Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

This is a combination of two concepts you have seen before on here. My favorite Caesar salad dressing, and grilling romaine on salads. It's a hearty and healthy salad. Because I use chicken thighs, they cook up quick on the grill so it's a super fast weeknight meal too. 

• 1 package boneless skinless chicken thighs (about a pound) Trim them of fat
• 1 tablespoon Oregano 
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Lemon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• olive oil spray (like Pam)
• 4 heads romaine hearts
• 1/2 cup shaved parm
• 1 red onion sliced (big enough to grill but not too big, about 3/4 of an inch slices)
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1. Create dressing by combing in a blender or food processor: lemon juice, dijon, anchovy paste, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. 
2. Combine seasonings for chicken in a small bowl: oregano, salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and granulated garlic. 
3. Sprinkle each side of the chicken thighs with seasoning blend.
4. Cut each romaine heart in half and spray both sides with olive oil spray. 
5. Heat grill to medium high. Put chicken and onion slices on the grill. Turning each a few times. Chicken should be done in about 6 minutes each side. You want the onions to have a slight char to them.
6. After you remove chicken from grill, throw the romaine on the grill. Grill for 1-2 minutes each side until it starts to char. 
7. Cut the chicken into thin slices. 
8. When you pull the romaine off the grill, place it on the plate. Sprinkle with grated parmesan. 
9. Divide chicken and onion slices among the four salads.
10. Top each with shaved parmesan and dressing. 

Lunch Shortcut: Mediterranean Spinach Quinoa Salad

I am all about easy healthy lunches. I have never been very good at meal prepping, so this is something easy I can throw together before work in mornings and it tastes so good. I change up what I throw on top based on what we have around but this is the basic version. You can throw beats and peppers and other Mediterranean flavors in too! The key is a green layer, a grain layer, some beans and lots of yummy veggies. Let's eat.

Mediterranean Spinach Quinoa Salad

• 6 cups baby spinach
• 1 bag of frozen quinoa or grain mixture that steams in the bag (I love Simple Truth White Quinoa and Barley mix)
• 1 cup chickpeas
• 4 Radishes, cut into thin strips
• 1 cup (from can) artichoke quarters (then give them a rough chop)
• 10 grape tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup feta
• the juice from one fresh lemon
• a few banana pepper slices (from jar)
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper

1. Divide the spinach into two bowls that have covers if you are taking for lunch on the go. 
2. Top each bowl with half of the following: quinoa, chickpeas, radishes, artichokes, tomatoes, cucumber, feta and banana peppers. 
3. To create dressing, combine lemon juice, dijon, olive oil, vinegar and salt and pepper. Then divide that into two containers that seal well, so you can keep salad and dressing separate until you eat. 
4. Toss the dressing into the salad just before serving. 

 

ONE PAN: Roasted Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

It doesn't get much easier than roasting your entire meal in one big roasting pan. This meal is simple, delicious and hearty. I stumbled upon the concept on  Eating Well and took it from there. It feels indulgent because the flavors are rich but it's super healthy and good for you. If you aren't a Brussels Sprouts fan, first of all, TRY THIS, but if you still aren't convinced, it would work well with several different vegetables roasting under the salmon. I'd try cauliflower if I didn't love Brussels so much.

Roasted Salmon and Brussels Sprouts

• 14 large cloves garlic
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 6 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced into thirds
• ¾ cup dry white wine 
• 2 pounds wild-caught salmon fillets, skinned, cut into 4 portions
• 2 lemons cut into wedges

1. Preheat oven to 450. 
2. Mince 4 garlic cloves and combine in a small bowl with oil, 1 tablespoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper, lemon pepper and lemon juice. 
3. Halve the remaining garlic and toss with Brussels sprouts and 3 tablespoons of the oil mixture in a large roasting pan. Roast, stirring once, for 15 minutes.
4. Add wine to the remaining oil mixture. 
5. Remove the pan from oven, stir the brussels. Then place salmon on top. Drizzle with the wine mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon oregano and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake until the salmon is just cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes more. 
6. Squeeze one lemon wedge over the whole pan.
7. Serve with lemon slices.