La Scala is a restaurant in Beverly Hills, Ca. that is famous for their chopped salad. The ingredients are yummy and so so easy to make. It’s like eating an Italian Hero in salad form and what’s wrong with that?

It is full of delicious ingredients — lettuce, garbanzo beans/chick peas , cheese and salami and the vinaigrette is savory and perfect. It’s an old school recipe from the 50’s that still holds up by today’s standards. The best part of this salad is you can substitute and add whatever you like I always add tomatoes, if you don’t like salami or pepperoni use turkey or chicken, cucumbers would be good, pickles or artichokes instead of garbanzo beans, some banana peppers or olives and of course romaine instead of iceberg or combine the two. I love a good chopped salad and love iceberg as the base just be sure and chop up good so there are pieces in every bite. I like the salad as is but feel free to experiment. It’s basic and very simple and rumor has it that it’s Kim Kardashian’s fav salad but honestly this salad has been around for around 60 years.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Salad:

this is what I used

1 head iceberg lettuce finely chopped

1/4 lb. Italian salami , thinly sliced — julienned or just chop it

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 can chick peas/garbanzo beans ,rinsed and well drained

Dressing:

1/3 cup olive oil – EVVO extra virgin olive oil always

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 tsp. dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper ( around 1/4 tsp.) a few good grinds of the pepper mill

1/4 cup grated parmesan or pecorino romano

Directions:

I used a glass measuring cup to make salad dressing because I wasn’t dressing whole salad for the two of us. I have 1/2 the salad left over for tomorrow and was storing dressing and salad . If salad is dressed it will wilt and I don’t like it like that. So I dressed our salad separately . This salad will serve 4 nicely.

Combine the oil, vinegar, mustard , salt and pepper with a small whisk if you have one . Add in the cheese and continue to whisk. If no whisk a fork will do.

Dressing will last a few days in fridge and I will eat the salad again for lunch tomorrow so that’s just perfect!

Melted Chocolate and Toasty Marshmallows!!! This is a hit for your next party or just for your family. Who says it’s only for camping out? This was made in the oven very quickly and came out perfectly delicious and perfect all year round.  A few minutes in the oven and a few minutes to prep and you have a delicious most fun dessert to serve. Serve it with graham crackers or graham cracker sticks and watch it disappear. You can also mix it with peanut butter chips for a little bit different spin on S’mores. All I can say is yum!

Happy Memorial Day and Happy Summer!

Ingredients:

app. 1 regular size bag of  chocolate chips, you can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate, peanut butter chips or any combo.

Marshmallows- start out with a whole bag — you’ll probably use 3/4 of the bag –you can use minis or the large ones but I just used regular sized this time which are readily available

Graham Cracker Squares–for dipping

I used an 8 inch cast iron skillet– it makes for a great presentation and it cooks perfectly– just be very very careful with serving it because skillet will be very hot — careful supervision with this one

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and spray the cast iron pan with cooking spray ( this will help with clean up)  Pour the chips you’re using in an even layer on the bottom of the skillet.  Bake for3-4  minutes or until chocolate chips are melted . Watch closely because you don’t want to burn. Using an oven mitt –remove the skillet from the oven and stir the chocolate around  then cover the top with the marshmallows completely. Bake for another 4-5 minutes or until marshmallows are browned on top. ( see photo)  Serve immediately with graham cracker squares —only tip is to be very careful , because the dip and the pan will be very hot!!!! you’ll have to supervise with little ones and even some of the over anxious adults. You can let it rest for about 4-5 minutes before serving. But it should be served hot.

*if you don’t have a skillet you may use another oven-safe baking dish like a 9×13 pyrex would work . Chocolate does melt more evenly in cast-iron skillet and it retains heat better. 

*you can adjust the amounts of chocolate and marshmallows to your liking, and the size of the skillet. Some of these photos show the jumbo sized marshmallows which will work just as well or you can cut them in 1/2. 

