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Watermelon Salad Recipes If there’s anything about some of my recipe creations I know it’s the ‘unexpected.’ Yes, I believe in mixing it up, trying new things, looking at ingredients in different ways, in different combinations. And, I think this beet watermelon salad falls into that genre of Ally recipes. […]
Celery Salad This Mediterranean celery olive salad is so very different. Crunchy. Salty. Sweet. Yep, this Mediterranean Celery Olive Salad hits on all cylinders for flavor! Refreshing flavors! You know what I love about food. Using ingredients in totally different ways to create spectacular new dishes. It’s kind of like […]
Thanks to Dole Sunshine for partnering with me on this warm spiced peach spinach salad on toasted bagel! I am the creator of this recipe and for the description and information that follows. For a full disclosure, click here! Need it Fast? Sometimes the tastiest dishes are ones with just a […]
OK, I get it. Most people don’t think of salad for breakfast, but I’m telling you, it’s the hottest new Ally trend out there! I’ve been addin the green stuff to breakfast for decades. I mean it just makes sense to me to add nutritional value anyway I can to […]
If you’re wondering what these delightful little pink ‘balls’ are garnishing this healthy Mediterranean tuna salad, well, just scroll down and you can pick up some on Amazon! I use these pink peppercorns on lots of things both as a garnish and as part of the actual recipe. It just […]
Looking for a new twist and spin on your traditional coleslaw? You know, the coleslaw that’s loaded with lots of mayo and calories. Well, this Asian cabbage slaw is sure to be healthier and a smarter choice if you’re looking to cut back. Now, don’t get me wrong. Every now […]
Chickpea Recipes Chickpeas or maybe you’ve heard them called garbanzo beans. They’re nutty creamy tasty beans that you can cook from dried beans or you can buy canned. This cucumber celery olive odyssey salad is one of my favorite chickpea recipes. And, rather than cooking these chickpeas from scratch like […]
I happen to love rice, especially when it’s made into this refreshing rice grape and basil salad. It’s simple to prepare and with the light and flaky rice that adds just enough tender texture for the sweet juice grapes and hint of fresh basil, you’ll not get a heavy feeling […]
Thanks to Dole Sunshine for partnering with me for this post! I am the creator of this recipe and for the description and information that follows. For a full disclosure, click here! Today’s most important thing in cooking seems to be ease of preparation, convenience of products/ingredients and simplicity in executing the recipe. […]
Salads come in all types, shapes, ingredients and textures. Sometimes you might get locked into the thinking that a ‘salad’ has to be green leaves and something else. But, my interpretation of a salad is that it can be just about anything, hot, cold, warm. And, it’s incumbent upon me […]
Platters. Bowls. Plates. Saucers. Skewers. Cups. Tarts. Tartlets. Galettes. Family style. Individual style. So many ways to enjoy! I’m talking about the wildly popular and super delicious caprese salad! Honestly, I’ve not met one person in my travels or anyone who’s broken bread at my table who doesn’t love this […]
If you’re not familiar with the Appalachian mountains, well, it’s a mountain range that starts in Canada runs like a spinal cord down the East Coast of the United States. Formed about 480 million years ago, the system is divided into three parts: Northern, Central and Southern. It meanders through […]
Vegetables and salads in their most natural form tend to give us more health benefits, nutrients and value. So, loading up your table with a variety of salads can be a great way to eat especially if you stretch your idea of a salad from what you get in a […]
Whenever we get asked to someone’s home for dinner, a party, cookout, gathering, movie night, whatever the reason might be, I, of course, always ask, ‘What can I bring?’ I love it when they say ‘salad’! Not only are they easy to make, but there’s so many creative options for […]
All you need with this pea grape coleslaw & bleu cheese crumbles is a piece of meat, or if you don’t want that then just add some nuts for more protein, crunch and flavor! Keep in mind that this is not your typical expected coleslaw, but I guarantee you’re gonna love […]
Growing up in southern West Virginia, Logan County and a little magical town called Man, we had salmon at some meals, but only salmon from a can. Yes, Mom would make the most divine salmon patties. Not often. On special occasions. I suppose salmon in a can was really pricey […]
