grandma used to make this delicious garbanzo bean salad, the past couple of days have been hectic so last night I decided to make something that would be an easy fast lunch that I could reach for (instead of chips) in between classes. This salad is so refreshing, that it never gets old. I like to add blue cheese, avocados, croutons, sliced almonds, and dried cranberries to mine!

Kailani's Kookbook: Chick Pea Salad

4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

Garbanzo Beans
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Garlic
Basil
Toppings:
Croutons
Avacado
Dried cranberries
Sliced Almonds

Instructions

  1. Wash/Drain garbanzo beans
  2. Chop garlic
  3. Chop basil
  4. Add both garlic/basil to beans
  5. Add Olive Oil & Balsamic to taste preference
  6. Refrigerate over night

It’s worth a try …

So I’m trying out this new thing called… “eating healthy” otherwise known as a diet. My boyfriend jokes with me because I say every Sunday night that I’ll start (my diet) Monday, and then every Monday night I’ll just start NEXT Monday. Well about 45 Monday’s have passed and I have yet to commit to a healthy food regimen.  So I am serious about it this time …. bikini weather is right around the corner. Sometimes when I’m eating I tend to ask myself why WHOLE WHEAT pasta? and cardboard tasting bread? when the REAL stuff taste so much better.. but then I remember that the bikini’s in my closet will not be worn unless I stick to the “healthy food”. So if you can I would try and avoid this four letter word for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE especially if you like to eat like me.  Anyways… as a replacement to the countless green salads I have been having to eat to shed those extra pounds, I decided to mix it up a bit with a cold Caprese salad. The fresh mozzarella and tomatoes soaked in olive oil and vinegar topped with ground pepper and basil was so refreshing.

Recipe:
Tomatoes
Mozzarella
Salt & Pepper
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Basil

I used a wine glass to put them in. Great for entertaining guests!

 

show hide 2 comments

blake - omg i LOVE this idea!!