On the Lighter Side

Posted by Stephanie Meyer on Dec 27, 2010 at 12:01pm

grilled salmon salad with greens avocado

I am stuffed to the max from rich holiday foods. Even though I was successful in avoiding gluten and grains, the salt really catches up to me. Puff city. And after a week of heavier foods, salads, fish, and brothy soups just sound so right to me.

While these recipes aren’t new, I thought you might appreciate having a few ideas for taking it down a notch this week. Above is one of my favorite salads, Grilled Salmon with Greens & Avocado. Warm salmon, cool greens, and a mustard vinaigrette hit the spot in any season.

chicken vegetable soup

I posted my aunt Mary’s Chicken Vegetable Soup at Dara & Co./Minnesota Monthly Magazine a few weeks ago. It’s delicious anytime, and can be adapted to use up leftover turkey if you’re lucky enough to have some on hand.

grilled shrimp tostadas with spicy slaw

Grilled Shrimp Tostadas with Spicy Slaw are easy to mess around with. Saute or broil the shrimp if your grill is buried in snow. Skip the tortillas if you’re watching your grain intake. The cool, crunchy slaw sets off the hot shrimp nicely.

Fried Chickpeas with Chorizo & Spinach

A pan of Fried Chickpeas with Chorizo & Spinach can be on the table in minutes and is hearty and spicy enough to chase away a chilly evening. How do you wind things down when the holidays are over?

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Older Comments

  1. By FreshTartSteph on January 6, 2011 at 7:46AM

    Thanks Megan! Happy New Year to you too - it's going to be a big one :)

  2. By Megan Gordon on January 6, 2011 at 12:25AM

    Great post, Steph! I'm still full and it's been well over a week! This is just the inspiration I need. Happy New Year! xoxo

  3. By FreshTartSteph on January 3, 2011 at 5:04PM

    Sounds utterly perfect, yum.

  4. By Soniabonya on January 3, 2011 at 10:32AM

    Soup!! And a lot of veggies. My husband came home to a pot full of black eyed peas and lentil soup and a fridge full of greens.

    After the heavy holiday food fare I need something light but filling and a well balanced soup with a side of toast hits the spot, especially on cold nights.

  5. By FreshTartSteph on December 29, 2010 at 1:49PM

    Karyn - I agree, I like that it's a quick cook-from-the-pantry din. I riff on the general theme with bacon or other sausages, different types of beans, other quick-cooking vegetables. All so tasty. Homemade crackers with salmon spread sounds like a genius way to have a tasty snack while leaving the sweets behind, yum. Happy New Year!

  6. By Karyn Tomlinson on December 29, 2010 at 1:40PM

    To answer your closing question about the post-holiday wind down...

    I am also a fan of making soup from leftover holiday poultry, fresh salads, and savory yet somewhat healthy snacks--like homemade whole wheat crackers with salmon spread. Then I might be less likely to stuff myself on all the lingering sweets!

  7. By Karyn Tomlinson on December 29, 2010 at 1:31PM

    I love the looks of the chick pea/spinach recipe. Great winter dish...and nice because those are all things you might usually have on hand.

    Thanks for the leftover ideas!