Salads can sometimes get boring. I mean we do the same ol’ thing the same ol’ way. Some lettuce greens, tomatoes, cukes, maybe onions. Then throw on the salad dressing, oftentimes straight from a bottle. Same thing with slaw or coleslaw. We just stick to the same way we’ve always […]
I think one of the greatest bargains that you can find at Costco is their rotisserie chicken. Yes, they must sell a ton of these things because not only are they so stinkin’ reasonably priced, but they’re good and they are quite big and fat meaty birds. This no mayo […]
This is a sponsored post. I’ve teamed with Brabantia to review one of their products, a chef’s knife. Believe me, I don’t team with any brand unless that brand embraces similar values regarding cooking, family and the kitchen as mine. My review of this product comes only from how I […]
You might think buttermilk in a salad! Well, let me tell you that this crunchy veggie & olive buttermilk salad is one that you’ll never know that it’s drenched in creamy buttermilk. The crisp of the vegetables. The saltiness of the olives. Both come together in perfect harmony in this […]
Honestly, I don’t know what I love more about this queso cotija buttermilk corn slaw, the dressing or the fiesta of cabbage, carrots and corn that make up the slaw. Notice that I don’t call it ‘cole slaw’. No, that’s because it’s got one of my favorite veggies in it, […]
Cabbage cabbage…seems to be the forgotten ‘stepsister’ of the more elegant salad greens! But not so in my ally boho world…to me cabbage is gorgeous, and even more stunning and tasty in its natural state. Oh, yes, we can cook, steam, fry it, make cabbage rolls (which I love because […]
Sometimes I get lazy and just buy things at the market that I know perfectly well I can create and make even better at home. Now it’s a known fact that I love olives. And, olives adorn lots of dishes that I make. Just chalk it up to the ethnic […]
How in sam hill do you keep coming up with food and recipe ideas, Ally? This question I get asked quite often. There’s a couple of answers to it. First of all, I like to change up things all the time. Yes, I like tradition and not messing up a […]
Dinner parties. Love them! Especially when we’re invited to someone else’s home. That means that I have only a dish or two to prepare and, yes, always a bottle of wine! Plus, I don’t have all the extra prep that goes into hosting even a small dinner party for just […]
Thanks to Dole Sunshine for partnering with me for this post! All the opinions and creativity are solely my own. For a full disclosure, click here! This year, 2016, my oldest son is getting married. He’s finally found, at almost the age of 40, the perfect soulmate for him as […]
Sweet juicy seedless grapes. They’re just so good. Refreshing. Healthy. And, exceptionally versatile in recipes. They’re not just for a cheese tray or snacking. I love to oven roast grapes. Brings out the flavor and you can top ice cream with these warm explosions of natural sweetness. Another way I […]
Inspiration for this tuna salad casserole recipe comes from my dear foodie peep, Melissa, from ChinDeep. She’s always got unique and interesting ways to put new twists on serving food. That’s one great way to keep dishes you make ‘fresh’ and fun. If we continue to do the same things […]
Mozzarella~sounds like cinderella~a cheese that originated in Southern Italy. Usually easily found in markets and grocery stores, this semi-soft cheese is famously used on pizza, comes in slices for sandwiches, can be found shredded in packages and it’s made from cow or buffalo water milk. Now the way I look […]
I struggled with what to name this totally decadent cabbage salad. I posted on Facebook that I didn’t know what to name it. I got some great ideas and suggestions from my foodie peeps after describing the ingredients and sharing a photo. After much deliberation. After having three servings the […]
Love when I get an email from The Fresh Market and it says ‘shrimp on sale’! That’s exactly how this recipe was born. I had a hankerin’ for a few different flavors with the shrimp, something kind of ‘Asian-inspired’. So what’s better than clean simple flavors like fresh ginger, cilantro, […]
There’s a reason this is named Haifa celery date salad. When I traveled to Israel as a guest of Taste of Israel Eat. Meet. Explore., one of the cities we visited was Haifa, which is a northern Israeli port city. It’s built in tiers and extends from the Mediterranean up […]
Living in the South and on the coast, we’re really lucky to have the world’s finest seafood at our fingertips, and, literally in our front yard, which is the briny waters of the inlet. Yes, we forage these waters for crabs, clams, oysters, flounder, shrimp and more. While these shrimp […]
