Grilled Romaine Salad

Here's my second post for great Father's Day dishes!

Don't you just love Father's Day?  How come it seems that for Mother's Day we have the breakfast/brunch or go out to a restaurant for a nice lunch or dinner...but for Father's Day it usually revolves around GRILLING!?

Big manly grilling...

What better way to celebrate the solid, strong, steady as a rock, men in our lives than by firing up the GRILL!

This is a great side dish.  Not some wimpy little side dish, but a grilled, bold salad!

We're making Grilled Romaine Salad.

Yes, I said grilled...grilled salad...grilled romaine salad!

Have you ever grilled lettuce?  No?

Well, now you just have to try this recipe...it's the bomb! 

The grilled lettuce has a slightly smokey, slightly charred flavor that lends another layer to the salad.  It's just plain excellent, and DAD will LOVE IT!

This is really simple to prepare.  Romaine is an especially good lettuce to grill with because it will stand up to the heat well.  So, prepare your lettuce. Take off the outer leaves of the romaine head and discarding them.  Then separate the remaining leaves.  Drizzle with olive oil.

On a heated grill over medium heat place the leaves oil side down on the grill and cook about 2-3 minutes on each side.  Lettuce should char a little and will wilt some.  Not to worry, this is what you want!

Meanwhile cut your cherry tomatoes in half, and cube your avocado.  Place in a bowl.

Now once the lettuce is done you can do as I did and tear them up, place them in the bowl with the tomatoes and avocado and toss with a light vinaigrette.
OR
You can leave the leaves whole and distribute them on individual plates, topping with the tomatoes and avocado.  Sprinkle some vinaigrette over the salad.

You want to use a light vinaigrette so it doesn't overpower the lettuce flavors.  Allow the lettuce and the flavors of salad really shine through in this salad but dressing it lightly...no heavy, creamy dressing here!!!

Enjoy this wonderful salad, and let me know what you think!

Grilled Romaine Salad

Serves 6 - 8 as a side dish

Ingredients:

  

1 head of romaine lettuce 

Olive oil for drizzling 

1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, halved 

1 avocado, cubed

Light Balsamic Vinaigrette  or Oil and Vinegar

Directions:

Prepare grill to a medium heat fire. Brush and oil the grill grate.
Remove outer layers of lettuce.  Separate remaining lettuce leaves from the base.  Drizzle one side of each half with a little olive oil.

Place the romaine halves, oil side down, on the grill directly over the fire.  Cook until the leaves develop a little char and have begun to wilt, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the lettuce over and cook for about 2 minutes more. You want the lettuce to be a little wilted but still hold its shape.

At this point we cut up the leave and placed in a bowl.  You can leave them intact if you wish and place them on individual plates.  Add tomatoes and avocado.  Add some vinaigrette and toss.  Serve immediately.

Cheesy Garlic Herb Bread

Wow!  It's been a long time but I'm back!!! 

All I'm saying is that computer viruses are a royal pain!!

So guess what?  Father's Day is coming up....!

I'm going to do a series of posts for items that are PERFECT for father's day...whether it be a backyard grill, potluck supper, or a nice intimate dinner...these dishes are great tasting, and totally fit the bill.

First off...an appetizer.

I spotted this recipe over on Sara's and Kate's site, Our Best Bites.  These girls can really cook!  Go and check out their site...they also just published a cookbook...woohoo!

So I just had to try their Cheesy Garlic Herb Bread.  I made it as an appetizer over Memorial Day and it was cheesy herby heaven!  Let's just say that there was not one piece left!  This is such a versitale dish that you can vary the ingredients and change up the flavors.  I prepared it the original way this time, (with pesto and mozarella cheese) getting a large round loaf of bread to serve all our guests.  The magical thing is that it b l o o m s in the oven, just like a blooming onion!!! Really, it does!!

So here's the recipe...as written by Our Best Bites.  

Please make it....it's fabulous and a perfect appetizer. 

Note:  You can also use a little round loaf of sourdough and get a small version of this appetizer.

Oh My!

Click here for the link to the recipe on their site, or see the recipe below.

Cheesy Garlic Herb Bread
Recipe by Our Best Bites

1 loaf (16-24-oz.) crusty bread (we recommend sourdough)
8 oz. mozzarella*

1 of the following toppings:
   –1/2 c. pesto 
   –1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil mixed with 3-4 cloves pressed garlic (allow to stand for at least an hour before brushing onto the bread)
  –1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil mixed with 3-4 cloves pressed garlic and 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
  –1/2 c. butter mixed with 3 tablespoons Garlic Bread Seasoning
  –1/2 c. butter mixed with 2 cloves pressed garlic, 1 tablespoon each fresh, chopped basil, rosemary, and parsley

*If you want to lighten things up a little, you can leave out the cheese and sprinkle to top of the bread with kosher salt and a little freshly ground black pepper.

Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Slice bread into 1 1/2″ slices, not cutting through to the bottom. Rotate the loaf 90 degrees and slice the bread again every 1 1/2″ so you have 1 1/2″ pieces that are still attached to the bottom of the bread.

Place the loaf on the prepared baking sheet. Gently spread the desired filling into the cracks. Gently stuff the cheese into the cracks (you can just put the cheese going in one direction rather than on all four sides of each piece). Brush a little of the remaining filling on top of the loaf and sprinkle with a little remaining cheese. 

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until the bread is toasted on top and the cheese is melted. Allow to stand a few minutes before serving.

Linked to: I heart Naptime,
Linked to:  La Bella Vita - featured recipe!!!
Linked to:  Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Linked to:  Make ahead meals for busy moms
Linked to:  Totally Tasty Tuesdays
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Delay in Posting!

Hello there!  I'm so sorry there has been such a delay in my posts lately.  I'm fighting an ugly computer virus which decided to take over and leave me stranded!

Not to fear, I'm working to get my computer back in tip top shape.  I have a lot of posts ready to go for you.  Since Father's Day is coming up I'll be posting a series of Grilling Recipes in celebration. 

Please bare with me, while I work out this issue!  I appreciate your patience...

Look forward to some great posts all this week!

Beth