Winter Dishes on the Lighter Side

A few seasonal salad ingredients to look for this winter include fruits such as apples, oranges and cranberries and vegetables such as fennel and winter greens. We have combined several of these into a scrumptious and healthy salad that is sure to get your New Year’s Resolution off to a good start. Combine it with our light and flavorful orange and honey mustard chicken and you have a dinner perfect for the season (and perfectly seasoned).

Spinach-Apple Salad with Pine Nuts and Dried Cranberries

Balsamic Vinaigrette

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

¾ cup olive oil

½ onion or 2 shallots, finely chopped

Salt and fresh ground pepper

Salad

12 oz. spinach

2 apples, cored and thinly sliced

1 cup diced fennel

6 cups spinach

½ lb crumbled blue cheese

¼ cup pine nuts

¼ cup cranberries

Toss vinaigrette with salad greens and fennel, and top with sliced apples, pine nuts (toasted in oven for 2-3 minutes is optional), dried cranberries, and crumbled blue cheese. Serves about 6.

Orange and Honey-Mustard Glazed Chicken

6 boneless chicken breasts

1 ½ tbsp. whole-grain mustard

1 ½ cups orange juice

3 tbsp. honey

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 orange zest

Mint sprigs or parsley to garnish

Mix orange juice, mustard, and honey together in a bowl. Pour over chicken and place chicken in fridge to marinate for about 15 minutes (or as long as necessary). In a large pan, heat oil on medium and add chicken. Cook chicken on medium heat until golden brown. Pour remaining marinade over chicken and cook on low for about 15 minutes until the chicken is no longer pink in the center. Grate orange over the chicken, then add salt and pepper and chopped mint or parsley to garnish. Serves about 6.

Recipes by Chef Emily Buller and Karen

What to do with all those summer tomatoes?

Here's a simple tomato salad recipe that is sure to liven up any summer dinner party.

Heirloom Tomato, Mozzarella and Butter Lettuce Salad

1 head butter lettuce

3 large heirloom tomatoes, halved assorted yellow pear and cherry tomatoes

3 shallots or a handful of cipollini onions

1 package sliced mozzarella, or small mozzarella balls

1 bunch basil

Balsamic vinegar and olive oil

Break apart butter lettuce and arrange on plate. Arrange sliced tomatoes, shredded basil, onions or shallots and mozzarella on top of lettuce. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top, and add salt and fresh ground pepper to finish. Serves 4-6

Recipe by Karen