Now why in the world would I call this ‘cleopatra’s waldorf salad’? Well, a few reasons. As we know Cleopatra was the exotic goddess pharaoh of the Egypt. After Caesar’s assassination, she aligned with Mark Antony and had three children with him. It is said that she lured Mark Antony […]
This bean salad is what landed me my first cut with auditioning for FOX network show, Masterchef. Yes, in that initial audition I made this dish and served it with pan seared salmon, and with only a taste, the food critic was thumbs up! I’ve been making it for years, […]
One thing I love about ‘salads’ is knowing that they can be cold, room temperature, warm or hot~yes, this ‘black quinoa, beans and green chiles’ salad is one that you can serve however you like! Now I want you to use your imagination in how you dress this ‘salad’~you might […]
Salads. Always a welcome bowl or platter on my table, and, I’m sure yours, too. And, serving this eastern european red potato dill yogurt salad is sure to be popular. It’s a version of potato salad that comes from eastern european countries where different flavors combine to bring together a […]
Spring means so many things to folks after a long, and sometimes hard, winter. Well, at least for those of us who live in seasonal parts of the globe! We look forward to so so many things~~from losing all the heavy layers of clothing and wearing flip flops to longer […]
Cucumbers and buttermilk…the way to Ben’s heart! I’d never had cukes and buttermilk until I had my first dinner with my hubby’s family way back nearly 20 years ago. Oh, yeah, I can still remember the unbelievable country feast I age–more on that later! Now back to the Armenian Cukes and […]
Simple quick and easy recipe ideas that pack a skillet full of healthiness appeal to lots of us. And, that’s exactly what you’ve got with this warm skillet steak salad. The cool thing about this kind of salad is that you can fill the ‘quadrants’ with whatever you love. Next […]
This bleu cheese coleslaw is my ‘boho’ version of Southern coleslaw~~yes, it’s quite different, but it’s a really inviting palate experience. I mean imagine topping your BBQ sandwich with this coleslaw~~OMG, I’m talking bursts of unexpected pleasures! I like to ramp up the nutritional value of this coleslaw with the […]
My body is really sensitive to what I put in it~I mean especially with food. It’s like it can tell if I’m putting in ‘junk’ and empty calories~you know the foods that are highly processed, full of ingredients that you can’t pronounce and usually bear little or no recognition of […]
Salads can get boring unless you open your mind’s eye to the possibilities beyond the regulars. You know…tomatoes, lettuce. I love a salad that’s a meal, too. When you add beans, you’ve got some seriously wicked protein and more nutrition going on like with this salad. Salads also should let […]
This the great gatsby waldorf salad recipe hits on all cylinders! Holidays~~check! Apple season~check! Anytime good eats~check check! Since I’m a bleu lover, have to have some crunch in a bite, and just get happy with a burst of juice~~I’ve included some of my favorite healthy ingredients. Perfect with a […]
Yes, some foods just dance with happiness during the holidays~~why? Well, because for a short time of the year they’re showcased and special~~things like pumpkins, pomegranates, types of squash and, not to overlook cranberries~~and now we have a star in this fresh cranberry crunch & coconut cream sauce salad! While we […]
One of my favorite cheeses is bleu~~and it’s first-cousin gorgonzola~~and, well, I adore white cheddar and Gruyere, and, oh oh, brie and gouda and raclette and more~~you get the idea, I’m a cheese lover! I love to add herbs and twists to my dressings, which are just so very easy […]
Whenever I buy salmon, I always try to buy an extra couple of pounds because if I’m going to pan sear it for one meal, I can use the leftover salmon the next day for salads, sandwiches and more. That’s how this chunky fresh salmon scallion olive salad was born! […]
Potato Salad with a new twist! Blueberries…rocket salad or arugula and other good stuff! Who says potato salad has to be like grandma used to make! Spread your wings, create something different, expand your palate…I admit this salad is flat out great…I know cuz I literally ate it ALL! […]
I sure hope you have a cast iron skillet that makes grilling stripes for this grilled fruit salad. If you don’t, think about buying one because it’s one of the most used that I have! And, I think you’ll have as much fun with it as I do. Cast Iron […]
