Tag: picnic recipes

The Best Lightened Up Potato Salad

If you like potato salad, put this Lightened Up Potato Salad recipe on your list. My kid’s great grandmother, Dedee, made the best potato salad we have ever had. This Lightened Up Potato Salad is the closest version to hers. It’s the perfect side dish recipe to make this time of year, for picnics, and special weekends like Father’s Day, July 4th and Labor Day weekend.

This recipe is slightly lighter than hers, since it uses nonfat Greek yogurt, reduced-fat mayonnaise, fresh dill, celery and red onion. I hope you will love it as much as we do.

Californian Sandwich Recipe

Californian Sandwich

We have been eating healthier than ever the past few weeks. This California Sandwich Recipe has been a go-to recipe. I have been making it often and occasionally altering it to create different variations. My kids and I have been doing a ton of outdoors exercise and at-home workouts. Because we are all focused on staying healthy, we take time every Sunday to discuss and curate our weekly menu.

After I wrote my cookbook, 400 Best Sandwiches Recipes, I was often asked in television and radio interviews which sandwich recipe was my favorite? It is extremely difficult to choose between 400 different sandwich recipes. This California Sandwich is in my top 5 favorites. I love the simplicity of the goat cheese spread combined with zucchini, squash, tomatoes, avocados and sprouts on this multigrain bread. If you can’t find alfalfa sprouts, I love using kale or broccoli sprouts, which are typically available in grocery stories. I also like to recommend adding fresh basil if you have some at home.

This sandwich is perfect for a spring or summertime lunch or dinner served with a tossed salad, corn salad and/or fresh fruit. I promise it is as good as it looks! If you’re interested in ordering a copy of my cookbook, click here.

Healthy Corn Salad

Healthy Corn Salad via @alisonlewis

Just in time for Father’s Day, July 4th and summer picnics and get-togethers, this Healthy Corn Salad is a combination of some of my favorite ingredients. I always tell my kids that summer corn tastes just like candy. This makes the perfect summer side dish served with chicken, steaks, pork and seafood. Corn is also very healthy as it’s a rich source of vitamins A, B, E and many minerals. Its high fiber content is good for digestion. The antioxidants present in corn act as a anti-carcinogen agents and can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Enjoy all summer long and if you’re making this in the winter, feel free to use frozen corn. Just thaw it, bring to room temperature and proceed with the instructions above.

Kale Orzo Salad

If you read my blog on a regular basis, you know that my three kids are big fans of kale. I thought spring was the perfect time to come up with a Kale Orzo Salad recipe since it pairs nicely with grilled chicken or kabobs. This recipe also is perfect for spring or summer picnics or for a sunday side dish. Add grilled shrimp or chicken to make it a one dish meal or serve over arugula for a healthy lunch.

Kale Slaw

I am such a huge fan of kale. It’s truly so versatile and filled with so many health benefits. Check out my recent article on MindBodyGreen on the “Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Kale”. Spicy Kale Slaw was on the menu last week at Award Winning Chef, Frank Stitt’s, Highland Bar and Grill restaurant in Birmingham. It was so fabulous that it inspired me to come up with my own. I use a Dijon vinaigrette to flavor mine and added shredded carrots, broccoli and toasted walnuts.

Lightened-Up Pimiento Cheese Recipe

Since it’s Labor Day weekend (and the start of college football), I thought I would share a lightened-up version of pimiento cheese perfect for a game day appetizer, Labor Day picnic, or weekend snack with crackers. Most of our friends will be at the Alabama game, Auburn game, the lake or the beach (that is how it goes around here in the south). I will be at the Auburn game because my daughter’s cheerleading team gets to cheer during the Auburn halftime show. How cool is that? Anyway, this Lightened-Up Pimiento Cheese uses Greek yogurt and mayonnaise. It tastes great, and no one will know the difference. I also like to add smoked paprika or chipotle seasoning for an added kick. Have a great, safe weekend!

Lightened-Up Southern Potato Salad Recipe

My three kids loved potato salad, and their great grandmother, Dee Dee, used to make the best any of us has ever had. I didn’t have her recipe before she passed, but I know this recipe for Lightened-Up Potato Salad is pretty close. We used to dine with her often on Sundays, and she was such a wonderful cook and baker. I think she would approve this recipe, but she might not be 100% thrilled I lightened it up – she loved the “Real Thing”. This recipe is great for sunday lunches, showers, tailgating and fall parties so I thought today was a great time to share it with you.

Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches

For Fourth of July weekend, I wanted to share my recipe for Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches from my new cookbook “400 Best Sandwich Recipes: From Classics & Burgers to Wraps & Condiments”. I came up with this recipe last summer while I was working on this book. My three kids were in the kitchen helping me, so I tried to make it as simple as possible. It is perfect to serve this weekend if you are celebrating with friends and family, or anytime this summer. Use your favorite homemade chocolate recipe or store-bought cookie dough.

This recipe is from “400 Best Sandwich Recipes: From Classics & Burgers to Wraps & Condiments” 2011 by Robert Rose Inc. Reprinted with permission and photo credit by Colin Erricson.

Summer Fest Easy Appetizer or Salad: Tomatoes with Basil Drizzle

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I love serving fresh tomatoes this time of year instead of a salad. Since Summer Fest 2010 features tomatoes for its last week, I thought this was a perfect healthy and easy side dish or salad while tomatoes are at their peak. Add some thinly sliced mozzarella if you wish, or leave as is. This basil drizzle is also wonderful served over grilled chicken, steak, shrimp or pork. See Margaret and Away to Garden for more information on Summer Fest.

Bistro Chicken Pasta Salad

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I have been so fortunate to have made so many new friends lately that have been so helpful with my upcoming cookbook. A few weeks ago, I met Nancy Bynon, through a publisher friend of mine (thank you Sheila), and it was truly my lucky day. Nancy was one of the Editors of the “Tables of Content” cookbook for the Junior League of Birmingham. It’s an amazing cookbook-one of my all-time favorites, and many talented women of Birmingham worked hard to develop such a fabulous book. Nancy has been so wonderful to me by helping me test recipes and offering great suggestions. The night I met her, she was making a version of this recipe. It was delicious, and I told her my kids would love it. When I made it the other night, everyone was fighting over it. It is truly great and a perfect weeknight or weekend main-dish pasta salad. Thanks to all of you (you know who you are) who are have helped me out. One more month to go.