caesar salad

I love that a classic Caesar can be whipped up in a pinch, and now that we've hit grilling season, I experimented a little by charring lettuce leaves directly on the grill.

By quickly grilling the romaine lettuce, I imparted a charred flavor that's irresistible with a creamy Caesar salad dressing.

Of course, every Caesar salad needs croutons, so I lightly coated slices of bread in olive oil before grilling them alongside romaine lettuce. I wasn't able to source fresh anchovies but picked up salted whole anchovies, which I rinsed and lightly grilled for a boost of fish flavor.

The result? A salad that makes for a great first course for any barbecue party — or, with grilled chicken, a complete Summer meal. Heat up the barbeque and get to grilling this Summer Caesar salad.

When it comes to food newsletters, I subscribe to them all. One that I look forward to getting is Tasting Table's Chefs' Recipes. The ingredients are seasonal, and the dishes timely and clever. I usually hit print before I've finished reading the email! Earlier this week, the featured recipe was a kale Caesar salad from Chad Robertson's Tartine Bread cookbook. Since I love Caesar salads, I had to make this hearty variation immediately. The tangy lemon-garlic dressing stands up to the bitter greens. Use the vinaigrette right after blending (it separates easily) and be sure to coat each leaf with the delicious mixture. Serve with roast chicken, a bowl of soup, or just enjoy a huge plate of it alone — that's what I did! I promise this dish won't disappoint, so get the recipe now.

My little sister has spent the past two months in the Dominican Republic leading a small study abroad tour. To welcome her back home to California, I'm throwing a beach bonfire! Ten of our closest friends will meet us at the shore around 6:30. We'll watch the sunset and enjoy a fabulous meal. When we arrive at the ocean, I'll set out cheese, salami, crackers, and an easy homemade crab cocktail dip. For the main event, I'll heat up a bubbling pot of clam and corn chowder.


A crisp romaine salad with Caesar dressing rounds out the festive menu. To see the recipes I plan on using, keep reading.

The premiere of Sex and the City 2 is little more than a week away, and I don't know about you, but I'm excited! So much so that I've decided to invite my girlfriends over for nibbles before we go see the film. Since a couple of friends are pescaterians and we'll probably splurge on snacks at the theater, I'm keeping the menu light, finger-friendly, and meat-free. To start, there's mushroom pizzas with goat cheese; they're so delicious nobody will be able to have just one slice.

Spicy tuna tartare is irresistible and elegant offered on waffle-cut potato chips, while classic Caesar salad turns into an instant appetizer when scooped into endive spears. These uncomplicated recipes are after the break, but if you prefer a menu of bites inspired by episodes of the show, you'll find them here. Otherwise, keep reading for the pizza, tartare, and salad recipes.

When I lived in Spain, my Spanish friends were always asking me to make American foods. While I hosted a huge dinner entitled, "The Hamburger Party," when I had smaller gatherings, I always made Caesar salad. With its crisp romaine leaves, crunchy croutons, and creamy, tangy dressing, something about the classic salad is quintessentially American. Although it's found at practically every Italian-American restaurant and salad shop, I rarely order it and prefer to make it at home. A big plate of Caesar salad is an excellent Summer meal that's comforting and delicious. I've been using Martha Stewart's technique for so long that I no longer have to look at the recipe! To check it out, read more