I don’t know why we don’t eat peas more often! After having peas done with this recipe, I KNOW we’ll be adding peas to many more meals! The sauce I created from two ingredients is like a ‘dressing’, and with the addition of the fresh pea shoots, there’s a slight […]
There’s nothing more wonderful than sitting down at a big table crowded with platters and bowls full of vibrant colors of the rainbow! There’s also nothing more beautiful than the most natural state of veggies including the wispy roots on onions and carrots, their colorful tops, and the numbs and bumps on […]
Sometimes I create things, and I just know they’re gonna taste good. But, SOMETIMES I create things and don’t realize they’re gonna taste WICKED good! That’s the case with this recipe, za’atar garbanzo beans & heirloom tomatoes~I think it’s the simple fresh ingredients and also the sauteing of the garbanzo […]
Simple. Fresh. Crisp. Creamy. Healthy. Crunchy. A bite of tang. Yes, this salad’s got all those things that make for a perfect partner alongside a great steak, some grilled chicken, lamb, seafood~~you get the idea. Then if you’re so inclined you can add corn, roasted red peppers, maybe some garden […]
When I create recipes, it’s usually because I want to complete a feel, a look, taste, and because I want to fill out a ‘theme’~~so, when I pulled out a leg of lamb to prepare for a dinner party, I knew that the side dishes had to be spectacular and […]
It’s no secret that I love Middle Eastern foods~~when I had the privilege of traveling to Israel, I was like in heaven with the street food, eating at restaurants~fancy and down home~and, spending not enough time at the Jerusalem market, Machane Yehuda. Maybe someday I’ll be able to travel to […]
One healthy salad this is! And, the flavors and textures are like a small marching band on your palate~~you have the creaminess of the pine nut, the sweetness of the currant and then the bubble wrap juicy pop of the pomegranate seeds. Using the red chard gives this salad an […]
When I was a guest of Taste of Israel to the Holy Land for a culinary and cultural adventure, I was intrigued and fascinated by the Jerusalem Market~~the fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, flowers, meats, pastries, breads, cheeses, wines and more were abundant! One thing that I realized was that […]
When my girlfriend, Laura, who’s made several trips to Morocco, brought me some ‘Ras el hanut’ she’d picked up there on one of her trips, I was like giddy happy!! I make my own ras el hanut, and, of course, you can buy it~~but there’s nothing better than having the […]
Dill is one of my favorite fresh herbs~~there are so many uses for it beyond pickles as in ‘dill’ pickles! I eveb use it to make things like seasoned butter. It adds a nice twist to the shrimp salad~~a tad of tart and sharp that can be unexpected. Another […]
What is Antipasti An antipasti starter is about gathering friends around the table and enjoying the art of nibbling, snacking and sharing! Mezze and tapas are similar. An antipasti starter is basically a ‘starter’ prior to the big meal! Some may call it antipastO. The basic different between the ending […]
This makes a nice starter for any dinner~~a combination of sauteed veggies, interesting flavors with the red curry and cumin and sweet brown butter~~now, it’s mandatory that you add some hot crusty French (or Italian, or Greek, warm pita…whatever) with it…you might want to serve on the side some drizzling […]
Seems that many times when I cook for only Ben and me, there’s always just a ‘tad’ leftover of a few things, and when it’s a cucumber and tomato salad and roasted veggies, I just don’t have the heart to toss them out, although there’s not enough there to make […]
If there’s ever something that I could bottle and sell and make so many people happy, it’s this ‘Spicy Hot Olive & Almond Romesco’! This is the second in a series (hummmm, that sounds important, huh?) of Romesco sauce-making for me…who knows what might be next. My first was an […]
This recipe, Watermelon Grape & Cherry Tomato Salad~~Anthropologie Nibbles, was boho’d from its original version. The original recipe can be found in the cookbook ‘Sweet Paul.’ Why did I choose this recipe, this cookbook and boho it? Ally’s Kitchen teamed up with our local Anthropologie store, and this cookbook is sold […]
I was introduced to Romesco by Chef Anthony Sasso of Casa Mono Bar Jamon in NYC. Now I’ve made ‘Artisan Lettuce Romesco’! Chef Anthony came to cook in my Colorado kitchen preparing a spectacular meal for Ben and me and ten of our most favorite guests! That entire soiree was an […]
