Asian-Inspired Cabbage and Carrot Salad with Peanuts

Asian Carrot Cabbage Salad with Peanuts
Asian Carrot Cabbage Salad with Peanuts

When a chicken was roasted on a hot day earlier this week, the planned side dish of sauté greens would’ve been overwhelming. Thanks to a weekly menu plan, Napa cabbage and carrots were shredded a few days prior. A quick vinaigrette of ginger, savory soy sauce, sweet lime juice and fresh lemon balm was tossed with the shredded vegetables. Like most large heads of cabbage, there was plenty of salad left over. It became another side dish that completed a fast and effortless weekday meal of saute fish. Read more

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes with freshly sliced pears.
Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes with freshly sliced pears.

I once bragged about making an Almond Poppy Seed Cake. Someone responded it was a novel idea, because lemons and poppy seeds are an overuse combination of flavors. Does everyone automatically pair poppy seeds with lemons? The flavors might be boring to some people, but adding them to a familiar recipe, such as pancakes, is a scrumptious twist. I can’t help to notice how bright it taste especially when its paired with warm maple syrup and caramelize apples. The flavors are unimaginative, but it makes an old recipe taste new again. Read more