Spring Salad

I love using fresh produce when they are in season. This weekend, I went to the local market and couldn’t believe how gorgeous all the green vegetables looked! I grabbed a bundle of green beans, snap peas and asparagus and headed home to create this recipe! Simple, bright, and delicious, it’s the perfect way to showcase the season’s best produce.

Ingredients

• ½ pound green beans trimmed and halved crosswise
• ½ pound sugar snap peas trimmed and de-stringed
• 1 pound asparagus trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
• Pinch of salt

Dressing

• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Scout and Cellar Sauvignon Blanc
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chopped capers
• 2 tablespoons chopped dill
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

• 1 fennel bulb quartered, cored and very thinly sliced
• ¼ cup shelled roasted sunflower seeds
• Shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Have a large bowl of ice water nearby. Add the green beans, sugar snap peas, and asparagus to the pot and cook for 2 minutes. Drain, then immediately plunge the vegetables into the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. When cool, drain and shake off as much excess water as possible.

Meanwhile in a large bowl, combine the dressing ingredients.  

Add the drained vegetables and the fennel and toss to coat well with the dressing. 

Sprinkle the sunflower seeds and parmesan cheese over the top and serve.

Advertisement

Black Bean Tacos with Roasted Corn Salsa

Healthy tacos made with seasoned black beans, an easy corn salsa and a delicious cilantro pesto.

These Black Bean Tacos served in a tortilla or even a zucchini boat are so good that you definitely won’t miss the meat. It is a healthy meatless meal that not only tastes great, it’s budget-friendly too! 

I love making tacos! One of our favorite things about tacos is how versatile they are. There are literally hundreds of taco recipes out there to choose from.  It’s good to have variety! There is nothing boring about these tacos, the black beans are full of flavor and completely filling, the corn salsa adds a sweet twist and the cilantro pesto brings it all home! Trust me you will go back for seconds!

I’ve been trying to cut out carbs so instead of a tortilla, I made a zucchini boat as my vessel. You can even serve this on top of a salad. This recipe is that versatile!

• 

• 

• 

• 

Wine Pairing? Scout and Cellar GALLIVANT ROSÉ! Lively and refreshing with strawberry, red cherry and fresh melon balanced by limestone on a dry, well-textured frame with a clean finish. Click the link under the photo to order a bottle!

http://www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

INGREDIENTS

Corn Salsa:

• 1 can Roasted Corn, drained
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes, cut into quarters
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1 lime and zest

Cilantro Pesto:

• 1 cup tightly packed cilantro leaves 
• 1 small shallot
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon jalapeno pepper
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Black Beans:

• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cans (14.5 ounces) black beans, drained
• 1 cup fresh mild salsa
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

INSTRUCTIONS

Corn Salsa:

Combine all ingredients. Stir, adjust seasoning to taste, and set aside to marinate while preparing the rest of the tacos.

Cilantro Pesto

Add all the ingredients except the olive oil and pulse in a blender until combined. Once it is all combined, add olive oil and pulse a few times quickly until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate while preparing the rest of the tacos.

Black Beans:

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add1 tablespoon olive oil. Add in the chopped onion and saute for 3 minutes over medium high heat. Add in the garlic and stir for another 30 seconds. Add in the black beans, salsa, chili powder and cumin. Simmer mixture for about 5 -10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Slightly mash half of the beans if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Putting it all together!

Warm tortillas or a zucchini boat, and add a generous amount of the black beans mixture topped by the corn topping, and a spoonful of the pesto. 

Add the rest of your favorite taco toppings like cheese, guacamole or sour cream.

http://www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

Zucchini Salad with Honey Orange Dressing

Light, Fresh & Easy! I swear that could be a song title! LOL!!

This zucchini noodle spaghetti salad is tossed in a homemade honey orange dressing and loaded with flavor! Perfect for summer cookouts, or a light lunch! 

If you haven’t spiralized zucchini yet, you’ve got to. In addition to it being a fun thing to do, the noodle shape somehow transforms raw zucchini into something absolutely delicious. 

If you do have a vegetable spiralizer, great. If not no worries. I didn’t use one, just cut the zucchini into long strips. You can even buy zucchini already spiralized at some grocery stores. 

When I was first preparing this dish, I thought I would saute the zucchini noodles in the sauce. But as I tossed the noodles in the sauce and tasted it, I decided this would be delicious as a cold salad with the tangy fish I was planning to serve as the main dish. So my point being, this dish can be served hot or cold. Totally up to you!

In a few steps, you have yourself a delicious side dish or even a lunch!

Ingredients

• 2 zucchini 
• 2 garlic cloves, minces
• 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
• ¼ cup Light Soy Sauce
• 2 teaspoon White Vinegar
• 2 tablespoon Honey
  1 tablespoon Orange Marmalade 
• 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt and Pepper to taste.

Instructions

Cut zucchini into long strips like noodles.

Whisk the rest of the ingredients in a bowl.

Toss zucchini noodles in sauce and let sit in the refrigerator for at least ten minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve.

Chili Lime Cod with Fresh Pico de Gallo over Slaw

You know it’s funny, I’m a huge seafood fan. But I don’t cook it near enough as I should. Well, today I took one step closer to changing that, in the form of a quick, easy and healthy weeknight dinner.

There are so many different methods to make cod. From baking cod to fried cod. 

In this recipe, I pan fried it in a small amount of olive oil. Pan-fried cod pairs wonderfully with so many different side dishes. If you are trying to keep things light, whip up my slaw and Pico de Gallo recipe below. If you’re feeling a little more indulgent, make a batch of angel hair pasta with a creamy sauce. The possibilities are endless. 

And, if you want to pair this dish with a Clean-Crafted™ wine, try Scout and Cellar’s 2017 GALLIVANT CHARDONNAY. Opulent and plush with aromas of yellow apple, vanilla and baking spices and flavors of baked pear and brioche on a medium-bodied frame with a bright finish. It’s delish!

What about a light beer? Try 7venth sun Kolsch- Crisp, sparkling, and slightly fruity. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb Cod Fillet
• 1 Teaspoon Paprika
• 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
• ⅛ Teaspoon Cayenne 
• ½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ¼ Teaspoon Cumin
• ¼ Teaspoon Salt
• ¼ Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, divided
• Zest and Juice of 2 Limes

Fresh Pico de Gallo Ingredients 

• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• I clove garlic, minced 
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Salt & Pepper to taste 

Slaw Ingredients

• 1 bags ColeSlaw mix
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• Juice of 2 limes
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

To make the coleslaw, combine cabbage, carrots, green onions and cilantro in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, honey and salt and toss together with slaw mixture. Set aside. 

To make Pico de Gallo, stir all ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.

For the cod…

In a small bowl combine all of the spices with lime zest and mix well.

Rub the filets with the spice mixture. You will use the entire rub – so make sure to coat them very well.

Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan.

Add the seasoned cod to the pan, cooking until lightly golden on one side – about 4/5 minutes.

Carefully turn the cod over and cook until opaque and completely cooked through.

Place the slaw in the middle of a plate, place the cod on top of the slaw, spoon Pico de Gallo over top and sprinkle with Cilantro.

www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen