No Mayo Broccoli Salad

It's a summer bbq side dish that doesn't have mayonnaise in it!  If this delights you as much as it delighted me, keep reading.

Hi, my name is KTC and I refuse to eat mayo in any shape or form.  Here is a broccoli salad that is actually good for you- no mayo, no bacon- and it's delicious!

That's me blending the dressing up.  Feel free to use a blender or a food processor, I find the immersion blender easiest to clean. 

Mix and match the vegetables/nuts/dried fruit you'd like to include.  I got a cole slaw mix, almonds, and craisins to go along with the broccoli and scallions.

Broccoli Salad

Adapted from Pinch of Yum

Ingredients

1 head of broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces

3 scallions, sliced

1 cup cabbage

1/2 cup almonds, sliced

1/2 cup craisins

2/3 cup orange juice

2 tbsp miso paste* (no miso? just double up on the nut butter and add some salt)

2 tbsp nut butter of your choice (I used peanut)

1 shallot, chopped

2 tbsp canola oil

1. Get all your salad ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Put orange juice, miso paste, nut butter, shallot, and canola oil in blending mechanism of your choice.  I used the immersion blender because it is the simplest to clean in this non-dishwasher household.

3. Pour that luscious salad dressing over your anxiously awaiting ingredients and toss. 

I cannot wait to make this again for a larger audience!  It will be the perfect addition to your next event this summer.

Lightlife Product Review

Lucky me, I was chosen to review Lightlife veggie dogs by the gang at Mom's Meet!  Lightlife makes  a delicious line of plant protein foods like hot dogs, veggie burgers, sausages, and bacon.

Although I am not a vegetarian, I often make the choice to go meatless several times a week so I was very excited to try some new vegetarian food products.  I have several friends and family members that are vegetarian and they were psyched to get a chance to taste something new.

I tried the smart dogs with some quick pickled cucumber and carrot.  They were great on the grill!

I also tasted the bacon with my egg for breakfast this morning. It was definitely a "less mess" option to frying actual bacon!

I also took this opportunity to try their veggie burger with quinoa.  I topped my burger with tomato jack cheese and broccoli pesto.  Yum!

In the past I have had mostly frozen vegetarian options. Lightlife sells it's product in the produce section of the supermarket.  This made me feel like I was going with a fresher option, which is always more appealing.  My friends and family were excited to be armed with coupons so they can go test out more of what Lightlife has to offer!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Salad

Hi, it's summer and it's hot.  Here is a salad to solve those "it's too darn hot to cook" woes that are surely coming your way.

A little bit of hot and a little bit of cold. It is summer dinner perfection.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Salad
Adapted From Skinny Taste

Ingredients
1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
2 carrots, shredded with a vegetable peeler
3 tbsp rice vinegar
1 1/2 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp honey
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp salt and pepper
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp Sriracha sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
cooking spray
1 lb ground chicken
8 oz water chestnuts, diced
1/4 cup sliced almonds
3 scallions, sliced

1. Get your lettuce and carrots set up in a salad bowl. Mix vinegar, oils, honey, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl and set aside to dress the salad with  later.
2. Mix hoisin, vinegar, sriracha, soy sauce, and ginger in a bowl.  Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium high heat.  Add chicken and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add almonds, water chestnuts, and hoisin sauce mixture.  Cook until heated through.  Top with scallions.
3.  To serve, you can dress the whole salad or allow everyone to to do their own bowl.  Top with the chicken mixture and enjoy!

This is exactly what you need as the temperature starts rising.