Cheese Sandwiches with White Kidney Beans

I always tell the girls that the most important ingredient for cooking is TLC. Making cheese sandwiches is no exception. There must be several layers that bind together properly for the sandwich to be a success. For this version (made for a picnic during our recent trip to Ashland), I had fresh strawberries left-over. So I blended the fruits into a purée and mixed it with cream cheese, sun dried-tomatoes and chives. I spread the strawberry cream cheese into cheese Kaiser rolls and topped it with cannellini salad, which provides the protein for the vegetarians in my family.

If you too are planning picnics with your family before school starts again, give this easy recipe a try. And if you're looking for back to school ideas for your children, this recipe might be it!

Things To Do in Ashland (Oregon Shakespeare Festival)

Strawberry and Blueberry Fruit Salad Recipe (Coupe Fraises Myrtilles)

Berries are in season and we bought delicious flavorful blueberries and strawberries from Rogue Valley Farmers' Market in Ashland, Oregon. I was amazed to discover all the locally grown produce there.

Here's an easy and simple fruit salad I made for a picnic we had in Lithia Park that I wanted to share with you. I took the blueberries and strawberries from the market and served them along with brownies and chantilly (whipped cream). It was a real success, as there were only empty bowls to bring home.

Gourmet Red Potato Salad Recipe

This potato salad recipe is unique in that it contains no eggs. My husband Lulu doesn't like mayonnaise and one of his sisters is allergic to eggs, so I made an eggfree salad dressing using chipotle peppers, lime, cream cheese, sour cream, roasted Roma tomatoes, roasted red bell peppers, red wine vinegar and pickled garlic. I used wax potatoes from our garden which add color to the salad. To the potatoes, I added red radishes, celery, sun-dried tomatoes, red kidney beans, pine nuts and a myriad of herbs. It’s perfect for a summer picnic!

Gardening with the girls... They were so proud of finding the potatoes!

Healthy Grapefruit and Bok Choy Salad Recipe

I felt like making a low-fat salad today because my husband Lulu and I have been diligently working out every day. I bought beautiful pink grapefruits at our local market, so I used the sweet and slightly acidic fruit in the salad. Bok choy and roasted bell peppers rounded out the flavors and textures of the dish. I finished it with a tahini and miso salad dressing that really bound the flavors together.

Even though the meal was low in calories, it was so flavorful. The salad  nicely complemented the grilled cod and soy gluten I prepared for Lulu and me. The best part is that even though he is a vegetarian and I eat meat, we were able to share a meal together.