*use whatever kind of chips you like, and any kind of marshmallows you like — mini marshmallows work well here too.

Now you all know how very much I love a sheetpan meal. So very easy to prepare and cook and so delicious to eat. This is what I did. You can substitute sweet potatoes if you’d like. I used Broccolini but you can use regular broccoli, cauliflower or asparagus or any veggie you like.

I really slather on the mustard because I love the strong mustard flavor but feel free to add less or more depending on your own taste.

Enjoy!

*this recipe is for 2 people feel free to double up for more — there’s no exact science going on here so feel free to swap in or out what ingredients you prefer

Ingredients:

4 fingerling potatoes or any potatoes you’d like I used yukon gold this time because that’s what I had in the house

app. 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil in total but if you feel you need more– be my guest

Kosher Salt and black pepper to taste

2 Salmon Fillets or 1 piece of Salmon app. 1 lb. ( I used a 1/4 lb. for the two of us and had some left over)

3- 8 Tablespoons Maille Old Style Mustard — I just slathered the top of the salmon

1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes

small bunch of Broccolini or it’s equivalent for another vegetable

Directions:

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and pre-heat to 400 degrees. I sprayed a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.

Place potatoes in a bowl and drizzle with 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil and a little kosher salt and black pepper. Stir to coat and arrange the potatoes cut-side down . Bake for app. 15 minutes . Obviously yukon gold or sweet potatoes you’ll just arrange on baking sheet since you can’t do cut-side down.

Meanwhile pat salmon dry and brush with Mustard.

Toss the broccolini and cherry tomatoes in a clean mixing bowl with 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil and sprinkle with Salt and Pepper. If it doesn’t look like enough oil add a little bit.

After the initial 15 minutes, remove tray from oven and push potatoes to edges of pan, creating enough room for salmon in the center of baking sheet and arrange the broccolini and tomatoes around the salmon. Using tongs flip over potatoes to cook evenly .

Bake for about 15 minutes depending on the size and thickness of your salmon. If veggies are getting to burnt use tongs and remove and put on plate and cover with foil. It should only be a few more minutes for salmon to be done and I didn’t remove my broccolini because I like it charred.

If you don’t want potatoes you can just cook salmon and vegetables and use rice or leave out the carbs if you so desire. It’s delicious and since I made a little extra salmon it was delicious the next day for lunch.

In the past year I have finally broken down and started cooking in the air fryer. It is no small announcement when I tell you that salmon cooked in the air fryer is truly something to brag about. It is seriously tasty and I have to say better than a lot of the salmon I’ve ordered out. If you haven’t tried an air fryer maybe it’s time. I generally hate purchasing another new kitchen appliance especially a rather large one but this one is worth it. If you DO have one you know what I’m talking about. Salmon and Chicken are delicious in the air fryer along with vegetables and potatoes. This recipe is very easy and since my oven is still out of commission it’s a perfect stand-in.

This recipe is very easy and very loose and what I did last night. Served with rice pilaf ( since my stove-top is still working) and a green salad.

Ingredients:

2 Salmon Fillets — about 6-8 oz. each

Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 Tablespoon brown sugar or you can use Honey

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1/2 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

with paper towels, pat the salmon dry. Sprinkle lightly on top with Salt and Pepper

For easy cleanup I always spray the air fryer with cooking spray

Pre-heat the air fryer to 400 degrees for about 5 minutes

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, dijon, oil, soy sauce and garlic powder. Spoon over the top of the salmon.

Cook the salmon in the air fryer for 6-10 minutes depending on thickness of salmon. Around 1″ salmon fillets will take about 8 minutes. Do not over cook or the salmon will be dry. Salmon is done when it registers 145 degrees with and instant read thermometer .I like to remove mine a few degrees early, let it rest, the carryover cooking will finish the job. You can easily check it a few times towards the end to make sure it doesn’t overcook.

I love cold salmon so leftovers are perfect.

Ridiculously easy and delicious!